Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Alembic Basses & Guitars => Topic started by: jazzyvee on September 28, 2015, 01:56:25 PM

Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: jazzyvee on September 28, 2015, 01:56:25 PM: Just saw this new custom pre-amp built for Stanley Clarke on an alembic group on Facebook.
Look pretty neat and compact way to get dual pre-amps with connections for 2 basses.
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/217377.jpg)
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: David Houck on September 28, 2015, 02:10:05 PM: Interesting!
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: moongerm on September 28, 2015, 02:20:37 PM: Want!
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: FC Bass on September 28, 2015, 02:27:29 PM: Need! :-)
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: elwoodblue on September 28, 2015, 02:31:07 PM: Yeah!!
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: pierreyves on September 28, 2015, 02:31:46 PM: we NEVER had following about input module.... maybe not interresting financilly for mothership ? proposition... and no follow...
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: StephenR on September 28, 2015, 02:49:37 PM: I don't do Facebook, is there a shot of the back, too? Sweet looking unit!
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: jazzyvee on September 28, 2015, 03:00:53 PM: No photo of the back but the details are.
Very small 5lb preamp that will fit in a carry on bag. Has 2 channels, power supply, 2x 5 pin inputs, and 1x 1/4 mono input., 2 x effects loops, 2x XLR DI Outs, 2 x 1/4 out pre-eq, 2 x 1/4 out post eq.
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: StephenR on September 28, 2015, 03:21:31 PM: Thanks Jazzy!
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: mica on September 28, 2015, 03:59:59 PM: IN-2 will be made - sadly I have to find yet another sheet metal fabricator before that project, or any other new metal work is undertaken.

This is built in a Hammond die-cast aluminum enclosure, and therefore drilled and punched here. We aren't going to develop a product in this enclosure, as it isn't quite ideal, but it certainly got the job done for Stanley.

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/217421.jpg)

The front is very much like 2 F-1X preamps, but with 2 5-pin inputs and an HF control only for the treble pickups.

The back has an additional mono input for emergencies or guests, tuner output, and each channel has effects send and return and a choice of outputs. The outputs are direct with a ground lift option, or 2 different full range outputs, one with the tone controls, and one without. A switching power supply is included so Stan can play anywhere and not worry about changing the voltage.

The unit needed to fit comfortably in carry-on luggage, which it does at 10 x 6 x 3.75 inches, not including the protective handles.

The problem of travelling with the rackmounted gear is just getting worse and worse. The airlines sometimes lose or delay the checked rack, or it arrives munched and destroyed. If they check it in a shock-mounted case, it costs a fortune to travel with, adding hundreds of dollars to each flight they take. Bud tour? no problem with a rack! It's never lost, damaged, or delayed. But Stan has had to play without a preamp for a few shows and we worked really hard to get this made. My dad redesigned the preamp to be FET based, he and Tony wired it up, I did the panel artwork and drilling templates, dad drilled and punched the enclosure.

Time was very pressed - as some of you already know my dad had cataract surgery in August and earlier this month, and so we had to do the work in the ten days time we had after he was allowed back to our dusty place. Many late nights, and an all-out all-nighter on the final push. Then to get it delivered last night it was like the Pony Express! I drove it down to Monterey, where I handed it off to my friend John Prock who met Stan's tech, Travis, in Bakersfield. Whew!

Travis got a chance to set it up and test out the rig late last night and we received positive feedback this morning - he said it sounded AMAZING and it was very very quiet. Primary mission objectives complete! Sounds good and fits in carry-on.

We do plan on developing this and a mono version as a product. We have been busy with some other electronic goodies too (new IN-2 among them), and once I get a new sheet metal artist to work with, I'll be sharing all sorts of fun stuff here on the club.

I would have posted details here earlier about this preamp, but I was just too beat after the Gathering on Saturday and driving the 7-hour roundtrip last night. I used to be young!
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: keith_h on September 28, 2015, 04:44:44 PM: That's something I'd be interested in. Any thoughts on parallel inputs to allow monaural input on the XLR's to stereo out?

Also Mica you're still a kid stop the talk about Used to be young. Time goes by too fast as it is. No need to rush it.

Keith

(Message edited by keith_h on September 28, 2015)
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: David Houck on September 28, 2015, 07:12:36 PM: Thanks for all the details, Mica; very cool! And a great story!
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: elwoodblue on September 28, 2015, 07:14:54 PM: Whew!
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on September 29, 2015, 05:35:59 AM: Paging Will Gunn... you reading ^this^? I was just thinking about those Series equipped basses of yours with outboard pre-amps... =)
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: edwin on September 29, 2015, 07:28:47 PM: This looks great. I'm sure the tone is typically stellar Alembic, even without the tubes. FETs can sound very good indeed.
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: elwoodblue on September 29, 2015, 09:43:35 PM: Does SMP stand for Stereo Mono Preamp?
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on September 30, 2015, 04:31:29 AM: Stanley's Magic Preamp?

