Author Topic: F2B with 2 wire cord - replace with 3 wire ? (Read 116 times)

fleur_du_mal · « **on:** March 29, 2006, 12:04:50 PM »

Should I be replacing this with a 3 wire ? I just landed F2B #812. I'm using it in front of a GK 1001 with the pad engaged. This idea came about while trying to balance the volume of a passive bass with a Dark Star and an active. I've always dug the old Fender RCA tone stack so this was a no brainer. Oddly enough, it seems to work great. Finding a used F2B on the other hand took some time.

Anyhow - am I nutz to run with the 2 wire ?

gblick · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2006, 09:32:53 AM »

I'm in my 24th year with my '2-wire' F-2B, no problems!

I did replace all my electrolytic caps a few years ago (just to be safe, it was still working fine), and I suggest you do the same if yours is over 15 years old and never been recapped.

There is some foam padding support under the large filter caps which deteriorates and starts to crumble and get mushy when it gets very old. This foam support should also be replaced if it shows these signs of deterioration.

(Message edited by gblick on March 30, 2006)

gbarchus · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2006, 12:59:35 AM »

Yeah, the foam on my early '70s F2B DID completely deteriorate and the capacitors broke off at the solder joint! I was able to resolder them but I know they should be replaced.

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2006, 02:51:36 PM »

Hi Malcolm, welcome to the board. My F-2B is a two wire and it hasn't been an issue.

fleur_du_mal · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2006, 03:33:58 PM »

Thanks guys, I'm probably going to do the 3 wire, re-wire as it makes sense from an electrical perspective. I suspect that this particular F2B was a re-cap as the filter caps are tanding off the board a bit and tied up tightly with a thick tie-wrap.

This is probably heresy around these parts but I'm using the F2B to front end my GK 1001. The two basses I have on stage mostly have wildly differing output levels. So the F2B is doing dual duty. Providing that wonderful Showman thing and balancing out the levels. My GK has become a mono power amp with a nifty conour DI and EQ built in ... It actually seems to work really well with the 14db pad engaged on the GK.

I could have done something like this by adding a Radial Bassbone to the mix but this just seemed so much more elegant.