svt-3 distorted signal (spector bass)

[Diddii]

tonight i plugged my spector euro5xl into my Ampeg svt-3 and from the start the signal was very distorted when i hit the notes hard and at loud volume (i wasnt even cranking it all the way up) Gain at 9'o and volume at 12'o - EQ secteion pretty much all at 2'o clock

I know the spector basses have high output and this sound didn't happen with my warwick about a month ago (long time since i played it last time)

The amp is 2-3 years old

at first i though it could be the batteries and when i got home i plugged it in my little amp and it played just nice, smooth and very clean sounding. (but this was only on very low volume since i was home and it was 11pm

What could be wrong?

[christw]

Does it only happen at loud volume or only happen when you dig in? Did you try reducing the preamp gain and turning up the master volume? My first and second guesses are that you were overdriving your power amp or your preamp.

[Diddii]

only at loud volume, i tried having the gain at almost down and master almost up and still this happened. I'm going to try my warwick next week and see what happens :/ hope nothing is wrong with my amp

[BrentSimons]

Hi There,
yes those Spector Euro's do indeed have a high output! If yours is a newer one there should be a small trim pot on the preamp in the control cavity you could turn this down or back off the eq on your bass. On the Tonepump preamp a little goes a long way and as christw stated try backing off the input gain on the amp.
Hope this helps.
Brent

[insomniac2295]

Check the battery in your bass!

[Diddii]

Originally Posted by insomniac2295;10269354 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting**************10269 354******end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Check the battery in your bass!

i tried the bass at home (but a low volume) the sound was clean, the battery works

Originally Posted by BrentSimons;10269345 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 10269345 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Hi There,
yes those Spector Euro's do indeed have a high output! If yours is a newer one there should be a small trim pot on the preamp in the control cavity you could turn this down or back off the eq on your bass. On the Tonepump preamp a little goes a long way and as christw stated try backing off the input gain on the amp.
Hope this helps.
Brent

I switch batteries and lowered the PU, i'm going to check this out better tomorrow.

[stiles72]

You may need your MOSFET bias adjusted in the 3-Pro. It's fairly common, but nothing that can't be dialed back in. When it's out of adjustment you will get a low level distortion especially at loud volumes. Happened to both of mine. Check your preamp out signal, and if its clean - then its most likely the bias. You will need to have a tech make the adjustment otherwise you can toast your MOSFETS.

[rickdog]

Originally Posted by Diddii

tonight i plugged my spector euro5xl into my Ampeg svt-3 and from the start the signal was very distorted when i hit the notes hard and at loud volume ... I know the spector basses have high output....

What could be wrong?

The first tube gain stage is before the gain control, so you can saturate and distort it with a hot signal even if the gain is all the way down.

Try turning the amp's gain control down all the way - if you still hear distortion, is the red LED next to the gain control lighting up? If so, you're probably getting distortion in that first tube stage. Try turning down your bass until that LED only flashes occasionally, does that sound better?

[Ric5]

set the eq flat ... too much bass boost will distort.

[Jerrold Tiers]

This could be a case for using the "-15 dB switch", which lowers the input gain. if the bass is really hot, and you like it that way for other amps, that's what the switch is for.

As for bias, that is NOT much of an issue at high volumes, pretty much an issue of low level.

BTW, make sure the "tube gain" is up all the way. That is the "clean" setting.

[ysand]

I have a Spector Rebop with Tonepump and active EMGs, and using the svt-3 too.

The -15db switch should be used, and also don't boost the bass from the amp.

The sound i get out of this with my bass is really really sweet