Author Topic: SF2 electronics question (Read 157 times)

richbass939 · « **on:** December 10, 2005, 05:27:14 PM »

A recent e-bay blurb for a SF2 said that it is basically the Series electronics in a rackmount unit. I think I've heard that before. However, I don't think the Alembic product section blurb says that. How close is the SF2 to the Series onboard electronics?
Thanks,
Rich

edwin · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2005, 05:36:15 PM »

The SF2 goes beyond the Series II electronics. Not only is the range of sweep much greater (esp in the low end), but you also get band pass and high pass options as well.

Edwin

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2005, 07:18:29 PM »

And you can run it in Series, Parallel, or Stereo.

bob · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2005, 09:23:05 PM »

Start by pulling the two filters, plus a volume/gain pot for each, out of a Series II.

Make sure it's a II, so you get the Continuously Variable Q (CVQ) knobs, rather than toggles with some fixed points.

On the instrument filters, the frequency range is 350 Hz - 6 kHz. Drop the low end down to 45 Hz (this is a Big Deal, especially if you're playing bass).

Add a toggle switch on each channel, allowing you to choose between low, band, or high pass filter mode.

At the very least, add a third knob, so that you can do a 3 way mix of the straight (unfiltered) signal, with two separately filtered signals of your choice. And as Dave says, you can mix them in various other ways.

It's an amazing tool, quite a bit more flexible than what you get on an instrument, and it can also be configured to produce enough gain that you can use it as a preamp, if you don't need some of the other things a preamp might offer (e.g. tube sound, more tone controls, etc).

Plus, you can get one (even new) for much less than Series electronics, though that's not really a fair comparison, and involves some other issues.

richbass939 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2005, 09:00:22 AM »

Thanks everyone for the input. I think my basic question has been answered. It appears that my Epics, run through the SF2, would get many, most, or all of the Series sounds with more flexibility.
Now for the nagging question I have. Why would I spend several thousand dollars for Series I or II electronics when I can get more in a rackmount for one thousand dollars. Bob said that there are some other issues. Aside from the convenience of having it all onboard at my fingertips what are the other advantages of the S-I or S-II?
Rich

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2005, 05:16:13 AM »

The pickups sound different; so the starting point is not the same. While all other Alembic models use stacked humcancelling pickups, the Series basses use single coil pickups with a humcancelling dummy pickup. An Epic with an SF-2 will sound great; but it won't sound the same as a Series bass.