Ampeg pre's......SVP II pro or SVP BSP

ledyard · #1 02-26-2011, 01:29 PM

I kknow nothing about the BSP. I know it has 2 channels, clean and OD and that you can mix those channels.

With the SVP II pro i know exactly what i'm getting.

The BSP....Does the clean channel get at least the sound of a CL? I would only use the OD channel to dial in a bit of grind to the clean for a mix.
(I own a SVT II non pro head) But with the SVP II pro having a master volume I assume I could use the master to dial in some gain too. But I bet it would be a bit more fuzz than grind??
Thinking of powerin the whole thing with a QSC PLX.

ledyard · #2 02-26-2011, 01:35 PM

I just read the PDF file for the manual on the Ampeg page. Theres one tube. I assume the "normal" is transistor.??

MakiSupaStar · #3 02-26-2011, 02:17 PM

I'll just copy and past this here. I play the BSP. I love it. You're not really realizing the full potential of it. Each channel has an fx loop you can run with it too. Some fx will sound better clean, some better dirty. You can run two chains. It's a very versatile preamp. Here's how I describe it in another thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

I have an SVP-BSP. I absolutely love this thing. Have been playing it for about 6 years now. I haven't had any output problems. I'm running an old Carver 2.0t that's pushing 1000W. It's loud and ballsy and you can warm it up into warm butter. I also use it unplugged for recording. I'm pushing a clean line out, a dirty line out, and sometimes a mix to my cab. I mic that all hit three channels into my MOTU. Also each channel has a dedicated fx loop. So I can run a group of fx clean, (tap in and out of) a group of fx on my dirty channel (that can dial a growly distortion - think Beastie Boys Sabotage for an estimate on the distortion sound), and a group of fx in front of the preamp that I can run globally (flange, delay, etc). I'm always on my eye for another one, because I'm paranoid if it breaks that I won't be able to repair it.

On your list I've only played the CL. It's pretty close to the BSP, but not nearly as versatile IMO.

JGR · #4 02-26-2011, 02:19 PM

I would go with the SVP over the BSP. I wasn't impressed at all with the OD or general tone of the BSP. I expected a lot more from it.

MakiSupaStar · #5 02-26-2011, 02:30 PM

All the clips on my link below were recorded with the BSP if you want to use it for reference. In the feedback link I go through my line for each track too.

JimB52 · #6 02-26-2011, 07:09 PM

The SVP II PRO has a classic Ampeg sound, probably due to the five tubes. I think the BSP only has one.

MakiSupaStar · #7 02-26-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimB52

The SVP II PRO has a classic Ampeg sound, probably due to the five tubes. I think the BSP only has one.

This is correct only one in the BSP.

12bass · #8 02-26-2011, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimB52

The SVP II PRO has a classic Ampeg sound, probably due to the five tubes. I think the BSP only has one.

SVP-BSP has one tube for the clean channel. Overdrive channel is solid-state, IIRC.

SVT-IIP has three tubes. SVP-PRO has five. SVPCL has four.

kringle77 · #9 02-26-2011, 10:19 PM

I owned the svp-bsp for a long time. I really liked the OD channel because it IS the billy sheehan od and blends well with other tones since it has no bottom end that will fight with another clean channel. But, I hated the clean channel. It has more in common with an Alembic preamp than an ampeg but sounds weaker than both. I'd probably love having that preamp again to put in the fx loop of channel 2 on my genx 12.0. I actually owned sheehan modded pearce and can say that the ampeg comes no where near the pearce. The od channel is pretty close but the pearce had a way better clean channel. I may pick up a bsp again some day but, I would never use it as my only preamp. It has to be blended with something more solid sounding. Thats what billy does.

ledyard · #10 02-26-2011, 11:04 PM

I think I'm completely sold on NOT getting the BSP. Having a SVT II pro head, I'm obviously familiar with exactly what I'll get with the SVP II pro. I'de rather stay with that. All the features like multiple FX loops and all the other stuff will never ever get used by me.

