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SPECTOR® Club - Part 27

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#942
rockstarbassist said:
Nah it's no biggie lol
The SVT-II is just the pre+power amp version of that design. With the IIPre you can mate it to whatever power amp(s) you want which is what he did. I'm pretty sure those guys had a lot of their onstage cabs running (if not all of them, which is what Wylde & Co. do) so toting around that many vintage tube amps probably wasn't the best ideal logistically, since he was just sending the DI signal and a miked SVT810 to the board.

I think he used Crest (or Crown) power amps up through the GST touring cycle, and moved on to 4Pro's whenever they suited up for RTS and on through Down.

I know he also used this old Rocktron preamp unit but I forget what it's called, and have never seen one FS. However in his Rig Rundown when he was w/ Down, you can see them in his rack.

IMO the "Rex sound" is all about attack. He has "his way" of attacking the note to make it always sound like him. A Spector + Ampeg rig and a boost around 900hz and 2khz doesn't hurt either but yeah.
Click to expand...

From what i have read it is the Rocktron Voodoo Valve Preamp that he used.
 
#943
Rick Blanc said:
+1

Here's my take on this. Dude has mad skills. I wish I could play with that speed but thankfully none of the stuff I play requires it. Having said that though, and speaking as an old guy, what I heard on that clip just isn't my thing. Not even close to my thing. But just because I don't like the salad doesn't mean the chef sucks.
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Like this guy/kid. Not my thing but he's got mad skills! All of his vids are sick.

Spector Euro5 LX EX Spalted Maple Top Modify Aguilar OBP3 Test by Keng Bassist - YouTube
 
#944
bassgiant15 said:
From what i have read it is the Rocktron Voodoo Valve Preamp that he used.
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I think that was possibly in a later rig as that's what is in the Guitargeek.com rig shot. But on his Wiki page it shows it as "Rocktron Basix bass preamp" of which the VVP was the successor to. Also in his video, those look a good bit different than the VVP.

here too:
[This invalid link has been removed]

edit: actually it just says "Rocktron Rackmount Preamp"
Link Removed

And at the time the Guitargeek illustration was put together, the VVP was the comparable unit so I'm sure that's why they put it in. As you know, those guys drank a lot. LOL wouldn't surprise me even if his tech during a phone interview didn't know to the detail what was in his rack... ;)

2xedit: i will ALSO say, that from experience, compression really is a big part of his sound. Someone on the Down board mentioned that's probably what he was using it for, and could be why he switched to the 4Pro's for live, since theirs is built in. That+the graphic EQ is why I use the M9.
 
#945
rockstarbassist said:
I've had a few 3Pro's as "temps" and they're workable, but really they have better stuff IME.

I think if it came down to it and I had to use a 'Peg I'd use one of the older Pres+power amp or the 4Pro, as long as it was working right... ;)
Click to expand...

I know what you mean.....I had a SLM era 4 Pro that I got the same time I got my Euro 4...it was fantastic, and I hold that amp as an example of being stupid and getting rid of gear that didn't need to go! Wish I had it back.
 
#946
To everyone who has a matte finished Spector...

I'm getting one of my Spector's refinished starting tomorrow and am leaning towards a poly matte finish. I was told that it is going to get shiny anywhere i touch on the bass after it has a matte finish.

Do you guys find this to be an annoyance/issue/and or problem? Can the Dunlop cleaning kit take care of this?

Any advice/input is greatly appreciated!
 
#947
grendle said:
Oh, also component setups seem to have fallen out of favor a wile back so they can be had on the cheap. I got my svt2 preamp for $250 and my 1200w power amp for $125. I sold my 3 pro for $450 (new tubes in great condition) . So it worked out :)
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Yeah I am going to keep my eye out and find a good deal.

Unfortunately, Jeff already sold the Ampeg rig from the previously posted link. :bawl:
 
#948
stjohn1299 said:
I know what you mean.....I had a SLM era 4 Pro that I got the same time I got my Euro 4...it was fantastic, and I hold that amp as an example of being stupid and getting rid of gear that didn't need to go! Wish I had it back.
Click to expand...

