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Man was I disappointed w/ my ampegpro4!

H

heavystrings

Dec 8, 2009
6
0
#1
Tried bi-amping first. The 50 watt marshall lead player drowned me. I couldn't keep up. Guess I'll go back to my old hartke 7000, can you beleive it's got more balls. At half the volume knob. Anyone else had this problem?:bawl:
 
#4
Also keep in mind that your power ratings depending on the impedance of the cabs that you are biamping into.

For instance, if you're biamping into two 8 ohm cabs, you're only getting about 300 watts per side.
Two 4 ohm cabs will yield about 490 watts per side.
 
#7
I dont know what it is with ampeg but it has always taken me a really long time to dial in volume on them. I have an ampeg b4r for like a year while I thought it it was way underpowered. I finally figured out just working with the gain and settings made it eventually really loud. I had a hartke 7000 once, and even though thats an amazingly loud 350 watts, my 1000 watt ampeg is louder. Not a ton louder but definately louder.
 
#8
rpsands said:
With all of the Ampeg solid states except the SVT-400T, pretty much.
Click to expand...

The 400T i once owned was very very quiet. Bi-amped into US made Ampeg 1x15 and 4x10, or even bridged into them it was no where near as loud as the Trace AH250 I bought a few months later. There was no way I could hear myself with the drummer I was playing with at the time. This set up had me believing I would need 2 8x10's and a 1,000 watt amp haha. As unfair as I'm sure it sounds, I do not see myself ever buying an ampeg solid state head ever again.

Then again, its almost never fair to compare any brand watt per watt with Trace Elliot made stuff.
 
#9
bluestarbass said:
I dont know what it is with ampeg but it has always taken me a really long time to dial in volume on them. I have an ampeg b4r for like a year while I thought it it was way underpowered. I finally figured out just working with the gain and settings made it eventually really loud. I had a hartke 7000 once, and even though thats an amazingly loud 350 watts, my 1000 watt ampeg is louder. Not a ton louder but definately louder.
Click to expand...

It took me, literally, about 3 minutes to dial in my tone on my SVT-CL.
 
#11
What is your gain on? You have to have the gain up pretty hot to get the most out of a 4 Pro tonally. The input light should be lighting pretty good. Crank it until you can hear it distorting, then back off just a hair. That's the best way to run an Ampeg pre.
 
#13
The 4 PRO has a lot of low end boost when you set the 33hz slider and Bass Knob completely flat. Try decreasing those knobs then try again. I cut through a 312 guitar combo and 212 Carvin combo (both 100 watts of tube) no problem with a Mesa 410 and one 4 PRO bridged into it. I also add a boost at 450hz, don't touch the Ultra Low and cut nothing else on the head.

Gain knob needs to be constantly flashing red - ignore the manual or you will be stuck with very little volume.
 
#15
Those SVT4 Pros are odd birds. I've never owned one, but been supplied with them many times over the years as rental backline.

A search will reveal 2 common issues with the 4-Pros (issue #1 always presents itself to me and a colleague of mine here in Nashville has had both issues!):

1) the output volume of the amp is markedly low given its' high power rating

2) reliability of the amp is low compared to other Ampeg models (particularly one 'side' of the power section failing)

Doesn't mean the amp is "crap", but these issues do keep coming up over & over...
 
#16
jchrisk1 said:
Something must be wrong. I use a svt3pro with a custom cabinet and it will make your eyeballs rattle! No joke!
Click to expand...

+1

I run a 3-Pro, and have no problem being heard. Soundmen usually tell me to turn down. I cut out a lot of mid frequencies that most people also say not to (claiming otherwise you can't cut through) but I do that so I can get a really low, deep, clean sound. I'm competing with Marshall and 5150 stacks and it's never an issue of the bass being drowned out. Not sure what kind of sound your going for, but I've seen some bassists who set their sound so mid rangey that they are competing with the guitars in the sonic/frequency realm rather than based on sheer volume. If it's not a fight over frequencies, another thing to watch is that gain knob. It should be lighting up red most of the time. Adjust it like Jimmy said - and then also bump the master slider on your graphic just a bit as well.
 
#18
Somethings up, I played a 3000+ seat ampitheater with one of those into a single 4ohm cab, and even before the PA was in use it was louder than anything would ever need to be. Keep tweakin it, or have a tech look at it.

Edit: Basslayer69's probably onto something, I did not Bi-amp as stated.
 
#20
Bridge the amp, and make sure you're doing it right. I think that amp may require a special wired speakon to bridge. This will make a huge difference. For a 2 8ohm setup, you'll be doubling your power vs. a stereo setup.(according to Ampeg's specs, but in my experience with power amps it's usually more than that) Biamping will also in most situations decrease your available volume. (With most bass cabs anyway)

I've heard the svt4 is a little light on power compared to it's rating, and based on my experience with other ampegs I would be inclined to agree. However it should still be a quite powerful amp. Running it at 8 ohms a side is not the best way to go IMO.
 

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