Author Topic: S-F2 (Read 332 times)

strangerones · « **on:** February 11, 2006, 11:51:02 AM »

Hi all,

So...I just purchased an S-F2 from Bass Central. I'll currently be using it with a Skylark and the reissue of the 4x10 Fender Bassman. I plan on putting together a full rig system in the future, but I was wondering if anyone has ever used the S-F2 with a combo amp and what sort of success they've had?

Thanks,
James

lbpesq · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2006, 12:27:48 PM »

James:

You're going to love the SF-2. I use it in the effects loop of my Mesa Boogie Mark III combo. I set one channel as a low pass filter and the other as a high pass filter. Then think of the SF-2 as a 3 channel mixer: bass, treble, and dry. To get the right settings, first I turn the gain on the two filter channels all the way off and tweak my amp with the dry signal only. Then I turn the dry gain all the way off, turn up one filter channel on the SF-2, say the bass cannel, and set it to accentute the bass frequencies per personal taste. Then turn this channel gain back to zero, turn up the other channel, in this case the treble one, and tweak it to taste. Finally I turn up all three gains and adjust accordingly. Once I get the frequency and Q set on the two filter channels, I only mess with the gains while I'm paying. Want a little more bass? Dial up the bass gain, etc. If you don't have an effects loop, you can use the SF-2 between your guitar and amp. (My bass player uses it this way with his old Traynor combo). It is set in the factory at a 10db boost. You can change this internally to either a 0 db or 20 db boost. You can read more about the SF-2 here:

http://alembic.com/prod/sf2.html

It is truly a remarkable unit. When I got mine, my bass player tried it and wouldn't play without it! I had to find another on eBay for him before I could get mine back! Enjoy yours.

Bill, tgo

foth · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2006, 02:33:57 PM »

Bill,

I know you use a BBE sonic maximizer with your SF-2. Do you put it in front, set it, then adjust the SF-2?

Paul

lbpesq · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2006, 02:40:24 PM »

I have the BBE after the SF-2. I basically found a setting I liked and leave it. The changes from adjusting the pots on the BBE are much more subtle than tweaking the SF-2. The BBE just sort of makes everything a little clearer/livelier/more present.

Bill, tgo

strangerones · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2006, 10:42:07 AM »

Bill,

Thanks for the info. I'm looking forward to playing with this new toy. (I'm hoping I'll have it in my possession before a gig next weekend). I'll post an update after I recieve it and let you know how its going...

James

palembic · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2006, 04:28:46 PM »

The SF-2 is a fine working tool! My advice would be: don't use it too quickly on stage, that box is FULL of surprises and it will takes some time to tweak it out and to get JUST YOUR tone exactly right
Enjoy!

Paul TBO

foth · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2006, 02:02:09 PM »

Thanks Bill. Sorry about the thread hijack James!
Paul

strangerones · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2006, 07:42:54 AM »

No problem.

So, I've used it some, and I'm amazed. I even took it to a bass player friend and let him try it, and he fell in love. Based on my limited experience though, it seems as if the SF-2 is better for bass, as we were able to find many great and usable tones, yet in trying it on guitar it seemed extremely easy to have too much of any one thing. I'm going to spend a bunch more time with it.

Is it just me, or are Alembic instrument's tone controls even more sensitive when running through this unit?

David Houck · « **Reply #8 on:** February 18, 2006, 12:49:13 PM »

James; I supposed it depends on how you've got it set up. If you have the dry channel volume all the way up and the two filter channel volumes all the way down then it probably doesn't effect the sensitivity of the instrument's controls at all.

strangerones · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2006, 01:22:25 PM »

So far I've been using it with the dry volume all the way up, and varying the filter volumes between 5 and 10. It occurs to me in writing this that I may want to try backing off the dry volume some.

I had a much better experience with it today, so much so that I'm going to attempt to use it at a gig tonight. I think its just a matter of getting a feel for how it works and developing an ear for how it changes your tone. I was able to really heighten the clarity of my guitar.

I also found a tone that sounded almost like an envelope filter, which I found interesting.

On to more research...

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2006, 01:32:43 PM »

I have the dry channel backed off a good bit but then I'm using it with a bass instead of a guitar. Also, the SF-2 is great for adjusting your sound for different rooms.

jlpicard · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2006, 10:56:05 PM »

I have owned an SF-2 for a number of years now and I still keep finding new and exciting sounds in it. It's like a bottomless box of ear candy!

strangerones · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2006, 08:33:52 AM »

So I've gotten to use the SF-2 to various situations. My first gig with it went fantastic. It really cleaned up my sound, and for the first time I could here everything I played. The high end was especially shining.

I must have gotten lucky with dialing it in at that gig, cause I havn't had so much luck since then.

How would I clean up the low end some? At the moment, it has more of a wall shaking bass sound that is getting lost in the mix. In turning down the gain of the low pass filter, or turning up the gain of the high pass, if just lowers the volume of that same undistinct bass sound. Same with cutting out more of the lows with the high pass. Is there a way to dial in something that cuts through a little better on the low end?

lbpesq · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2006, 09:01:00 AM »

James:

You might switching the low channel filter from low pass to band pass and then find the frequency you want to accentuate. This will cut out frequencies both above and below where you set it. Amazing little box, that SF-2, ain't it?!!!

Bill, tgo

strangerones · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2006, 09:13:53 AM »

Bill,

Thanks. I'll give that a shot this evening.

James