Yessir. I can totally see why those early-era 4Pro's got/get a lot of love compared to the stuff that's being put out now.
 
#950
delucajohn2000 said:
Cool, thanks for the info everyone. Some of these setups that guys use seem so confusing to me so I figured I would ask :)
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It's cliche` but it's true-
Rex would sound like Rex through anything. Are there tricks and techniques to get us mortals closer, sure. But the greats stand out for those reasons. :bassist:
 
#952
grendle said:
Any "head" has a preamp section ( where the signal is made / shaped) and a power amp section ( where the signal from the preamp is amplified ) . In most heads they are in one box and can't be separated.

A separate preamp and power amp are just that, basically two separate boxes that make up a "head"

The ampeg stuff, the svt2 and 2 pro heads have a pretty unique tone to them. Their also all tube in the head version and weight 80 lbs and are only rated to 300w I believe. To me, the main part of that tone come from the preamp, there are no transformers or anything in there so it light ( less than 4 lbs). I wanted that tone but not the weight and also more watts. A 30 lb power amp can push 1500w of clean power or more easily ( it's a FOH PA amp). So basically I have a 1200w svt2 rig :bassist:

Those all tube 80lb+. heads will allow you to overdrive the power amp for some distortion / color if you want. I don't care for power amp distortion ( or preamp distortion) with bass. So the tube power amp section wasn't an issue for me.

Now you can use what ever preamp you like with any power amp pretty much, so say you want an ampeg tone , a demeter tone, a sansamp tone and what ever else. You can have any of those you like running into a power amp and basically change amps on the fly if you have a switcher, and keep the same power amp. Power amps don't usually ( or shouldn't) color the sound much so you can pick your power level and not worry about needing a new head because the one you bought isn't loud enough, or starts to distort when you turn it up.

This is my first component rig and honestly I don't think i'll go back to a head. I can use multiple main outs from my preamp for what ever i want ( tuner , FOH, a second power amp etc.) and can run pretty much any cab config I chose ( 2 channels stereo @600w @4 ohms, or 1200w mono) 2 4 ohm cabs, 4 8 ohm cabs, or 1200w into 4 ohms (1 4 ohm cab or 2 8 ohm cabs)

since the power amp doesnt color the sound much there are multiple choices at all different power levels. They have new class D amps out that push 1000-3000w and only weigh 7 lbs also ( and go for $200 or less). Thats what i'm looking at next. My rig ( preamp, power conditioner, tuner, power amp, road case) weighs about 50 lbs. I'd like to get that down to 25-30. The class D amps sound a little different to me, but live it doesn't matter much. My back will thank me later.
Click to expand...

While I agree with most of this, I do have to say that an SVT head, while rated at 300 watts sounds a lot different then a solid state 300 watts. There is something about an SVT all tube head that nothing else sounds like. It just has "that Magic" like a Spector bass. Put them together, forget about it. I had a 1990 SVT I ran through 2 8-10's, and there is nothing in the world that sounds like that. Sold it to a friend of mine been trying to get it back from him for like the last 5 years. He is what I would call a "Gear Slob", you know, basses are always dirty, strings are old as can be (he has 2 of my old basses also) doesn't take care of anything, it's heart breaking, the head has been unusable and just sitting in the corner of their practice place for like 3-4 years, because it has a microphonic tube and he is just too lazy or cheep to take it to a real repair place and have it looked at, he has "a friend who knows about amps who is looking at it and going to fix it" for 3 years now!

Not to sound snobby, but I agree about the class D amps, I have yet to play through one that has impressed me.
 
#953
bassgiant15 said:
To everyone who has a matte finished Spector...

I'm getting one of my Spector's refinished starting tomorrow and am leaning towards a poly matte finish. I was told that it is going to get shiny anywhere i touch on the bass after it has a matte finish.

Do you guys find this to be an annoyance/issue/and or problem? Can the Dunlop cleaning kit take care of this?

Any advice/input is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

Having 3 matte finish Spectors, this is true. Where ever you touch alot will get "shiny" So expect it to get shiny on the back of your neck where you usually have your thumb. Also on the side of the body where your arm will rest. The Dunlop 65 cleaner works great but it dosent take the shine away. Overall it dosent bug me at all.
 
