Author Topic: All tube preamp - amp ! (Read 445 times)

dubalbal · « **on:** February 16, 2009, 05:37:59 AM »

Hello Friends ,

I'm actually looking to start a new rig configuration with an all-tube preamp...of course , our Alembic F 1 x came first to my mind ...i would also know if any of you have other experience on other brands with a full and rich pure and all-tube preamp or amp ? ...

Tkx a lot !

Alain ...from Belgium...

olieoliver · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2009, 06:22:55 AM »

I thought the F1X is a hybrid. Tube/solid-state pre-amp.

Either way it's a great pre-amp. I have one in my rig and it gives a rich warm tone tone and retains some great punch.

OO

glocke · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2009, 06:49:32 AM »

The Demeter VTB201s is good. Ive had one for years...very clean and transparent...but if I had it to do over again Id get an F2B.

dubalbal · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2009, 07:30:04 AM »

Tkx for comments ,

...i'm no expert , but the F2B has all the same features than the F1X , but in stereo , am i correct ? I also heard about Aguilar and the new Ashdown all-tubes head...but never tried one of these , i actually plays on a Ebs Fafner head , that has some problems now due to 4 years of intensive rehearsal , live gigs and ...road of course...

Alain

adriaan · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2009, 08:02:04 AM »

From the descriptions, the single-channel F-1X has a cross-over and a deep switch, both of which are missing on the dual-channel F-2B.

lbpesq · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2009, 08:49:01 AM »

I believe the F-1X has an effects loop while the F-2B doesn't.

Bill, tgo

olieoliver · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2009, 08:57:51 AM »

YEP, my F1-X has a deep switch, cross over, effects loops and a XLR direct out as well as a bright switch (which I think the F-2B has).

OO

olieoliver · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2009, 09:03:32 AM »

While we're on the subject, I was reading through the manual for my Basspod Live and found this.
Is this accurate? Jim Furman designed the F-2B?

OO

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2009, 09:05:46 AM »

The circuitry in the F-1X and F-2B are not the same, and do not sound the same. You can read about them here. Basically, the F-1X has a single tube stage, and the F-2B has two tube stages.

In the F-1X, the preamp's gain is provided by one side of a 12AX7, then come the tone and volume controls, and then a solid state circuit restores the signal to drive the output jack.

In the F-2X, after the tone and volume controls, instead of the solid state circuit, the signal is restored by a second tube stage to drive the output jack.

To my ears, the difference is that the F-1X is cleaner, and the F-2B is tubier.

I think both of them are great preamps.

olieoliver · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2009, 09:13:02 AM »

So for a true ALL tube pre-amp you would want the F-2B correct?

OO

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2009, 09:32:39 AM »

Olie; I don't really know what all tube means.

Jim Furman did work with the Grateful Dead and with Alembic, as did a lot of people. In a not completely unrelated vein, you may find this thread to be of some interest.

olieoliver · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2009, 09:55:55 AM »

Thanks Dave, that's some interesting and technical stuff in that thread. Some over my head.

Alain, you may check out Mesa Boogie. I've never really played through any of their gear but they are mostly tube amps. Flip can probably add a little insite here.

OO

bsee · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2009, 11:56:20 AM »

I know of bass preamps out there that use as many as five tubes. Not only is the input gain controlled by tube, but so, I believe, are the boosts associated with the EQ controls. That's my definition of an all-tube preamp.

Now, whether those additional tubes do anything to improve the tone is subjective. Everyone has a tone palette they are looking for, and the guts of the preamp shouldn't matter as much as the tone coming out.

If you search around here, you'll find other preamp discussions where we talk about some selection issues and using something like a line 6 pod vs a real tube preamp. They're just hitting the streets now, and are really pricey, but I'm hearing good things about the Roland VB-99.

-bob

briant · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2009, 03:11:20 PM »

All tube preamp?

Aguilar DB 680 - ten tube stages of tubey tube goodness.

I have an F-1X as well. I use it for different things than the DB 680. To me the F-1X has a more 60's sort of vibe going on.

dubalbal · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2009, 04:06:36 AM »

...as the db 680 isn't produce anymore , i looked at the db 750...seems to be a real nice piece of tone maker !!! ...the price is really high as well...will i hear the difference compared with my Fafner ebs head ?

Alain