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SVPCL Vs. BBE BMAX

O

orskard

Mar 17, 2004
344
0
39
Indiana
#1
The ampeg pre-amp, has anyone used it or delt with it? it has the 4 tubes and claims to be the same as the Ampeg Classic head. But im wondering how it will sound when paired up with a SS power amp. Can i still get a tube sound? or a tube overdrive sound?

Or should i look at the BBE B-max? Some talk bass members recomended that instead of the Ampeg, what do you think?

or also the Billy sheehan pre amp. it has two channels, one being overdrive...


match the pre up with a QSC RMX1450, on ebay for $299

and for the time being run it with my avatar 2x10


>hanus<
 
#2
ok first of all the power amp does nothing to your tone it just gives you power! you will have a great sound with the ampeg pre-amp,

i think you should look at the BBE b-max T its got tubes and should be cheaper than the ampeg, and it looks cooler.

how many ohms is that 2x10, if it is 4 ohms your crazy
that would be 1400 watts into a 600 watt cab. thats alot of watts for a 600 watt cab. if it is 8 ohms than you should be fine that is about 900 watts into a 600 watt cab that shoudl be ok.
 
#3
it is 4 ohms, so 1400 watts into the cab, i know its gunna kill it, but the power amp has a level control so couldnt i just raise that as needed, and not have it running flat out all the time?

in time i hope to add an avatar 2x12 in stereo to make 2 450 watt cabs.

>hanus<
 
#4
orskard said:
The ampeg pre-amp, has anyone used it or delt with it? it has the 4 tubes and claims to be the same as the Ampeg Classic head. But im wondering how it will sound when paired up with a SS power amp. Can i still get a tube sound? or a tube overdrive sound?

Or should i look at the BBE B-max? Some talk bass members recomended that instead of the Ampeg, what do you think?

or also the Billy sheehan pre amp. it has two channels, one being overdrive...


match the pre up with a QSC RMX1450, on ebay for $299

and for the time being run it with my avatar 2x10


>hanus<
Click to expand...
Just checking...have you visited Invalid Link Removed
Both the BMax pre's are there. No SVP-CL yet, but there's the SVP-Pro and SVP-BSP.

fenderbluesdude said:
ok first of all the power amp does nothing to your tone it just gives you power!
...
Click to expand...
Most (not all) bass tube power amps do have a tubey tone (rounder, phatter).
SS power amps -- depends on who you talk to, some say they all sound the same (at least well-made ones), some say they sound different.
 
#5
yes, i did go to basstasters.com

but im still wondering what causes the BMAX T to jump up 200-300 bucks?

does the t stand for tube? but i thought they both have tubes? the bbe is cheaper than the ampeg but the BMAX T is almost more, so whats better??


>hanus<
 
#11
lo-freq said:
The BMax-T has a clean tube sound.
The SVT-CL I haven't heard yet, but I bet it sounds like an Ampeg (you can probably get some OD out of it).
Click to expand...

Its actualy hard to get od out of the svp-cl. When it warms up you can get a nice, almost gritty tone, but not over drive. Its a thick pre but its very tight as well. The cl pre is very dynamic and do I dare say, almost hifi, while still having the cl ampeg tone. At this piont, its one of the best pre's Ive heard.
 
#12
inazone said:
Its actualy hard to get od out of the svp-cl. When it warms up you can get a nice, almost gritty tone, but not over drive. Its a thick pre but its very tight as well. The cl pre is very dynamic and do I dare say, almost hifi, while still having the cl ampeg tone. At this piont, its one of the best pre's Ive heard.
Click to expand...
zone,
Thanks for clarifying.
I found your review and I'd be interested to hear more after you've gigged with it some more.
Sounds interesting, especially for the price.
How much does the mod cost to boost the output level?
 
#18
I have the SVP-BSP and well, I'm not unhappy with it... but something about it has me still looking around in case something better comes along.

I haven't had much chance to use the dirty channel, and when I have it's been blended. It's a really scratchy distortion and it sucks absolutely ANY lows out of your signal. It's eq section leaves a lot to be desired. But if you want to scream high up and sound like a guitar, it accomplishes that well. I guess that makes sense given billies style...

The clean section works just fine, but be careful on the highs, they can bite a bit early. I run it into an rmx1450 as well, into two BXT cabs (115,410) One channel bridged 2 ohms with a custom cable, the other 4 ohms (matches the power of the cabs perfect). I run my maple cirrus 4 pre cranked but mids flat, both pickups full. The pre sits low (pulled out for "ulta-low") and mids usually flat and high flat (not pulled out) and my tweets only quarter way open. I get a very thick meaty but still midrangy honky finger tone, that comes alive when I strum with my fingernails or pop, which I do often. Think of a modern Tool tone with smooth mids (which he is lacking if you ask me :) The rig cranks and every note high or low is right in your face (or rumbling your ass). Oh, I run a compressor/limiter on the way into the pre to even out the input signal and my own dynamics, I think that was the key to the tone I currently have.

I wonder if chaning pres would alter my sound all that much, or if I'd end up just dialing in near what I already have, and in that regard if it would even be worth messing with :)

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