Should I get an F1X?

[glocke]

I know of an F1X for sale locally and believe I could get it for a good price.  Its in great condition.


Here's the catch, while I've always WANTED an F1x (really always wanted an F2B but I don't think I'll ever find one) I think Im passed the stage where I'd actually use it.  Currently Im using a Mesa TT800 and am pleased with that..it sounds great, and is lightweight. 


Really torn on this...I also own 3 or 4 other   boutique heads (Demeter and Broughton) that I just use in the living room setup or might bring out to a studio jam session...


talk me into or out of this thing.

[rv_bass]

Gregory, I love mine and use it with a power amp in a rack case unless I need to go light with a small cab and small head, which I have as a backup.  If you can get one for a good price, you can try it out to see what you think.  I would think that you could sell it pretty easily if you find that you won’t use it.  That’s my two cents.

[glocke]

Gregory, I love mine and use it with a power amp in a rack case unless I need to go light with a small cab and small head, which I have as a backup.  If you can get one for a good price, you can try it out to see what you think.  I would think that you could sell it pretty easily if you find that you won’t use it.  That’s my two cents.

yeah, thats sort of what I was thinking.  I have the Demeter power amp here..Mini800D I think it is, but from everything I've read, the F2B is really the one I'd want, that said my understand is that the tonal differences between the two are minimal.

I also have a Demter VTB201s here that hasn't been used in ages but sounds great.  Will I notice a huge difference between that and the F1x?

[rv_bass]

I haven’t used the vtb201s, so I can’t make the comparison.

I have a F-1X and F-2B and I don’t see a whole lot of tonal difference between them, I can EQ the same tone from either one.

For comparison, I have just two set ups that I use:  power amp with F-1X or F-2B (sometimes I’ll add an SF-2), or a Walter Woods amp for small and light, and I find that those cover my needs.

It sounds like you already have a lot of amps/preamps, so maybe think about whether you really need another, or are your needs covered with what you already have.  Tough choice since Alembic stuff is so great, but something to consider. 

[garyhead]

Have you ever heard anyone say they regretted getting an F-1X?

If it’s reasonably priced, you can always sell it without loss. 

[jazzyvee]

F2-B's are hard to find.  I think it sounds like that itch needs to be scratched. If you didn't take to it i really doubt you would have problems selling it on as they are pretty rare on the used market.

[dannobasso]

I've had 2 F1X's and 2 SF2's. The tones were wonderful with a PLX 3200 and Epifani Cabs. I sold them when I realized that my amazing Riggs were not being mixed faithfully by the engineers in the clubs in New York and New Jersey. Out front the eq of a P bass would reach the audience.

That said, I would recommend them to anyone who is after a versitile and pure sound. The perfect tone to our instruments.As others have said you have nothing to lose.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I've had 2 F1X's and 2 SF2's. The tones were wonderful with a PLX 3200 and Epifani Cabs. I sold them when I realized that my amazing Riggs were not being mixed faithfully by the engineers in the clubs in New York and New Jersey. Out front the eq of a P bass would reach the audience.

That doesn't sound like a reason to sell the F1-X, it sounds like a reason to hire a better soundman.

Peter (who has _always_ run the bass through a channel with the EQ flat - unless it _was_ a P-Bass......)

[gtrguy]

I prefer the F2B and it's always in my signal chain for recording bass. You can also tweak with it a lot by trying out various 12AX7 and other tubes (12AT7, etc).

[StephenR]

I thought the consensus was that tube rolling with the F2-B yielded negligible changes? I think someone posted sound clips here a while back.

I have owned two different F2-Bs. I really like them and would never sell the one I have but if I was buying an Alembic preamp to gig with I would probably go with the F1X.  Reasons are the built in D.I., effects loop and to a lesser extent bass boost, all missing from the F2-B. In order to use the F2-B in stereo mode on a gig I would need a stereo D.I. and I have yet to find using my SF-2 with the F2-B to work as well as patching it into an effects loop. Naturally your mileage will vary depending on what you want to use the preamp for and of course they are both excellent preamps.

[hammer]

Of course there is always the option of two F1Xs paired with an SF-2.  IMHO this is the best set-up. Given what I haul, the addition of a 2nd F1X is negligible as far as weight is concerned.  I know a while back someone here did a direct comparison of the F1X and F2-B and suggested that the latter had a somewhat "warmer" tone but the differences were subtle.   

[gtrguy]

Tube rolling does make tone changes, just use interesting tubes! Especially vintage ones. Some do not fit in the casing though.

[bigredbass]

If it's a really clean example for a good price, buy it.  They do nothing but appreciate, and if you can ste . . . ., oops, I meant buy it at a good deal, you'll own it for free.  Do your homework first for what the market is for them price-wise.

[glocke]

I've got a hookup on an F2B and will probably go that route.

Its really not clear to me though how I'd use this live..I know a DI box will be involved, but where in my signal chain would it go.  I use an effects board so that complicates things a little bit I guess.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I've got a hookup on an F2B and will probably go that route.

Its really not clear to me though how I'd use this live..I know a DI box will be involved, but where in my signal chain would it go.  I use an effects board so that complicates things a little bit I guess.

Speaking as a soundman, I'd put the DI just before the power amp, so as to get same signal to my board that your amp is getting (and I'd run your channel EQ flat). 

Peter