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Ampeg SVT-II appreciation thread
- Thread starter i_got_a_mohawk
- Start date
svtb15
Inactive
- Mar 22, 2004
- 13,004
- 4,741
- Disclosures
- I play it all. Whatever works for the gig. Q+
Send me your email address in a message .i have a ton of SVT 2 stuff .. im heading out of town in about an hour.. so the sooner the better.
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Hey fellas!
Just got myself an old SVT-II and immediately had it checked out by a pro here in Stockholm so it works great. Hum free and loads of headroom.
But I know i can appreciate it more! So here is the deal. I would love to hear some more grit from the pre-amp stage of the amp. I play in a fairly heavy sounding band and we can crank the volume to at least 12 o'clock but even at almost max level (as much as i dare crank it) it still gives a very pure tone. No real distortion style overtones, only a fat compression. I mean that's great and all and I would not at all want a hi gain style amp or sound. But it feels a little dry to not have the crunchiness appear at all.. So I'm looking for a way to manage the distortion. A quick fix or the long road, doesn't really matter. It seems as if the volume controls the input of the pre-amp so I assume cranking it with a boost wont really effect the pre-amp vs power-amp ratio.. Will a certain set of tubes do it? or maybe this can be achieved with the bias controls? Setting it to 2ohms out will make it drive everything harder but i just want a nice and subtle harmonic distortion :'(
There is a Ross distortion pedal on its way to me witch will do things but i still think the pre-amp tube sound should always be there in the mix.. The bass on King Crimsons album Red is sort of a benchmark in overdriven tone for me (this is not the level of distortion i want from my SVT though!!). My Vox AC-50 is pure magic in the studio but at 50 watt.. Live? Come on..
Many thanks in advance for any and all ideas! My first entry here but I'm no newcomer
Just got myself an old SVT-II and immediately had it checked out by a pro here in Stockholm so it works great. Hum free and loads of headroom.
But I know i can appreciate it more! So here is the deal. I would love to hear some more grit from the pre-amp stage of the amp. I play in a fairly heavy sounding band and we can crank the volume to at least 12 o'clock but even at almost max level (as much as i dare crank it) it still gives a very pure tone. No real distortion style overtones, only a fat compression. I mean that's great and all and I would not at all want a hi gain style amp or sound. But it feels a little dry to not have the crunchiness appear at all.. So I'm looking for a way to manage the distortion. A quick fix or the long road, doesn't really matter. It seems as if the volume controls the input of the pre-amp so I assume cranking it with a boost wont really effect the pre-amp vs power-amp ratio.. Will a certain set of tubes do it? or maybe this can be achieved with the bias controls? Setting it to 2ohms out will make it drive everything harder but i just want a nice and subtle harmonic distortion :'(
There is a Ross distortion pedal on its way to me witch will do things but i still think the pre-amp tube sound should always be there in the mix.. The bass on King Crimsons album Red is sort of a benchmark in overdriven tone for me (this is not the level of distortion i want from my SVT though!!). My Vox AC-50 is pure magic in the studio but at 50 watt.. Live? Come on..
Many thanks in advance for any and all ideas! My first entry here but I'm no newcomer
Ya, well that's the thing about single volume SVT's and why CL's and 2-Pros came into being. Pretty sure there is a pedal you can hook up to it to add a master volume, but I don't know what it's called.
Well, to get Wetton's tone from "Red", you need Hiwatt DR-103 - it's cranked power amp that you hear.
First thing is that Hiwatts (and british tube amps in general) and Ampegs are VERY different animals. Second is that you probably won't be able to crank SVT-II.
Having that said I'm also interested in getting dirt out of SVT-II
I will start with vintage style germanium dirty booster and see how it works.
First thing is that Hiwatts (and british tube amps in general) and Ampegs are VERY different animals. Second is that you probably won't be able to crank SVT-II.
Having that said I'm also interested in getting dirt out of SVT-II
I will start with vintage style germanium dirty booster and see how it works.Hey, I just now realized that there is a preamp out and poweramp in on the back
Are you saying ampeg made a pedal for this purpose? I guess now i just have to find any sort of colorless volume control to insert there. or perhaps a compressor with a blend knob at that point would sound good.. This will be thoroughly investigated!And I'll leave the bias settings be then!
