Ampeg SVP-BSP
 

This thing is a swiss army knife. Unlike most versatile pieces of gear, though, its quality is amazing. The clean channel features Bass, Mid, Treble, Gain, and Volume knobs, as well as Ultra Bass, Ultra Treble, and Compression buttons. It has a very Victor Wooten sound to it, an amazing clean tone. The distorted channel has Gain, Bass, Mid w/ Frequency, Treble, and Volume controls, as well as Boost and Gate buttons. Think kind of like Flea in All Around The World when it's really cranked. On calmer levels, it's similar to Geddy's tone on Red Barchetta. Other Features are a mute switch, an input pad, master volume, and channel switching/combining. My only complaint is that the compressor and noise gate need to be adjustable. The noise gate is good, but it destroys sustain and harmonics...and both are a big part of my playing. The compressor doesn't sound that good, either.

Tone: 10/10 - I've never sounded this good.
Features: 9/10 - The noise gate and compressor need to be adjustable.
Quality: 10/10 - Everything looks/feels sturdy.

Overall - 9.5/10 - Just shy of perfect.

This seems genious. The noise gate takes away some sustain and harmonics, which is why the preamp also has a built-in compressor (like Rolands and countless other amps :)).

Ah.

Nice reviews :thumb:

The noise gate is only for the distorted channel though, and the compressor is only for the clean channel, so it doesn't work that way. I'm going to have to buy a seperate gate and compressor, like Sheehan does.

kool man

Whats the price?

Very nice review....Makes me wana go out and get one :lol: !

Well, normally it's $500 plus tax, but I got it for a total of $448.

I imagine I'll have some sort of audio/video of it up sometime soon.

What are you using to power it?

Also, is there a mid frequency control? You know like the "frequency" and "Level" mid controls you see on lots of amps? I have to have those. Sounds like a great pre, especially for the price.

I'm not a huge fan of Sheehan's tone, but this preamp sounds hot.

[QUOTE=Jaded]What are you using to power it?

Also, is there a mid frequency control? You know like the "frequency" and "Level" mid controls you see on lots of amps? I have to have those. Sounds like a great pre, especially for the price.[/QUOTE]

My BA-210SP, with all the controls set flat.

There is on the distorted channel, but the clean channel is fixed. And yes, it's amazing.

What doesn't sound good about the compressor to you?

It takes all of the life out of the signal, it seems. It's like when I turn it on everything sounds flat and boring. I've used other compressors before, I just don't like this one.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but its just on a pull-out with the volume knob and has a fixed ratio and threshold control...???

My dillema is that I want to simplify my rack setup again and my BBE Bmax is doing everything I want, except in order to get the grit that I like I have to use a Sansamp BDDI in front of it. I'm looking for something that will offer a compromise between the grit/warmth of the BDDI and the clean/responsiveness of the Bmax AND have a compressor built-in.

So far my search has lead me to this preamp

[QUOTE=edgebass5]Correct me if I'm wrong, but its just on a pull-out with the volume knob and has a fixed ratio and threshold control...???

My dillema is that I want to simplify my rack setup again and my BBE Bmax is doing everything I want, except in order to get the grit that I like I have to use a Sansamp BDDI in front of it. I'm looking for something that will offer a compromise between the grit/warmth of the BDDI and the clean/responsiveness of the Bmax AND have a compressor built-in.

So far my search has lead me to this preamp[/QUOTE]

You are right about the compressor. This thing seems just like what you want, but I guess you'd have to try it yourself to see if you like the compressor. It's almost the same thing as the SVT-5 Pro, except the clean channel sounds a lot warmer on the SVP and the SVP doesn't have an octaver.

I found a store in town that carries it AND has one in stock no less. I'll go and give it a try tonight. My concern is still about the compressor, I use tons of compression in my tone, hopefully this will offer up the goods....

Lucky you! If you had to order one, you would have to wait until early August. They make them in limited runs. That's why I'm glad I got ahold of this demo model.

I'll be going to check it out in about two hours. After countless posts of putting down Ampeg, I'm gonna look pretty foolish if I end up getting it huh? :lol:

what about that sansamp RBI edge?

im gnna work this summer, save up. buy a RBI, qsc power amp (hopefully used PLX______) and avatar cabs(atleast the b212neo)

No compressor on the RBI :upset:

o well!


my rig will look like this one day, hopefully by christmad

geddy sig
wireless
RBI
QSC PLX power amp
avatar 212
avatar 410


thats basically all i need, heck. i could get away with just the 212. but that huge stack would make any guitarist cry.

right now im renting out a yorkville xs400t. im real pleased with it. AND im starting a job saturday, im working at a butcher shop/