Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: hydrargyrum on February 11, 2008, 09:23:38 AM

Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: hydrargyrum on February 11, 2008, 09:23:38 AM
Hey All,
 
Maybe some of the folks out there who are savvy with electronics can offer some advice.  My SF-2 has the unusual feature that some times when I turn on the unit in mono mode, only one filter will be working.  This can be usually be remedied by unplugging the unit and plugging it back in again (sometimes it takes a couple of restarts).   I bought the unit used, and it came with a non-original wall wart that seems to be fine.  Anyone care to share their thoughts?  Thanks in advance.
 
(Message edited by hydrargyrum on February 11, 2008)
 
(Message edited by hydrargyrum on February 11, 2008)
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: David Houck on February 11, 2008, 08:14:07 PM
Mine appears to be non-original too, so I don't know what the specs should be.  And I'm non eletronics savvy, but one thing that occurs to me with symtoms like this is a bad capacitor.
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: David Houck on February 11, 2008, 08:16:42 PM
On the wall wart, Mica did post this (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=264) to the FAQ section.
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: hydrargyrum on February 12, 2008, 06:27:38 AM
Hmm, well it sounds like the power supply is fine then.  I suppose I am looking at something a bit more complicated.  Thanks for the advice Dave.
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: hieronymous on February 12, 2008, 07:48:18 AM
Did you try the old exercise the jacks trick? It's explained here for the F-1X (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=243).
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: hydrargyrum on February 12, 2008, 09:42:15 AM
I didn't realize that they needed to be exercised (I guess we have something in common).  I'll give it a shot, and thanks for the advice.
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: olieoliver on February 12, 2008, 09:52:11 AM
At first I read it as exorcise. I thought you were going to need holy water and rosary beads.
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: hieronymous on February 12, 2008, 09:54:39 AM
I didn't realize that they needed to be exercised (I guess we have something in common).  
LOL!!!
 
I received an SF-2 when I purchased my doubleneck. I then traded it off to someone else, and they had a problem with one of the channels not working. Exercising the jacks fixed the problem, so hopefully it will work for you too!
 
(I eventually ended up getting another SF-2, and I love it!)
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: mica on February 12, 2008, 08:01:23 PM
I'll be looking in to see your report after exercising the jacks.
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: hydrargyrum on April 26, 2008, 07:25:52 PM
Well, it has been a very long time, but between raising a ten month old, commuting two hours a day, and trying to sell a house in one of the worst markets for decades, I finally got a chance to exercise my jacks on my SF-2.  My initial results have been successful.  I  would have described this problem as intermittent before, so I am reluctant to declare a full recovery, but all seems to be well for now.  Sorry for the delay in my reply to the Alembic folks. I'll be sure to provide any further updates, but for now I am happily tweaking knobs again.
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: David Houck on April 27, 2008, 10:36:47 AM
I have noticed here that all kinds of simple projects around the house take months to get accomplished.
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: terryc on April 28, 2008, 08:45:33 AM
davehouck..totally agree with you on the house projects..I think it is because YOU think they take a trivial amount of time that you can do it anytime only to find out it has been months or even years before you finally get around to it(or it fails and costs twice/three times as much to fix!!)
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: jazzyvee on January 13, 2009, 10:47:55 PM
In the last paragraphs of the SF-2 information http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/sf2superfilter.html (http://alembic.stores.yahoo.net/sf2superfilter.html)
 
The Super Filter has many applications. ............Interesting vocal effects including band limiting can be dialed in. And the opposite of the last effect can be used to extend the frequency response of closed box speaker enclosures. The Super Filter is a very useful tool.
 
 
Can you explain how the SF-2 can extend the frequency response of closed box speaker enclosures and what that means in practical use please.
 
I'm using mine with the F1-X pre-amp, QSC amp and Mesa cabs and having trouble getting any meat in the mid range for slapping punch. I seem to get Dub bass at the bottom and crispness at the top.
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: adriaan on January 14, 2009, 12:55:40 AM
Jazzy - do those Mesa cabs have ports/tunnels? The quote specifies closed box speaker enclosures.
Title: SF-2 Issues
Post by: jazzyvee on January 14, 2009, 03:58:09 PM
yeah the 2x10 has a port at the back but not sure about the others.