re: Bass preamp experience - Ampeg SVP Pro - SVP CL

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university81

university81

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I'm guessing there might be some bassists or guitarists who also play bass ;)

instead of buying a separate bass amp i'm looking into a bass preamp to pair with a QSC power amp i have

i've always loved the ampeg tone and the SVP Pro or SVP CL springs to mind, but over here in europe they're not that easy to find unfortunately

just wanted to ask here if anyone had any experience with these two preamps and if one might be better than the other?

i'm looking for a big warm fat ampeg tone basically with a solid DI

thanks
 
The CL is more old skool sounding than the Pro, and has less EQ options. Depends what kind of sound you want really but I prefer the CL
 
Have you thought about the Tech21 VT-Bass deluxe, it will also have a solid DI.

I run an Eden WTDI into a Crown K1 power amp, into an Ampeg 210 cab as one of my rigs. My main rig is an Ampeg SVT-3pro into an ampeg 410 cab.

If you haven't already, I would pose this question on talkbass.com, great forum for bassists. I have gotten a lot of great info on there over the years.
 
blackba":vwfen40l said:
Have you thought about the Tech21 VT-Bass deluxe, it will also have a solid DI.

I run an Eden WTDI into a Crown K1 power amp, into an Ampeg 210 cab as one of my rigs. My main rig is an Ampeg SVT-3pro into an ampeg 410 cab.

If you haven't already, I would pose this question on talkbass.com, great forum for bassists. I have gotten a lot of great info on there over the years.
Click to expand...

thanks for the responses

yeah i've considered the sansamp stuff as well, will have a closer look in any case, have to see what funds permit as well
 
I used an SVP Pro for quite a few years for recording and really liked it. I would just go direct out into the board. What I like about it is using the mid boost on my active Fender bass I could easily drive it into serious dirt that sounded better than any pedal I could find and just by returning the mid boost to zero it would get nice and classic clean again. Plus you could vary how much grit you wanted on the fly by where you set your mid boost. Even though these days there are probably plug ins and sims that would do the job I would like to find one of those again for recording. Just need to be patient to find one at a decent price. They're nice but not $400 plus nice.
 
university81":14yncpp2 said:
I'm guessing there might be some bassists or guitarists who also play bass ;)

instead of buying a separate bass amp i'm looking into a bass preamp to pair with a QSC power amp i have

i've always loved the ampeg tone and the SVP Pro or SVP CL springs to mind, but over here in europe they're not that easy to find unfortunately

just wanted to ask here if anyone had any experience with these two preamps and if one might be better than the other?

i'm looking for a big warm fat ampeg tone basically with a solid DI

thanks
Click to expand...

My suggestion would be the Sansamp RBI. Love mine. I haven't heard either that you mention but I did have an SVT III (think that's what it was) and GK 400RB and I prefer the Sansamp into a power amp over both of them.
 
Bob Savage":2ll6wmek said:
university81":2ll6wmek said:
I'm guessing there might be some bassists or guitarists who also play bass ;)

instead of buying a separate bass amp i'm looking into a bass preamp to pair with a QSC power amp i have

i've always loved the ampeg tone and the SVP Pro or SVP CL springs to mind, but over here in europe they're not that easy to find unfortunately

just wanted to ask here if anyone had any experience with these two preamps and if one might be better than the other?

i'm looking for a big warm fat ampeg tone basically with a solid DI

thanks
Click to expand...

My suggestion would be the Sansamp RBI. Love mine. I haven't heard either that you mention but I did have an SVT III (think that's what it was) and GK 400RB and I prefer the Sansamp into a power amp over both of them.
Click to expand...
That is what I own (my bass player uses it) along with a QSC power amp. It is a great sounding rig.
 
Bob Savage":24mlm1yq said:
My suggestion would be the Sansamp RBI. Love mine. I haven't heard either that you mention but I did have an SVT III (think that's what it was) and GK 400RB and I prefer the Sansamp into a power amp over both of them.
Click to expand...


:yes: :thumbsup:
 
I've never really been impressed with the Ampeg sound. They're alright, but for the price they cost, I'd expect a lot more.

I'd suggest going with a SansAmp RBI, RPM or PSA1.1 - You'll get A LOT more tonal options, and if you get the PSA, you'll even have some cool guitar tones. I use an RBI in my studio and it's never been easier to get an awesome bass tone. Bass literally mixes itself now, and live through my GK 1001RB-II, it kills.
 
moltenmetalburn":3b2di46y said:
I would suggest the RBI BUt now this exists and it think it does more.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... 4AodfQsASg
Click to expand...
Not necessarily more... Different tones, really.

The VT is bigger and rounder, more similar to the Ampeg sound, I suppose. The RBI has more attack and is more aggressive. Really comes down to what you're playing or what... The VT is probably a better solution for the Ampeg tone, though, I just didn't dig it as much as the RBI.
 
I might be biased towards Ampeg a little here, but it's what I know and love. As far as the 2 preamps in the OP, the Pro can do CL, but the CL can't do all the Pro does. Sure, if you just want the old school fat Ampeg sound, go CL. But I use the Pro (SVT 3 Pro), and it's great.

Can't knock the SansAmp stuff, but I never loved it like I do my Ampeg tones.
 
thanks for all the responses

i actually have a sansamp paradriver (kinda like an RPM in pedal format) that i bought a while back as a DI unit, after reading up a bit more the sansamp RPM/RBI and VT bass got mentioned quite a bit as some people here have said

i got loaned a reussenzehn bass tube preamp a friend was selling to try out (for 200 euro no less), and the eureka moment came when i plugged the sansamp into the front end of the preamp , the sansamp straight into the QSC power amp sounded good but with the preamp it brought more punch and a tubey round goodness to the notes which was extremely addicting

i'll be a/bing the two again today see the sorts of differences but it's likely i'll be picking up the tube preamp

given the price for the ampeg preamps over here, the sansamp as a good DI/preamp seems like the best choice

didn't know they released new versions of the VT bass (incl. rack version) looks very slick indeed

decisions decisions =0
 
Verellen in Seattle makes a great pre-amp: it's the section from their "Meatsmoke" bass amp. The really nice thing is that it has two channels that sound great: very _bass_(but sounds awesome on guitar as well), pure and simple in one, and a 2nd - an overdrive channel which is awesome.
 
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