Ampeg SVP Pro with Alembic SF2 in Effects Loop

[thefunkgorilla]

Hello Everyone,
After years of contemplation, I finally picked up an old model Ampeg SVP Pro Black Face model on Ebay. I did detailed research on TalkBass and retubed it with four JJECC8312AX7's and 1 JJECC8312Au7. The result is spectacular! The girth of a hurricane, it's like a wrecking ball hitting my apartment building.

Here is my dilemma: My current rig is an Alembic F1-X with an Alembic SF2 in the Effects Loop. Crown XLS 1500 power with Ampeg 210, 410,or 810 cabs depending on venue. My initial inclination was to build a separate rack with the Ampeg Pre and another crown amp so I could have two distinctly different sounding rigs for different gigs. The Alembic pre and the Ampeg pre are very different animals soundwise. Now I am considering inserting the Ampeg in place of the Alembic and running the SF2 in the effects loop. The reason being it will be a while before I can afford another power amp and I want to play this Ampeg now.

Has anyone on here run an Ampeg SVP Pro with an Alembic SF2 in the effects loop? How did it work? Any shared experience would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks fellow bass brothers.

 

[EastCoastThump]

The result is spectacular! The girth of a hurricane, it's like a wrecking ball hitting my apartment building.

Is there some problem with the Ampeg's tone that you're trying to fix by putting the Alembic in the Ampeg's fx loop?

1. You seem to be very happy with the SVP Pro's tone. Why not just rack it with the power amp and call it a day?

2. You have all the pieces. Why not cable 'em up and see whether running the SF2 in the SVP Pro's loop improves anything?

3. If you can't afford a second power amp right now, you could have an Ampeg rack and an Alembic rack (as you planned), and just move the power amp to the rack du jour before loading out for your gig.

 

[pickles]

The sf2 could still be useful -- use it for crazy stuff instead of basic EQ, or use it to let you send post-eq from the svp to the house and use sf2 to adjust stage sound.

I have all 3 of these pieces as well, ive been using the sf2 to add a little ampeggyness to the alembic.