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Ampeg SVP-PRO for funk?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by nemo, Nov 9, 2005.

  1. Nov 9, 2005 #1
    nemo

    nemo

    Mar 19, 2004
    Czech
    Hi all! I have been selling my not anymore used bass and the potential buyer offered me a trade for SVP-Pro preamp. I have bought that bass for about $250 so trade is reasonable pricewise.
    My current rig is Gibson GB-440 + Schroeder 1210 and while I am generally happy with that clean sound I would not mind to be it a little bit tubey. I even considered getting EH Black finger for it.
    Now this unexpected offer came and I started thinking about using this pre + GB-440 as the poweramp.
    I play mostly fingerstyle funk with occassional slapping, think Jamiroquai, Prince, Funkadelic sort of stuff and some pop. Not Flea "funk", not rock. May main basses are jazz bass w. Dimarzio J's and Yamaha TRB-5.
    I have read lot of previous threads about noise issues. I hope the pre will be the newer version (not blue-red face one), I did not ask the guy about it yet. I have a good tech at hand to check for bad solder joints and I plan to slap there a set of JJ tubes.

    Now, do you think this pre is able of reasonably clean sound for slapping and does it have enough articulation for fingerstyle or is it a straight road to a mud city? Other caveats or advices? Thanks a lot.

    Yes, I will try to play it when the guy will bring it in, but it is not in the shops around to check it before that.
     
  2. Nov 9, 2005 #2
    Fuzzbass

    Fuzzbass P5 with overdrive Gold Supporting Member

    Dec 13, 2001
    Maryland, between DC and Bawlmer
    I generally run mine into the red to some degree because I like the tubey goodness. Even so, I'll comment: you have to try really hard to get "mud" from the SVP: that is, crank up Drive and turn up Gain so that the clip light is busy or full on. If you keep Drive off and don't light the clip light much you'll be clean. Not necessarily as squeaky clean as a solid state preamp, but clean.

    If you want to be able to switch from clean to gritty, it might be better to get a pedal. It's difficult to do that on the SVP because you have to boost Gain and/or Drive for grit, but also turn down Master so your volume isn't outrageous.
     
  3. Nov 9, 2005 #3
    pickles

    pickles Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 23, 2000
    Ventura, CA
    I always run mine clean, and it can go even cleaner than I generally use it. Its got a great basic sound and tons of flexability. I play a WIDE variety of music, and there is not really a style I can't get a sound for with the SVP, without even using the graphic EQ. I've dialed in a slick ultra clean modern funk tone a few times for fun, and it does that quite well. Plus. the rotary EQ is tube driven and sounds fantastic!

    There are other pres that will do the slick ultra clean tube thing better, but the SVP will do it quite well.
     
  4. Nov 9, 2005 #4
    nemo

    nemo

    Mar 19, 2004
    Czech
    Thanks guys, good to hear it and thanks for settings tip.
    I was a bit afraid after listening to clips on basstasters, but hopefully it can get cleaner than that. I will give it a good try before buy, for sure.