Owners Guide for the Owners Guide for the Bass Amplifier ® Ampeg ® is Proudly Made in America SVT-4 PRO Bass Amplifier TABLE OF CONTENTS Important Safeguards and Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 The Front Panel Controls and Their Use (English) . . . . .4,5 The Front Panel Controls and Their Use (Spanish) . . . . .6,7 The Rear Panel (English) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8,9 The Rear Panel (Spanish) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,11 Connections: Mono Bridged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Dual Mono . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Stereo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Biamp, Full Range and Lows . . . . . . . . . .13 Biamp, Highs and Lows . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Biamp With Secondary Amplifier . . . . . . . .13 Some Suggested Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Rack Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 System Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .back cover Important Safeguards and Precautions: All Ampeg products are designed for continuous safe operation, as long as common sense is used and steps are taken to help avoid certain problems. Abiding by the following rules can help prevent damage to your amplifier, yourself and others. · The amplifier is equipped with a three-pronged AC power cord. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, NEVER remove or otherwise attempt to defeat the ground pin of the power cord. · Connect the amplifier ONLY to a properly grounded AC outlet of the proper voltage for your amp. · Avoid sudden temperature extremes, rain and moisture. Also, avoid sudden and intense impact. (If the unit has been subjected to any of the preceding abuses, have it looked at by an authorized service center.) · NEVER set the amplifier on a support that might give out under its weight. · Always keep the total speaker impedance at or above the rated load. · Unplug the amplifier before cleaning it. NEVER spray liquid cleaners onto the amplifier. Wipe it with a slightly dampened, lint-free cloth to remove dirt and film. · Don't use the amplifier if it has sustained damage to the chassis, controls, or power cord. Refer the unit to an authorized service center for inspection. · Amplifiers capable of producing high volume levels are also capable of inflicting permanent hearing loss or damage, if the exposure to such levels is prolonged. Such damage is progressive and irreversible! CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL. PRECAUCION RIESGO DE CORRIENTAZO NO ABRA PRECAUCION: PARA REDUCIR EL RIESGO DE INCENDIOS O DESCARGAS ELECTRICAS, NO PERMITA QUE ESTE APARATO QUEDE EXPUESTO A LA LLUVIA O LA HUMEDAD. PARA DISMINUOIR EL RIESGO DE CORRIENTAZO. NO ABRA LA CUBIERTA. NO HAY PIEZAS ADENTRO QUE EL USARIO PUEDO REPARAR DEJE TODO MANTENIMIENTO A LOS TECHNICOS CALIFICADOS. ATTENTION RISQUE D'ELECTROCUTION NE PAS OUVRIR ATTENTION: PROTÉGEZ CET APPAREIL DE LA PLUIE ET DE L'HUMIDITÉ AFIN D'ÉVITER TOUT RISQUE D'INCENDIE OU D'ÉLECTROCUTION. POUR REDUIRE D'ELECTROCUTION NE PAS ENLEVER LE COUVERCLE. AUCUNE PIECE INTERNE N'EST REPRABLE PAR L'UTILISATEUR. POUR TOUTE REPARATION, S'ADRESSER A UN TECHNICIEN QUALIFIE. IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS · READ, FOLLOW, HEED, AND KEEP ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS. · DO NOT OPERATE NEAR ANY HEAT SOURCE AND DO NOT BLOCK ANY VENTILATION OPENINGS ON THIS APPARATUS. FOR PROPER OPERATION, THIS UNIT REQUIRES 3" (75CM) OF WELL VENTILATED SPACE AROUND HEATSINKS AND OTHER AIR FLOW PROVISIONS IN THE CABINET. · DO NOT USE THIS APPARATUS NEAR SPLASHING, FALLING, SPRAYING, OR STANDING LIQUIDS. · CLEAN ONLY WITH LINT-FREE DAMP CLOTH AND DO NOT USE CLEANING AGENTS. · ONLY CONNECT POWER CORD TO A POLARIZED, SAFETY GROUNDED OUTLET WIRED TO CURRENT ELECTRICAL CODES AND COMPATIBLE WITH VOLTAGE, POWER, AND FREQUENCY REQUIREMENTS STATED ON THE REAR PANEL OF THE APPARATUS. · · · · · · PROTECT THE POWER CORD FROM DAMAGE DUE TO BEING WALKED ON, PINCHED, OR STRAINED. UNPLUG THE APPARATUS DURING LIGHTNING STORMS OR WHEN UNUSED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. ONLY USE