Author Topic: Fat boys or SF-2 Super Filter (Read 408 times)

Bassman8416 · « **on:** October 01, 2014, 05:55:54 AM »

Hey folks. Through a trade and an outright purchase with the Wookie, I have two Spoilers arriving soon. I am looking to use one of these basses in a Grateful Dead tribute, so it is the 70's Phil Lesh tone I am striving for. I do realize this is not a Series I or modified Guild Star Fire etc. I do play through an Eden WT800C with a 810 cab tuned beautifully. Right now I have about $500-$550 to either purchase a fat boy pickup-for bridge position(seems like that is the general consensus on the board)or wait and find an SF-2 super filter. So which would you recommend to add first. Any other things Alembic related you would advise? Thank you for your time.

hammer · « **Reply #1 on:** October 01, 2014, 07:28:41 AM »

As far a flexibility re tone goes my personal opinion is that the SF-2 is the way to proceed. My experience after buying one from a board member is that it allows me to get just about any tone I desire from any of my three Alembics. As far as the fatboy PU, I ordered one for the bridge PU in my custom, but when I compare the tone to my other Alembics which do not have fatboys the differences, though noticeable are IMHO far more subtle.

You just missed a great deal on an SF-2 on the board which went for $350 I think (though I seem to remember it had some minor issues). Most that I've seen advertised are going for around $600-650. There's one recently posted in the Raleigh NC Craigslist (see below) for $650 if you don't mind purchasing from a distance. But then again, there are a few board members out that way who might be willing to check it out for you if you're really interested.

raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/4622257210.html. $650

cozmik_cowboy · « **Reply #2 on:** October 01, 2014, 07:53:54 AM »

Don't forget, Phil was playing through a mix of 18s & 15s then; for getting as close to his tone as possible, consider upgrading your rig first (you won't get the same gravitas with 10s).
Then go SF2, as that will get you most of the electronics from Mission Control (Mica will have to advise as to adding a quad p/up........)

Peter

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #3 on:** October 01, 2014, 09:36:26 AM »

May be obvious, but remember to use flat wound strings...

edwin · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2014, 07:33:14 PM »

I second what Peter and David said for the 70s tone. The Eden is a cool setup but it's very different from Phil's 70s tone with the F2B->McIntosh-> JBL or Gauss 15s and 18s. I've been using a JBL K140 loaded Sunn 200S and it really gets very close (although closer to '72 than '78).

Bassman8416 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 16, 2014, 08:53:54 AM »

It was interesting last night at a gig. Eden WT800C with the house Ampeg classic cabs 410 over a 115, it had a better sound then the 810...more full lower range going on. I used my Spoiler for the first time and it sounded great. I had D'Addario Half Rounds on. Its difficult to find a balance because we play 70's through the 90's and I can't afford different rigs or instruments(at this point. Not sure what would would rig would cover all era's....might not be possible aye?

hieronymous · « **Reply #6 on:** October 16, 2014, 04:30:42 PM »

I would think that with creative use of the filter on your bass you could get some nice variety - lower midrange for the earlier stuff, higher frequencies for later.

The gear authenticity route can be cool, or you can just be yourself and enjoy the music and I'd be willing to bet that will come across no matter what you use.

bigredbass · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2014, 05:10:59 PM »

I run two FatBoy 4's on my BigRedBass, my 5-string Spoiler. I prefer them to AXY's, though it's not a 'night and day' difference. To me the FatBoys sound more MusicMan than the AXY's, which to me were just perfect, studio monitor type tone, a little too sterile for my ears.

But . . . . with a SuperFilter you could approach most any tone you could think of, vs. the fixed tone of any given pickup set.

Ok, YOU decide. Just don't ask me about Eden . . . consider yourself warned.

J o e y

Bassman8416 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2014, 09:20:20 AM »

I have a SuperFilter arriving today. I have searched many threads and also downloaded the user manual. We shall see how it all goes. Ok Joey, whats the deal with Eden brother? Even though it took a while...I had to ask.

bigredbass · « **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2014, 04:38:49 PM »

I ordered an Eden rig at my local dealer (Corner Music, Nashville, THE pro store in town), a Metro Combo and a single 15 extension cabinet. I asked JD, the store manager (and good friend and terrific bassist) to leave it in the box and I'd come down and open it myself just for the fun of it.

