Author Topic: Some new owner questions... (Read 610 times)

son_of_magni · « **on:** January 11, 2004, 05:21:04 PM »

Ok, I have my friggin' awesome MK 6-string fretless. I have a few thoughts that lead to some questions.

It would be really nice to bi-amp this thing. I have so many heads and speakers it's just the obvious thing to do. So I'm just looking for feedback from anyone that has tried these things out:
Wire for stereo output
Add pickup phase reversal switch

Also what head would you recommend with plenty of power with a nice tube sound?

And a couple questions about the standard electronics. I haven't even taken the backplate off yet so maybe these are stupid questions. It seems like when I turn the pan control clockwise it turns down the neck pickup, anti-clockwise turns down the bridge pickup. Seems backwards to me (not complaining though). Next, when the Q controls are turned off (via the switch) they still have some effect. Interesting that my Pedulla does the same thing, but why?
- Karl

bob · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2004, 06:48:16 PM »

Karl,

The Q switch only controls the resonant peak you get at the filter frequency. Turning the switch off means you don't get a boost where the filter starts to roll off the highs, but the filter is still in place and active (always).

To eliminate the filter effect as much as possible, you also need to rotate the filter frequency knob fully clockwise (sometimes referred to here as the wide open position). In this position, the filter will have no effect on frequencies below 6 kHz, and you'll essentially hear everything.

Your pan control sounds backwards to me, but I'll defer on that and the rest of your questions to others with more experience.
-Bob

valvil · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2004, 07:24:19 PM »

Hello Karl,

Congratulations on your new Alembic; I'll take a not-so-wild guess and say it's likely a walnut beauty with a cone headstock and omega cutout.
You will receive requests for pictures from our members very soon I believe...
In regards to bi-amping, personally I think the easiest way (but also my favorite) is to use a crossover ( I use the one on the F1X). Much less complicated ( and likely less expensive) than modifiyng your Alembic. Even with my series I, which is capable of stereo operation, I go mono into the F1x and split the signal with the crossover; I prefer this solution because I would rather split the frequencies than the pickups. Going the other way (splitting pickups) you'd also need either a stereo preamp or 2 preamps.

Your panpot seems to be operating backwards indeed. It can be fixed simply by reversing the pickup leads, which are clip-on, so no soldering is required.

Let me know if you need help with that.

Valentino

bigredbass · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2004, 11:01:33 PM »

son:

-stereo output...

well it's actually an output for each pickup. I could see where this could sound great standing in front of it (with a huge wallet!), but it's one of those things that doesn't translate through the PA unless you're traveling with Showco or Clair Brothers. A real quick way for stereo as most people think of it is the way steel players do it: Plug into a chorus, etc. with left and right outs into two amps (RedHeads, etc.) or a rack L/R effect into the two channels of a power amp running identical cabinets L and R.
Again, though, it sounds great to you, but really doesn't go through the typical PA most of us see on club gigs.

-phase reversal switch

...believe me, with the filters, you can get real close to that quack-quack sound of out of phase pickups you get on a bass. Spend your money on something else if it were me.

-biamping

...do any of these heads you have have crossover with the accompanying jacks for the low and high passes? Most mono heads will drive one pass or the other, and you need a second amp for the other pass. There have been some stereo heads that had both amps for biamping: some of the BIG Trace Elliots, GKs, Ashdowns, but more likely you're gonna need a second amp and some fifteens or eighteens to set under your 10s or 12s. Remember you need about twice to four times the power for the lows to match the highs.

-high power tube head with great tone/big juice?

...of course, Dino is an AMPEG clinician and St. Louis Music has done a good job with the 'reborn' Ampeg, so he could clue you in on their many variations on the SVT. ALEMBIC's F-One-X preamp with ANY good stereo power amp would biamp and give terrific TUBE TONE to die for. It would also be hard to go wrong with Mesa's BASS 400 PLUS.

-backwards pan?

...unscrew the back plate. You'll see two little blue boxes. CAREFULLY unclip the connectors on top of each and re-plug them opposite to the way you found them. This will reverse the pan to front-to-back, instead of back-to-front.

J o e y

poor_nigel · « **Reply #4 on:** January 12, 2004, 12:19:36 AM »

What double post? I don't see a double post???!

