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Lowering the volume for an SVT-CL

GeneralElectric

GeneralElectric

Dec 26, 2007
10,314
1,375
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NY, NY
#1
I'm picking up an SVT-CL tonight after swearing never to own one. "Unfortunately" an SVT fits my musical projects right now more than my Aguilar stuff so SVT it is.

I have a bunch of amps right now (6?!) so I'm likely looking to downsize as I'm not a storage facility. If I were to make the SVT my only amp, or close to it, is there a way to reduce the volume level in a meaningful way so I can play it somewhat at home? I would be using it with either a 210 or 115 cabinet at 8ohms.

Currently my home practice amp is an Aguilar Tonehammer 500 and a DB210 with the master volume set at about 2. :p
 
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#3
The Tonehammer can get so close to the SVT sound that I'm wondering if it's the "optics" of the SVT you need for that project vs the "sound"? In any case just turn the master on the SVT down and the input gain up - but the Tonehammer's tone will blow away the SVT's at home volumes. In any case with an VST you DEFINITELY need a backup anyways so keep the TH500 :cool:.
 
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#4
So you will haul the 90 lb head to and fro for band practice? Hope your back is strong.

Just hold onto another amp for a while because that will get old quickly. It’ll be late and you’ll say “we’re only practicing in another couple of days.” Then practice is cancelled and you’re sitting at home with no amp.

Or....you decide to do a small gig with your 210 at a coffee shop or whatever, and you bring an SVT.

Then again maybe you play metal or punk and that is just a ridiculous scenario.
 
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#8
GeneralElectric said:
I'm picking up an SVT-CL tonight after swearing never to own one. "Unfortunately" an SVT fits my musical projects right now more than my Aguilar stuff so SVT it is.

I have a bunch of amps right now (6?!) so I'm likely looking to downsize as I'm not a storage facility. If I were to make the SVT my only amp, or close to it, is there a way to reduce the volume level in a meaningful way so I can play it somewhat at home? I would be using it with either a 210 or 115 cabinet at 8ohms.

Currently my home practice amp is an Aguilar Tonehammer 500 and a DB210 with the master volume set at about 2. :p
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Just turn the volume down. If you want dirt out of it, you'll have to use preamp cranking, but you can do it at a quiet volume. But if you just want clean, turn down and you're good. I think an SVT sounds just as amazeballs at a practice volume as a regular volume. And it should be fine at 8 ohms...the inventor came on here a couple years ago and informed us that it's so overbuilt that running it at 8 ohms is no problem at all. I've done it on rented SVT's and never had a problem.
 
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#10
RoadRanger said:
The Tonehammer can get so close to the SVT sound that I'm wondering if it's the "optics" of the SVT you need for that project vs the "sound"? In any case just turn the master on the SVT down and the input gain up - but the Tonehammer's tone will blow away the SVT's at home volumes. In any case with an VST you DEFINITELY need a backup anyways so keep the TH500 :cool:.
Click to expand...

I have an SVP-CL and used to have an IPR as my "light SVT sorta" rig.
Stuff felt like it was popping in my back whenever I lifted by Blackline so something had to be done.

There is no replacement for a tube power amp, but that SVT dead lift tore me up.
 
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#12
Why would you need a Back up only because it is an SVT ? They are no less reliable than any of the other Amp being built these days. Also I have only heard one SS amp that comes even close to the tone authority and weight of an SVT . Yes I have played through a tonehammer and they do sound very good but does not have that SVT Slam.
 
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#13
RoadRanger said:
The Tonehammer can get so close to the SVT sound that I'm wondering if it's the "optics" of the SVT you need for that project vs the "sound"? In any case just turn the master on the SVT down and the input gain up - but the Tonehammer's tone will blow away the SVT's at home volumes. In any case with an VST you DEFINITELY need a backup anyways so keep the TH500 :cool:.
Click to expand...

I have a TH500 and a AG500. The optics are definitely part of it, but its also that the SVT seems more midfocused for the rock stuff I'm doing and has an easier time competing with loud and heavy guitars. I've plunked my TH down on an 810 before and I didn't really like it that much. I love my AG500 on a pair of 15s though!

craigie said:
So you will haul the 90 lb head to and fro for band practice? Hope your back is strong.

Just hold onto another amp for a while because that will get old quickly. It’ll be late and you’ll say “we’re only practicing in another couple of days.” Then practice is cancelled and you’re sitting at home with no amp.

Or....you decide to do a small gig with your 210 at a coffee shop or whatever, and you bring an SVT.

Then again maybe you play metal or punk and that is just a ridiculous scenario.
Click to expand...

I rehearse with a backline, so I really only need to worry about hauling this out for shows. I currently have 6 amps right now so I'll definitely be keeping at least one as a backup. Probably the AG500 because its no longer made and I love it!

fttfbass said:
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure an SVT-CL can't do 8 ohms.
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Dammit! You're right!

JimmyM said:
Just turn the volume down. If you want dirt out of it, you'll have to use preamp cranking, but you can do it at a quiet volume. But if you just want clean, turn down and you're good. I think an SVT sounds just as amazeballs at a practice volume as a regular volume. And it should be fine at 8 ohms...the inventor came on here a couple years ago and informed us that it's so overbuilt that running it at 8 ohms is no problem at all. I've done it on rented SVT's and never had a problem.
Click to expand...

Didn't realize that it was a 4 ohm minimum load. Currently I have a pair of 210s and a pair of 115s and they all run 8 ohms. If I plug in two cabinets, would that be fine for the SVT? Sorry for the dumb question, I've never had an amp with impedance switching. All my tube amps so far have been used with a single cabinet!

interp said:
Two possible solutions:
1. Turn down the SVT’s volume.
2. Get a B-15
Click to expand...

Already have a B15! The cabinet rattles like a MF'er though.

Nighttrain1127 said:
Why would you need a Back up only because it is an SVT ? They are no less reliable than any of the other Amp being built these days. Also I have only heard one SS amp that comes even close to the tone authority and weight of an SVT . Yes I have played through a tonehammer and they do sound very good but does not have that SVT Slam.
Click to expand...

The AG500 is one of two SS amps I think have the authority to keep up with a tube SVT. The other one is a GK2001RB. Sold the GK to get my first AG500 years ago! The only caveat for the AG500 is you need to be running it at 4ohms with a lot of speaker coverage!
 
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#15
JimmyM said:
SVT-CL's much lighter...80 lbs.
Click to expand...

Or 40 lbs each if two people are carrying the amp. Way less if you are using a cart.

I think that lifting the amp on top of a high cab such as an 810 is way over rated. If it’s necessary, a kid can always help.

DC286AF6-3BAB-4FAB-ACEC-AB14FCD135F6.jpeg
 
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#19
sharpiemarker said:
I have seachered a lot for this. And this is the first time someone has sounded so confident about running it at 8ohms. Are you sure?
Click to expand...
Using a dummy plug on an early 70s blue line Ampeg SVT

GeneralElectric said:
I actually just messaged ampeg customer support for confirmation. But if I can stack two cabinets I couldn't care less.
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First off, you can stack two cabs. Second, Ampeg's official word under LOUD is to not run at 8 ohms. I don't know what Yamaha's ruling will be. But Bill invented the SVT, so if he says it's OK, it's OK. Like I said, I've done it many times without incident.
 
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