Author Topic: SF-2 added to my rig (Read 184 times)

ajdover · « **on:** September 10, 2004, 05:40:12 PM »

Folks,

I just added a used SF-2 to my rig, and all I can say is if you don't have one, and can afford one, get one. That one piece of equipment makes every bass I own sing, and I'm not exaggerating. I plugged in my '76 Rickenbacker 4001 this evening, and you would have thought Chris Squire had just picked up my bass and started playing (not my playing, mind you - the sound!). My God, can that piece of equipment make a difference.

I'm using an Ampeg SVT-IV Pro, and basically I use the SF-2 as my tone control (the EQ on the SVT-IV is set flat, with all the treble and bass boost buttons on, mid shift all the way to the left), and I am just amazed at the sounds I can conjure from it. I hook it up by running th biamp outputs to the inputs of the SF-2, and then the outs from the SF-2 to the inputs on the SVT IV. It works great.

I know there have been a lot of posts singing the SF-2's praises, but I just had to say something. Like I said, if you can lay your hands on one, do so by all means. You will not be disappointed.

Alan

hollis · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2004, 06:59:39 PM »

Very cool Alan. That's a good piece of info.

Thanks

dannobasso · « **Reply #2 on:** September 11, 2004, 07:37:48 AM »

Until a while ago, I always thought that it was an extravagence. I was very wrong! This thing can make a non-Alembic sound incredible. I just picked up a second SF2 for my second rig from Ash in Paramus. My friends are always looking out for my addiction needs and call me when they see something. Old demo stock that never moved in the store. I had to order a power supply for it from Mary. Try to take advantage of the financing deals that Ash and GC run and get one of these babies!
(I run mine in the fx loop in the F1X.)
Danno

dannobasso · « **Reply #3 on:** September 11, 2004, 07:39:52 AM »

Until a while ago, I always thought that it was an extravagence. I was very wrong! This thing can make a non-Alembic sound incredible. I just picked up a second SF2 for my second rig from Ash in Paramus. My friends are always looking out for my addiction needs and call me when they see something. Old demo stock that never moved in the store. I had to order a power supply for it from Mary. Try to take advantage of the financing deals that Ash and GC run and get one of these babies!
(I run mine in the fx loop in the F1X.)
Danno

bassman10096 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 11, 2004, 08:22:29 AM »

I'll second Danno's comment. The SF-2 does absolute wonders for non-Alembic sound and takes the sound of your Alembic(s) to a new level. That's in addition to giving you flexibility to better work with room acoustics, etc.

Ash in Paramus - that's a blast from the past. I grew up about 3 mi from there in Ridgewood. I remember that store opening!

BTW, if ever in a pinch for a wall-wart power supply - remember that Radio Shack generally stocks all voltages, plug sizes and styles AND (this can be critical) polarities. Because of the last criterion, I would always check before using any other power supply than the one you are replacing. But once you do - there's nothing special about one wall wart compared to another.

Bill

xlrogue6 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 11, 2004, 04:38:20 PM »

What if the (excessively) vast array of coax plugs was used for Good, i.e. voltage/polarity standardization? Each voltage/polarity combination could have its own inner and outer diameter, and what the heck, shaft length so you couldn't kill an externally powered device without going to a lot of effort.

No, on second thought, it's MUCH better the way it is now, where all those different connectors apparently exist only to make generic replacement unnecessarily complicated.

bassman10096 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 11, 2004, 04:51:06 PM »

What idealism! No joke - your suggestion would save me from a lot of obsessive due diligence every time I tried for a generic replacement. You hit the head on the nail about the complication that exists today. I was astounded at the huge number of plug styles and sizes Radio Shack had on hand.

adriaan · « **Reply #7 on:** September 11, 2004, 04:59:53 PM »

I seem to remember I had (not an SF-2 but) an Alecto wal-wart with a 4-way coax plug, on which you could switch the polarity as well as the voltage, where the 4-way provided different thicknesses. Still not a very dependable sort of apparatus, but better than being lumped with 16 different wal-warts.

dannobasso · « **Reply #8 on:** September 11, 2004, 10:33:19 PM »

Radio Shack, what would we all do without it in a pinch! The SF2 is a wall wart and it states 10.5-19.5v DC. In the past I messed up my Moog Taurus 2 pedals with the wrong supply. Dis time I go right to da source! Murphy's Law was drafted in my house! On Ash I bought my first bass A Ripper L9S back in 78 for $360.00! AJDover helped me replace it this year. Get yourselves an SF2! You'll wonder why you waited so long. I know i did.
Danno

hollis · « **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2004, 03:05:56 PM »

Hey Danno,
I just layed one away today! I'll pick it up in a couple of weeks....oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy!

dannobasso · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2004, 04:55:32 PM »

Congrats!
Danno

hollis · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2004, 05:30:25 PM »

Thanks Danno,
I picked up an F1X a little while ago, and my God, what a great piece... soooo, after reading all the great posts about the SF2, it was kinda a no brainer. Which is important for me, 'cause no brain pretty much describes what I've got left....