SVP-Pro....Pretty impressed

ledyard · #1 03-08-2011, 05:50 PM

I just opened my 97' Blue Letter SVP-PRO tonight (thanks to Anthony Fury) and plugged it into my new to me QSC PLX 1602 (thanks to Metalinthenight). I played them through my home practice cab, an old silver trim peavey 15" cab. its one of those old multi purpose cabs. Bass, guitar, P.A. whatever. Loaded with an EV.
Plugged my 94' MIJ foto flame into the whole mess and i must say....WOW. I'm really impressed. The little cab sounds pretty good. But I cant wait to plug them into my Mesa PH1000.
I just sold my 80's SVT II (non pro) last week. I was going to buy a new SL900 but I'm glad I chickened out and stayed with the Ampeg flavor.
I actually like this rig better than the SVT II non pro. Still has all the Ampeg sound but with a slightly tighter bottom end due to the SS power.
I only spent about 20 minutes messing with it but the things I noticed most right off was that the parametric EQ was alot more responsive and effective than the SVT II. The 5 way mid selector is still the same(cant tell really much difference between any settings) but the Bass, Mid, treb controls all seem alot more dynamic to me.
The biggest thing that I am excited about is the Master volume. That was the only thing I hated about the SVT II. When I got in loud stage situations in rooms that swallow your volume I had to turn my SVT II up around 5 once or twice and that gets alot of tube break-up that I didnt want for what I was doing. With the SVP master volume and gain volume you can get any sound from clear punch to balls to the wall fuzz and at any volume.
One thing I didnt realize the SVP had was the "drive" knob. That was a pleasant suprise. Just adds another option to tone shaping.
I really like the power amp/pre amp set up too because playing with the QSC volume and the master on the SVP you get some different overall sounds too depending which volume is where.
The graphic EQ doesnt seem to be quite as dynamic as on the SVT II. When I would mess with it on the SVT II it would make a major difference with just a small slider movement. SVP doesnt seem to be as sensitive. But with the way the parametric on the SVP is I doubt I'll ever use the graphic. I almost always used it on the SVT II though.
I'm definatley going to buy a second one of these to have around and as a spare. Plus with this pre and amp combo I'm at 30 lbs instead of 75 lbs.

ledyard · #2 03-08-2011, 05:52 PM

This one isnt mine but its the exact same thing.

(insert face palm for the guys settings.......smiley face graphic and cranked treble..........face palm again.....)

Jim C · #3 03-08-2011, 07:04 PM

+1 on a quality pre
I borrowed one of these years ago; sounded very good but reasonably noisey; some units had this issue; currently have a SVP-CL and think very highly of this model as well

ledyard · #4 03-08-2011, 07:12 PM

This one has zero noise. From what I learned a few days ago from a fellow TB'r...you have to have a very good quality 12ax7 in the V5 position or these pre's will hiss alot.

bThumper38 · #5 03-08-2011, 07:22 PM

I just got one of these a week ago. I'm lovin' it. I too am thinkin' of getting a second one just to have.

Anthony Fury · #6 03-08-2011, 11:23 PM

Glad to see this thing in the hands of someone who will fully appreciate it, and glad you like it man!

People would PM me and ask me about noise. I was like "what noise?" They thought I was messing with them..... (?) hahahahah

12bass · #7 03-09-2011, 03:50 AM

IMO, the drive control is one of the best features on the SVP-PRO. For rock tones, I often set input gain and drive so that the tubes break up a little when I dig in. It is fine to set the gain to light up the input LED fairly constantly. As for the graphic EQ section, it is solid-state and doesn't have a lot of headroom - it will clip if you have too much signal going into it. Generally, I bypass the EQ, which leaves an all-tube signal path. BTW, my SVP is from 1998, so it is about the same vintage.