F-1X subtleties

[HighNote]

Hey all,

When I go direct DI from the F-1x to the board the subtleties of the f-1x are obvious, apparent and mind bendingly awesome.  When I skip the board and go direct to a cabinet or three, a lot of that subtly is lost.

So when I go back and listen to all the Phil tones, usually from about ‘80 on, he seems to be able to bring out the subtleties of the f-1x (with eq too) in a live setting with I’m assuming uses an array or cabinets.

So I guess the question is, how can you get the subtleties  of a “through the board sound”, out of a cabinet.

Help?

[JimmyJ]

Hey Bob,

Well, think about how you are listening to that board sound.  That would be full-range monitors or headphones, right?  So if you want to do that with an amp setup, look into a full-range monitor wedge, PA gear, or maybe even a keyboard amp.  Alembic instruments and outboard gear have a very wider frequency response so if you want to hear all the subtitles you'll need a system that can amplify it.

I often play through full range wedges as I simply prefer that DI sound.  But for many players the amp is an important part of their tone.  For example, most guitarists I know want to mic their amp and won't go near a DI box.   

Jimmy J

[HighNote]

Ah perfect, thanks J

Full range monitors sound like the slipstream to dabble with.

Cheers : )

[JuancarlinBass]

Hey Bob,

Well, think about how you are listening to that board sound.  That would be full-range monitors or headphones, right?  So if you want to do that with an amp setup, look into a full-range monitor wedge, PA gear, or maybe even a keyboard amp.  Alembic instruments and outboard gear have a very wider frequency response so if you want to hear all the subtitles you'll need a system that can amplify it.

I often play through full range wedges as I simply prefer that DI sound.  But for many players the amp is an important part of their tone.  For example, most guitarists I know want to mic their amp and won't go near a DI box.   

Jimmy J

Comes to show how different we bass players are, and yet the same! But yes, I also do prefer (on Bass) the DI sound, precisely for the ability to tweak on those subtleties. And if I happen to want that little "something" I can also mike a cab and mix it down with the DI. No sweat, best of both worlds!

[HighNote]

[edwin]

So when I go back and listen to all the Phil tones, usually from about ‘80 on, he seems to be able to bring out the subtleties of the f-1x (with eq too) in a live setting with I’m assuming uses an array or cabinets.

I don't know if this is helpful to you or not, but if you are talking about the Phil I think you are talking about, he wasn't using an Alembic pre from 1980 on but a Groove Tubes Studio Bass Preamp, which was also featured in a number of SWR heads.

There are a number of speakers out there that do simulate using a PA cabinet, such as the fEARful and Mike Arnopol Soundworks cabinets. I've used both (and the MAS 210 Flex is more or less my main cabinet these days) and it's a very different experience from using regular bass cabinets, which tend to color the sound considerably.

[jazzyvee]

@Highnote, I have been using Barefaced FRFR Big Twin II and Big Baby II cabs for about 3 years now and am really impressed with their abiity to reproduce the sound of my alembics and respond to the changes i make tonally,  wide or subtle, from my instrument, F-1x or SF-2. I guess with a FRFR cab or DI you are not fighting the in-baked sound of the cab.
I’m curious if you found a solution yet to resolve your situation?

[s_wood]

HighNote:

I agree with what the others have posted above. If you want to hear a tone that’s similar to the tone that is produced by your F-1X it’s necessary to use a FRFR cab. Most bass cabs made by the larger makers are intentionally designed to have a “baked in” tone, and so the frequency response of those cabs is not flat. Often the low mids (around 200hz or so) are pumped up to create a perception of extra loudness or extended bass response. Unfortunately, doing that robs the cab of some detail. A FRFR cabs produce a more detail sound because of the flat response, but to some players they sound “sterile” for exactly that reason.

The various Greenboy-designed cabs (fEarful and fEarless) are all excellent FRFR cabs. That’s what I use these days. The Barefaced cabs mentioned by Jazzy are also excellent. I used to use Accugroove cabs and they are a great option as well.