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Questions about dialling in an SVT-CL

_Some Dude

_Some Dude

Sep 14, 2016
2,370
5,926
#1
My band has a showcase tomorrow. I have the option of using the backlined SVT-CL + 810. I'd like to use the Ampeg as I've never played through one before and it's a great chance to demo it, but I have no idea how to dial it in and it's not like I can spend all day tweaking the thing.

So... straight up grinding rock tone. Stock Am Std Jazz bass with Cobalt roundwounds. About 2/3rds of our songs are finger style and the other 3rd are picked. I have an MXR Distortion that I kick in when appropriate.
 
#2
The best piece of advice I can give is to start with the EQ flat and most importantly leave the ultra-lo out. The ultra-lo is really a deep mid cut (200Hz). If you find it's short on bottom end, dial it in with the bass EQ knob instead of using the ultra-lo. I often boost the midrange a bit in the middle setting (800Hz) to get it to sound more like my 76. You can either turn the master all the way up and control volume with the gain knob for a cleaner vibe (most like an old SVT) or crank the gain up a bit and control your overall volume with the master if you want to scum it up a bit.
 
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#6
I've played a jazz through an SVT rig for years. Nothing like the sound from that rig.

Start with ultra high/low out, with everything at noon. Bump the mids to about 3:00 and flip through the mids freq selector switch to find where you want to boost. You will want to keep the mids up some, especially if you run the Jazz controls dimed, as there is that mid scoop present.

The SVT is a deep, and somewhat dark but big sound. The mids are what makes this beast breathe fire, and you might find yourself rolling some of the lows out. To get a big full clean, but harmonically rich sound take the master all the way up, or around 8. The latter will let you turn the pre up a little more, and it won't be as touchy as it is when the master is dimed. I've run both ways, so it's your preference. If the tubes are fresh, you will dig the sound of that forest of tubes when they get pushed a little.

It's pretty easy to get a good useable tone with the SVT if you like the sound. The 810 cab doesn't go down as far as the hlf, but you will still get some great tones with a low b. The 810 loves the 4 string, as it was designed for. Have fun and be prepared to hear the wall of thunder!
 
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#8
I played a mid 70s SVT (my profile picture) and a 910 (look it up - they made them) for ages. I loved a straight ahead rock tone, but to get it I turned ON the ultra low and ultra high to get me what I wanted. Obviously my tone was different from everyone else's here (different strokes for different folks) but I had no complaints from anyone about it. Also, 9/10 sound people are going to give you a direct box anyway so they can shape the tone they want thru the PA.

It all depends on the tone you want to get from your rig. Start with everything flat and check out what all the controls do if you have time, otherwise you'll never know how flexible the amp is. Maybe you'll decide you want the ultra low and ultra high and maybe you won't. Only YOU can create the tone you're looking for.

Have fun and enjoy!!!
 
#10
Bim1959 said:
I played a mid 70s SVT (my profile picture) and a 910 (look it up - they made them) for ages. I loved a straight ahead rock tone, but to get it I turned ON the ultra low and ultra high to get me what I wanted. Obviously my tone was different from everyone else's here (different strokes for different folks) but I had no complaints from anyone about it. Also, 9/10 sound people are going to give you a direct box anyway so they can shape the tone they want thru the PA.

It all depends on the tone you want to get from your rig. Start with everything flat and check out what all the controls do if you have time, otherwise you'll never know how flexible the amp is. Maybe you'll decide you want the ultra low and ultra high and maybe you won't. Only YOU can create the tone you're looking for.

Have fun and enjoy!!!
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Yeah, of course if using the ultra-lo works for you that's great. I didn't intend to come across as if it should never be used just that if you were unfamiliar with the amp, starting with it out gives a much flatter basic tone. :D I gave the advice I did because over the years I have seen many many instances of players complaining that they couldn't get a good sound out of an SVT, that it was too muddy and lacking midrange. In every instance of this, the ultra-lo was on, which is why I advise people to start with it out (especially if time crunched).
 
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#13
alembicguy said:
Showcase for a band doesn't sound like the best place to demo gear?
Click to expand...

In hindsight, I wish I'd brought my own amp/cab.

Wound up on a different stage than we were originally told, and instead of the backline I expected it came with a Traynor Dynabass 2x10 combo. I didn't really like the sound/feel of the amp but I was DI'd and I'm told the FOH sounded great.
 
#14
_Some Dude said:
So, leave the Ultra-Low off and 3 on the frequency knob is equal to about 800Hz?

Is the EQ flat on an SVT with everything at 5?
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Mark Reccord said:
Yep. The EQ knobs are cut-boost on the SVTs.
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True, but only the preamp is flat with knobs at noon. Once it hits the power amp, it gives you a boost at 100 hz and gradually tapers off as you go up the frequency spectrum.

Closest to flat settings I ever got is bass 11:00, mids 3:00 @ 800 hz, treble 2:00, ultra switches off. I have not measured it on a scope, but I've measured it against a couple different flat response amps now, and it's extremely close. That said, my advice would be to start with knobs at noon and turn knobs and switches till it sounds good to you (or leave it if it sounds good to you there). Won't take long. It's one of the easiest amps in the world to dial in. Just don't be afraid of using the knobs.
 
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#15
JimmyM said:
True, but only the preamp is flat with knobs at noon. Once it hits the power amp, it gives you a boost at 100 hz and gradually tapers off as you go up the frequency spectrum.

Closest to flat settings I ever got is bass 11:00, mids 3:00 @ 800 hz, treble 2:00, ultra switches off. I have not measured it on a scope, but I've measured it against a couple different flat response amps now, and it's extremely close. That said, my advice would be to start with knobs at noon and turn knobs and switches till it sounds good to you (or leave it if it sounds good to you there). Won't take long. It's one of the easiest amps in the world to dial in. Just don't be afraid of using the knobs.
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Not to be a contrarian, but I seem to recall measuring mine on a spectrum analyzer and seeing that flat on the preamp is flat. I'm pretty sure I measured the speaker out. I took screen caps, I'll see if I can dig them up.

But totally agree that an SVT is pretty easy to dial in and is capable of a pretty wide variety of sounds.
 
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#17
JimmyM said:
Ya, flat on the preamp is flat. But Bass Gear's scope on the whole amp turned up the scenario I described.
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That's weird. I was tied up all last night but I'll dig up my spectrum plots tonight. I'm pretty sure that I didn't see this with mine. I did measure at the speaker outputs, I'm 100% certain of that because I remember getting my big dummy load resistors out to do it. I think I was measuring it to see how the tone stack behaved. I'll have to read the BGM article too.

I mean mine's a mid-70s so maybe there's something different in the one they tested.
 
#18
Mark Reccord said:
That's weird. I was tied up all last night but I'll dig up my spectrum plots tonight. I'm pretty sure that I didn't see this with mine. I did measure at the speaker outputs, I'm 100% certain of that because I remember getting my big dummy load resistors out to do it. I think I was measuring it to see how the tone stack behaved. I'll have to read the BGM article too.

I mean mine's a mid-70s so maybe there's something different in the one they tested.
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Pretty sure it was Tom's mid-70's SVT :D I believe it's in issue 5. There's one issue early on that has a big Ampeg feature.
 
#19
JimmyM said:
Pretty sure it was Tom's mid-70's SVT :D I believe it's in issue 5. There's one issue early on that has a big Ampeg feature.
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Hahaha! Of course it was. I'll have to have a look at their methodology and maybe re-test mine. If they do behave differently, then I might have to try to find out why. :D

BGM is blocked at work and I can't get it to come up on my phone. Surprised I missed that one as I usually at least glance at it.
 

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