Cabinets to help cut through the live mix- SVT VR USERS ENCOURAGED TO REPLY!!

MediaJones · #1 08-21-2010, 01:05 PM

Hey everyone,
I am having a little bit of cabinet trouble... I am currently playing a American Standard P bass through a SVT VR Ampeg reissue along with one of there "famed" 4x10 and a SWR Triad cabinet.

I am having some issues with the basses ability to cut through the mix, in that I mean, there are not enough good high-mids and mids to be heard within the mix amongst keyboards, synth, guitar and drums... I have tried an Ampeg 8x10 (too big, clumsy, loud, and no mids- though it sounds great alone... doesnt do much good) and have tried both cabinets by themselves, and every function that the amp has to offer. The ability for the bass to be heard through the mix is a pertinent aspect to our music as the bass plays a large part in our sound (more so than I would say most other kinds of music). Also, small cabinets have a hard time keeping up with the VR because it is a friggin beast...

Are there any Ampeg SVT VR users out there who have had similar problems and experimented with different cabinets to get more high-mids to cut through the live mix? What would all you VR users suggest to get what I am looking for? I am looking for a solid middle range with plenty of high-mids, and of course lows, but I do not want the lows to be so over bearing as they are with the Ampeg 4x10 and 8x10. I was looking at the Avatar cabinets but have barely gotten to use it enough to see if it would fit my needs.

Let me know what you guys think!!!

rpsands · #2 08-21-2010, 02:24 PM

If an 8x10 and a 300 watt tube head is not enough mids for you it sounds like you're a candidate either for a new band, or something with better midrange dispersion.

I'd have a look at a BFM Jack 212.

rbonner · #3 08-21-2010, 02:32 PM

Do some of that Pilot S*** Mav... I can turn the knobs on my SVPCL preamp or on my 4PRO's to get ANY SOUND out of it from a Bull Whale to a Choked Chicken when playing any of my cabs through an 810, 215 or a 410HLF with a little tweeter dialed in.

Whether you are running an HLF or HE, thats either a bass monster with the HLF or half of an 810 with the HE, you didn't say which you had.

I haven't played the triad

My only major difference is I play a modified B-E-A-D AM DLX JAZZ, but I've been turning off the bridge pick and playing it more P like lately.

BOB

diechris · #4 08-21-2010, 02:36 PM

I have an SVT-II and a Schroeder 21210 cab... and it cuts WAY better then my 810e...

coreyfyfe · #5 08-21-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbonner

Do some of that Pilot S*** Mav... I can turn the knobs on my SVPCL preamp or on my 4PRO's to get ANY SOUND out of it from a Bull Whale to a Choked Chicken when playing any of my cabs through an 810, 215 or a 410HLF with a little tweeter dialed in.

Whether you are running an HLF or HE, thats either a bass monster with the HLF or half of an 810 with the HE, you didn't say which you had.

I haven't played the triad

BOB

Probably the HLF as the Triad is 4 ohms as well and that would be the only combo for proper impedance matching.

As usual, Bob hit the nail on the head - you've got knobs for a reason. The EQ on an SVT-VR will give you 20 db boost at 220, 800, or 3000 Hz. With that kind of control you shouldn't have trouble cutting through. Especially considering you're running 5 10s and two horns along with that 15.

lo-freq · #6 08-21-2010, 05:21 PM

Bergantino NV610 or NV412.

allexcosta · #7 08-21-2010, 06:35 PM

As much as I am a Bergantino guy I have to admit that when it comes down to cutting through the mix, nothing beats a Schroeder cab. A 2x12 should do it...

failuresXbass · #8 08-21-2010, 07:09 PM

swr 8x8 - punch and cuts

JimmyM · #9 08-21-2010, 07:37 PM

it's all about the knobs. an svt's flat response is a big low mid hump followed by a gradual rolloff of everything past 150 hz. so moving the knobs are a must. my usual svt settings are bass at 11:00, treble at 2:00, mids @ 800 at 3:00 or slightly below it. to my ears, this is basically where the near flat sound lies in an svt...it can vary from svt to svt but not by much.

Tim1 · #10 08-21-2010, 10:34 PM

I have a VR and have never had any trouble at all cutting through. I use it with either a Bergantino NV610 or NV215 - great tone and a perfect match with either cab and a P or J bass.

