Author Topic: New F-2B preamp (Read 311 times)

wfmandmusic · « **on:** July 25, 2014, 05:33:53 PM »

So I just received my new F-2B. I know it's basic in operation and that's nice. I have not run through it in stereo yet. Anybody have any tips or tricks they want to share with a newbie to this unit?

edwin · « **Reply #1 on:** July 25, 2014, 06:00:24 PM »

Crank it up and go!

Oh yeah, flat is apparently 2-10-2.

David Houck · « **Reply #2 on:** July 25, 2014, 06:38:34 PM »

I run the neck pickup into one channel and the bridge pickup into the other so that I can EQ the pickups separately; then mono out to the SF-2.

Also, and you may already know this, the bass, mid, and treble controls interact with each other. If you turn the treble control, you are moving that part of the curve to which both the mid and treble controls contribute. If you move the bass control you are moving that part of the curve to which the bass and mid controls contribute. I have found it helpful to have a mental picture in my head of how adjusting one control changes the shape of the curve. And of course the shape of the curve is initially formed at the instrument itself, the tone controls, etc. So the interacting controls on the F-2B then move that shape around further.

David Houck · « **Reply #3 on:** July 25, 2014, 06:40:07 PM »

Oh, and congrats!!!

wfmandmusic · « **Reply #4 on:** July 25, 2014, 08:40:31 PM »

Dave, I did not know this but it explains what I was hearing and why I like it so much. After my first 3 hours on it I shut everything down and thought, wow, and how did I not have this all these years? I love those moments. Thanks for the tips guys. 2-10-2 is a good one.

wfmandmusic · « **Reply #5 on:** August 09, 2014, 01:43:03 PM »

sorry for the triple post. It didn't look like it was posting.

(Message edited by wfmandmusic on August 09, 2014)

wfmandmusic · « **Reply #6 on:** August 09, 2014, 01:49:24 PM »

So I hooked up my F2b to my series 2 running both channels meaning the bass and the treble, separate lines running to the f2b. The neck pickup on my bass is noticeably quieter. With the treble side's volume on 3, I have to turn the bass side up to 6 to match the volume. Not normal right?

wfmandmusic · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2014, 02:26:31 PM »

So I hooked up my F2b to my series 2 running both channels meaning the bass and the treble, separate lines running to the f2b. The neck pickup on my bass is noticeably quieter. With the treble side's volume on 3, I have to turn the bass side up to 6 to match the volume. Not normal right?

keith_h · « **Reply #8 on:** August 09, 2014, 03:36:10 PM »

It's not normal. Have you verified the instrument gain settings in the instrument are the same?

Keith

earsplit · « **Reply #9 on:** August 09, 2014, 04:37:33 PM »

I just picked up an F2B for my Anniversary equipped Signature basses. I found this to be a very useful little tool for running stereo out of the anniversary electronics:

http://www.diyguitarist.com/CustomShop/flyBOBs.htm

It eliminates the need for those useless Y-splitter cables. Have fun!

earsplit · « **Reply #10 on:** August 09, 2014, 04:42:35 PM »

I just picked up an F2B for my Anniversary equipped Signature basses. I found this to be a very useful little tool for running stereo out of the anniversary electronics:

http://www.diyguitarist.com/CustomShop/flyBOBs.htm

It eliminates the need for those useless Y-splitter cables. Have fun!

edwin · « **Reply #11 on:** August 09, 2014, 05:09:31 PM »

Ken, it's not normal, but may easily be the case if your trimpots on the bass are set to different levels for each pickup. My question is whether when you switch the separate lines to the other inputs does the loud channel stay the same or does it travel with the pickup?

wfmandmusic · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2014, 08:09:07 PM »

So thanks Keith and Edwin for the suggestion. Yes the low volume traveled when I changed channels. Okay so don't laugh too hard. It was the neck pickup trimpot. It was turned down quite a bit. So I noticed the same issue when I first got this bass. I checked the specs for pickup height and it was set too low. I noticed a difference after an adjustment and thought it was good. That is until I plugged it into the f2b. So here comes the funny, man am I stupid part. Before tonight I realized my S2 did not sound as nice as my S1. I kept playing with the filters and tones trying to get it to boom like the S1. I was starting to resolve to myself that I was just going to be an S1 kinda guy. But my S1 is fretless and I need a fretted most of the time. I was starting to think I had made a mistake buying it. So I turned the trimpot up until it matched the volume on the bridge pickup. Now I have some balance and power. What a difference! Is it possible to turn them up until distortion? They both might be too high at this point. I have no idea. Ah, the joys of learning a new instrument. I'm a lucky man.