Alembic F-2B Tube Preamp

Dead simple. One volume pot per channel. Two different input jacks each with lo and high impedence for each channel. Mono summed output or individual channel outs. Bass, Mid, and Treble tone controls, and Bright switch. LISTEN TO THE SOUND!!!!!

UNBELIEVABLE, RIDICULOUS, BRILLIANT....This is probably the most wonderful combination of TRUE TONALITY AND PUNCH I have ever heard on either a DI or line amp. Use it on your mixes...run DAW output buses through it....Use it on your synths...your guitars, basses....DRUM MACHINES!!!!! This is a tube preamp with such high headroom and high impedence, you can use it on anything. The tone controls are simple and effective. The punch is hot and REAL...The tone is OUT OF THIS DIMENSION....huge stereo fields can be achieved...huge definition of sound sources....all with true acoustic and musical vibe. The only downside is that it is a bit hissy with the Bright switch on...just a bit too much noise upwards of 10k.

Solid as a rock. Built to military spec. Solid knobs, solid tubes, solid chasis....this has been taken on the road by guys like Phil Lesh, David Gilmour....it can handle hot input levels and spit them out any which way.

Terrific guys....the guys at Alembic are gems...they love their products and they love you!

Absolutely incredible, wonderful piece of gear. Use it on your samples and the world will be thankful it is hearing real music again!!!!!! Use it in your mixes and it will make sounds stand out and jump around and sing with real vibration. This box stands up against units costing TWO TO THREE TIMES AS MUCH....and has SUCH TOTAL SONIC CHARACTER, you will jump for joy. I am jumping for joy.

I bought mine new, in 2002, for use with my Stick, but have also used
it for my electric upright and my electric cello. Bottom line, it is
perfect for these applications.

Very straightforward to use. It's in my rack, and goes where I go.

I play experimental improv music, so style? Uh, your guess is as good
as mine. Nonetheless, the F-2B doesn't color the sound of any of my
instruments, when set at flat (that is, with the tone controls set at
10:00, 2:00 and 10:00, for bass, mid and treble, respectively).

If I play around with the tone controls a bit, I can get some great
sounds, but since I also use a laptop for DSP, I rely on the F-2B for
a warm-up before the sound gets to the laptop.

I've never had a problem with it, in two years of continuous use.
Others have related that after years, DECADES, of use, the preamp still
holds up like new. I'm looking forward to that kind of reliability.

Tip-top. I emailed them for some ball-park guidance on minor custom
work (moving the power switch to the front; it's normally in the back
of the unit). They emailed back pretty quickly, with enough detail to
make me want to get it done.

Phone support is also outstanding, got a real person real fast each
time I called.

The work done on the preamp was also very reasonably priced, and done
on time.

Overall rating? 1000.
If it were stolen, I'd hire a hit man to track down the knucklehead
that would dare to steal it. If it were lost, due to my negligence,
I'd probably hire a hit man to track me down, if I'd be that stupid.
If it were lost, due to beyond-control circumstances, I'd haul garbage
to buy a new one, if I had to.

This is a simple, straight forward preamp. The controls are passive, and they include a volume, bass, mid, treble, and a high boost switch for each of its two channels. Owners of multiple basses will get a lot of use from it.

I've been using a '76 Jazz Bass straight into it, then into a Hafler P4000 amplifier. I've never had any noise issues with it, and I've had nothing but compliments from just regular people, as well as players that sit in during a sunday jam or whatever.

The sound quality of this unit can be described in one word: astounding.

All passive, but it's simply the cleanest, warmest, most brilliant tone machine ever made. I have owned Eden, SWR, Demeter, and they pale in comparison to my present rig.

It will give you exactly what you've always wanted, no matter what style of music you play, no matter what colour your hair. Buy it.

No reliability issues.

See above.

For myself, this piece of equipment is indispensible. I play rock, some funk, some jazz, and I like to dig in when things get interesting. If you are a tone-a-phile, look no further, I guarantee you won't be dissapointed.

I just wanted to counter on what the previous reviews have said in regards to service; you folks are on glue. Alembic has provided me personally with some of the most consistently courteous, prompt and extensive customer support of any buisiness in the music industry, second only to Mesa. They have taken the time to respond to each and everyone of my nattering questions via email and phone. Once, ol' man Wickersham hisself chatted me up for over half an hour on PU positioning for my Activator install. They sent me a free manual for a used SF-2 I purchased and sent out at no cost to me an entire set of replacement electronics when it turned out the set I had wasn't exactly what I needed. Mica Wickersham has always been exceedingly helpful and it's companies like these that in the future will continue to recieve my hard earned sheckles, no doubt.

http://www.newmusiccanada.com/genres/artist.cfm?mode=longBio&Band_Id=7444

Pacific Frontal System
Victoria BC's only live dub sound system

Basic dual showman preamp.
this is a follow up for the review on which I ranted and raved about poor customer support. It is a ggod amp.

