Alembic Brown Bass running in Stereo

[Harleybass]

I want to try running my Alembic Brown Bass in Stereo. Never Did it. What is the best cable to use ?I realize you need a stereo amp. And each pick up will go to each amp. Any Tips ? Tricks? Thanks so much

[rv_bass]

Try Bayou Cables, I don't see a sereo splitter cable, but he would prabably make you one.  I use his mono-to stereo caples when not using a DS-5.   

 http://bayoucables.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4

There are a few ways you can run it with your preamp and amp (e.g., stereo into separate preamp channels and then mono out a one channel power amp and speaker cab;   stereo to two preamp channels and two-channel power amp channels and stereo out to separate speaker cabs; etc.).

An F2-B and two-channel power amp are good combinations for this application.

Have fun!   

[Harleybass]

Thanks for your input. I have currently downsized to Mesa WD 800 and 2 single 15 “ Epifani cabs. Monster tone. I want to experiment with playing in Stereo

[hieronymous]

There are actually many ways that a stereo bass can be run.

One common way is to run each pickup to a separate amp/speaker setup. One would think that the character of each amp would be part of the approach.

Another is similar to what you may be suggesting - run each pickup through its own signal chain, then blend them and play through one amp. This can be accomplished with an Alembic F-2B, which allows you to either run each pickup to separate amps or blended and sent to one amp. I have also successfully used a mixer to combine the signals.

One dream set-up is an SF-2 Superfilter and F-2B preamp - then you get to decide things like which one is first in the signal chain! Can also think about effects - overdrive/distortion on the bridge pickup, clean neck to preserve the bottom, octave only on the neck, clean or modulated bridge, the possibilities are endless!

Have fun experimenting!

[rv_bass]

I just looked at the WD 800 and it looks like it only has one instrument input and one channel.  So you would have to use a second WD 800 or an amp with two channels.

Or, I wonder of you can send one of the pickups to an effects return on the WD 800 and the other to the normal instrument input jack.  I have no idea if that would work, just a thought.

[Harleybass]

Hey , let’s give it a try . Thank You

[keith_h]

As Rob suggested Bayou Cables can make you a stereo cable. Butch built mine and I have been satisfied with it. If you want something quick and cheap any 1/4" TRS to 1/4" TR Y cable will do but since they are on the bass side cables can get a little messy.

The best thing to do is play around with running separate cabinets and separate signal chains into a single cabinet. When I last played around with running stereo I found I liked running with separate cabinets the best. To me the sound was more open and had more clarity. I tried both symmetrical and asymmetrical speaker setups.  Out of my various cabinets I liked the sound of my JBL K140's running the neck pickup and my 2X10 Bag Ends on the bridge the most. I think this is due to the cabinet characteristics complementing the natural characteristics of the pickup locations. In any event it was fun playing around with the various configurations.

[BeenDown139]

I tried both symmetrical and asymmetrical speaker setups.  Out of my various cabinets I liked the sound of my JBL K140's running the neck pickup and my 2X10 Bag Ends on the bridge the most.

my last stereo big rig was similar to this, series II -> DS5R -> F2B -> mesa boogie stereo 90 watt tube amp -> speaker cabinets, each pickup had its own separate signal chain.  speaker cabinets side-by-side, separated by about 12".  bridge speaker stage right, neck stage left.  the sound was enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

on the down side, this rig was a real pain in a$$ to transport to a gig because you're basically humping 2 full bass amps around.  the rack weighed in at about 80 lbs and since it was all tubes, ya couldn't sling it around like it was a box of rocks.  most of the FOH guys i worked didn't know how to deal with this kind of setup, so we usually wound up sending a mono signal FOH.  So the only beneficiary of all this effort was mainly me and anyone else who happened to be standing in front of me on my side of the stage.

[edwardofhuncote]

I got happy one night and fed #80-1684 into two different amps on a gig. I sent the bridge pickup to my regular rig, an F-1X > Crown XLS > Mesa Boogie Diesel 15, and I sent the neck pickup to my old Mesa WalkAbout Scout 15. It was blissfully violent. And a gross overkill. I don't know if anyone enjoyed it as much as I did, and I frankly don't care. There ain't nuthin' else like that in the world. Probably won't do it that often, but definitely worth doing.

[keith_h]

Oh, I never tried to use what I was doing live. I gave up schlepping a ton of stuff to a gig long ago. For quite a while now it is a single 2X10 or on rare occasions a pair.

[Harleybass]

Thank you for everyone’s input.

[edwin]

I love stereo. This rig sounds amazing, although it needs a bit more power. While the McIntosh MC2105 has amazing tone, it's only 130/wpc (and rated at 105, but that's very conservative).

[cozmik_cowboy]

I got happy one night and fed #80-1684 into two different amps on a gig. I sent the bridge pickup to my regular rig, an F-1X > Crown XLS > Mesa Boogie Diesel 15, and I sent the neck pickup to my old Mesa WalkAbout Scout 15. It was blissfully violent. And a gross overkill. I don't know if anyone enjoyed it as much as I did, and I frankly don't care. There ain't nuthin' else like that in the world. Probably won't do it that often, but definitely worth doing.

I am put to mind of John Cipollina, who ran his SG's neck p/up into 2 Standel bass amps, and his bridge p/up into a Twin Reverb & a Dual Showman head, the latter of which drove 6 Wurlitzer horns - and I mean horns:    http://www.johncipollina.com/rockAmpStack.htm 
The boxes hanging off the sides are an Echoplex & a Standel Modolux tremolo.  On the floor, a Gibson Maestro Fuzz, a Vox Wah, a cuustom control pedal, and something un-IDed.


Quoth Cip: "I like the rapid punch of solid-state for the bottom, and the rodent-gnawing distortion of the tubes on top."




Peter (who has always loved the image of "rodent-gnawing distortion")

[gearhed289]

I got happy one night and fed #80-1684 into two different amps on a gig. I sent the bridge pickup to my regular rig, an F-1X > Crown XLS > Mesa Boogie Diesel 15, and I sent the neck pickup to my old Mesa WalkAbout Scout 15. It was blissfully violent. And a gross overkill. I don't know if anyone enjoyed it as much as I did, and I frankly don't care. There ain't nuthin' else like that in the world. Probably won't do it that often, but definitely worth doing.

I love this! 

[lembic76450]

John, I sent you an email to your profile.
I have an extra cable that you are welcome to.