Giving up on the SVT-II.

[Inverness]

A cross-country move will do that to you!

But seriously, it's gotten to the point where my 12-space rack case weighs more than I do. Admittedly, I've been spending more of the past year working on my dissertation than gigging, but even then, bringing the big rig is just not viable. So I want to downsize before I move from FL to CA.

I love my SVT-II. It's currently going into an Aggie GS-410 sitting on top of a GS-212. It sounds phenomenal. But the weight of the II is just too much. So I'm trying to compartmentalize. I still appreciate the warmth of a tube preamp section, and all I've read here pretty much is steering me towards an Ampeg SVP-Pro preamp. I'd like it to drive a serious QSC or Crown power amp - something like 800 watts into 4 ohms per side - to power each cab. I read bongo's Ovni site about preamps, but conveniently, the SVP-Pro manual says nothing of voltage.

My question boils down to this: I love the grind/crunch I can get from my SVT-II. Can I get that from the SVP-Pro into one of those solid state behemoths? I'm also going to be unloading a PBDI and a TC Electronics G-Force (the heck was I thinking...) in favor of, perhaps, a VT bass Deluxe and some other FX pedals. Again, I'm not looking for "that SVT sound" specifically, just crunch when I need it. Is this a job for the Sansamp RBI-RPM combo? Or just the FX pedals into the VT bass deluxe into the power amp? Is the VT into the SVP-Pro an unnecessary redundancy?

I've been so caught up writing my dissertation that I'm just now starting to get back into gear things, and I'd like to hit the ground running, musically, when I get out to CA. Big changes!

P.S. If you're wondering, "how much crunch does this guy need?" then the closest answer would be Billy Gould of Faith No More circa 1989-1992. I have a *very* heavy attack at times.

[Alex1984]

I'd say the SVT-IIP might be a better fit for you if you liked the sound of the SVT-II, since it's the EXACT same pre.

I still love my SVT-II, except when I have to move it.

[JimmyM]

love the vt...but it's not the easiest pedal to control on the fly. would probably go with a standalone ampeg pre (i like the svp-cl myself) into a power amp, skip the rbi/rpm, and use a vt to dirty it up when needed.

[Inverness]

Thanks, Jimmy! I had the PBDI running into the front of II for a while, but at some point I was finally like... why am I running an emulator into the real thing?

The reason I ask about the SVP-Pro over the SVP-IIp is that from some reading I've done on here, the IIp doesn't have the proper output voltage to drive some of the more demanding high-powered power amps.

[mustbampeg]

Hasn't Billy Gould always played Peavey gear?

[jackcheez]

Might try an SVT III. They've been in backline at a couple gigs I've done and they were surprizingly satisfying to play. You can get some grit and crunch out of 'em.

[Inverness]

The III is unappealing because, if I recall correctly as it's the precursor to the 3Pro, it's underpowered. I had a 3Pro before I got the II, and that was a big problem. (Please note, not looking to start another "3Pro is/isn't underpowered" discussion) That's why I was going to invest in a high-powered solid state amp. As to the inevitable "why not just get a 4Pro" question, I'd like to keep things modular.

@mustb: Yeah, he's a Peavey guy through and through. From way back, I think I read he uses (or used, anyway) a TB Raxx. Not totally sold on the Raxx's clean tone. I'm quite fond of the fullness and the tone colorization of the Ampeg stuff, so I'd at least like to stay in the Ampeg family.

[punkrocko]

I remember the output sensitivity issue with the IIp. If I recall correctly it didn’t play well with QSC. I thought Crest amps were a better match. Although you may be better off with the master volume Pro for more grind.

[mgess]

+ 1 on the SVP-CL. I run it with a QSC RMX 2450 through a Berg NV 610 and couldn't be happier.

However, in my opinion, it doesn't get real dirty. It is pretty clean sounding preamp. Thick and warm bass, but clean.

[Inverness]

Hmmm...

On an older thread, you guys (I think it was even JimmyM) said something about a preamp recording shootout. What was the username of the guy who did that? Having trouble tracking it down.

[punkrocko]

Was it :

basstasters.com || welcome

[Alex1984]

From what I gathered, the Pro series pre-amps sound quite different from the CL and the IIP.

I actually heard mostly good things about the III and the III Pro, it was the 4 Pro that was often referred to as being underpowered. But, I'd also keep things modular as well.

Lots of people put SansAmps in front of SVTs to add more grind, especially on non-master volume versions.

[Sartori]

If it were me, I'd give up on everything BUT the SVT-II.

[Alex1984]

Originally Posted by Sartori

If it were me, I'd give up on everything BUT the SVT-II.

Agree. I've yet to find anything that sounds better. Dibs?

[Inverness]

That's what's killing me. It's not a tone/volume thing. It's a weight thing.

[Sartori]

What else is in your rack?

There are tube heads that aren't quite so weighty out there.

[Alex1984]

Buy it a separate case and put it on wheels.

[Inverness]

It's a 12-space road ready with a power conditioner, a compressor, an harmonic driver, the G-Force (now no longer there), a 3-space drawer, and finally the II.

[Inverness]

Oh, and a tuner.

[JimiLL]

why the comp with a tube head?