Tremendous tube preamp.

It will last 15 years before you have any problems.

I have trouble in this area but from what I have found out is you have to personally call alembic and they will fix it. Do not waste your time with the e-mail. Customer support could/should be much better. I decided to learn how to fix the amp myself and this greatly reduced my stress level.

It is a great amp. I bought mine in 1978. I feel there are better tone machines on the market now.

This is your basic hot rodded dual showman head. volumn, mid, bass, and bright switch.

This preamp sounds good with whatever you are using, guitar, bass , or keyboard. You can cascade one channel into the other for a overdriven sound. It can be run in a stereo mode with each channel totally independant from each other, or it can be used as a dual channel amp with a mono out,

I have had this amp for 25 years so it owes me nothing. It broke down about 8 years ago where the pots malfunctioned and it has recently developed a hum so I can no longer use it.

As far as customer support you are better off being a palestinian at a barmitzva. They don't want to hear a thing and they won't respond. It is probably the worst customer support in the business and I have experienced bad customer support before. I can find people who are willing to try to fix it but no one will guarantee a thing.

I have been playing 37 years and have been through a lot of equippment.
While this is a very good sounding amp, ashdown blows it away. If you are buying a new preamp find a company that has good customer support and there are many. I like this amp but the inability to have it repaired would cause me never to buy another alembic product. If this amp was ever stolen I would hope it breaks down so the prick that stole it would go through the misery I have had trying to find someone to correctly repair it.

I am not sure what year this preamp was made in, but its an older model. I bought it used for 280 dollars and one of the best deals I have ever made. Two channels, Bass, Mid and Treble knobs... That easy.
Only one alteration I have made which you may find interesting. The treble peak is at 5.5 k.... Many will find this confortable and that is fine. It sounds great at that point. But on the B channel I had a 120 pf capacitor on the treble which raised it one octave. Now you may find this too high but it has a great snap when slapping. The original capacitor is 250 pf. I use only one channel at a time so this feature is great for me.

This is a great sounding Preamp. Clean and to the point. Sometimes you can color the sound to much and when you take away some of the additional rack mounted eq's you notice this amp is all you need. I have never heard a better bass control than this unit has. Its so clean and big sounding. The Mid is used to cut and its extremely usefull. Bot treble controls now give me the full sound I love.

Never had a problem.

I bought it used and informed Alembic of this, still they respond to my questions. I mean can you get better support than that?

This amp was bought used in the eighties. This amp has won the hearts of many because its still one of the better sounding preamps around. And even at the newer price its well worth the money. I would consider this to be one of the first real high tech preamps developed. Keep in mind they were originally made in the early or mid 70's and if you call alembic they will tell you they still make it the same way as the newer models. I mean how can you go wrong with buying one? Its in the top 5 premaps made today and anyone of them will be considered the best by someone's personnal taste. Me I say its without question made to last, has lasted to be still one of the best preamps today and has stood the test of time. What a winner.

Using this preamp is a no brainer. Each channel has Treb., Mid, and Bass. It's just amazing how you can get a hugh variety of tone by just tweeking three knobs.

I've been playing bass for 27 years and have been on a quest for the perfect tone the whole time. This baby is it, the Holy Grail. I found it used and beatup in a bargan bin at a music store. It appears to be a very early version (no name on front of unit like new ones). I had it retubed and recaped, plugged it in and ... wow ... tone monster. I've played through nearly every type of bass preamp on the planet and nothing compares.

My current rig includes a Kawi graphite neck bass with EMGs and Badass bridge, going into a DOD Meat Box (only good on a couple of settings, set it once and never touch it) then to a Furman Compressor (fantastic unit) into the Alembic F2B, channel 1 into the right and channel 2 into the left of a QSC power amp (awesome power), then right signal into the four tens and horn and left into the 15 of my Ampeg cabinet (I own a station wagon just because of this cabinet).

A helpfull friend dropped my rack and the unit did not get hurt. I can depend on this this thing working ervey time I fire my rig up.

Never needed to contact Alembic, I've got a good local amp tech.

I play in three completly different bands: classic rock, in your face punk, and a tribal/space/didjeridu group (use preamp for my didj). I own a ton of bass and guitar gear including Les Paul Custom, Mesa Boogie, ART Night Bass (piece of garbage) and various folk instruments, out of all of that, this preamp is one of my most prized items. If it were stolen I would tracked down and kill the theif dig him up and kill him again.

