Alembic Preamp

[Johnie Helms]

Has anyone used or own the Alembic F2B (2 Channel.) for Pedal Steel.?



Thanks



JH

[Steve Hinson]

Has anyone used or own the Alembic F2B (2 Channel.) for Pedal Steel.?



Thanks



JH

I have two of them-used them a bunch back in the 90s-Sonny Garrish used one back then too-on many, many hit records!Seems like one of mine might have been Sonny's-I honestly can't remember!


SH

[Johnie Helms]

Hey Steve,

I know they been around awhile…


Care to git rid of one of’m.?


Thank you for your reply


JH

[Steve Hinson]

Johnie,

Both the F2-Bs I have are in need of some maintenance at the present time...

It is really hard to get anything worked on in Nashville these days...

I've got 2 e-mails in to Alembic asking them about the possibility of sending
them to SF to have them"freshened"...

More later...

SH

[Dan Kelly]

Johnie, there are a couple on Reverb.com

[ajm]

Google can be your friend (sometimes).

The good news: There are plenty of schematics on the information superhighway.

The bad news: Many of them appear to be schematics of only one channel.
And some might be "approximations" or "modified" versions.

However, there is actually one that is on what appears to be a real Alembic web site, so it might be accurate.
At a rough quick glance it does not look all that complicated.


http://www.alembic.com/support/F2B_manual.pdf

[Johnie Helms]

Thank you Dan,

I’ll check it out.




JH

[Tim Sergent]

I think the first time I heard about the Alembic Randy Beavers was using one. I almost bought one at a pawn shop here in Hendersonville one time. Wish I would've now

[Bob Hoffnar]

Has anyone used or own the Alembic F2B (2 Channel.) for Pedal Steel.?



Thanks



JH

I used one for a bit and then A/B'd it with a Furman PQ-3 which I ended up using. In any case if you have one they are great for the steel. If you are looking for that sort of sound I think Brad Sarno has it dialed in with his pre amps.

[Johnie Helms]

Yep, I like the dual channel idea based on the classic Fender Circuit.

[Brad Sarno]

The F2B has gotten expensive in recent years. It's simply a pair of non-reverb channels from an old Fender preamp. Pretty straightforward, not magic or exotic necessarily. If you want that same Fender classic tone and circuit but with reverb, we do have the SMS Classic that's every bit the F2b and with upgrades, quieter power supply, a bit more refinement in the tone for pedal steel use, and gobs cheaper too. (please excuse the shameless plug )

https://www.sarnomusicsolutions.com/pro ... reamp.html


Brad

[Johnie Helms]

Hey Brad,

PM sent..




Thanks

[kevin ryan]

Brad is the best!!

[Bill Hatcher]

Johnie,

Both the F2-Bs I have are in need of some maintenance at the present time...

It is really hard to get anything worked on in Nashville these days...

I've got 2 e-mails in to Alembic asking them about the possibility of sending
them to SF to have them"freshened"...

More later...

SH

the maintenance on the F2b is super easy. the biggest problem with them is the mounting of the filter caps. they should be changed anyway. when new there was a piece of foam that kept them from moving around. the foam degrades and then the caps wiggle around and then break the wires going into the board. very easy to replace them. i would not send them out. you should do it yourself and save a lot of money. i replace the caps in mine with radial type caps rather than the original axial. along with some hot melt glue to lock them down.

these preamps are nothing but higher voltage higher filtered fender twin/showman preamps. they sound good.

[Steve Hinson]

Johnie,

Both the F2-Bs I have are in need of some maintenance at the present time...

It is really hard to get anything worked on in Nashville these days...

I've got 2 e-mails in to Alembic asking them about the possibility of sending
them to SF to have them"freshened"...

More later...

SH

the maintenance on the F2b is super easy. the biggest problem with them is the mounting of the filter caps. they should be changed anyway. when new there was a piece of foam
that kept them from moving around. the foam degrades and then the caps wiggle around
and then break the wires going into the board. very easy to replace them. i would not send them out. you should do it yourself and save a lot of money. i replace the caps in mine with radial type caps rather than the original axial. along with some hot melt glue to lock them down.

these preamps are nothing but higher voltage higher filtered fender twin/showman preamps. they sound good.

Yeah,one of mine had already been recapped,and the new filter caps all broke loose!Luckily I looked inside before I went to use it and saw them just laying in there...I think I might try to fix it myself.

[Bill Hatcher]

Yeah,one of mine had already been recapped,and the new filter caps all broke loose!Luckily I looked inside before I went to use it and saw them just laying in there...I think I might try to fix it myself.

Do it. Use radial caps….both leads coming out the bottom……insert the leads through the board and bend back and trim leaving 1/4” on the bottom side of the board and lying on the trace. Solder. That will take some of the tension off the wire and help stop it from pulling away. Then use a little craft style hot melt gun. Heat it up with a glue stick in it and run a bead around the bottom of the cap. No more problems.

I bought my first alembic pre back in the 70s when they came out. Have used it for all sorts of instruments. Over the last 30+ years I buy them when I saw them at a good price…used to be $100 used….no more. They bring lots now .