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SVPCL preamp settings

cb56

cb56

Jul 2, 2000
4,342
354
Ozarks
#1
For all of you who own one. I'd like to know what your settings are along with what type of music and what bass you use. I'm just interested in seeing what you all think are usefull settings. I started out with the recomended "rock" settings.

ultra low: off. setting #1
Mid selector: # 3 (800 Hz) set at about 1 o'clock.
bass & treble at 12 o'clock
all other tone boosts off
But I've been finding that it is too midrangey (Boxy honk) for my classic rock band.

I've switched to this setting.
Ultra low: setting #4
Mid selector: #2 (450Hz) set about 2 o'clock
Bass & Treble at 12 o'clock
all other tone boosts off
I'm finding this much more of what i consider the SVT sound.

btw I'm using 2 Aguilar 12 cabs Fender jazzV or schecter Elite 5 with this setup.

What's your magic formula for "That Special Tone" with this pre amp?
 
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#2
Great thread. I use a 79 maple neck Precision and an Ashdown 4x8 cab for low volume use and the ballpark for the sound I like is late 70s/early 80s Stranglers, here's a couple of recent settings.

THE DRY MID GROWL (La Folie)
Ultra-Lo: #3 lo-cut classic
Ultra-Hi: off
Bright: off

Bass: 3 o clock
Mid: 3 o clock
Mid-select: #1 220Hz
Treble: 9 o clock or less

Alternatively a more typical toppier earlier Burnel/Entwhistle sound may be:

Ultra-Lo: #4 ultra-lo classic (where'd the mid go!)
Ultra-Hi: off
Bright: off

Bass: 9 o clock
Mid: 12 o clock (flat)
Mid-select: -
Treble: 10 o clock

I also have an Ashdown EVO500 (which I currently use to power the pre-amp) but it sounds cold in comparison to the CL. My only reservation about the CL is the frequency of the bass knob. I'd love to have a pull pot that can switch to say, 80Hz instead of 20Hz.
 
#3
markorbit said:
Alternatively a more typical toppier earlier Burnel/Entwhistle sound may be:

Ultra-Lo: #4 ultra-lo classic (where'd the mid go!)
Ultra-Hi: off
Bright: off

Bass: 9 o clock
Mid: 12 o clock (flat)
Mid-select: -
Treble: 10 o clock

I'd love to have a pull pot that can switch to say, 80Hz instead of 20Hz.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I like that second one, as I'm running back and forth from my bass rig to my computer. Sort of a variation on what I'd been doing except you're cuttings lows and highs to get some mids to pop out in that #4 setting instead of boosting the mids like I was. Your way is less boomy sounding I like it!
I agree a 80Hz boost/cut would be nice also
 
#4
I use a MIM P bass w EMG P/J pups. I play in a rock cover band (Janis Joplin, Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton.....).

My settings are pretty ordinary.
Ultra Low- 2
Brite and Ultra Brite- off
Bass- 12:00
Mid selector- 2 (around 500hz)
Mids- between 12:00 and 3:00 to sit in the mix
Treble- 12:00

I also bring different cabs to different clubs. I mix and match a 4x8, 2x12, and 1x15 depending on room. I also use a graphic EQ sparingly to balance the different cabs and get rid of room resonance.
 
#5
My settings are pretty close to MarkOrbit's...I've played around with all kinds of settings...I think the SVPCL sounds good regardless! What do you all set your input/master at?

I'm running mine through an Aphex 204 into a SVP1600. My cab's a Schroeder 21012...and come tax time I'll add a 410 on top :eek:
 
#7
I use an Esp j-five customshop bass,Ampeg b4r as poweramp , Ampeg cab 1540he and of course the svpcl;

My settings:

Ultra-low : 4
Ultra high : off
Bright : off
Mid-selector: 1
Bass : 2:00
Mid : 2:00
Treble : 12:00

This gives me a real and warm bass .
 
#8
my settings:

gain: about 2 oclock
ultralow: setting#2
ultra high and bright off
bass: close to 3 oclock
mid: about 1 oclock
mid freq: setting #4
treble:12 oclock

this is running with a QSC PLX1202 and Avatar 410Pro, Music Man SR5.

I need to tell that that changing the SR5 to a Lakland is a totally different sound and redo all the settings.

If I want a more grindy sound, I use the SVP-BSP combined channels
 
#9
Hey guys -- Don't wish to hijack this thread...

Just wondering how you find the headroom, or overall output volume on this pre? I'm in the market for a new preamp and will be running a Crown K1 amp into an SWR Goliath III 4x10.

Is it hot...or not???
 
#10
I say, like 50/50. It is not too hot but not too weak. I test a BMAX-t and this pre was so hot, that I can not change the sound. On the other hand, SVP-CL is not too hot, but yoy can get different sounds of it.
Jason Hollar said:
Hey guys -- Don't wish to hijack this thread...

Just wondering how you find the headroom, or overall output volume on this pre? I'm in the market for a new preamp and will be running a Crown K1 amp into an SWR Goliath III 4x10.

Is it hot...or not???
Click to expand...
 
#11
Jason Hollar said:
Hey guys -- Don't wish to hijack this thread...

Just wondering how you find the headroom, or overall output volume on this pre? I'm in the market for a new preamp and will be running a Crown K1 amp into an SWR Goliath III 4x10.

Is it hot...or not???
Click to expand...
I would say it is a lower output preamp but I like that because you can make full use of the dials instead of needing to keep them low like the Bmax is.
 
#12
About a year ago Ampeg changed the design to have a hotter output. Do a search and you'll find lot's more info on this. I have one of the older versions before the mod and mine still has plenty of output. Not hot but not too weak either. One thing the SVPCL doesn't do is distortion. I have to crank my input all the way to get the red clip light to flash with my Fender JazzV ( passive) and about 3/4 of the way up with my active bass. But remember mine is the older pre mod version.
Looks like there is a lot of love for the #4 position on the ultra low switch.
Keep the suggestions coming :bassist:
 
#13
I've got the newer one - with my passive (insert crappy pickups) bass i use the gain about 2-3 o'clock, and the master vol. to about 3 o'clock. Then poweramp does the rest.
I tried out a friends' stinger with it, and i had to turn the gain down to about 9 o'clock otherwise i'd get too much gainy/woof.
Its hot enuf :)

My settings are (with a good Yammy, crappy pups - mid range twang)
Ultra Low :4
All buttons out
Bass : 3 o'clock
Mids : 10 o'clock
Mid selector : Middle.
Treble : 12 o'clock
I also run a EQ pedal to boost the mids a fair bit too. I just find this is the best solution to "EQing" out that awful twang until i get a new bass.
 
#14
I just got my SVPCL last month, and I'm loving the tone. Best sound I've ever had. I wish I'd discovered tube preamps before! I'm using it with a Stewart 1.2 and an Accugroove Tri112L.

For my EB (Veillette singlecut 5), I use:
Ultralow: 4 (or sometimes 5)
Bass: 2 o'clock
Mid: 11 o'clock
Mid selector 4:
Treble: 12 o'clock
Bright and Ultrahigh: off

For my EUB (Messenger), I use the same except I set the Ultrabass to 1 (off)
 
#17
I just got my SVPCL, and while it's true that it won't OD on its own, running a nice hot boost into it is giving me some of the best-sounding tube fuzz (or smooth OD) that I've heard. It's lovely and punchy! I'm using a CAE V-comp for boost, but I bet any good clean boost will work. I'm probably going to pick up one of those Hematomas, too, that sounds like a killer combo.
 

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