Ampeg SVT Pro 7 Clipping Question

swardi19 · #1 08-14-2011, 12:07 PM

Hello all. I recently acquired an Ampeg SVT Pro 7 and got a chance to use it in a band setting this weekend. I noticed that when I use my stompbox overdrive the LED Peak light stays on continuously. Is this harmful to amp in any way? I am getting the desired sound I want but I do feel uneasy about the clip light staying on. I would figure that this would be ok since the pro 7 has a tube preamp, but I just want to be certain. Thanks in advance for any responses.

lokikallas · #2 08-14-2011, 02:41 PM

If your scared of the clip light turn up the compressor a little to tame the signal. I like that saturated tone the 7 gets when driven hard. I don't think anything bad can happen other than fuzzing up your tone. The ampeg hybrids clip lights have always been more of a "signal" light. I must say, every time I play the 7 I just start smiling. It's the best.

swardi19 · #3 08-14-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lokikallas

If your scared of the clip light turn up the compressor a little to tame the signal. I like that saturated tone the 7 gets when driven hard. I don't think anything bad can happen other than fuzzing up your tone. The ampeg hybrids clip lights have always been more of a "signal" light. I must say, every time I play the 7 I just start smiling. It's the best.

Excellent, that is what I was hoping to hear. I have been reading a lot of mixed information regarding preamp clipping and whether or not its harmful to an amp.

JimmyM · #4 08-14-2011, 10:36 PM

Hey man, take it easy! Ampeg amps are meant to have the gain riding hard. If it sounds good, the lights don't matter one little bit. Preamp clipping is only bad when you have an amp that clips in a non-musical way, and even that won't harm the amp, although there's a possibility it could harm your cab if it's loud enough. But Ampeg amps always sound good with the gain riding a little hard. I personally can't stand to use them without riding the gain at least a little hard, never less than noon and usually around 2:00 or 3:00. Used a rented SVT-CL on my gig today, and I purposely rode the gain into clipping just because it makes the notes sound fat at the low volumes I play at and doesn't sound dirty in a mix.

swardi19 · #5 08-18-2011, 10:37 AM

Right before I created this thread, I sent Ampeg an email asking this same question. The response I got back was not what I was expecting.

Quote:

How are you using the overdrive stompbox? Are you connecting from your bass to the stompbox, and then to the input of the SVT7Pro? Or are you connecting your bass to the input of the SVT7Pro, and then connecting your stompbox to the FX Send/Return on the amp? If you are using the former, wherein you have the stompbox in between the bass and the amp, this may not be the ideal setup. When we look at the Peak LED, it is telling us when we are at or are approaching clipping. Clipping or square waving can damage your speakers.
The better option would be to connect your bass to the input of the SVT7Pro and the connect the distortion pedal to the FX Send/Return on the amp. This means that the distortion pedal will be after the initial preamp section. You should then be able to adjust your gain, so that the Peak LED doesn’t come on.
On a side note, if your distortion pedal has a gain/output level control that you be cautious as to adding any gain at its output, as this could cause you to clip into the input of the FX return.

lowendgenerator · #6 08-18-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swardi19

Right before I created this thread, I sent Ampeg an email asking this same question. The response I got back was not what I was expecting.

Hogwash. I've never thought of running a dirt pedal in an FX loop. Put a piece of tape over that clip light, it's just gonna scare you away from the good tones!

rodl2005 · #7 08-18-2011, 10:46 AM

Hey, wierd. I was more along the lines of Jimmy's & others answers, just do what sound cool.
Still think I'll ' use my ears' in this matter. I think Ampeg said that re the 3 pro also.....
I'm loving the 7 pro, & depending on the tone I want, run the gain anywhere from about 11 o'clock to 3.

pedulla1 · #8 09-26-2011, 06:10 PM

I'm late to this thread but I am a firm believer in using the FX loop of the svt 7 pro. It is the best one i've found! Then you still have the option of goosing the gain! Which method worked for you?

TheRealKong · #9 09-26-2011, 06:35 PM

I have no 7 Pro, not at all. I prefer the SVP Pro - poweramp - combination.

An I push them 5 tubes hard. The gain will be between 11 and 2 o'clock. This
gives the sound the grind I bought an Ampeg for.

BTW, as far as I know, not the preamp-clipping will do harm to Your cabs,
but the poweramp clipping. So much for solid state - amps.

The preamp, either seperate or built into the amp, just forms Your sound.
The poweramp makes the tone You dialed in loud. If You get so loud, making
the poweramp clip, it can damage Your cabs, but You can hear them "farting out"
before destroying them.

I think that Ampeg has the opinion "safety first" written down in theyr manual.
They don't want You to push the valve in the preamp of the SVT 7 Pro too
hard for livetime issues. Otherwise, You have to change this preamp - tubes
not often.

These on my SVP Pro have been changed by the previous owner, so I will not
have to change them for a long time.