CDweller · #11 08-21-2010, 10:50 PM

This delivers mids.

JimmyM · #12 08-21-2010, 10:55 PM

i'll bet it delivers pretty much everything! but what the heck is that guitar? that's wild!

CDweller · #13 08-21-2010, 11:38 PM

Hey Jimmy- that guy holding the guitar is a luthier/builder named Joe Jesselli. He calls that model the Modernaire, and that was the first one of that model that he built, back in '85. It was in the shop getting freshened up. Joe was Jimmy D'Aquisto's apprentice.

Not to jack the thread, but Joe's work is among the finest in the world- no kidding. As well as building some of the world's most ridiculously well-crafted guitars, he does work on instruments. My basses are in really good shape thanks to Joe.
http://www.jesselli-guitars.com/soundlenz.html

I haven't had the opportunity to play out with the cab yet. I've only tried it with my Mesa 400+, and after a little bit of a learning curve, I finally got some good tone out of it. I like playing on my Jazz Bass's bridge pickup, which can be a little (actually a lot) thin-sounding, but I was able to get a nice fat bottom with this cab even on that pickup alone, with all the articulation in the world from the strong mids the cab delivers.

JimmyM · #14 08-21-2010, 11:42 PM

neato! looks like a fine piece of work.

MediaJones · #15 08-23-2010, 02:04 AM

Has anyone had problems getting a 4x10 hlf to keep up with the VR??? My speakers are farting out like crazy when i dig into the strings... It says the cab will take 500 watts but the VR puts out 300 tube watts and it still pushes those speakers too hard- should I be looking into something that will take more than 500 watts? A nice clean tone is very important to me....

**crustychef** · #16 08-23-2010, 04:01 AM

Well, I'm not an Ampeg guy.
I play a GK 700rbII going through a TC Electronics RS210 &212. I cuts like a hot sashimi knife through the the proverbial butter. I play with a crunchy guitar, aggressive keys/syth, two vocalists and drums. I need to swing a sharp ax not a blunt club. No one complains they can't hear me anymore. If I need more eventually then i will go up to the 1001rb and switch out the RS210 for a RS410.
What style of music do you play? What's your EQ setting like on your Ampeg btw? That could be all it is. Or your bass of choice. I'm sure you know this already but a P bass isn't gong to cut like a Jazz or a Stingay. I play mostly Warwicks (shhh..I know they are considered evil around these parts) and they are very low mid basses that cut ridiculously well. My Lakland is a monster too. A more classic sounding monster though.
My point is if you need to cut through and be in front and well defined then go with a cab/amp/ bass that is going to allow you to do that instead of fighting with something what has been designed to sit comfortably in the mix and support to it's fullest. To be clear I am not Ampeg or P bass bashing. I love the sound of a SVT and a Pbass as much as the next guy, when appropriate. I'm just saying it's not the end all be all everything. Use the right tool for job so to speak.

Whitbass · #17 08-23-2010, 09:10 AM

agree that the Bergs cut well.......the NV series has been mentioned.....but you might also want to check out the AE410 and HS410......
I have used a different Ampeg head through the AE410...........cuts quite well.................and quite loud

Alexander · #18 08-23-2010, 09:20 AM

A big +1 to the Berg NV Series cabs. I own the NV412 and it absolutely kills. I've only tried the NV610 in the store, but I think it has slightly more punch & cut than the NV412 does. Both cabs are amazing - the sealed cabs tighten up the low end very nicely, so you get a full\fat bass tone without boominess. It is an extremely well balanced and great sounding tone...

I agree with others that the P is punchy, but doesn't cut like a good J would. You might also want to try pushing the mids a bit more - I use a 2Pro and boost to 3PM @ mid-position 4 and also have a kinda upside-down-smiley EQ going on as well with the graphic EQ...

JimmyM · #19 08-23-2010, 09:54 AM

you know, if i had a precision, an svt, and some sort of decent cab rig, and i couldn't figure out a way to be heard in a mix, there is no way i could blame it on the equipment.

anonymous02282011 · #20 08-23-2010, 10:13 AM

SVTs cut like heck.

try this:

dial back the bass knob to about 10 o'clock

engage the 3000hz mid range and boost that about 2 o'clock

engage the super hi's and set that to about 9o'clock.

A single 4x10 should be plenty with those settings.