Comes in, he calls me, I run down. Boxes are in perfect shape. Open it up. The Metro only makes a flat buzz, no other sound. Bad transformer straight out of the clean box, not a mark on the amp. Geez . . . . We hook up a head to the 115, and the speaker is dragging. They're so blown away we pulled the grill off and pressed the suspension with our hands . . . . . you can hear everything grinding.

So, he calls Eden on the spot, they send a replacement set. They both work fine.

I take it home. Eden recommends breaking in the speakers by playing recorded music through them for an hour or two at reasonable volume. Fine. Hook up the CD, play Steely Dan through it for a couple hours. No gigs so I'm playing around the house every day for a couple weeks.

I begin to hear a scratching sound. You got to be kidding me. Back down to Corner Music. Pull the grill off, the left hand 10, there's a tear in the cone surround right at the dome, from around 6 o'clock to 11. And . . . . Eden does NOT warranty speakers. On a three week old rig that's never left my house.

When I did start gigging with it, it would go into thermal shutdown at the drop of a hat, fuses would come and go, the casters would fall out while I was rolling it, and on and on.

This was built in that twilight between Nordschow selling out to Loud Tech, and them re-vamping Eden's production.

The crazy thing is, in the old days, I had Peaveys that I could throw down three flights of stairs and they'd never miss a beat. No tone, of course, but never a minute's aggravation. I bought Eden THINKING it was really good stuff, and for me it wasn't. Really, really, wasn't.

I was so mad for a long time, I would not go to the NAMM here in Nashville, for fear I'd see him and I'd just lose it !

Just had to ask, eh?

J o e y

Bassman8416 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2014, 07:13:30 PM »

So sorry to bring you back to that nightmare, I have heard similar stories about thattwighlight period.
On a lighter note, the SF-2 Superfilter is amazing...wow. Gives an already excellent sounding Spoiler some major explosive presence. I am searching threads about settings etc. If anyone knows of any, please post them. Thanks guys, I am officially an Alembic player, saving for a Series I now, its a must have at this point.

edwin · « **Reply #11 on:** October 30, 2014, 08:06:09 PM »

The SF-2 is awesome. It really is the ultimate in tonal control. I've found that the settings really depend on the bass, the room, the amp, and the strings. Obviously, it also depends on what you are going for. One of the coolest settings I've found is using the high pass filter set to a very low frequency with a high damping setting and no direct tone. It gives a thunderous low end, but keeps the subsonic stuff out of the picture and retains lots of clarity.

If you can give us an idea of the tones you are seeking, I'm sure lots of people will chime in with ideas. Mostly it's just a question of putting in the time until you can visualize how to sculpt your tone with the filters.

Weirdly, since setting my Starfire up with SII electronics, I don't use my SF-2 much with it. It gets used more often with my other basses as the Starfire doesn't really need it. However, I'm still fantasizing about removing the SF-2 from the rack box and installing it directly in the Starfire. The only big logistical hurdle I'm facing is doing what Keith is doing and cutting the front off the bass and replacing it with a control plate. I still haven't totally figured out how I want to lay it out.

Bassman8416 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 30, 2014, 08:52:55 PM »

Hey Edwin,
Its me Craig....I am going for the Phil Lesh stuff with the Spoiler, right now I have D'Addario Half Rounds on. Was considering some flats. I have seen pics of your Starfire, I can only imagine how amazing it sounds...especially with the rig you have. Bet you totally get Cumberland Blues Europe 72 down perfectly. I do want to use the SF-2 with other basses(fender jazz) for jazz, R & B stuff as well. Thanks again for your advice with my son, he is feeling a little better and is taking the bar exam in February.

Bassman8416 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2014, 06:30:49 AM »

How much does one usually spend on a used Series I or II , say in very good condition. I guess there are many variables. is it possible to land one for $4,500-$5,500?

sonicus · « **Reply #14 on:** October 31, 2014, 09:42:59 AM »

Yes you can ____. However I suggest to make sure that it is legitimate and do a serial number check first. Do not buy your own Bad Karma .
My 2 cents ... ... ...