Ampeg SVT 7 Pro Club

[JimmyM]

I already made a post about this on this thread... Turning the gain up will NOT give you more tube distortion, as suggested on this page. The gain dial is AFTER the tube stage. Distortion from turning up the gain is hard solid state clipping and is very harsh sounding. For more tube distortion, you need to hit the input with a hotter signal with something like a clean boost pedal. And make sure the gain is low enough so the tube-distorted signal is not hard clipping downstream.

That was so not my experience with it. I thought it sounded pretty good with the gain cranked.

 

[rzero]

That was so not my experience with it. I thought it sounded pretty good with the gain cranked.

I love you Jimmy, but check the schematic on the amp. Cranking the gain will not give you any more tube overdrive than having the gain low. Yes with compression high and/or with a passive bass, a high gain setting will not necessarily clip the solid state components, but putting this info out there when people are asking how to get more tube drive is confusing many people about this amp. I owned it for months before I figured this out. And trust me, that solid state distortion is harsh sounding, objectively.

 

[JimmyM]

I love you Jimmy, but check the schematic on the amp. Cranking the gain will not give you any more tube overdrive than having the gain low. Yes with compression high and/or with a passive bass, a high gain setting will not necessarily clip the solid state components, but putting this info out there when people are asking how to get more tube drive is confusing many people about this amp. I owned it for months before I figured this out. And trust me, that solid state distortion is harsh sounding, objectively.

Well it's always a little more harsh than tube drive, even when you use pedals. But whether or not it comes from the tube, I don't mind either way. Now the Markbass LMII I used to have...that thing clipped HARSH! At least the 7 Pro's clipping is usable.

I do, however, stand corrected on how the distortion is obtained. And I love you, too

 

[rzero]

Well it's always a little more harsh than tube drive, even when you use pedals. But whether or not it comes from the tube, I don't mind either way. Now the Markbass LMII I used to have...that thing clipped HARSH! At least the 7 Pro's clipping is usable.

I do, however, stand corrected on how the distortion is obtained. And I love you, too

I am skeptical you actually clipped that amp. I grew up listening to death metal. This was a harsh clipping I think few bassists would want to utilize in any significant amount. Maybe some, but few. But I'll stop harassing you about it . I just want to clear up confusion I see out there that I experienced myself as an owner of the 7-PRO.

 

[JimmyM]

I am skeptical you actually clipped that amp. I grew up listening to death metal. This was a harsh clipping I think few bassists would want to utilize in any significant amount. Maybe some, but few. But I'll stop harassing you about it . I just want to clear up confusion I see out there that I experienced myself as an owner of the 7-PRO.

I owned one, too, and you can be skeptical all you want, but I've clipped that amp many times, as well as the Micro VR, PF350 and PF800 that I still have. All you have to do to make them sound good while clipping is turn off the tweeter and/or low pass it at 4 or 5khz.

 

[pgpete]

as a relatively new owner of a 7 pro I'm still working on dialling in my sopund - but I agree with Rzero's interpretation of the circuit diagram - the gain control is after the tube preamp.

I'm using an active bass - and I found that turning the -15db pad off actually improved the tone - I now have things set so I get valve overdrive on the loud notes only (that's how i like it)

cheers

 

[rzero]

as a relatively new owner of a 7 pro I'm still working on dialling in my sopund - but I agree with Rzero's interpretation of the circuit diagram - the gain control is after the tube preamp.

I'm using an active bass - and I found that turning the -15db pad off actually improved the tone - I now have things set so I get valve overdrive on the loud notes only (that's how i like it)

cheers

Yeah, one thing that helps is to know that the clipping light flashes when the tube is being overdriven OR when hard clipping is happening (or both). You have to use your ears to know which one is occuring. I am using my 18v active Schecter right now at band practice, and I have the pad off. The clipping light is coming on, even though I don't really hear any overdrive, just a nice "hot" sound. Real tube drive will kick in if I crank my onboard eq, or use a clean boost pedal. I personally keep the 7-PRO gain knob low enough to keep the hard solid state clipping out of the signal.

 

[JdFastMother]

I wonder what it would do if I run my Two Notes LeBass Tube preamp into the effects loop. I'm pretty happy with my Overdriven tone but if it can be better...

 

[Ephminus]

Has anyone tried starting with master volume all the way up and then bring up the gain?
I’ve been experimenting with the settings and doing that makes me a bit nervous being that it’s going into my HLF-410.
I saw in an Ampeg demo video about using gain on other Ampeg amps, but I’m not too sure about doing that on this monster.