Thanks bro!
you have to crank the mid and treble on the svtII to get grind without pedals in front of it
something like mids at 3clock and treble atleast to noon or 1oclock
if that doesn't work then maybe look at pickup heights, put a pedal in front of it or just pull the strings harder...
something like mids at 3clock and treble atleast to noon or 1oclock
if that doesn't work then maybe look at pickup heights, put a pedal in front of it or just pull the strings harder...
Ok, so I bought my SVT II used on Reverb for $700. It's old (obviously) but seems in good condition. It's only an hour away, but he and I are busy so my plan is to go pick up the amp on the 26th. So my next task is to get a case for it. These suckers are heavy so I'm looking at a rolling case. Here are two I was looking at, was wondering if anyone had experience with either one.
Gator GR-RACKBAG-4UW - 4U Lightweight rack bag w/ tow handle and wheels | Sweetwater.com
SKB Roto Rolling Rack - 4 Rack Spaces w/Wheels | Sweetwater.com
Thanks.
Gator GR-RACKBAG-4UW - 4U Lightweight rack bag w/ tow handle and wheels | Sweetwater.com
SKB Roto Rolling Rack - 4 Rack Spaces w/Wheels | Sweetwater.com
Thanks.
I have mine in a 6u SKB roller and it works very well. The photo shows with an additional preamp but I don't have that anymore, rather a rackmounted tuner in that spot. The 6u will give you some extra space of other things like this plus provide some extra space for ventilation. I highly recommend an auxilliary fan for either 4u or 6u. I have a small desktop fan that is whisper quiet and works surprisingly well. The case is deep enough to mount a couple of power strips on the inside in the back so that I have just 1 long 15' electrical cord to the wall.
If I had to do it again, I would still use a 6u but I would find one with rack mounts on the back also to mount a fixed rackmount fan.
Congrats on your II. It's a magical amp.
I have the SVT II. It's in really good condition, and the guy I bought it from told me he is the only owner, and it has the original tubes in it. I have no pics yet, and I have not had the opportunity to plug it in and have a go with it. The main comment I have, is that this head is amazingly lighter than the Heritage SVT-CL I owned a few months ago. What is the weight on the SVT IIs? It's a fairly easy carry with the two big handles on the front so I am thinking of forgoing a rack all together. Anyone add rubber feet to the bottom of the amp?
yes i added feet to the bottom of mine and i removed it from the case it was in.
makes it not so bad to carry around now.
i think i put these on the backside of the head
Feet Plastic Tall, OEM 4pc. - Product Details
and maybe the small ones on the bottom of the head...
Feet Plastic Small, 4pc. - Product Details
makes it not so bad to carry around now.
i think i put these on the backside of the head
Feet Plastic Tall, OEM 4pc. - Product Details
and maybe the small ones on the bottom of the head...
Feet Plastic Small, 4pc. - Product Details
The cabinet-less SVT-II weighs about 70 lbs while the Heritage-CL weighs about 83 lbs.
It is difficult to keep the SVT-II from getting beat up without a case though. I have made light weight ones for mine.
Are the power tubes GE's?
I agree with this. The plastic SKB type cases don't weigh all that much (less than 5lbs) and are worth having. A roller is even better since it gives you the option of piggybacking your cable/accessories bag onto the pull handle. The naked amp case has sharp edges that will either get damaged or damage something else, including your legs, arms, etc.
The handles are really not designed to be used for carrying around, rather as a means to pull the amp out of a rack. Carrying a 70lb head by one of these handles is no picnic since they're not centered and the steel handle cuts into your hand, especially if you have to carry it over some distance. You'll want to occasionally set it down on the floor (waiting for elevator, getting something else out of car, etc). It could damage the jacks, knobs, etc.
Unless it will always be sitting in a studio, get a proper lightweight rack.
... and an auxilliary fan to keep it cool.
I've been playing through an SVT II, and an Ampeg 6x10 while paying off my Mesa 400+ that's on layaway. Haha.
I can say that the Ampeg SVT II is the best sounding Rock N Roll amp I have ever played through. Seems a little grittier than the SVT classic.
Also, my biceps are bigger and my back is weaker from gigging with this behemoth
I can say that the Ampeg SVT II is the best sounding Rock N Roll amp I have ever played through. Seems a little grittier than the SVT classic.
Also, my biceps are bigger and my back is weaker from gigging with this behemoth
Attachments
I found a very clean example and picked it up. what a beast.
Pics:
Pics:
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