Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: jazzyvee on November 27, 2020, 03:42:07 AM

Title: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: jazzyvee on November 27, 2020, 03:42:07 AM
What inspired the names of the alembic preamps?
F-1X
F-2B
SF-2 ( was there ever a SF-1?)

Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: dela217 on November 27, 2020, 05:54:21 AM
I am no expert, but I think that the F in the preamps  stand for Fender.   I do not have an F-2B, but I do own an F-2.   Not sure if there was an F-1, but I think the 2 is for 2 channels.   

Michael
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: elwoodblue on November 27, 2020, 06:02:25 AM
Is the 'B' for bass ?
'X' for crossover ?


I'm picturing a children's book with spelling clues and Alembic's story.
(Maybe with pop-ups  ::) )
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: pauldo on November 27, 2020, 07:20:07 AM
<SNIP>
I'm picturing a children's book with spelling clues and Alembic's story.
(Maybe with pop-ups  ::) )

That sounds like a good project.  Keep it simple for us technologically challenged folk!
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: JimmyJ on November 27, 2020, 07:44:03 AM
I used to think "F-2B" meant "Fender (style) tube-y". 
We must get to the bottom of this!
Jimmy J
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: dela217 on November 27, 2020, 07:53:59 AM
Well, I know that there is an F2, and an F2B.   Is that just the second generation of the F2?   The original F2 had some issues that were worked out with the 2B.   One of them was the power supply section was noisy.   There was only 1 filter capacitor.   And the F2B has a mono output.   The original F2 was stereo only.
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: dela217 on November 27, 2020, 07:59:47 AM
Ah!    From Janet Furman's website:

I designed the preamp power supply, circuit board, and rackmount chassis. I called it the F-2B. “F” was a tribute to Fender, whose Twin Reverb triode preamp stage inspired it. “2” because it had two channels, and “B” because the first circuit board layout, designated “A”, had problems and had to be re-done. Alembic turned this into a successful product that they still sell today, 40 years later. I doubt they remember where the name came from.
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: elwoodblue on November 27, 2020, 08:00:30 AM
I used to think "F-2B" meant "Fender (style) tube-y". 
We must get to the bottom of this!
Jimmy J


Yes..me 2  :D
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: edwardofhuncote on November 27, 2020, 08:45:53 AM
Just one of the many reasons I like to hang out here.  :)
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: gtrguy on November 27, 2020, 12:44:48 PM
According to Alembic, the F-2b was inspired by Fender's Dual Showman. I also think SF stands for 'Super Filter'.
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: goran on November 28, 2020, 03:49:06 AM
That's a great question, well I call a joker, Mica! :)
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: mica on December 01, 2020, 03:14:49 PM
Well, we _do_in fact know why things are named what they are around these parts (what a silly thing to say!). The F2 was harder to manufacture, so a couple of revisions were made. The chassis were a modular system known as Moduline, and we purchased these off the shelf. I wish they were still made (I'm actually considering designing a similar chassis to be custom made for us).

The SF-2 is in fact for Super Filter 2 channel

The F-1X uses the F from Fender in honor of Tom Walker's circuit, 1 channel and the crossover.
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: jazzyvee on December 02, 2020, 02:17:55 AM
Thanks Mica, I knew there had to be some logic in the naming.  I'm happy I have a few of your great American basses named after Great British Sports cars.   ;D
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: gtrguy on December 02, 2020, 11:42:25 AM
Maybe they can change the name of the Epic to the 'E-type', and a 'DB-4' would be nice, along with a 'Volante'. And an 'MG-B' and a 'TR-3' would fill out the line! Then they could have a product line almost as confusing as all the ones Fender now makes.
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: edwin on December 05, 2020, 06:45:48 PM
And then there's the IN-2  2 channel INput module.
Title: Re: Naming of Alembic Preamps
Post by: elwoodblue on December 05, 2020, 06:50:47 PM
Because that's what things go "IN 2" ? ::)