#954
chrisloe said:
Not to sound snobby, but I agree about the class D amps, I have yet to play through one that has impressed me.
Click to expand...

I was the same way until I played the GK MB800. I've owned/played A LOT of the micros. The MB8 has the horsepower behind it. Yes it's class D but it's a gut punching maniac on roids and herion. It blows the SVT away in sheer volume. Tone, eh, subjective. And yes I have an SVT.;)
 

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#956
grendle said:
Any "head" has a preamp section ( where the signal is made / shaped) and a power amp section ( where the signal from the preamp is amplified ) . In most heads they are in one box and can't be separated.

A separate preamp and power amp are just that, basically two separate boxes that make up a "head"

The ampeg stuff, the svt2 and 2 pro heads have a pretty unique tone to them. Their also all tube in the head version and weight 80 lbs and are only rated to 300w I believe. To me, the main part of that tone come from the preamp, there are no transformers or anything in there so it light ( less than 4 lbs). I wanted that tone but not the weight and also more watts. A 30 lb power amp can push 1500w of clean power or more easily ( it's a FOH PA amp). So basically I have a 1200w svt2 rig :bassist:

Those all tube 80lb+. heads will allow you to overdrive the power amp for some distortion / color if you want. I don't care for power amp distortion ( or preamp distortion) with bass. So the tube power amp section wasn't an issue for me.

Now you can use what ever preamp you like with any power amp pretty much, so say you want an ampeg tone , a demeter tone, a sansamp tone and what ever else. You can have any of those you like running into a power amp and basically change amps on the fly if you have a switcher, and keep the same power amp. Power amps don't usually ( or shouldn't) color the sound much so you can pick your power level and not worry about needing a new head because the one you bought isn't loud enough, or starts to distort when you turn it up.

This is my first component rig and honestly I don't think i'll go back to a head. I can use multiple main outs from my preamp for what ever i want ( tuner , FOH, a second power amp etc.) and can run pretty much any cab config I chose ( 2 channels stereo @600w @4 ohms, or 1200w mono) 2 4 ohm cabs, 4 8 ohm cabs, or 1200w into 4 ohms (1 4 ohm cab or 2 8 ohm cabs)

since the power amp doesnt color the sound much there are multiple choices at all different power levels. They have new class D amps out that push 1000-3000w and only weigh 7 lbs also ( and go for $200 or less). Thats what i'm looking at next. My rig ( preamp, power conditioner, tuner, power amp, road case) weighs about 50 lbs. I'd like to get that down to 25-30. The class D amps sound a little different to me, but live it doesn't matter much. My back will thank me later.
Click to expand...

Solid state watts are not equal to tube watts watts. The SVT feels like a 1000 watt solid state amp to me....and my 100 watt v4b is 90% as loud as the SVT2. Neither ever distort. Don't get me wrong, I think the versatility of a component rig is splendid. In fact, I have a fetish for large solid state power amps.
 
#960
chrisloe said:
While I agree with most of this, I do have to say that an SVT head, while rated at 300 watts sounds a lot different then a solid state 300 watts. There is something about an SVT all tube head that nothing else sounds like. It just has "that Magic" like a Spector bass. Put them together, forget about it. I had a 1990 SVT I ran through 2 8-10's, and there is nothing in the world that sounds like that. Sold it to a friend of mine been trying to get it back from him for like the last 5 years. He is what I would call a "Gear Slob", you know, basses are always dirty, strings are old as can be (he has 2 of my old basses also) doesn't take care of anything, it's heart breaking, the head has been unusable and just sitting in the corner of their practice place for like 3-4 years, because it has a microphonic tube and he is just too lazy or cheep to take it to a real repair place and have it looked at, he has "a friend who knows about amps who is looking at it and going to fix it" for 3 years now!

Not to sound snobby, but I agree about the class D amps, I have yet to play through one that has impressed me.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Running through FOH though I'm not so sure the stage tone matters that much anymore.
 
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