Unlocking The Mysteries Of My Ampeg SVT-VR/810 Combo

[PolkaHero]

Rather than revive the megathread from a couple of weeks ago, I've decided to start a new one!

Once again, the volume control on my 2006 USA SVT-VR is ridiculous. Tonight it got reunited with my 810AV cabinet which had been in storage. Again, I barely can turn the volume up and the thing gets way too loud, I'm talking at 8:30 on the control.

From advice in the previous thread, I changed out the first preamp tube to a 12AU7. I just happened to have an old Sylvania 12AU7A that I inserted. From what I heard, it basically made channel one like channel two which I think uses a 12AU7 in its gain stage (correct me if I'm wrong). The volume was more tolerable but still really kicked in at about 9:30. I have new volume pots on order that my local Ampeg tech will install but I have my doubts that will solve the problem.

On to the cabinet: I think I have one of the crappy ones with the dark, muddy sound. I pulled one of the speakers and notated the model number. From these codes, can anyone tell me if these are the crappy Eminence speakers that Ampeg used to use?

86-032-01
10324A
67-0609A 0651

I've also attached a picture of the innards. It looks like the front baffle is particleboard, but I'm not sure about the rest of the cabinet. Can anyone tell me if this is the crappy wood they were using at one time? Do these usually have all of the internal batting material inside?



Well, that should suffice for now and bring forth interesting discussion!

[coreyfyfe]

The speaker date code says it's a 2006 so it I believe that puts it near the end of the US made "dark sounding" cabs before the move overseas and the speaker/cabinet material change.

What's the issue with the volume? Are you looking for more gain from the amp? Is it just too "dark" sounding before you hit the maximum volume of the amp? Have you tried smaller cabs?

[PolkaHero]

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

The speaker date code says it's a 2006 so it I believe that puts it near the end of the US made "dark sounding" cabs before the move overseas and the speaker/cabinet material change.

What's the issue with the volume? Are you looking for more gain from the amp? Is it just too "dark" sounding before you hit the maximum volume of the amp? Have you tried smaller cabs?

I usually run it with my Bergantino NV610. The volume issue is that it's too loud too soon. I really think this thing needs volume pots with a different taper.

[derridiandrift]

You have one of the dark sounding cabs that were made in the US. The baffle is probably plywood, the rest of the cab is MDF.

When you say the volume comes on really fast, describe how much more volume there is when the knob is at 10 o'clock, and 12 o'clock.

Just for reference, I regularly gig with my SVT-VR and SVT810E cab. I have the volume knob between 9 and 10 o'clock on the dial. By 11 o'clock the amp is very loud and at its limit for clean tone. The more I turn it up after that, more hairy it gets. Plus it's absurdly loud.

Check that you have the impedance switch at 4 ohms.

[JimmyM]

I'll add to derri's post and say that if you have a hot bass, it can get louder sooner, but 8:30 shouldn't be the mark. No idea what's wrong, but it does sound a little off the mark, yes.

[rodl2005]

+1 My SVTII -with no 'gain' control, just a 'volume' -as the 'VR' - would virtually be at 8.30-9 o'clock at the ' quieter ' gigs & hardly ever above 10 o'clock, then from 11 on, just a sweeter a nastier overdrive.
Wonderful!!
The SVT-CL with it's gain & master vol. Would be far easier to dial in a lesser vol.

[JGR]

Leave the amp alone and get a smaller cab. That is a giant rig - it is supposed to be loud.

[rodl2005]

Originally Posted by JGR

Leave the amp alone and get a smaller cab. That is a giant rig - it is supposed to be loud.

Seems about right to me

[PolkaHero]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I'll add to derri's post and say that if you have a hot bass, it can get louder sooner, but 8:30 shouldn't be the mark. No idea what's wrong, but it does sound a little off the mark, yes.

Figured I had one of the crappy ones, that's why I usually use my Bergantino instead. I'm running a Fender Walnut Precision Special with Seymour Duncan 1/4 pounder installed. Too hot of a pickup maybe?

[PolkaHero]

Here's another issue with the amp:

My bandleader who runs our mixing board says he isn't getting a hot enough signal from the XLR output. I have the trim pot on the back of the amp all the way up. I also have it set post-EQ. Should I take a line from the preamp out 1/4" jack instead or is this another thing that needs to be fixed?

[JimmyM]

That doesn't sound right, either. That DI should be plenty hot with the knob turned all the way up.

[will33]

Yeah, they should've used thicker quilt batting or polyfill stuffing but it's better than nothing. It is one of the dark ones I don't like. The volume pot should have a smoother taper but it should be quite loud and getting into mild grit by 11:00 and your guy at the board should be telling you to turn your DI down not up.

Basically I agree these are all problems but don't know the fix.

A different volume pot may help, the cab's not going to sound any better unless you reload it with the new B810's or old CTS's.

[stingraysvt]

My old SVT gets crazy loud at 9 o'clock. The funky thing is the volume difference between 8:30 and 8:35 is like going up a step and a half maybe 2 steps on any other amp. I'm more put off by that, rather than my amp peaking in volume so early.

[PolkaHero]

Originally Posted by will33

A different volume pot may help, the cab's not going to sound any better unless you reload it with the new B810's or old CTS's.

Or if I buy a newer used one cheap, swap out the speakers, and resell the newer one with the crappy speakers to some guy who doesn't know better.

[Tim1]

The send from my VR's DI is also a tad light, but I just tell the sound guys to turn up the input gain on their desk and all is fine. There is sufficient gain for a useable send, they just need to boost it a bit more then they might have to with, say, an active d.i. IME.

[PolkaHero]

Looks like everything is good to go. Took it back to the shop last week, tech ordered new pots which happen to be actual CTS pots (original were something cheap and foreign), and he says the volume controls work much better now. It doesn't come on so suddenly anymore; I can't wait to try it out with my "new" 810AV cabinet (I reloaded the speakers) next weekend.

Regarding the DI problem: There is no DI output from channel two when the switch is engaged in the "Pre-EQ" position. Not sure why they designed it this way, but that's how the thing works. Output only comes from channel one. I'm using only one bass from now on. . .

Jimmy, did you know that?

[JimmyM]

I did not know that. I always use channel 1 and I rarely if ever use a DI when using an SVT/810.