ATTACHMENTS, ACCESSORIES, STANDS, OR BRACKETS SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR SAFE OPERATION AND TO AVOID INJURY. WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK OR FIRE, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. SERVICE MUST BE PERFORMED BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. OUR AMPLIFIERS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HIGH SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS. CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS CAN CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING IMPAIRMENT OR LOSS. USER CAUTION IS ADVISED AND EAR PROTECTION IS RECOMMENDED IF UNIT IS OPERATED AT HIGH VOLUME. EXPLANATION OF GRAPHICAL SYMBOLS: "DANGEROUS VOLTAGE" "IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE USER TO REFER TO THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL" 2 EXPLICACION DE SIMBOLOS GRAFICOS: EXPLICATION DES SYMBÔLES GRAPHIQUES: = "VOLTAJE PELIGROSO" "DANGER HAUTE TENSION" = "ES NECESARIO QUE EL USUARIO SE REFIERA AL MANUAL DE INSTRUCCIONES." "REFERREZ-VOUS AU MANUAL D'UTILISATION" SVT-4 PRO Bass Amplifier An Introduction to your new Ampeg SVT-4 PRO Bass Amplifier The harmonically rich sound and legendary performance of the AMPEG SVT are redefined in the SVT-4 PRO. This versatile and powerful bass amplifier delivers up to 1600 watts of unsurpassed musical power, and offers the classic vibrancy of tubes with several outstanding features. All of the features and controls of your SVT-4 PRO are covered in detail within the pages of this owner's guide. We recommend that you go over them before you use the amplifier. Features In the world of high performance bass amps, Ampeg's SVT amplifiers stand alone. In true Ampeg tradition, the SVT-4 PRO offers you more power, performance and flexibility than any other bass amplifier in its class. Below are some of the outstanding features of your new amplifier - features which set it apart from the competition! · DUAL SEPARATE POWER AMPLIFIERS: Operate in true stereo or mono bridged mode for even greater output power (page 8,12) · BIAMP CAPABLE: Adjustable crossover frequency control and low-to-high frequency balance control allow you to fine tune the biamp abilities of the amplifier (page 5,13) · 5-POSITION MIDRANGE SELECTOR: Take your pick from the five center frequency points available to get just the right midrange voice (page 4) · COMPRESSION CONTROL: Allows you to control the dynamics of the tonal response characteristics from the power amp, from punchy to compressed (page 4) · 9-BAND GRAPHIC EQ: Use as a "second channel" for bass solos, or to shape your sound to your own exacting standards - an independent level control lets you adjust the Graphic EQ volume - switchable at front panel or with a footswitch (page 5). · TUNER OUT JACKS: Two jacks, one on the front panel, one on the rear panel allows connection to an electronic tuner and provides an "always live" monitor feed even when the output is muted (page 4,9) · SPEAKON® JACKS: For more reliable connections at higher outputs and for mono bridged connections (in addition to 1/4" speaker out jacks) (page 8) · TRANSFORMER BALANCED LINE OUTPUTS: Independent level control - two transformer balanced XLR and two balanced/unbalanced 1/4" output jacks - switchable stereo or mono (one "wet," one "dry" signal), pre- or post-EQ (page 8,9) · STEREO EFFECTS LOOP: Connect your effects here for increased intensity and quieter operation (page 9) - can be bypassed with front panel switch or footswitch. · POWER AMP IN/PREAMP OUT: Two separate loops, one for each channel: a separate preamp may be connected to the Power Amp In jack, and the Preamp Out jack may be connected to a slave amp (page 8) · FOOTSWITCH CONTROL: Use a footswitch to bypass the Effects Loop, and to activate the Graphic EQ and the Mute feature (page 8) · CIRCUIT BREAKER PROTECTION: A heavy duty resettable circuit breaker provides protection against fault conditions (page 8) Speakon® is a registered trademark of Neutrik AG. 3 SVT-4 PRO Bass Amplifier The Front Panel Controls and Their Use 23 1 1. INPUT: Connect your bass guitar here using a shielded instrument cable. 