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SVT question

stevensivak

Supporting Member
Dec 24, 2014
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Ann Arbor, MI
I have been trying to find a SVP-CL or SVP-Pro and well they seem to be as rare as a hens tooth...

So I was wondering if I can use ONLY the pre-amp section of a CL or PRO head and connect it to a Crown power amp.
I assume this is possible.
Since I would not using the power section, can I remove the power amp tubes? Or will that kill off the pre-amps signal?
 
I believe that short of extensive modification SVTs cannot be used without a speaker load. If you found a dummy load capable of handling 300+ watts at 4 ohms (and I'm not sure that even exists) you theoretically could use the preamp out.

Keep in mind that an SVT-CL weighs like 80+ lbs, so if you're planning on dragging that plus a power amp plus a dummy load plus your cabs etc etc out to gigs, you better be investing in roadies or creatine.

A PRO series amp like an SVT-3 or 7 is a solid state power amp and will work just fine without a load connected, though I don't see why you'd bypass those perfectly functional power sections.

Your best bet might be to look into other SVT-derived preamp units. There's loads out there and most of them weigh well shy of 80lb.
 
I have been trying to find a SVP-CL or SVP-Pro and well they seem to be as rare as a hens tooth...

So I was wondering if I can use ONLY the pre-amp section of a CL or PRO head and connect it to a Crown power amp.
I assume this is possible.
Since I would not using the power section, can I remove the power amp tubes? Or will that kill off the pre-amps signal?
An 85lb preamp does not sound very sensible. I suggest the you keep looking for what you want.

A possible complication, the early SVP-CLs had low output. This means it may not be able to provided a hot enough signal for some power amps. I believe the SVP-CL was updated and the update can be applied to the older ones.
 
I realize it makes no sense to do this and I won't.... but I am still curious to know if the pre would function without the power tubes in it and if
that would eliminate the problem of running a tube head without a speaker load....
 
I realize it makes no sense to do this and I won't.... but I am still curious to know if the pre would function without the power tubes in it and if
that would eliminate the problem of running a tube head without a speaker load....

I believe the preamp would continue to function, but I won't say that's is safe for the amp. I may be, it may not be.

Current from the output tubes pulls the voltage down a bit.

Most SVT have pre-out and power amp in jacks that can function like an effects loop. There are switching contacts on the power amp in that interrupts the signal. So you could run the pre-out to your power amp, hook a dummy plug to the power amp in, and run a 4 ohm resistor on the speaker out. This would allow you to use the amp as a stand alone amp. I can't say if the pre-out would provide a hot enough signal.

FYI, My Mesa Strategy has a mute switch. I believe that it essentially blocks the preamp signal from reaching the power amp and shorts the speaker out to ground. Tubes amp are happier with a short than an open circuit.
 
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Many people who love tubes amp prefer to operate the amp in the power range where the output section is approach the or just beyond the clean power limit. When the amp is asked make a lot of power, it pulls more current from the power supply. This cause the power supply voltages to sag, which impacts how the entire amp responds; including the preamp.

So even it it is safe to operate the amp with not output tubes installed, I may not give you the playing experience you are looking for.
 
I have no idea if this is what you are looking for or how I would use this but I saw this the other day figured I'd share with you here.

 
Like others have said, it doesn't make much sense to do what you're asking about.

If you should decide to go ahead with this anyway, here's a maybe SLIGHTLY more convenient (and less expensive) solution:

The long discontinued Ampeg V4BH is supposed to have the exact same preamp as the SVT-CL (but obviously a different output section). At least that's what Ampeg's marketing said at the time. The V4BH was said to be an SVT-CL preamp with a 100w 6L6GC-based output section. It's the weakest 100w amp I've ever played. I own 50w amps that outperform it volume-wise, by quite some distance. In fact, I thought something was wrong with mine, so I brought it to an amp tech. He said it there was nothing wrong with it, but that these amp measured close to 50w and were "electronically weak", whatever he meant by that. The TONE was nice though, and the power of the output section won't matter for your needs. You can probably find one considerably cheaper than an SVT. It is also a LOT lighter than an SVT. I don't have the exact numbers, but I would guess around half the weight.

Just to be clear: I'm talking about the V4BH that has the same visual appearance as the SVT-CL. There were two versions, one with a blue script logo and one with white block letters. I have the one with white block letters, but I think they are both the same internally. It's a nice little amp for recording, but utterly useless with a loud band. It was simply too weak for my volume needs at the time (and it didn't exactly help that I matched it with Ampeg's recommended cab for this model, the extremely inefficient, boomy/muddy sounding SVT-410HLF, which is by far the worst sounding bass cab I've ever owned).

I'm NOT referring to current or vintage V-4B/V4b/V4. These are totally different amps.

I don't recommend going this route at all, but if you do, a V4BH will be probably be much cheaper and definitely much lighter than an SVT. Apart from that the disadvantges will be the same as with an SVT head, like others have already explained.
 
As said above, per the logistical issues, this is a theoretical question.... and it could lead to serious problems...

The Broughton pre amp is really quite perfect. Unfortunately, they have decided not to make it modular and thus it
really is a stand alone item... How difficult would it have been to make it rack mountable? Perhaps two versions????
 
As said above, per the logistical issues, this is a theoretical question.... and it could lead to serious problems...

The Broughton pre amp is really quite perfect. Unfortunately, they have decided not to make it modular and thus it
really is a stand alone item... How difficult would it have been to make it rack mountable? Perhaps two versions????
Get a tray for your rack, secure the Broughton onto the tray, problem solved.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...ZOPJGuh3N79cNl6FqVrzVQxeXXwb3-cYaAue1EALw_wcB
 
I have been trying to find a SVP-CL or SVP-Pro and well they seem to be as rare as a hens tooth...

So I was wondering if I can use ONLY the pre-amp section of a CL or PRO head and connect it to a Crown power amp.
I assume this is possible.
Since I would not using the power section, can I remove the power amp tubes? Or will that kill off the pre-amps
Buy a Mesa Subway WD800. (Tube preamp, class D amp and about 8 lbs)
 
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So for rack mounted/modular pre amps I see: Alembic, Arkham, Demeter and now Broughton
Alembic uses a Fender tone stack and Arkham has certain similarities to B-15's- Demeter: I am unsure
or and it appears that the Broughton shares some DNA with Ampeg

Anything else?


I have been looking for a SVP for a couple of months....
 
So for rack mounted/modular pre amps I see: Alembic, Arkham, Demeter and now Broughton
Alembic uses a Fender tone stack and Arkham has certain similarities to B-15's- Demeter: I am unsure
or and it appears that the Broughton shares some DNA with Ampeg

Anything else?


I have been looking for a SVP for a couple of months....
I have a spare SVP Pro, just reluctant to sell it because I know these are getting harder find. Send me a PM with an offer and I might consider it. I do occasionally sell on this forum so you can look up my seller rating. I do have 3 active listings right now.
 
Sorry, no help here. My 1st foray into Ampeg was an SVP Pro when I had a rack system and I loved the tone. Besides my GK1001RBII I've used Ampeg ever since. While it's been almost 2 decades since I gigged an SVP Pro I've been really happy w/ the SGT-DI, both live & in the studio.