SVT!

[62Jazzbass]

I finally had an opportunity (and the motivation) to use my '76 SVT cab in an appropriate setting, after years of having it sit in a friends basement.

It's been so many years.....15 or more.

It was an outdoor gig, one we have done before where I have used my 410, but this time I decided I wanted to bring out the big guns!

What an amazing sound!


I had really forgotten. I was driving it with my old GK400RB (the matching SVT head needs a cap job) and the sound was just full, deep, and filled the stage and beyond. It was articulate too; I could hear everything I played so well (for better or worse). It sounded great with my Rick 4003 (with rounds) and my Jazz (with TI flats). And I wasn’t too loud – in fact a friend of the band suggested I turn up a bit after the first few songs. I was happy to oblige.

I just loved being up there hearing that sound!

It will tough going back to gigs with a 410, or even my 210 in the smaller clubs. Good news is I have one more outdoor gig at the end of the month where I will be bringing the fridge.

[mindwell]

Nice to hear that you enjoyed reconnecting with an old pal! The 8x10 does the big stage thing so definitively well. Nothing like having the big box back there. I've got one of roughly the same vintage ('75), and I've used it on hundred of gigs since buying it for $200 back in 1988.

I've put 3 different SVT heads through it (Blueline, Magnavox, St. Louis rack model), two GK 800RBs, 1 SWR SM900, a Stewart 1.6 with a) Pod Pro, b) SansAmp RBI, c) SWR Electric Blue, and now a Markbass F1. Never once has it sounded anything less than awesome.

I've gone to smaller rigs for certain situations, but I'll have to get a lot older before I stop dragging mine around.

[62Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by mindwell

<edit> since buying it for $200 back in 1988.
<edit>

Those were the days, eh?

I picked mine up, with matching head, for $400 back in '87.

I will spend more than that getting the head back up and running. But I will do it.

In the mean time, I need to decide between using the 400RB again for the next gig, or my GenzBenz Neopak 3.5 [with the 2ohm upgrade].

If I use the GB, I could run a cable to the guitar players side of the stage and drive my Ampeg 410 as well......

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by 62Jazzbass

Those were the days, eh?

I picked mine up, with matching head, for $400 back in '87.

I will spend more than that getting the head back up and running. But I will do it.

In the mean time, I need to decide between using the 400RB again for the next gig, or my GenzBenz Neopak 3.5 [with the 2ohm upgrade].

If I use the GB, I could run a cable to the guitar players side of the stage and drive my Ampeg 410 as well......

nah, you don't want to do the separate sides thing...you could end up cancelling yourself out and driving yourself nuts wondering why you're screaming loud on one part of the stage and non-existent 2 feet away. two cab rigs can work, but it would work out better to keep them near each other and have a separate amp for each so you could match volumes and get different tones that work together instead of working against you.

and really, with that cab, do you need anything else? hardly! looks great, btw. will look even better with a restored svt on top! i had my 69 restored a couple years ago...best thing i ever did. cost about $700 and required 3 trips to the repair shop, but it was extremely beat and mishandled before i got it, and it required all new caps, tubes, a couple pots, a couple resistors and stuff, but no transformers fortunately. hopefully your amp's overhaul won't be so intense.

[62Jazzbass]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

with that cab, do you need anything else? hardly!

Yeah, I know you are right. I was just thinking, if 8 is awesome, well 12 would be......4 better than awesome! But that was just me getting carried away.

Originally Posted by JimmyM

looks great, btw. will look even better with a restored svt on top!

Thanks, and agreed.

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i had my 69 restored a couple years ago... it required all new caps, tubes, a couple pots, a couple resistors and stuff, but no transformers fortunately. hopefully your amp's overhaul won't be so intense.

Mine is likely along those lines. Tubes and caps at a minimum, plus I do think a resistor is toasted.....that's what I smelled when playing, I pulled the plug and shelved it right then. But, I know it will be worth the $$.

[christw]

Or you should sell it to me! I can't survive without one! I have a problem...

[62Jazzbass]

Today @ lunch time is my chance to rock the SVT cab again, this time in front of about 1500 people. I will use my Genz Benz Neopack 3.5, it will be interesting to compare this with the 400RB I used a couple of weeks ago, particularly with the tube pre in the GB.