I just a/b the SVT-VR vs. early 70's svt. Not only was the vintage SVT better, it wasn't even a race. Now the SVT-VR sounded WAY better than my SVT-CL, that is for sure. But it just didn't compare to the vintage. The vintage tone was so much more full and warm, and words can't do justace to the growl/distortion you get from the vintage @ about 12 o'clock. And talk about loud! My rehearsal volume with the VR was @ about 10 o'clock, with the vintage its at 7-8 o'clock and if I change my fingering dynamics even it get's too loud for the band! Combine that with a berg cab and you are talking tone of the god's. If you like the all tube sound and have the means, I emplore you to get a vintage SVT. You won't understand untill you play it and you won't regret it.
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Ampeg SVT vs Ampeg..SVP-CL?
- Thread starter Gord
- Start date
Again, thanks for all the help guys!
So, I guess my last question is - how does the SVT-II fit in all of this? As in, to rank it top to bottom with the VR, Vintage, and the CL?
So, I guess my last question is - how does the SVT-II fit in all of this? As in, to rank it top to bottom with the VR, Vintage, and the CL?
SVT vintage,VR,CL as long as you useing one you're gonna love it.We're just talking degrees of love.
If you want a racked unit, go with the SVT-II. It's (according to Ampeg) the exact same as the SVT-CL but with some more bells and whistles. If you want THE ultimate obviously late '60's to early '70's SVT's. If you've got the money to throw down on a VR, just find yourself a real vintage one, they roughly go for the same price on average.
My apologies on the CL=CL thing. Too many damn letters. Yeah, the SVP-CL is the exact same pre-amp of the original SVT, not the CL's. I still recommend the SVP-Pro with some Ruby tubes. T-H-U-M-P!
But ok, now I get what sedan_dad's doing. It seemed really redundant on the surface.
My apologies on the CL=CL thing. Too many damn letters. Yeah, the SVP-CL is the exact same pre-amp of the original SVT, not the CL's. I still recommend the SVP-Pro with some Ruby tubes. T-H-U-M-P!
Right on - and what he's doing is definatley a good option - just look for those later SVP-CL's - they have a stronger output signal....
OK. so I quoted the wrong post............... I'm blaming it on the dog........ or whoever that is.....
Ha Ha, I knew it would be something like that - as always your input on threads like this is very much appreciated.
Do you know approximately after which date the SVP-CL's were modded to have a stronger output??
Dale.
Do you know approximately after which date the SVP-CL's were modded to have a stronger output??
Dale.
The only reason I'm doing it the way I am is I sort of fell into it cost wise.
I know it's not the most streamline way of doing things.
I got the SVT-CL for a very good price then after reading that the SVPCL was the same pre-amp as the old SVT's I happen to run accross one for a real good price.
I know it's not the most streamline way of doing things.
I got the SVT-CL for a very good price then after reading that the SVPCL was the same pre-amp as the old SVT's I happen to run accross one for a real good price.
AndyMan
Commercial User
Same exact set up here. I used it last night in a large college bar and the tone is REALLY close to my '72 SVT.
I do agree, however, with other posters that, if you don't take take care to EQ it properly it can be too bassy.
Any suggestions on a pedal to add grit?
My ideal SVT tone is off Boston's 2d album, "Don't Look Back."
Fender Jazz with rotos into the Vintage SVT.
AndyMan
Commercial User
Hey--
Played Clancey's in Delaware. El Dorado's is a cool place--played there in the 90's. Good crowd of rockers!
Played Clancey's in Delaware. El Dorado's is a cool place--played there in the 90's. Good crowd of rockers!
After about the second run, which would be 6 mos or so later than first one. I used to have the info on exactly when, but I probably do not anymore.
The mod can be done to any one....... I'd have to dig for it, but I may have it. Several resistor values.
So would it be fair to say that the ones with the lower output are quite rare then?
Hi Jerrold,
Theres a question that Im having for a longer time now.
Why is the difference in "overdrive behaviour" between the SVT-CL and the original SVT? I had both and recognized the following difference: When I hit the low E string hard with the Classic it startet to somehow fart in a rather nasty way - overdrives quickly and quite harsh. When I did the same with my old SVT it went into a smooth and growly overdrive. Very musical sounding.
Why is that difference?
Is this because of the different preamps or because of the poweramps? If its because of the preamps, would the svp-cl deliver the same growl like the original SVT to any tube power amp?
Thanks!
Theres a question that Im having for a longer time now.
Why is the difference in "overdrive behaviour" between the SVT-CL and the original SVT? I had both and recognized the following difference: When I hit the low E string hard with the Classic it startet to somehow fart in a rather nasty way - overdrives quickly and quite harsh. When I did the same with my old SVT it went into a smooth and growly overdrive. Very musical sounding.
Why is that difference?
Is this because of the different preamps or because of the poweramps? If its because of the preamps, would the svp-cl deliver the same growl like the original SVT to any tube power amp?
Thanks!
The growl is primarily power amp distortion, NOT preamp. The old SVT has no master volume, and a very sensitive poweramp, so it's easy to drive into some distortion.
