Ampeg SVT-CL might not be my cup of tea

micahturner · #1 11-13-2010, 11:18 AM

I have always wanted an Ampeg tube amp and recently bought a SVT-CL, but to my dismay I have been unable to dial in the sound that I want. I'm a huge fan of The Mars Volta and Juan's sound, but I just can't get it right. I'm running the SVT-CL to an Ampeg 810E, MarkBass Compressore, with a Fender P-bass.

I'm sad to say that I might have been more satisfied with my MarkBass LMIII and VT bass pedal. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Micah

NKBassman · #2 11-13-2010, 11:22 AM

Send me the CL, I'll get rid of it for you.

micahturner · #3 11-13-2010, 11:27 AM

I expected posts like that.

RickenBoogie · #4 11-13-2010, 11:30 AM

If you were happy with the old rig- go back to it. Not everyone likes the SVT tone, and not everyone sounds the same through the exact same rig. I like Ampeg, but more like the B15 or V4B- never was a fan of the SVT. To each their own, AND, the proverbial, "if it ain't broke,....."

micahturner · #5 11-13-2010, 11:37 AM

I wish it didn't take buying an expensive piece of equipment to find out that I'm not a fan. The full SVT rig is ungodly heavy and I am pending an assignment to an Infantry unit in Germany. Maybe I should sell my Ampeg rig for a lighter Markbass rig.........or an Ampeg B-15.

funkys**t · #6 11-13-2010, 11:38 AM

Can you discribe the sound you're after? I think it's easier to help you if we have some kind of direction.

JimmyM · #7 11-13-2010, 11:39 AM

bag the comp then try it. i think comps can make you not appreciate what a tube amp can do.

also, don't get caught up in trying to imitate someone else's tone. even with the same rig, it'll never sound like juan just because you play differently.

and as ricken said, it could just be that you don't like ampegs.

big evil robot · #8 11-13-2010, 11:41 AM

Ditch the comp and throw the VT pedal back in the chain for a little extra gain stage

micahturner · #9 11-13-2010, 12:30 PM

I'll expirement with removing the comp and testing, then adding the VT bass in. If I'm still not satisfied I guess I could always sell it. Sad.

As for the sound I'm after; the perfect example would be Juan Alderte, but I'll refer to Jimmy's comment from earlier. Too true.

fu22ba55 · #10 11-13-2010, 01:20 PM

P-Bass straight into an SVT should give you a pretty classic sound.

1) I would echo others here and say lose the compressor. You want to take advantage of the SVT's natural tube compression.

2) Turn up the amp. I'm not a fan of the SVT at bedroom levels. For me, the SVT shines when it starts to cook a little bit.

But... SVTs are not for everyone.

rhopper · #11 11-13-2010, 01:27 PM

Like others said, kill the compressor.

kosmicwizard · #12 11-13-2010, 01:37 PM

Turn it up more!

will33 · #13 11-13-2010, 02:37 PM

Like everyone else said, ditch the compressor. Plug the P straight into the head and turn it up some. Don't have to play it cranked all the time but they do sound better if you give it some juice.

Little advise: I was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany in the early '90's. You may want to look into getting a solidstate head that can already be configured to run 220/240V to take over there with you, otherwise you're going to have to purchase a transformer there that weighs as much as that SVT does and drag it around just to have something to plug into. Or buy a head there that's already made to run that way, use it while you're there and sell it to another bassplaying servicemember when you leave. That's what we did with transformers, music gear, cars, etc.

I played a Carvin head while I was there that could be switched either/or. Lot's of other brands are made that way too, especially ones that are marketed/sold internationally. A tech could maybe re-wire an SVT to work that way too, then have it switched back to 110/120 when you get back.

christw · #14 11-13-2010, 02:58 PM

Try a different cab. The 810E will give you classic wooly Ampeg tones. Try a clean cab with a horn. I went from hating my SVT-II for being too muffled to loving it through my Genz Benz 610.

Jim C · #15 11-13-2010, 05:02 PM

Hard to understand the bass tone of that band as the 4 songs I listened to consisted of mostly effect returns, guitar and vocals in that order.
It does sound like the recorded bass tone is more modern than an old school SVT which would make sense as there is a fairly large amount of full range drone in what I heard.

Not a musical criticism but rather a musical osbervation.
It would take a more indentifiable voice other than full range to be heard with a consistent, non-dynamic, full range backing track.

alfredpunkjazz · #16 11-13-2010, 05:23 PM

Use it on a band context, that's exactly where it will shine.

ducknturtle · #17 11-13-2010, 05:30 PM

No compressor. Take the Master knob and turn it up all the way. Use the gain knob as if it were a master to control your vollume. Add in some drive if it's needed. Should sound fantastic.

micahturner · #18 11-13-2010, 05:36 PM

I really do appreciate all the advise I've gotten so far. I have my praise and worship gig tomorrow morning in which I will these suggestions. Afterwards, I'll report back. Thanks.

huben94 · #19 11-14-2010, 09:09 AM

Hi,

Just in case, I found better tone if the bass volume is close to 100%.

FYI

RFord04 · #20 11-14-2010, 09:29 AM

Juan uses Jazz basses most of the time. That would help a little.