Looking to replace my SVT-CL with a Power Amp

khainedaemon · #1 03-30-2010, 01:34 PM

I recently purchased a Sansamp RBI and ran it directly into the power amp in my SVT-CL which is connected to a 610hlf. The difference in tone is amazing to me playing with my Spector Euro5LX. I was wondering if there is a lighter power amp that I can replace the SVT-CL with that would still keep the tone of the power tubes.. Any ideas?

JimmyM · #2 03-30-2010, 01:39 PM

none whatsoever unless you get a tube power amp. a ss power amp with a good pre hooked up to it can sound great, but there's no substitute for the feel of a good tube power amp.

khainedaemon · #3 03-30-2010, 01:40 PM

Are there any good tube power amps that are at least a bit lighter than the SVT-CL? That thing's a tank.

Williamsburgjim · #4 03-30-2010, 01:47 PM

...Carvin makes an all-tube 100 watt power amp that may work, though some say it was designed more for guitards. Actually, I believe there is a decent review here in the TB archives.....
someone was trying to hook-up an SVP-pro to it... .

Jimbob

JimiLL · #5 03-30-2010, 03:57 PM

Yeah, buy four of them lol.

But seriously, if you want that sound, time to hit the gym

bassninja7 · #6 03-30-2010, 05:30 PM

ill buy you a power amp and throw in my sansamp PBDDI for your CL

khainedaemon · #7 03-31-2010, 01:23 PM

Haha I am actually looking at downsizing and getting as close to the same tone as possible with the RBI + Power Amp. I will then sell the CL and bank the extra cash.

arjune · #8 03-31-2010, 02:05 PM

I've heard nothing but praise for the Crest CA series power amps. Supposedly at similar power ratings the Crest just pumps way over the other guys' heads. Not my experience, but it seems to be a common view on the forums here.

Personally, I used a QSC PLX series with a RBI for a long time and loved it. The only thing I wanted was a RPM to switch tones without doing any knob twiddling, but that whole problem could be solved if you used a PVTDI into a power amp. That would be a kiiiiiller setup IMO.

JimmyM · #9 03-31-2010, 02:06 PM

my advice is to hang onto the cl until you're absolutely sure you'll like the rbi/power amp rig. a lot of people have done exactly that only to come back to the svt, me being one of them. i was using a markbass lmii with a sansamp vt bass pedal in front, and while i could cop pretty much identical tones by the time it hit the pa, all it really did was make me jones for the real thing. so now i suck it up and use the real thing most of the time.

Paulitics · #10 03-31-2010, 02:18 PM

If you turn your volume down such that the power amp in your svt is operating pretty linearly you can get an idea of what things would sound like with a solid state power amp. As you turn your volume up the power amp will eventually start to smear and distort. That sound you will not get from a solid state power amp. This might be worth a try to get an idea of how much the tube power amp is affecting your tone. Still your ears hear things differently when they are loud compared to when they are soft so this test could be a little deceiving. But if you like the sound when the volume is low the next step would be to try out a solid state power amp.

bassguppy · #11 03-31-2010, 05:00 PM

Will you be keeping the 610HLF?

bassguppy · #12 03-31-2010, 05:04 PM

after looking at the weight of the 610HLF (115lbs.), why are you worried about the weight of the SVT-CL???

khainedaemon · #13 04-01-2010, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassguppy

after looking at the weight of the 610HLF (115lbs.), why are you worried about the weight of the SVT-CL???

The 610 really doesn't get moved around that much, but the CL gets moved from home to the practice space weekly. I think I'll save up for a used power amp and try that out before offloading the CL.

Don't get me wrong, I love the CL, but when I plugged the RBI into it and bypassed the CL's preamp, my tone went from good to f'n EPIC. I'm just wondering how much of that is from the RBI and how much is from the power tubes...

christianbass · #14 04-01-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

my advice is to hang onto the cl until you're absolutely sure you'll like the rbi/power amp rig. a lot of people have done exactly that only to come back to the svt, me being one of them. i was using a markbass lmii with a sansamp vt bass pedal in front, and while i could cop pretty much identical tones by the time it hit the pa, all it really did was make me jones for the real thing. so now i suck it up and use the real thing most of the time.

Well, that answer some questions for me. I was considering doing the same thing, but after reading this, I guess I will suck it up and keep my SVT II pro. Jimmy, I appreciate you going through this experience so I didn't have to waste my time

.

JeremyBTT · #15 04-01-2010, 10:24 AM

I wonder how this compares?

Aguilar DB728 tube power amp

there's some serious tube power in there.

I have the same set up as yourself with the CL and RBI and it has made my mind wander quite a bit as well. Let me know what you end up doing.

johnk_10 · #16 04-01-2010, 10:28 AM

while i have been able to achieve an almost indistinguishable tone and response at all output levels of either of my two SVT's (a '69 and an '07 VR) using a preamp/poweramp rig, with a 60% weight savings, it ended up costing me about double the price of an SVT head to do it.

JimmyM · #17 04-01-2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianbass

Well, that answer some questions for me. I was considering doing the same thing, but after reading this, I guess I will suck it up and keep my SVT II pro. Jimmy, I appreciate you going through this experience so I didn't have to waste my time

.

lol...well i'm not saying it's the answer for everyone...just that's how it worked out for me.

suraci · #18 04-01-2010, 12:20 PM

What has happened to men in this time?

I read recently about the great Ron Carter playing a series of amps, one of which was the Bose L1 system
Someone commented ' why can't someone make an amp that sounds this good, that is smaller.. lighter.. more compact' ! The L1 is no big deal in weight.

Unreal to me. What's the deal with men not wanting to carry something a little heavy?
Ask for help. Ask your girlfriend to help you!

I don't get it. Sorry for ranting.

johnk_10 · #19 04-01-2010, 12:25 PM

well, i'm 56 years old with a very bad back, and even though i do still take my SVT's to gigs sometimes (and love it when i do), i just wanted to try and achieve the same sound/response for when i don't want to chance being bed ridden the next day after a latenight teardown and schlep.

anonymous02282011 · #20 04-01-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

while i have been able to achieve an almost indistinguishable tone and response at all output levels of either of my two SVT's (a '69 and an '07 VR) using a preamp/poweramp rig, with a 60% weight savings, it ended up costing me about double the price of an SVT head to do it.

what pre/power?