Naming of Alembic Preamps

[jazzyvee]

What inspired the names of the alembic preamps?
F-1X
F-2B
SF-2 ( was there ever a SF-1?)

[dela217]

I am no expert, but I think that the F in the preamps  stand for Fender.   I do not have an F-2B, but I do own an F-2.   Not sure if there was an F-1, but I think the 2 is for 2 channels.   

Michael

[elwoodblue]

Is the 'B' for bass ?
'X' for crossover ?


I'm picturing a children's book with spelling clues and Alembic's story.
(Maybe with pop-ups  )

[pauldo]

<SNIP>
I'm picturing a children's book with spelling clues and Alembic's story.
(Maybe with pop-ups  )

That sounds like a good project.  Keep it simple for us technologically challenged folk!

[JimmyJ]

I used to think "F-2B" meant "Fender (style) tube-y". 
We must get to the bottom of this!
Jimmy J

[dela217]

Well, I know that there is an F2, and an F2B.   Is that just the second generation of the F2?   The original F2 had some issues that were worked out with the 2B.   One of them was the power supply section was noisy.   There was only 1 filter capacitor.   And the F2B has a mono output.   The original F2 was stereo only.

[dela217]

Ah!    From Janet Furman's website:

I designed the preamp power supply, circuit board, and rackmount chassis. I called it the F-2B. “F” was a tribute to Fender, whose Twin Reverb triode preamp stage inspired it. “2” because it had two channels, and “B” because the first circuit board layout, designated “A”, had problems and had to be re-done. Alembic turned this into a successful product that they still sell today, 40 years later. I doubt they remember where the name came from.

[elwoodblue]

I used to think "F-2B" meant "Fender (style) tube-y". 
We must get to the bottom of this!
Jimmy J

Yes..me 2 

[edwardofhuncote]

Just one of the many reasons I like to hang out here. 

[gtrguy]

According to Alembic, the F-2b was inspired by Fender's Dual Showman. I also think SF stands for 'Super Filter'.

[goran]

That's a great question, well I call a joker, Mica!

[mica]

Well, we _do_in fact know why things are named what they are around these parts (what a silly thing to say!). The F2 was harder to manufacture, so a couple of revisions were made. The chassis were a modular system known as Moduline, and we purchased these off the shelf. I wish they were still made (I'm actually considering designing a similar chassis to be custom made for us).

The SF-2 is in fact for Super Filter 2 channel

The F-1X uses the F from Fender in honor of Tom Walker's circuit, 1 channel and the crossover.

[jazzyvee]

Thanks Mica, I knew there had to be some logic in the naming.  I'm happy I have a few of your great American basses named after Great British Sports cars.   

[gtrguy]

Maybe they can change the name of the Epic to the 'E-type', and a 'DB-4' would be nice, along with a 'Volante'. And an 'MG-B' and a 'TR-3' would fill out the line! Then they could have a product line almost as confusing as all the ones Fender now makes.

[edwin]

And then there's the IN-2  2 channel INput module.