 

[Lovep]

Has anyone tried starting with master volume all the way up and then bring up the gain?
I’ve been experimenting with the settings and doing that makes me a bit nervous being that it’s going into my HLF-410.
I saw in an Ampeg demo video about using gain on other Ampeg amps, but I’m not too sure about doing that on this monster.

That would be putting the full 1000w into a 500w cab. That may be stressful to the cab in the short term and likely blow the speaker in the long haul. I think the setting the gain first and using volume to fill the room (as-needed) is one of the better ways to EQ.

 

[lokikallas]

That would be putting the full 1000w into a 500w cab. That may be stressful to the cab in the short term and likely blow the speaker in the long haul. I think the setting the gain first and using volume to fill the room (as-needed) is one of the better ways to EQ.

What? No, that's not how it works.
Yes you can do that, although you may not get a lot of adjustment from the gain knob, it might go from off, to slightly on, to way too loud. It might work perfectly. Amps don't put out max wattage just because the volume knob is maxed. The master volume is just the end of the gain stages.

 

[Lovep]

What? No, that's not how it works.
Yes you can do that, although you may not get a lot of adjustment from the gain knob, it might go from off, to slightly on, to way too loud. It might work perfectly. Amps don't put out max wattage just because the volume knob is maxed. The master volume is just the end of the gain stages.

I disagree. The amp is designed to deliver 1000w into 4 ohms. While the actually dBs will vary, it’s still not good for the cab.

 

[JimmyM]

Has anyone tried starting with master volume all the way up and then bring up the gain?
I’ve been experimenting with the settings and doing that makes me a bit nervous being that it’s going into my HLF-410.
I saw in an Ampeg demo video about using gain on other Ampeg amps, but I’m not too sure about doing that on this monster.

I don't like the sound nearly as much in hybrids and SS amps, although I totally do that in tube amps.

 

[JimmyM]

I disagree. The amp is designed to deliver 1000w into 4 ohms. While the actually dBs will vary, it’s still not good for the cab.

Amps that only have a single volume knob like the SVT-VR or old school amps usually work by having the power section set for as loud as it can go, and the volume is like the gain control on an amp with master/gain. And as long as the gain isn't set to a volume level that blows the cab, it's fine.

 

[baxter_x]

What? No, that's not how it works.
Yes you can do that, although you may not get a lot of adjustment from the gain knob, it might go from off, to slightly on, to way too loud. It might work perfectly. Amps don't put out max wattage just because the volume knob is maxed. The master volume is just the end of the gain stages.

I don't like the sound nearly as much in hybrids and SS amps, although I totally do that in tube amps.

I agree with those those two inputs.
I would set the master a 50 percent just be able to manage the gain control. Nor its going to behave like @lokikallas described

 

[KaseOfBass]

That would be putting the full 1000w into a 500w cab. That may be stressful to the cab in the short term and likely blow the speaker in the long haul. I think the setting the gain first and using volume to fill the room (as-needed) is one of the better ways to EQ.

I disagree. The amp is designed to deliver 1000w into 4 ohms. While the actually dBs will vary, it’s still not good for the cab.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Ephminus]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I don’t think I’ll be pushing that master all the way up.

 

[Keis]

Yeah, one thing that helps is to know that the clipping light flashes when the tube is being overdriven OR when hard clipping is happening (or both). You have to use your ears to know which one is occuring. I am using my 18v active Schecter right now at band practice, and I have the pad off. The clipping light is coming on, even though I don't really hear any overdrive, just a nice "hot" sound. Real tube drive will kick in if I crank my onboard eq, or use a clean boost pedal. I personally keep the 7-PRO gain knob low enough to keep the hard solid state clipping out of the signal.

That is my experience also. I don't get the sound with my Big Muff but thats obvious I think. I'm going to try a Hot Tubes Nano or a Hot Wax, I'll keep you informed here

 

[Flatwound]

I will be joining this happy fraternity soon. I found an SVT-7 pro on Reverb that, according to the seller, has cut out one time at a gig. I also ordered an ICE2A265 chip, so that I can change it out when it gets here. He says that it has worked fine except for this one occasion, and he took it to an amp tech who couldn’t find anything wrong. I’ll post an update when it gets here.

 

[JimmyM]

I will be joining this happy fraternity soon. I found an SVT-7 pro on Reverb that, according to the seller, has cut out one time at a gig. I also ordered an ICE2A265 chip, so that I can change it out when it gets here. He says that it has worked fine except for this one occasion, and he took it to an amp tech who couldn’t find anything wrong. I’ll post an update when it gets here.

If you can change the chip out yourself, then you just fixed it for pennies on the dollar. Good skill to have, soldering. Maybe one day right before I croak I'll figure it out.