kringle77 · #11 02-27-2011, 07:19 AM

The svt-II non-pro sounds much better than the 2 pro. It actually sounds pretty close to my vintage svt. Yes, I've owned both. The 2 pro sounds ok but, is mushy compared to the non-pro. All of the modern ampeg stuff sounds mushy to me. It can sound good but, it doesn't punch through a band as well. I gigged a 4-pro for a long time.

ledyard · #12 02-28-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kringle77

The svt-II non-pro sounds much better than the 2 pro. It actually sounds pretty close to my vintage svt. Yes, I've owned both. The 2 pro sounds ok but, is mushy compared to the non-pro. All of the modern ampeg stuff sounds mushy to me. It can sound good but, it doesn't punch through a band as well. I gigged a 4-pro for a long time.

We talking heads here or preamps?

I have the SVT II non pro. I LOVE it. But when i have to turn it up to 5 or so on an ungodly loud large stage, having no master volume gets me into the kind of break up i'm not after. Some of that might be the 15" in my cab though. But the SVP II pro(pre amp) ....having a SS power amp behind it will add punch and stiffness.
Either way the 80 lbs racked amp is wearing on me. Not to mention its severely front heavy.
Which is my reason for wanting to go to a QSC 20 lb amp and a 2 or 3 lb pre. Should be under 30 lbs racked even with a tuner and strip. Worlds of difference from -30 lbs to 80 lbs.
As for the BSP....I think its cool. It would be cool to have to mess with or record with or as a second pre in a rack but it wont work for me for full time sound.

ledyard · #13 02-28-2011, 07:17 PM

just pulled the trigger on a blue letter SVP II pro.

bThumper38 · #14 03-06-2011, 09:25 AM

I just got an SVP-Pro, yesterday. I gotta say i'm lovin' this thing. It's got tons of tone possibilities, and that perfect vintage ampeg tone.

ledyard · #15 03-06-2011, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bThumper38

I just got an SVP-Pro, yesterday. I gotta say i'm lovin' this thing. It's got tons of tone possibilities, and that perfect vintage ampeg tone.

Mine should be here between monday and wednesday. Cant wait.

pablomigraine · #16 03-06-2011, 05:12 PM

From what I'm getting insofar as the what you're looking for, go with the SVP-PRO.

Ive owned all the Ampeg Preamps at one time or another, and I liked the BSP the least. What many people dont know is that the OD is actually totally solid-state... a circuit made to imitate the famous Pearce Audio BC-1 preamp, which I also owned. The tube is for input buffering for both channels. I HATE the dirty channel on that pre.

You can get almost every variety of tube fatness, wool, fur, overdrive, grind and full on fuzz from the PRO. Way more versatile IMHO. I used the footswitchable EQ as a "second channel" that I would switch in for a different tone.

Awesome preamp and one of the last truly great tube preamps made specifically for bass.

ledyard · #17 03-06-2011, 07:37 PM

[quote=pablomigraine;10550322]From what I'm getting insofar as the what you're looking for, go with the SVP-PRO.

QUOTE]

Bought it bro. Its in transit to me. The only thing I wish I had on my SVT II non pro I sold last week would be the master volume feature. Be running it with a QSC PLX. 1600 watts of mono svt power

ledyard · #18 03-08-2011, 05:27 PM

Just played the SVP Pro for the first time through my also new to me QSC PLX 1602.
very impressed. Like it better than my SVT II (non pro) I just sold. (so far anyways) Gonna post another thread on it I think.

12bass · #19 03-08-2011, 05:35 PM

Confused.... do you mean SVT-IIP, or SVP-PRO?

ledyard · #20 03-08-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12bass

Confused.... do you mean SVT-IIP, or SVP-PRO?

I had a SVT II (non pro) Head. (the 70 pounder)
Sold it.
Bought a SVP Pro Pre amp (with a QSC)