To Finally Gig an SVT

[Jugghaid]

I, at one time had a SVT-CL, I played it through a Berg NV-610, it was a great sounding rig, a lot of people say the NV-610 was the Frige Killer, I did have a Ampeg 810 classic, and the 810 that I had, was one if the darker sounding cabs, I put some Jensen "MODS" in it to change the tone of the cabinet, but I liked the NV better, sold the 810, and still have the NV-610 View attachment 5458810

My NV610 will leave my possession only when I leave this mortal plane. Best sounding cab ever IMO.

 

[Old Fart]

Gotta get moving for tonight's gig, but thought I would share a couple of pics. I'll try to remember to take more tonight.

Last night we seemed to suffer from the dreaded loudness inflation problem. I don't prefer that, but this rig didn't care. I had the volume knob turned clear up to about 1.6.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

1.6. Yep. That’s why I sold mine after some active years and bought a V-4b. With my higher sensitivity 215 rig the SVT wouldn’t get up on its hind legs.

The v-4b would definitely get into the sweet spot with the power amp engaged. I still liked the tone cleanish to drive based on my playing dynamics.

 

[Old Fart]

I'm going to stop cluttering this forum with SVT worship soon, but here is my report from last night: I was having trouble getting the tone I wanted until about 2/3 of the way through the show. My bass was in the subs (just a tiny bit of course) but not in the mains (of course). I was not loud or full enough out where the audience sat but I worried this rig would be too loud on stage if I cranked it more. I didn't want to have to explain to bandmates how that works, but as it turns out I didn't need to. I made like three tiny tweaks....a little more volume, a tiny bit more on the Ch 2 Bass knob and a tiny bit more mid knob with the range switch on the low range setting. Totally woke this thing (and the audience) up. Did my bandmates complain? Nothing but compliments from both them and the audience. I think they are going to insist I bring this to nearly all shows. Made the whole band sound better. That mid knob and switch are magic and as you can see, there is nothing radical about these settings. This amp was perfectly designed. The haters can think and say what they want but their experience must have been environmentally different from mine. Had they been in the audience during the final 1.5 hours, I am certain they too would have positively impressed.

 

[beans-on-toast]

It takes a while to get to know any amp and figure out the optimal settings, both for the amp and the room.

Another determining factor is the power at the venue. Some places experience power line voltage sag. Stage lighting can contribute to the brown out. If you amp sounds odd at a venue, it could be that the low voltage is affecting the power tube bias. I carry an outlet plugin voltage meter that I bought from Amazon to check the line voltage. Just so I’ll know where the stage line voltage is.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I'm going to stop cluttering this forum with SVT worship soon, but here is my report from last night: I was having trouble getting the tone I wanted until about 2/3 of the way through the show. My bass was in the subs (just a tiny bit of course) but not in the mains (of course). I was not loud or full enough out where the audience sat but I worried this rig would be too loud on stage if I cranked it more. I didn't want to have to explain to bandmates how that works, but as it turns out I didn't need to. I made like three tiny tweaks....a little more volume, a tiny bit more on the Ch 2 Bass knob and a tiny bit more mid knob with the range switch on the low range setting. Totally woke this thing (and the audience) up. Did my bandmates complain? Nothing but compliments from both them and the audience. I think they are going to insist I bring this to nearly all shows. Made the whole band sound better. That mid knob and switch are magic and as you can see, there is nothing radical about these settings. This amp was perfectly designed. The haters can think and say what they want but their experience must have been environmentally different from mine. Had they been in the audience during the final 1.5 hours, I am certain they too would have positively impressed.

View attachment 5459813

Yup, the few times I’ve had the pleasure of playing though one, that’s the setting I go for on channel one.

 

[_Some Dude]

Understood, but I have heard plenty of SVT/810 rigs in nightclubs that are ordinary size and they do very well there. At modest volumes. I just really think a big part of the superiority of this rig is all those 10" speakers. Volume can be low, and still fill the room all the way to the back corners.

One of the things I like about the SVT/810 is that it sounds really good at low volumes.

One of the soundmen I work with told me it was because the speakers/cab design works well up close, so it's not blowing past the player and obliterating the audience like some designs do.

Also the reason a lot of soundmen like it.

 

[bobyoung53]

I've been using them for years and if I'm in a strange room I set everything to midpoint, and set the volume where I like it, I then tweak the bass and treble and usually put the bright switch on and leave the mid and ultra lo switches in the middle. I very rarely use extreme positions but use my ear leaving the midrange where it is, if I need to add mids I do that last. I have also used the low mid position here and there. The tone controls on those go a long way so a little either way is usually enough. The second channel is supposed to be voiced like a B-15, to me it's got more mid than the other one with everything set flat but that sound is easily obtained by turning the mid control up slightly with the switch in the middle.

 

[jmpiwonka]

I hurt my amp and cab at a loud show once and had a gig later that night. Ended up using another bands blueline svt. I plugged in, set volume to 3 or 4. eq’d everything to what seemed like right in the middle. Plucked a few notes pretty hard and was like oh poopie. That’ll do.

shortly after i found an svtII then a little later a beat up mti era svt for $300. Been playing it ever since.

 

[Sunnampeg]

I'm going to stop cluttering this forum with SVT worship soon, but here is my report from last night: I was having trouble getting the tone I wanted until about 2/3 of the way through the show. My bass was in the subs (just a tiny bit of course) but not in the mains (of course). I was not loud or full enough out where the audience sat but I worried this rig would be too loud on stage if I cranked it more. I didn't want to have to explain to bandmates how that works, but as it turns out I didn't need to. I made like three tiny tweaks....a little more volume, a tiny bit more on the Ch 2 Bass knob and a tiny bit more mid knob with the range switch on the low range setting. Totally woke this thing (and the audience) up. Did my bandmates complain? Nothing but compliments from both them and the audience. I think they are going to insist I bring this to nearly all shows. Made the whole band sound better. That mid knob and switch are magic and as you can see, there is nothing radical about these settings. This amp was perfectly designed. The haters can think and say what they want but their experience must have been environmentally different from mine. Had they been in the audience during the final 1.5 hours, I am certain they too would have positively impressed.

View attachment 5459813

i m not surprised It s an SVT