Dirtying up my SVT

chanson · #1 08-08-2010, 04:15 PM

I have recently acquired a 90's Ampeg SVT-CL, and while it is the best amp I've owned so far, I am a little unsatisfied with it's tone. Even if I crank the gain all the way up and have the master set low, it doesn't get as gritty and distorted as I'd like and have heard SVT's get. I have looked into getting a pedal to dirty the tone up, but I realized I am not attacking the problem at the source: the amp itself.

It is currently sporting Svetlana Electron 6500's and JJ Electronic 12AU7's and a JJ Electronic 12AX7. I am looking to get as much distortion as possible. I tune to C or lower almost always, and play doom/stoner/sludge/hardcore music, to give you an idea of what type of tones I am into.

So, what tubes would you all recommend putting in to give me the fattest distortion possible without having to resort to a pedal?

Disclaimer: I am in no ways a tube expert, only a novice. I apologize if information I present is not accurate or contradictory in some way. I am still learning.

Mr. Foxen · #2 08-08-2010, 04:21 PM

Master set low is your problem. To get cranked SVT tone, you need to crank your SVT, surprisingly.

Alexander · #3 08-08-2010, 04:26 PM

Not sure different tubes will get you there, to be honest. I find that the best way to get a growly, overdriven tone is with a good bit of volume. I push the gain as high as I can until it starts to distort (pushing the pre too hard sounds bad to me). Then crank the volume (I usually go to between 1 & 3 o'clock). I also give a good amount of mids and use the drive from time to time to give it a bit more dirt (I play the SVT 2Pro and am not sure if the CL has a drive control or not).

It's not what I think of as distortion - more a creamy, growly, warm overdrive. Awesome rock tone. For some real crunchy distortion, I do think you need effects up front...

All IME, that is. Good luck!

chanson · #4 08-08-2010, 04:26 PM

I had always believed that turning the gain up all the way and using the master volume as a volume control gave you distortion without having to turn it up to deafening levels.

Mr. Foxen · #5 08-08-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chanson

I had always believed that turning the gain up all the way and using the master volume as a volume control gave you distortion without having to turn it up to deafening levels.

Only lame preamp distortion for guitarists. This is a valve amp, you need those power tubes cooking. If you aren't at deafening levels, you are not allowed to call yourself Doom.

Alexander · #6 08-08-2010, 04:41 PM

I find if I crank the gain too high, I do get distortion - but more the unpleasant, farting type.

I play my SVT 2Pro through a Bergantino NV412 cab and to be honest, at 1-3 o'clock, it isn't deafening by any means. It is loud and present, but not overly so. And I played it today in church at that volume level. We're in an auditorium that seats around 400 people and don't run the bass through the PA, but with a full (rocked-up) band, it was just right. And I ask around each time to ensure I'm not too loud...

chanson · #7 08-08-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

Only lame preamp distortion for guitarists. This is a valve amp, you need those power tubes cooking. If you aren't at deafening levels, you are not allowed to call yourself Doom.

Sigged.

Interesting. Well it appears I was wrong.

RickenBoogie · #8 08-08-2010, 04:46 PM

Yup, it needs to be cranked. I think alot of younger players get the impression that a cranked SVT equals distortion, but it's not like that. It's only when you really dig in, and then it's still less grainy than full on distortion. Sounds like you're almost describing fuzz, which is the most grainy. Crank the master, and pull the gain up to a decent level, and if that's not what you're looking for, you'll need to put a distortion or fuzz pedal in front of it.

JimmyM · #9 08-08-2010, 04:49 PM

the amp has no problem. if you want power tube distortion, you must whip it. and whip it good. that's all there is.

however...

the vt bass pedal from tech 21 does an absolutely kickass job of simulating it with nary a tube. this is the route i take since i would get canned from all the gigs i get if i turned it up that far.

coreyfyfe · #10 08-08-2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chanson

Interesting. Well it appears I was wrong.

Not necessarily wrong, just thinking in the wrong direction. If you want low volume distortion/grind, set your grit with the gain and adjust master. If you want full on power amp distortion then crank the power amp and set the volume with your preamp gain.

ampegfuzz · #11 08-08-2010, 06:48 PM

You know i wondered if a cl got dirty if you cranked the gain and had a lower master volume, i guess not.

retardedpossum · #12 08-08-2010, 06:57 PM

So far I've been able to get a much more dirty tone with my Genz Benz rig than with my SVT CL and 410HLF.

rbonner · #13 08-08-2010, 07:24 PM

Check what you have in there for tubes again. A bunch of 12AU7's and one 12AX7?

It should be the other way around. A 12AU7 doesn't have near enough gain, the AX7 is the gain tube and should be in V1, V2, etc... The 12AU7 should be the inverter.

BOB

JimmyM · #14 08-08-2010, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampegfuzz

You know i wondered if a cl got dirty if you cranked the gain and had a lower master volume, i guess not.

it does get somewhat dirty, but it's all from the preamp, so it's a different kind of distortion. more of a buzzy distortion than that roaring power tube breakup, though.

fourstringburn · #15 08-08-2010, 10:19 PM

seems like your longing for an solid state overdrive because the tube amp lacks...

nah, that couldn't be...

ItsMichaelYeah · #16 08-08-2010, 10:19 PM

SVT amps are hard to push to distortion because you have to crank the master and gain. I use a Fulltone OCD and that does the trick for me.

Ampeg V4 is easy to get a good gritty sound from.
So is the Orange AD200.

Noseferatu · #17 08-08-2010, 10:19 PM

I asked this in another thread that I created about SVT simulators and how to get a semi distorted tone, and (after teasing me about using Gene Simmons examples

), I think these are very good examples of subtle distortion/crunch, and full on distortion/fuzz, so, both sides of the spectrum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR5jC3f_ZUk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgKz1lxqnuI

Honestly, personally, the tone in the first clip is my favorite kind of tube overdrive. Not too much but not too little either.

meatwad · #18 08-08-2010, 10:53 PM

As far as tubes go, my CL took a turn towards classic when I went from the stock Sovtek power/Chinese preamp combo to Winged "C" power/JJ pre's. Much more warmth and grit, and overdrive comes easier through gain and tone boosting. And after having them in a for a couple of years, they seem to sound even better. My band has the next five weekends booked, and I look forward to cranking my rig for the first time since April!

Coke Kane · #19 08-08-2010, 10:59 PM

Might be the JJ 12ax7, they have a clear distortion to them, not really a gritty distorted tone. I use JJ's in my Aguilar cause I wat my preamp to be as clear as possible. Try another brand of 12ax7.

meatwad · #20 08-08-2010, 11:38 PM

Gee, let me add IME, IMHO, YMMV, ect, to my above post.