Ampeg SVT 3 Pro EQ Bypass?

[Joe164]

For some reason, my Ampeg SVT 3 Pro+B series 410HLF cab give me pretty dull tone. Im going for bright, growly rock tone, using a Fender Japan 70s RI precision, with a pick and rounds.

It sounds a lot better when using a Sansamp BDDI as a stompbox, but still nothing like as good as when using the Sansamp on its own (for recording or when using it straight-to-board at gigs).

But i want to utilise the power-amp of the 3 Pro plus the power of the 410 cab. Buying them would seem like a waste of money if i just used the sansamp DI'd to the mixer.

So is there any way i can bypass the EQ of the SVT 3 Pro? So the Sansamp is the pre, the 3-pro+410 the power?

[groove pump]

Try plugging the output of your BDDI in the effects return of your Ampeg. That ought to bypass the preamp of the head and leave the Sansamp to shape more of your tone.

The master volume on the head may also be bypassed by doing this, so be ready to use the level control on the Sansamp to control your volume.

[Joe164]

that's how it is at the moment and the preamp isnt bypassed

[lokikallas]

There are many ways to do this. First of all though, on the cab do you have the horn turned all the way up? Is it blown? There is a high boost button that can add a ton of sizzle as well on the pro3. There is an eq on/ off switch right next to the eq sliders. If you don't want to use the pre on the pro3 at all, (which in my opinion is the best part of the pro3, and the power amp is the weak link on it) just plug in the sans amp into the power amp in on the back. Now the Sansamp controls all preamplifier functions, including volume. Basically the power switch is the only thing that will do anything on the pro3 now. If you just want to add the sans amp sound to your tone I suggest setting all of the tone knobs flat, bypass the eq and try either plugging in bass to sans amp to pro 3 front input, or using it in the fx loop, or even in a loop between the pre out and the power amp in on the pro3. I personally bypass the eq on my pro and use a dbx 24 band eq and a comp in the fx loop. I know Jimmy will say put everything before the amp, which works well too.

[Joe164]

Hi lokikallas, cheers for the detailed instructions

But just in case i screw up, could you tell me exactly which inputs and outputs to connect what into?

Thanks

[lokikallas]

Just be careful to start out with the sans amp volume at zero first in any configuration, as well as the pro 3s gain and master at zero. It sounds like you want to bypass the pros pre altogether, so start by plugging an instrument cable from the Sansamp out into the power amp in on the back of the pro. This input was really designed to daisy chain multiple amps so you could have two side by side stacks. You would normally come out of the pre amp out of one pro into the power amp in of a second to get two stack controlled by the firsts settings. In your application you are just bypassing the pros preamplifier in favor of the Sansamp. As long as you start at zero and slowly turn up you can't screw up anything. I would personally try to use the sans amp after the bass, before the main input of the pro, to get the most sonic possibilities. Start with just the pro without the sans amp, set with tone knobs flat, and adjust the master to 3 or 4, then turn up the gain until you start getting distortion, back off the gain to just before distortion ( ignore the clip light), then add the Sansamp before the input of the pro. Slowly turn the volume up on the sans amp until you get back to the same volume as without. (unity gain). Now you can play with the tube gain. It can be at zero or maxed out, the difference can be subtle at low volumes. Now you have the freedom to tweak your tone with all of the pros eq ( which is quite a lot). The master volume should be what you use to control your volume, the Sansamp gain will get your dirt, the pros gain will pretty much stay just below nasty to get a nice hot signal. Again, check your hlf horn, I like it at somewhere between -3 and -6. Dig up the manual on ampegs website, it would be worth your time to read it.

[prd004]

Plug your Sansamp into the "POWER AMP IN" on your SVT and this will completely bypass the preamp section of your amp.

[Buzter]

Sounds interesting. I would like to hear how this turns out. I have the same cab. and have gotten 2 heads and still not quite happy. THinking of the svt3 pro as well. Had a carvin bx500 for a day, ampeg pf350 for...about 18 hrs and my old acoustic b200h. Was really wanting the same sound as joe ,but also wanted to get a less rock and more "jazz" sound as well when needed.

[Venom of God]

IMO those HLF cabs don't sound good at all, too much boom boom for rock! Have you tried sticking the BDDI between your bass and the instrument in on the amp and then DI out of the Ampeg? I was getting a great tone doing that with my SansAmp and 3PRO the other day.

[Venom of God]

Also, again just my opinion, but bypassing the pre in your 3PRO seems like a waste of a 3PRO to me! It's the preamp in those that rocks, not the power amp.