F1X & F2B & C3PO & R2-D2

[wookie]

Okay guys you always help me out and so I need it again.
I have always been a simple plug in and play bassist (and guitar a bit too) but recently I've found the glory of outboard preamps! So now I'm wondering;
1) what is an f1x (in simple people terms) is it like series guts in a rack mount case?
 
2) what is the difference between f1x and f2b?  
 
3) does anyone have both running at the same time? If so, what are the pros V. Cons of each?
 
Any additional info will be welcomed as well
 
Thank you guys. I love you all!

[rustyg61]

Both the F1-X & F-2B are preamps with the difference being the F1-X is mono & F-2B is stereo. They both have similar tone controls, bass, mid, treble. I'm told the F1-X sounds slightly different than the F-2B , but I've never used an F1-X so I can't tell you the difference. I have a F-2B & it sounds amazing! It is a stereo preamp so you have 2 separate channels you can run separate instruments through or if you have a Series instrument you can run one pickup through one channel & the other pickup through the other channel which is what I do. You have to option of having a separate output for each channel or it has a combined mono output. The F1-X has. Balanced XLR output on the front for recording or sending a line out signal to the PA, the F-2B does not have that.
 
If you was the ultimate tone control, get a SF-2. It can give you any sound you like!  
 
Here is a detailed description of all 3 -
 
http://www.alembic.com/prod/rackmount.html

[FC Bass]

http://www.alembic.com/prod/rackmount.html
F-1X is a preamp
F-2B is a dual channel preamp (almost the same as two F-1X's)
 
SF-2 is closest to the guts of a Series bass ;-)

[lbpesq]

The F-1X has an effects loop.  The F-2B doesn't.  The F-2B is all tube, while the F-1X has a solid state second stage.  If you want Series-in-a-box, defininitely get an SF-2.
 
Bill, tgo

[jazzyvee]

.... and if you want to go OTT with the audio equivalent of this.

Then get a series II, F2-B and an SF-2.

[wookie]

@jazzy
P/V = NR(T)  
Ha ha!