This is an old Alembic F-2B made in the early 70's. It has a black face, red knobs & sky-blue rack ears. It features two channels in a single rack-space with 2 inputs per channel, Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble & a Bright Switch on each channel. It has an output per channel in addition to a mono output which sums the two channels together. There is no effects loop. The unit operates using two 12AX7 tubes.
According to Alembic, this preamp, as well as the single channel F-1X,is an exact duplicate of the early 60's Fender Showman amplifiers but with a "small improvement in the input jack circuit". The tone controls are interactive, ala Boogie, with the Bass & Treble controls demphasizing Mids and the Mid control providing mostly cut. A suggestion by Alembic is to cascade the two channels (think vintage Marshall) whereby the output of Channel A feeds the input of Channel B. In this fashion, Channel A becomes the primary Tone-Shaping control which then drives Channel B into distortion. I find that the second input per channel, which provides 6db of attenuation, works well for this application.
Believe it or not, David Gilmour uses this amp as his primary preamp. For all you Gilmour freaks check out this link for a detailed explanation of his Live Rig: http://www.zip.com.au/~mbrowne/equipment.html He actually comes out of his pedalboard & rack-effects into the F-2B and then into the power section of his Hiwatt heads. Apparently, there is a mod done to his whereby the output impedance is lowered and a third tube stage is added. I think the Alembic F-2B sounds great as it is, sounding like a vintage Fender or MesaBoogie.
I use this preamp in the parallel loop of a Midi Matrix alongside a Triaxis, Marshall JMP-1 & Heartbreaker Combo. I power it via a Mesa 2:90 and into 4x12 Recto cabs. I usually run it through a Chandler Digital echo or tc2290. With the Chandler, along with a Chandler Tube Driver pedal, the Alembic sounds as good as any amp I've heard. It's pure creamy tone, totally "brown" with a sparkle that only a vintage Fender can provide. I think it smokes my Bandmaster Reverb. This amp is definetly a well-kept secret. I have not heard a new Alembic. They are still made today although are cosmetically different. If you come across a vintage Alembic, buy it or send me an email & I will.
I will give it a 10 on features because, although not packed with them, this amp is pure American tone-glory in a simple, straightforward package.

I find that all of my guitars (Ibanez Jem 77BFP, Ibanez JPM100P4, Strat Ultra) sound awesome through the Alembic although there is definetly something magical when I use the Strat. I find that this preamp excels in any musical application where tone & emotion go side-by-side. It smokes with Blues, it's a FunkMaster and like I said before a good overdrive pedal (Tube Driver) will send your tone into total creaminess. It can actually make a Strat sound like a Les Paul through a cranked vintage Marshall. The strings feel so buttery as each low note smoothly blends into the next & your high notes jump right out of the amp. I could not believe I was using a 30 year old Bass preamp that cost me 300 bucks. I hold the F-2B on the same pedestal as my Triaxis. Its' tone is very colorful & the highs have a great deal of sparkle. It's not a very loud preamp although the clip you get when smackin' it hard is most musical. I run it through a dbx166A, compress it softly to about 6db on the peaks, & boost the back-end gain to the power amp. It essentially IS a vintage Fender, black-face in design, so it responds incredibly well to pick attack & guitar volume. The attack can be characterized as very liquid with a nice crunch on the lower strings.
This preamp is dead-quiet. I imagine high output preamp tubes (mine are Sovteks) could add a little noise. However this preamp is well suited for low-gain, balsy-crunch. Very MarkI, very Fender Twin. Let me emphasize again, the tone is very colorful. It has an incredible amount of depth & responsiveness although I would attribute some of that to the Mesa 2:90 as well.
This preamp will nail Shine On, Another Brick in the Wall & just about any classic blues tone. With a good delay & reverb you couldn't ask for a better clean tone with all the shimmer & sparkle you could want. It sounds very close to the Rythmn Green channel on a Triaxis.

This amp has operated well for over 30 years and shows no signs of slowing.

No clue.

I've been playing guitar for about 15 years and consider myself above average & definetly a Tone-Freak! My principle amps are a Mesa Triaxis/2:90, Alembic F-2B, Marshall JMP-1 & a Mesa Heartbreaker Combo. I use a Mesa Midi Matrix for all amp switching and can run any of the above amps through any combination of a dbx166A, Chandler Digital Echo, tc2290, Lexicon MPX-1 and assorted vintage & modded pedals. Although the Heartbreaker is my favorite of the bunch, the Alembic is just as worthy & is on the same level of tonefulness & character. As I use the Triaxis for my most diverse applications, the Alembic is set up to nail with perfection a huge, sparkling vintage clean-tone that can easily be overdriven into total Brown. I probably wouldn't have bought it without knowing that David Gilmour used it in his rig. I just wouldn't have known. The story goes that Roger Waters' amp techs bought him four of these for his rig. At one particular show, Gilmour's amp broke down so they ran him through one of the Alembics. The rest is history. My rig wouldn't be complete without it.