2. TUNER OUT: This jack is provided for connection to an electronic tuner and is always "live," even when the Mute switch (#3) is engaged. This allows for "silent tuning" as well as providing a monitor feed which stays hot even when the house mix is muted. In addition, this jack may also be used as a -6dB input (when not connected to a tuner). 3. MUTE: This switch, when depressed, mutes all outputs except the Tuner Outs. This is excellent for tuning your bass with an electric tuner without having to adjust any levels to turn down your house volume. A footswitch can also be used to control muting as long as the Mute switch on the front panel is left in the "out" position. (The front panel switch is still active with the footswitch connected. Please refer to #38, rear panel.) 4. -15dB: This switch, when depressed, will attenuate the input signal by 15dB. If your bass has active pickups, depress this switch to better accommodate its output signal level. 5. GAIN: This controls the gain of the preamp. Adjust this control until the Peak LED (#6) flashes on strong signal peaks (but is not illuminated constantly while playing). To obtain the best signal to noise ratio, set the Gain control to the highest possible setting and adjust the Master (#19) to obtain the desired volume level. 6. PEAK LED: This LED will illuminate when the preamp signal is nearing its clipping level, indicating optimum gain setting. 7. COMPRESSION: This controls the amount of signal compression. At the fully counter clockwise position there is no compression; at fully clockwise the compression ratio is 10:1. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 The sonic effect of compression is reduced dynamics, increase sustain and a more consistent output level regardless of how light or hard the strings are played. The compressor is very transparent ­ that is, there is very little effect on the tone of your instrument. 8. ULTRA HIGH: This switch, when depressed, increases the high frequency output by 6dB at 5kHz. 9. ULTRA LOW: This switch, when depressed, greatly enhances the amount of low-end bass tones which you can feel and hear, especially the low E and low B strings (5-string basses). 10. BASS: This control allows for 12dB of cut or boost at 50Hz. The low frequency output is flat at the center position. 11. MIDRANGE: This control allows for 15dB of cut or boost at the center frequency selected by the Frequency control (see #12). The midrange output is flat at the center position. 12. FREQUENCY: This control allows you to select the center frequency for the midrange control (#11), giving you a choice of five "voices" for the midrange. The numbers correspond to the following center frequencies as indicated: 1=220Hz, 2=450Hz, 3=800Hz, 4=1.6kHz, 5=3kHz. 13. TREBLE: This control allows for 19dB of cut or 14dB of boost at 5kHz. The high frequency output is flat at the center position. 14. BRIGHT: This switch, when depressed, adds a more lively top end response to the input signal. 4 SVT-4 PRO Bass Amplifier 24 25 26 27 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22. CROSSOVER BALANCE: This adjusts the relative level between the low and high frequency biamp signals when using the amplifier in the biamp mode. 23. 9-BAND GRAPHIC EQ: These sliders control the amplitude of the signal at the frequency indicated below each control. The center position of each control is flat: sliding the control upward will increase the output signal level of that frequency; sliding the control downward will decrease it. The Graphic EQ can be used in two ways: 1) To fine tune your sound, make small adjustments at the desired frequencies and leave the EQ on throughout the entire session. (This is great for adapting to varying room acoustics when going from club to club, etc.) 2) For a completely different sound, make larger adjustments and only activate the EQ when you want a "second channel" sound (such as during bass solos). 15. GRAPHIC EQ: This switch, when depressed, enables the 9-band Graphic EQ (see #23 and 24). The sound of your bass will only be affected by the settings of the EQ slider controls when this switch is depressed, or when a footswitch is pressed. (A footswitch will override the front panel switch. Please refer to #38, rear panel.) 16. LINE OUT LEVEL: This controls the ...