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Ampeg SVTII questions: inputs, effects loop, etc...

JonathanD

JonathanD

Dec 13, 2006
3,068
22
Atlanta, GA
#1
So, I have not got my SVTII in working condition yet.

However I want to prepair for getting it.

So, what is the best way to put 2 signals into it?

1 is clean, just my bass, the other is dirty/clean depending.

#1. Can I plug both into the front inputs? I have outside volume control on each one separate so a level difference does not matter.

#2. Can I plug the clean sound into the front input, adn the dirty sound into the effects loop or the amp in and be able to A, B, or AB them? is there something that shorts the preamp signal idf you plug into the effects loop or the power amp in?

#3. do I have to just get a Y cable and get both signals to one input?

Thanks a tone,
Jonathan
 
#2
#1 Im not sure to be honest, one is -15dB or something (the bright input padded anyway), but you seem to not be worried about that.

2# I dont think you'd be able to do that exactly, as there isnt an effects loop, there is a preamp out and a power amp in, plug into the power amp in and the preamp section is disconnected from the power section.

You could (i think), plug your bass into a box, have one output from that box going through the amp, then the preamp out connecting back into that box, and another cable going back into the power section of the amp. Using a DPDT footswitch you'd be able to switch from your bass signal going to the preamp section then to the poweramp, or the bass going to FX then going to the power amp, like this :
box.jpg

(the Pre and Power bits represent the Preamp out and the Power amp in on the back of the SVT)

3# I think that way may be the safest, either using a Y cable or box of some kind wired to blend the two signals together, which could be pretty cool, could switch from cleaner to dirtier.
 
#3
Dual (front) inputting does seem to work fine on my SVT-II.
(hopefully there's no hidden drawbacks or unknown damage being done...)

I connected my bass to an A/Y/B pedal with (ch-A) going to the SVT-II normal input.
The (A/B/Y-pedal) channel-B was connected through a distortion pedal and then into the SVT-II Bright input.

With my A/Y/B pedal, I could easily alternate between the 3 available settings for comparison:
A=Normal only / B=Bright (distortion-only) / Y=Both.

I purposely set my distortion pedal for a thin and buzzy tone (for the test) and started playing, when I clicked my
AYB box to run both channels simultaneously, the bright channels (distortion-tone) remained unchanged, but I was
rewarded with the distinctly-audible addition of my normal bass tone.

I only played it for a short time, but this amps dual inputs actually seem to blend these two signals very well.
It sounded really great and does seem to work fine (so-far) on this amp model.

Here's a thread about input-jumping a vintage SVT:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237981&highlight=using+both+inputs+SVT


(edit)
Before I posted this I went back and tried the same setup, but skipped the distortion pedal. (input-jumping)
The amp played fine with both inputs for a few seconds, and then suddenly went into a false standby mode:
(no sound/red standby light on)
I shut it off, unplugged everything, reconnected in the normal manner and so far my amp seems to be working fine again.

I don't recommend or think I'll be messing around with any of these setups again... :hmm:
 

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