Also, the SVT is not really meant to pound out heavy low end. So boosting low end and driving it hard may cause fart sounds...... The SVT-CL with master will tend to do more of that because you can more heavily overdrive it.......and then turn down master.
There are some circuit differences also. But the main culprit I think is the mid circuit, it is an active feedback circuit, and should NOT be overdriven, it will sound very bad.
With no master, you drive power amp into distortion way before the mid circuit. With a master volume, you can overdrive the mid and get bad sounds.
SVP-CL has no power amp, so a lot of the growl is dependent on the power amp you use. Most won't do it, or won't do it at the lower inputs that the preamp has always been intended to produce. So again you may get preamp distortion, not all of which is good.
But the SVP-CL DOES is capable of most of the tonal character of the SVT aside from the poweramp growl.
I see you are in Vienna. Very nice town, I remember liking it a lot. Too bad I was only there for a few days.
Also, the SVT is not really meant to pound out heavy low end. So boosting low end and driving it hard may cause fart sounds...... The SVT-CL with master will tend to do more of that because you can more heavily overdrive it.......and then turn down master.
There are some circuit differences also. But the main culprit I think is the mid circuit, it is an active feedback circuit, and should NOT be overdriven, it will sound very bad.
With no master, you drive power amp into distortion way before the mid circuit. With a master volume, you can overdrive the mid and get bad sounds.
SVP-CL has no power amp, so a lot of the growl is dependent on the power amp you use. Most won't do it, or won't do it at the lower inputs that the preamp has always been intended to produce. So again you may get preamp distortion, not all of which is good.
But the SVP-CL DOES is capable of most of the tonal character of the SVT aside from the poweramp growl.
I see you are in Vienna. Very nice town, I remember liking it a lot. Too bad I was only there for a few days.
Thats proper information! Thanks!
So the Poweramp of the oldschool SVT is sensitive for beeing overdriven and is a significant part of the trademark SVT sound.
Now this somehow proofs a theory of a friend of mine.
He told me, that the old SVT has two antiparallel diodes in the power stage. Those diodes are responsible for the rather early but very smooth and musical breakup of the SVT - called typical SVT growl. If you keep turning up the Volume even more then you reach the point where the REAL power tube overdrive starts. Up from that point the very typical "harder" power tube distortion is added to the sound.
He once made the experiment in soldering out those two diodes. The SVT then sounded much cleaner, lacking the typical slightly overdriven growl. Nevertheless, after turning up the volume it of course develped the same power tube overdrive that every tube power amp produces when breaking up.
Jerrold, can you confirm that information?
If yes, does the poweramp of the SVT-CL feature the same kind of "transistor-circuit"?
Yes - I am from Vienna. If you are into soccer-football then I recommend you to come again this summer. We have the european championship here from may-august. Nice, that you liked Vienna. Little peaceful city compared to US metropolians.
Ive been to NY and LA and it was really exciting. Ive never been to St. Louis before. Whished to visit the Ampeg factory once... Too late...
Greets,
Hoss
Thanks!So the Poweramp of the oldschool SVT is sensitive for beeing overdriven and is a significant part of the trademark SVT sound.
Now this somehow proofs a theory of a friend of mine.
He told me, that the old SVT has two antiparallel diodes in the power stage. Those diodes are responsible for the rather early but very smooth and musical breakup of the SVT - called typical SVT growl. If you keep turning up the Volume even more then you reach the point where the REAL power tube overdrive starts. Up from that point the very typical "harder" power tube distortion is added to the sound.
He once made the experiment in soldering out those two diodes. The SVT then sounded much cleaner, lacking the typical slightly overdriven growl. Nevertheless, after turning up the volume it of course develped the same power tube overdrive that every tube power amp produces when breaking up.
Jerrold, can you confirm that information?
If yes, does the poweramp of the SVT-CL feature the same kind of "transistor-circuit"?
Yes - I am from Vienna. If you are into soccer-football then I recommend you to come again this summer. We have the european championship here from may-august. Nice, that you liked Vienna. Little peaceful city compared to US metropolians.
Ive been to NY and LA and it was really exciting. Ive never been to St. Louis before. Whished to visit the Ampeg factory once... Too late... Greets,
Hoss
The diodes are there.
But they don't cause distortion, they are really there to prevent excess overdriving. The amp will distort before the diodes conduct.
What they do is to smooth out the distortion somewhat.
I don't know if I want to be in Wien when there is a big football championship. No hotel rooms left, lots of extra people, everyplace crowded....... Not what I remember liking about the city!
But they don't cause distortion, they are really there to prevent excess overdriving. The amp will distort before the diodes conduct.
What they do is to smooth out the distortion somewhat.
I don't know if I want to be in Wien when there is a big football championship. No hotel rooms left, lots of extra people, everyplace crowded....... Not what I remember liking about the city!
I've run the SVP-cl +SVT-cl + 410hlf and got crazy tone, but had to back away from the 20hz bass on the SVpre and run the bass on the SVT at 12:00.
My back hurts....but hey, when I get a roadie....
Jimbob
