Ampeg SVT 7 Pro Club

[johnsonabq]

Being someone who's been playing bass since 1971 I thought I'd chime in.

When you say "70's bass sound" that's an awfully vague term. The Rickenbacker, Precision, and Jazz Bass were all very popular basses at the time and all have very different sounds. But since you have a Precision I'll assume you are going down that road.

Something I've found is that just about all bass amps have some sort of "baked in" sound that's there even with all tone controls flat. It's what make them unique and sets them apart from all the others. You have an SVT 7PRO and I'm not the only one that'll tell you that you already have an amp that can sound very close to the classic 70's SVT tube monster.

You take that Precision and plug it straight into the front of that amp, bring up the gain (don't be afraid of lighting up the red led) for some tube warmth/grit from that 12ax7 and dial in the tone controls to taste (I think the 7PRO's tone stack is better than the VT's) and BANG... You have your "70's bass sound". Why use a pedal to imitate something you already have?

IMHO YMMV

 

[HaveBlue]

Chris from Tech21 support suggested to set the amp to all flat and start with the VTs 'fat tube' sample setting. Then using the amps tone control to fine tune my sound if necessary.

Sounds like the tech rep is stating the obvious to me. But a good point to start off from I guess. Personally, the only thing I trust are my own two ears.

 

[Slowpicker]

I hear you guys.
From my point of view the VT Bass DI offers much more variety with regards to the different Ampeg sounds. With the blend, drive and character knobs I have some mighty tools to dial in "my" Ampeg sound. I don't think that the SVT7Pro offers such flexibility.

For sure each amp has its own flavor, even when set to flat. Therefore I asked for the most neutral setting. In other words, the tone control settings which have the least affect on the original - baked in - SVT7Pro sound.

 

[JimmyM]

The VT will have more variety of dirt sounds, but I found cranking the gain on the 7 Pro to be fairly versatile itself, although you won't get that hard overdrive you get from cranking the VT's drive knob up. I would probably start with all knobs on noon, but I don't know if that's flat response or not. Ask me in another month or so when I finally get one

 

[Slowpicker]

@jimmy
You mean you will get the SVT7Pro or the VT?

BTW, in one of their YT videos (search for Ampeg/Dino and 'Understanding gain structure') Ampeg is saying that too much cranking the 7Pro gain knob is NOT the correct way to set the gain control correctly.

 

[JimmyM]

I'm getting a 7 Pro and I have a VT Deluxe already. They're currently backordered, though, at least at their offices, so it'll be a little while.

Just watched that video again...you misunderstood Dino. He was saying that wasn't the correct way to set the gain if you want a clean sound. But if you want a dirt sound, crank away.

 

[Slowpicker]

Well, then I will go for the dirt...

Oh wait, I have a VT!

 

[lokikallas]

Why use a pedal to simulate what the amp was already built to simulate? I would have just bought a qsc amp and run the VT into it. I can understand if you wanted a switchable overdrive, but if you are trying to replace the pre on the 7 pro, why did you buy it?
Just run the VT into the 7pro power amp input I guess. It's your money, just my 2 cents.

 

[Slowpicker]

This just goes to a different direction. Using the 7Pro with or without the VT is definitively not the same, soundwise. My question was not whether to keep the VT or not. This decision is made already.

 

[JimmyM]

I'm glad I didn't sell my VTD, that's for sure. Sometimes its compression bugs me (it's not very much but it's there), and I quit using it for a while, but I just started again and it's got its advantages, especially if you want to go from clean to dirt or from dirt to dirtier.

 

[johnsonabq]

This just goes to a different direction. Using the 7Pro with or without the VT is definitively not the same, soundwise. My question was not whether to keep the VT or not. This decision is made already.

And of course, go with whatever gives you the sound/tone you want.

It's just that you stated your original intention was that you wanted a 70's bass sound and we were addressing that. IMHO your Precision run into just the 7PRO will give you that. Look at it from our (lokiallas and I) point of view. Why use a pedal with Ampeg amp modeling and then plug it into an Ampeg amp? Just seemed rather redundant. Unless you are using it for an alternate sound to be kicked in as needed.

I understand you spent a lot of money on your VT and don't want to hear us tell you that you don't need it. The fact is we understand that this is your tone in your head that you're looking for and if the VT is required for you to get it then go for it.

We take no offense if you choose to pass on any advice/opinion we offer and hope you take no offense when we offer advice/opinion that differs from yours. It's all good buddy.

