Ampeg fridge and SVT-4 Pro clipping?

Mojaaz · #1 08-17-2010, 05:08 AM

Hey,

So my main set-up is an Ampeg fridge and SVT-4 Pro (both a few years old and American made.) I have it mono-bridged into the fridge. The thing is, in my band, I am fighting against a Marshall Halfstack, a Vox halfstack, drums, and 1000 watts of pure vocal P.A. And on top of that, I stick towards boosting the low frequencies (fits my band's tone) so I have to really crank my amp to hear myself. I usually leave gain at about middle, and put the master and graphic EQ level at around 80%. Now, every once in a while, it clips with a REALLY loud popping sound. I was wondering two things.

1. Is this damaging my amp?
2. How can I stop this? I have no other gear, so I am up for getting new gear to help prevent this.

Thanks in advance!

tom once dead · #2 08-17-2010, 05:11 AM

Maybe get another fridge, although that would make your rig huge.

211dave112 · #3 08-17-2010, 05:41 AM

you must have a very loud drummer!!!

JustOpenYourMind · #4 08-17-2010, 05:50 AM

Hi, the trick with svt-4 is to crank the gain, don't bother about the red light, it indicates in a very undefined way optimum gain settings. When I had one I used it at like 75% and the head never clipped.

What is important is that the yellow light (the clip light) never comes on.

Sorry if the post is very brief but I'm in a hurry!

If you search around a bit, you'll certainly find post ot threads confirming this.

In fact this was confirmed by an ex-ampeg designer here, Jerrold Tiers

spidey112669 · #5 08-17-2010, 06:12 AM

I use the same rig...to start with, I EQ everything to get my mids and highs right up in the range with the guitars, freqs and volumes....on my board I have a boosta grande that I keep at about 10 oclock(more on this guy later)...on the 4PRO, I max the input gain and use the master volume to set the overall output...never once have I paid any attention the the red clip led. Then, I roll in mid and high bass until I am covering things too much, then back it off....same thing with lows...roll them in until bad things start to happen, then back off....I leave things from about 60hz-33hz and all those just turned out....they eat up tons of power and don't give you much in return...then, I may roll the boosta grande up to maybe 1 oclock if I feel like I am working too hard....keep in mind, the fridge sounds better at 30ft away than it does at 5ft....sometimes I have even taken a 7 band EQ pedal and a wireless trans out into the seats and eq'd some from there...whatever works! Hope you can use some of that, it works pretty good for me...Good luck, and let us hear what you end up trying!

Bassmec · #6 08-17-2010, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojaaz

Hey,

So my main set-up is an Ampeg fridge and SVT-4 Pro (both a few years old and American made.) I have it mono-bridged into the fridge. The thing is, in my band, I am fighting against a Marshall Halfstack, a Vox halfstack, drums, and 1000 watts of pure vocal P.A. And on top of that, I stick towards boosting the low frequencies (fits my band's tone) so I have to really crank my amp to hear myself. I usually leave gain at about middle, and put the master and graphic EQ level at around 80%. Now, every once in a while, it clips with a REALLY loud popping sound. I was wondering two things.

1. Is this damaging my amp?
2. How can I stop this? I have no other gear, so I am up for getting new gear to help prevent this.

Thanks in advance!

Sounds like time to get an SVT VR.

Nightlyraider · #7 08-17-2010, 07:17 AM

Bump the mids up some and it will be louder then you need.

The bass-boosting is already big with the 4Pro and you are most likely maxing out your drivers already.

Jerrold Tiers · #8 08-17-2010, 08:11 PM

The loud noise is NOT "clipping" of the amp.......

What it is is that you are using an 810E, most likely, bridged. The sound you hear is the voice coils of the 810 hitting the magnet backplates. Sounds like a pistol shot.

basically, you are hitting the 810 with more than it can take...... especially lows.

Cranking down the lows a bit, and not using the "suck button" (ultra low) should help.

hasbeen · #9 08-17-2010, 08:24 PM

yes...listen to JT.

FWIW, the lows that you "think" people up front are hearing......they aren't. On top of that, it is probably messing with the overall mix of the band anyway.

Most of us tend to eq to tone at "arms length"....for obvious reason.

We need to eq for the audience....if there isn't PA support.

254 stringer · #10 08-17-2010, 08:53 PM

I have the exact same set up and it's gets to loud to stand next to do what everyone says turn the gain up I have mine up all the way take out some lows trust me they are there get a long cord and walk away from your amp it will sound completely different

Mojaaz · #11 08-18-2010, 10:07 PM

Oh okay, thanks everyone! I will be sure to pump the gain rather than the master, and eliminate the extreme low frequencies, and pretty much Eq my amp at a distance. As soon as I get back to my guitarists place (where we keep all the stuff,) I will post on how it works! Thanks again!