Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: fmm on March 31, 2015, 06:08:13 PM

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: fmm on March 31, 2015, 06:08:13 PM

All:
Last fall I purchased a F-2B (serial # 544) and am just now getting around to trying it out.
 
Caps look good, foam should probably be replaced.
 
I connected it to by black box and my new (to me) DS-5R.  The signal is very weak, and when I turn everything all the way up, distorted.
 
I replaced the tubes (Sylvanias) with Groove Tubes Silver Series.  Same result.
 
What should I try next?

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: mica on March 31, 2015, 08:04:58 PM

Is it distorted in both channels the same?

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: fmm on March 31, 2015, 08:22:43 PM

Yes. Both channels are behaving the same.

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: mica on April 01, 2015, 12:05:11 PM

Make sure you have exercised the Mixed jack (M) on the back. Plug and unplug like 30-50 times. If that doesn't work, it might need replacing. There is also a more detailed cleaning procedure in the FAQ (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=249)

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: fmm on April 01, 2015, 01:57:45 PM

I will try that as soon as I get home.

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: fmm on April 01, 2015, 05:12:37 PM

Success!
 
Kind of.  The issue may have been a case of pilot error, I have my gear in a server rack and use a patch bay, and I may have routed the output of the M jack to the bottom row of the patch bay when I wanted the top.
 
But now I may have another issue.
 
I'm running the DS-5R in stereo.  Using the front outputs to drive the F-2B (Bass to A, Treble to B).
 
Pickup selector is on the bridge pickup.  My expectation is that only channel B will be driven, but both channels are.  I get the same behavior if the pickup selector is set to the neck pickup.
 
Note that I believe the signal coming out of the bass is fine, because with the pickup selector on the bridge pickup, the neck pickup volume as no effect, and visa-versa.
 
I think I'll go read the FAQ on the F-2B.

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: jazzyvee on April 01, 2015, 10:59:22 PM

That seems odd for sure. When I have the DS-5 switched to stereo I get each pickup out of the respective bass and treble sockets. When it is switched to mono I get both pickups from the bass socket and the bridge pickup from the treble socket.

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: keith_h on April 02, 2015, 05:41:36 AM

Try exercising the DS-5 Stereo/mono switch if it hasn't been used in a while.  
 
Keith

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: fmm on April 02, 2015, 07:06:43 AM

Excellent ideas.
 
The plan for tonight:
1. DS-5R in mono mode, see if I get both pickups out of bass, bridge pickup out of treble.
2. Excercise the DS-5R stereo/mono switch.
3. Use a non-Alembic bass.  Plug into input A, see if the signal also ends up in B (and visa-versa)

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: hieronymous on April 02, 2015, 10:37:27 AM

The two channels of the F-2B should definitely be completely separate. I have used it in the studio with bass in one channel, bass synth pedals in the other, playing simultaneously, with no leakage.

Title: F-2B Issue
Post by: fmm on April 02, 2015, 04:21:29 PM

Maybe it?s the pickup selector switch on the bass.
 
Using a different bass, I verified that there is no crosstalk between channels on the F-2B.
 
Using the Series I, DS-5R in stereo mode:
 
Pickup selector set to both pickups:
Neck pickup drives bass output, bridge pickup drives treble output.
 
Pickup selector set on bridge pickup:
Bridge pickup drives bass and treble outputs, neck pickup has no effect.
 
Pickup selector set on neck pickup:
Neck pickup drives bass and treble outputs, bridge pickup has no effect.
 
W E I R D.