 

[Slowpicker]

Jeff, all is OK. I did not take any offense. If I sounded too harsh in my last post then please accept my apologies. It is hard sometimes to express more complex things in a foreign language.

As I said already, I think that the VT offers much more then the 7Pro can do (with regards to sound). Yes, 70's rock sound is what is in my head, but I also enjoy playing with the different sound options the VT has. I think, flexibility is a good term to describe what I like so much with the VT.

... and OF COURSE I don't want to hear that I have wasted some money.

 

[lokikallas]

I use the svt sim on my B3 when
I use my pf350, to help get a little "tube grit", but when I use my pro 7 I don't use anything but the tuner and chorus. I bet if you played with the gain and EQ on the 7 you could get about any sound that the VT gets you, but even the 7 is trying to "emulate" the CL to be honest.

 

[iriegnome]

I'll jump in on this.. Can I get a number? I have had my SVT 7pro for almost a year now. Chugging along and playing everywhere. It really is pretty good a keeping up with 2 drummers and 3 guitarists...

 

[iriegnome]

Does anyone use a footswitch with their 7pro?? Does anyone use anything other than the recommended Ampeg 2 button switch??

 

[tomydacat]

SOO JEFF how are you liking the 7 pro with your Spectors hmmmm???????????

 

[Verminaard]

Ampeg SVT 7 PRO Legion:

Founda: Verminaard

2 lokikallas

3 bassguppy

4 Scobby Bott

5 JMac4Strngr

6 rodl2005

7 tekdiver500ft

8 username1

9 Dr Funk

10 TricksteR

11 bassguy72

12 CharlieC

13 tombowlus

14 stinger2k

15 tomydacat

16 Slackerprince

17 johnnynitro

18 corsicangroove

19 StrangerDanger

20 Grateful

21 bass.player

22 fishinmuzician

23 jarrydee

24 Thundar

25 JoshuaTheBeard

26 Chuckster

27 steelbed45

28 Brian Scherzer

29 lushuk

30 MIMJAZZ

31 william curl

32 swsmusic

33 Silas Stingy

34 VeganThump

35 HLF

36 Dirty Dave

37 BlazingRiCO

38 Sethro

39 imthewine

40 HunterBurgan4Me

41 Fretlessbaby

42 kenbert

43 cbroussard

44 kennyrodg

45 lfbassguy

46 RustyTOOL

47 lowgun

48 Metalman X

49 JP Morin

50 Jheake

51 Deepwoods

52 iriegnome

53 johnsonabq

54 Homeslice

55 FRANKIE P.

56 Kustom_Thunder

Welcome to the Legion new recruit Doomtroopers!!

 

[phatbass1]

Hey Talkbass, I think it's about time we started a club for the 7 Pro.

It has gotten a hell of a lot of negative attention from a small percentage of TB users. I for one think it's a great amp and it doesn't deserve the flak it has been getting as of late.

We can do this with or without numbers. I feel bad that so many people want to try it out but because of all of the negative publicity it has been getting here they perhaps never will.

A lot of us have them and they work fantastic!! I think it would be nice for people to see how many of us actually have and use it with no problems.

I am not a super fanboy and generally not a club guy either, but let's band together and show some support for this Beast with one of the best preamps and most powerful power amps Ampeg has come out with to date.

I will say this in advance, if you want to start bashing Ampeg please make your own thread.

If JohnK would accept and play along, I think he deserves the #1 spot.
Thanks!! - Kevin M. Hawkesworth



2 Verminaard

3 bassguppy

4 Scobby Bott

5 JMac4Strngr

6 rodl2005

7 tekdiver500ft

8 username1

9 Dr Funk

10 TricksteR

11 bassguy72

12 CharlieC

13 tombowlus

14 stinger2k

15 tomydacat

16 Slackerprince

17 johnnynitro

18 corsicangroove

19 StrangerDanger

20 Grateful

21 bass.player

22 fishinmuzician

23 jarrydee

24 Thundar

25 JoshuaTheBeard

26 Chuckster

27 Phatbass1

 

[johnk_10]

i'd definitely like to be in the club since I love the sound of the 7pro but mine's still down. (I need to send it to ampeg).

 

[MrBassman17]

I'm very excited - just got (paid for) an SVT7 Pro, 6 mos. old in mint condition, with a Furman conditioner and in road case for $400 + $75 shipping. this will replace my PF 500 as main head paired with my HLF 410 Classic cab. From all I have read n the forum, I think this is a super deal! Should have it early next week, and can't freakin' wait!