(Message edited by poor_nigel on January 12, 2004)

poor_nigel · « **Reply #5 on:** January 12, 2004, 12:28:39 AM »

I doubt this will help, but I have time to kill, so . . . For serious gigs, I use an Eden Navigator, which has either stereo output or bi-amed, plus does tube or diode preamp. I generally use the DI outs, stereo, into a graphic equalizer, into a stereo three-way Rane, into BGW's for each range. If outdoors, I use two racks of BGW;s, 4-18's in folder horns, 4-12's and 4-2 drivers adapted to Altec 5000B sectorial horns. Got roadies? Indoors switch the 18's with any number of 15's, and however many 10's and 2 drivers on JBL 2395 slant plates are needed. I use all JBL and Gauss speakers, so they are extremely efficient, and never need more that 500 Watts RMS for the lows, etc., even if I am going for the old Greatful Dead Wall'O'Sound look - I have a truckload of 15's . . . Honestly, I really like just playing out of old tube amps into 15's. Big, little, simple or complex, as long it is fun, go for it.
Cool, killed enough time to get back to work. Later.
Note: I do not run stereo from my bass/RS-5 to my Eden. I only run stereo anything, because my power amps are stereo . . . I have thought about getting another Navigator or an FX-1 and running stereo, but I really do not see the advantage. Hey, try it and let me know.

Side notes: B strings go down to 30Hz, I believe. Got 18's? I'm late for work, again . . . .

mint_bass · « **Reply #6 on:** January 12, 2004, 02:39:28 AM »

i cant really help whith your questions but just thought id say hello and congratulations on the new bass. a 6 fretless that must be hard to play my friend has one and loves it though im sure it will be buetiful so well done talk to you soon

dean_m · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2004, 08:04:03 AM »

Hey Karl,

Congrats on the new bass!!! So did you get any sleep this weekend?

I wouldn't be a proper Paul if I didn't stomp my beer mug on the table and request PIX PIX PIX.
BTW-My wife Rachel has me on a carb diet so Ive got to watch my beer intake now and I refuse to drink light beer. There's no carbs in vodka thought is there?!?!?
As far as Ampeg gear goes, I'll have some info on new stuff when I get back from the NAMM show next week. I'll be at the Ampeg booth every day if any of you are planning on being there.

Peace,
Dino

gbarchus · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2004, 04:28:44 PM »

I too like the sound of tubes with 15 speakers. With stereo out, I have used an F2B preamp with a stereo Marshall tube power amp. That way I can put each pick-up through a separate channel and speaker. On stage it sounds great. It may not have the right balance off the stage, so I do rely on a soundman to get it right from the mono out of the F2B. Even though the Marshall has only 100 watts per channel, I can keep up with three electric guitars! There's a picture on another page.
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/1941.html?1033976607

bigredbass · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2004, 07:47:01 AM »

Gale:

Yes m'am! I often think that like Coke in the little bottles or a Hershey bar, single cabs with JBL 15s are a classic sonic recipe that's hard to improve upon.

There's a LOT to be said for the elegance of simplicity.

Thanks for reminding me.

J o e y

son_of_magni · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2004, 09:21:20 PM »

Well, that's a lot to think about. I had forgotten that I had asked this question and started to read this interesting thread before I realized I had started it :-P...

Anyways, I was looking at a Hartke twin amp with tube front ends, I think 350 watts a side. Anyone ever seen those?

I don't know how to make the pics appear here but here's some links. I'll post a link with all my basses when I make a place to spread them out ;-)

http://www.sonofthor.com/images/Alembic1a.gif
http://www.sonofthor.com/images/Alembic2a.gif
http://www.sonofthor.com/images/Alembic3a.gif

If you want higher res, take the a off the filename...

angelboy · « **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2004, 07:57:13 AM »

I use a Hartke 3500 and a 4x10 XL series.
The head is great as it has Tube and Trans controls, compression, high + Lo controls + a 12 band EQ. (I think it's a 12!)I'm not sure if it's this that you're talking about?

It's a really punchy system.
I've yet to plug my alembic into it.........it's a long story!

son_of_magni · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2004, 09:29:36 AM »

Actually it's the Hartke Model 7000. I just found one on ebay and grabbed it for $650.
- Karl

willie · « **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2004, 12:43:22 PM »

son of magni
i used to have a hartke 7000 amp, also had 6 XL series cabinets. SOLD EM ALL. found eden cabinets and they smoke the hartkes which have no bottom end. i use an alembic f1x with crown power base 3 amps. they can be operated in bridge or parallel mono if you run full range cabinets or in stereo if you use the cross over outputs of the preamp. the crossover outputs with the amp in stereo will give you the best clearest sound even at very high sound pressure levels. you gotta try it talk about a BIG sound.
congrats on the bass and lets see pictures

son_of_magni · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2004, 02:00:33 PM »

I tried a Hartke 350 in a music store and liked the sound. The 7000 is basically two of those in one box with the addition of the crossover. I'm planning to run the highs into my SWR Goliath II (4 10's and a horn) and the lows into my home made 2x15. Really should have a 1x18 though...
- Karl