Peter
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: mica on September 30, 2015, 10:34:51 AM: Stan's Mini Preamp - you gotta have a stable name for a project.
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: edwin on October 03, 2015, 08:23:59 PM: So, are the two 5 pin inputs wired in parallel? Or is there a way to switch between them?

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of this box.
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: rv_bass on October 04, 2015, 05:17:24 AM: I like it! This would be a nice alternative to my two F-1X units. Two 1/4 jacks on the front would be a useful addition. Thanks for sharing the details!
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: jazzyvee on October 04, 2015, 09:49:35 AM: I can't see were the space is for adding two extra jacks on the front. Maybe that's something that could be ordered as an option. Such as a two 5 pin model, or two jack socket model and one model with a 5 pin and one jack socket.
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: mica on October 07, 2015, 11:05:11 AM: No, Edwin. Stan uses the pickup selector switch on each bass to switch between them by placing one in standby.

All three inputs on this preamp can be used simultaneously and there is no level change.

Part of the product development on this is changing the chassis to a custom made one for the purpose. Like I mentioned previously, this enclosure is an off the shelf one we used to simply get it done. At one point, I thought we were going to have to put some of the jacks on the side of the enclosure just to get everything to fit.

As it was, we did have to modify some parts slightly to cram it all in. Dad had to file a couple thousandths off the sides of the pots. A couple of the jacks needed some minor modification too. The enclosure has a lot of dead space at the corners and the handles to protect the switches take up some real estate too, so we had to cram things tighter than we would on a product, but that's what custom is all about!
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: 811952 on October 07, 2015, 01:09:54 PM: I suppose it goes without saying, Mica, but you guys do great work!

John
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: lbpesq on October 07, 2015, 01:22:23 PM: I LOVE the little Alembic logo on the front. It would be nice to get one for my old F-2B on which the only Alembic ID is on the rear.

Bill, tgo
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: mica on October 07, 2015, 03:08:17 PM: Well since you said it... thanks, John!

Bill - I tried so hard to line up the little eye of the cloud with the LED but I just missed it.
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: hifiguy on October 07, 2015, 04:17:21 PM: ONLY Alembic could come up with something this stellar on such short notice. You guys are amazing! Always have been, always will be.
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: jazzyvee on November 22, 2015, 04:16:24 PM: A little introduction by Travis on the new Mini pre-amp Alembic made for Stanley Clarke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYPXqc9eFhg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYPXqc9eFhg)
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: dela217 on November 22, 2015, 04:44:21 PM: I like. I would love the mono version. All I need is one channel. Hopefully this will be available soon.
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: geepee on January 13, 2016, 05:16:06 AM: Mono version, tube. Here's one I knocked up earlier running from an iphone charger. If you squint you can see the tube heater through the vent. Yes it is possible to generate 6.3v and 300v from a 5v iphone charger although this runs at 250v to avoid shortening tube life too much.
It's half an F-2b with a 6112 tube instead of a 12ax7. I can't hear difference. Sounds great.

No I wont be competing with Mica on this as the Alembic is the real deal. I'll probably get one when they're available. This will do for the time being.

I wish I'd seen this thread before I made my own though!
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/393/224048.jpg)

(Message edited by geepee on January 13, 2016)
Title: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: lidon2001 on January 13, 2016, 06:50:02 AM: Can they add a 500-800w Class D amp and make the first Alembic amplifier?
Title: Re: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: edwardofhuncote on January 21, 2018, 09:31:28 AM: Bumping an old thread... did these ever make it past the prototype stage?

It was a great idea, though admittedly I'm not sure if what I am drawn to is any fair indicator of what's marketable. ::)

*I'd actually be quite tickled with a single channel model. :D
Title: Re: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: hieronymous on January 23, 2018, 09:20:24 PM: Funny - I just thought about this preamp while taking a shower the other day!

I would love a single channel in a pedal! It could go next to my imaginary SF-1 with CV control of the filter frequency...
Title: Re: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: jazzyvee on November 01, 2018, 06:24:00 PM: Look what I bumped into at Stanley Clarke's gig in Bristol UK this evening. Travis handed it to us to have a look at.
It certainly is a well engineered piece of kit and so light compared to the F1-X.
Title: Re: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: StephenR on November 01, 2018, 09:53:40 PM: Such a great pre-amp concept, cool that you got to "visit" with it in person!
Title: Re: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: sonicus on November 02, 2018, 01:12:56 PM: I like it as well :) As it is quite swell .
Title: Re: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: moongerm on November 05, 2018, 11:14:12 AM: Niceness!
Title: Re: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: rv_bass on January 21, 2020, 05:01:56 PM: Just wondering if we are getting any closer to these being available? Would be great to have such a compact, light weight, two channel Alembic preamp!
Title: Re: Interesting new custom pre-amp for Stanley has.
Post by: mica on January 22, 2020, 07:04:06 PM: Yes, we are closer - the moving project has taken precedence, but there's quite a few electronics items on the near horizon :)