Vintage SVT & NV610 volumes

[Coughdrops]

Hi all,

After searching and reading many related threads that all touch on portions of my question, I've decided to just ask directly. I know there are many that use this pairing so hopefully some additional insight will be offered.

I know SVTs tend to break up around 1030-11 on the dial. When playing a gig Sunday I was at that volume level and the rig sounded amazing. Though I noticed if digging in at all, the g-string really jumped out distortion wise. It seemed like the other strings were handling it better. I was a little nervous as I didn't want to thrash the speakers if it was speaker break up I heard. I've heard these 610s can take a lot, but this was only my second gig with it so I was being very cautious.

I thought pickup height might affect it, so I checked the heights and they were by no means overly high. Maybe just the g string, when played hard, more quickly draws out that svt break up...? Maybe slightly out of bias...?

For all you guys that run this rig, understanding it will have tube distortion past a certain point, what is the max volume you'd run your head at with this cab?

Many thanks

[Tim1]

I have an SVT VR which is as close as you can get to a vintage SVT, run into a Berg 610. My band has a pretty loud onstage sound - heavy drummer and full Marshall 100 stack. I seldom run it over 10.30 at which stage it is clean with my Precision and Jazz basses and plenty loud. However, I have noticed with my Telecaster bass which has a noticeably hotter pickup that if I dig in the speakers sound as though they are struggling a little. It is fine with the other basses, and this issue does not occur with the berg 215 cab. Personally I would not worry about it, just adjust my settings to suit. I also know that while my old SVT2 nonpro would break up around 10.30 -11 my VR seems to keep it clean alll the way. Law of physics basically - every speaker must have some limitation and just try not to exceed these, although I am surprised it is on the G string and not the E that you notice the problem.

[Coughdrops]

Tim, thanks for the reply...appreciate the input. I agree with your comment about the G vs E string...was also a little surprised.

[AwkwardLoudness]

How do you set your EQ?

There may have been some resonant frequency vibrations happening if it's only on the G note. Without hearing it myself, I'm not certain that the speakers are the issue.

The noise could just be mid-range distortion from the amp.

Speakers fart out sooner with low frequencies, so that doesn't seem to be the issue.

It's impossible to state an exact volume level that's at the sweet spot and beneath the farting out threshold because it will vary depending on pickups, bass instrument volume knob, playing technique, and especially the EQ settings.

Originally Posted by Coughdrops

I know SVTs tend to break up around 1030-11 on the dial.....and the rig sounded amazing.

You can say that again!!

[anonymous02282011]

Originally Posted by AwkwardLoudness

How do you set your EQ?

There may have been some resonant frequency vibrations happening if it's only on the G note. Without hearing it myself, I'm not certain that the speakers are the issue.

+1 on the EQ

It could've also been the acoustics in the room


I'm pretty sure those speakers can take a beating

[metron]

Just to be stupid loud, i have turned my svt up to 3:00 on channel 1 with noonish eq. Rip your face off loud grind! I didnt fear for the 610 at all. It can take pretty much everything an svt can put out.

[Mark Reccord]

For reference, I have run my SVT *on 10* into my NV610 with no issues other than obscenely loud, beautiful distorted tone.

[Tim1]

I think volume settings are all relative, dependent on the bass, pickup height, amp EQ and most of all the player's picking style. My right hand is very heavy (I cannot change the habit of a life time, God knows I've tried) and consequently I know I push speakers harder than others at the same setting.

[Coughdrops]

I just wept tears of happiness after reading these last few replies

EQ wise - pretty flat, maybe treb 930. No boost switches on. I think it will just take a few gigs and a variety of rooms to really get the ins and outs of the cab

[4Mal]

Nice rig!