Ampeg SVT-150H User Manual

Owner ’s Guide

for the

SVT-150H

Bass Amplifier

Made in the U.S.A.

by

SVT-150H

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Important Safeguards and Precautions . . . . . . . . . .2

The Front Panel Controls and Their Use . . . . . . .3,4

The Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,5

Some Suggested Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

System Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . .back cover

An Introduction to your new Ampeg
SVT -150H Bass Amplifier

First of all, thank you for making what could be one of
the best choices you could ever make concerning your
musical career - choosing one of the finest bass amplifiers
available, an Ampeg SVT-150H.

Your new bass amplifier offers you many outstanding
features, such as 150 watts of pure bass energy, total tone
control and rugged construction which make it a true per­former’s bass amp.

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 preceeding 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

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK,

DO NOT REMOVE COVER.

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

ATTENTION

RISQUE D'ELECTROCUTION

NE PAS OUVRIR

ATTENTION: 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.

VORSICHT

ELEKTRISCHE SCHLAGGEFAHR

NICHT OFFENEN

VORSICHT: ZUR MINIMIERUNG ELEKTRISCHER SCHLAGGEFAHR NICHT

DEN DECKEL ABENHMEN. INTERNE TEILE KONNEN NICHT VOM

BENUTZER GEWARTET WERDEN. DIE WARTUNG IS QUALIFIZIERTEM

WARTUNGSPERSONAL ZU UBERLASSEN.

THIS EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE OPERATION. IN ORDER TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF THE UNIT AND PREVENT ACCIDEN­TALDAMAGES OR INJURY, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONARY GUIDELINES:

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT OPEN CHASSIS; DO NOT DEFEAT OR REMOVE THE GROUND PIN OF THE POWER CORD; CONNECT ONLY TO A PROP­ERLY GROUNDED AC POWER OUTLET.

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION: NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
CAUTION: 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 UNITIS OPERATED AT HIGH VOLUME. The chart below shows the U.S.
Government Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations which were in effect at the time of this publication for permissible noise exposure, per 29CRF1910, Table G-16.

According to OSHA, any exposure in excess of those listed above could result in some hearing loss.

"IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE USER TO REFER TO THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL"
"REFERREZ-VOUS AU MANUAL D'UTILISATION"
"UNBEDINGT IN DER BEDIENUNGSANLEITUNG NACHSCHLAGEN"

EXPLANATION OF
GRAPHICAL SYMBOLS:

"DANGEROUS VOLTAGE"
"DANGER HAUTE TENSION"
"GEFAHLICHE SPANNUNG"

=

=

Features

In the world of high performance bass amps, Ampeg amplifiers
stand alone. In true Ampeg tradition, your new SVT-150H offers you
more power, performance and flexibility than any other bass ampli­fier in its class. Here are just some of the outstanding features of
your new amplifier - features which set it apart from the competi­tion!

• 9-BAND GRAPHIC EQ: Use as a “second channel” for bass solos, or to

shape your sound to your own exacting standards.

• BALANCED LINE OUTPUT: XLR with independent level control switch

to patch into house consoles, mixing boards, or external power amplifiers.

• EFFECTS LOOP: For increased intensity and quieter operation of exter-

nal effects.

• DRIVE CONTROL: To add harmonic content for tube-like overdrive.

SOUND LEVEL dBA DURATION PER DAY

SLOW RESPONSE IN HOURS

90 8
92 6
95 4
97 3

100 2

SOUND LEVEL dBA DURATION PER DAY

SLOW RESPONSE IN HOURS

102 1-1/2
105 1
110 1/2
115 1/4 or less

SVT-150H

3

The Front Panel Controls and Their Use

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1. ENTRADA: Conecte aquí su guitarra de bajos

usando un cable blindado para instrumentos.

2. TERMINAL DE -15 dB: Si su bajo tiene capta­dores de alta salida ó circuitos electrónicos activos,
usted tal vez notará que el díodo (LED) de Picos
(#3) parpadea ó permanece iluminado aún en posi­ciones bajas del control de Ganancia (#4). Conecte
esta Terminal para conservar limpia la señal. Esto
atenuará la señal de entrada hacia el preamplifi­cador, lo que le permitirá obtener la mejor relación
de señal-a-ruido para su bajo.

3. DIODO (LED) DE PICOS: Este LED se ilumi­nará cuando cualquier etapa de preamplificación se
encuentre cerca del punto de sobreimpulso. Ajuste
el control de Ganancia (#4) hasta que una señal
fuerte de su bajo cause un parpadeo de este LED.

NOTA: Si el LED permanece iluminado aún con la
Ganancia en una posición baja, utilice la Terminal
de -15 dB (#2) para atenuar la señal de entrada y
reajuste la Ganancia.

4. GANANCIA: Esto sirve como el control de
nivel de entrada para el amplificador. Para lograr la
mejor relación de señal-a-ruido fije este control para
que el LED de Picos (#3) parpadee cuando usted
pulse con fuerza alguna cuerda.

5. IMPULSO: Este control se usa para sobreim­pulsar el preamplificador a fin de conseguir varios
realces armónicos ó sonidos de distorsión. En la
posición totalmente contraria a las manecillas del
reloj, el preamplificador se encontrará en la posición
más “limpia”. Conforme el control se gire a favor de
las mane-cillas del reloj, el nivel de la señal se

incrementará para impulsar el preamplificador con
mayor fuerza (hacia la distorsión). El tono de la
señal también cambia para proveer un sobreimpul­so más suave. Tal vez tengan que ajustarse los
controles de tono para obtener el tono general
deseado. El control de Ganancia (#4) y la Terminal
de -15 dB (#2) interaccionan con el control de
Impulso. Para un sobreimpulso mayor, el interruptor
de la Terminal debe estar apagado y el control de
Impulso totalmente a favor de las manecillas del
reloj. Use el control de Ganancia para fijar la canti­dad deseada de sobreimpulso. El díodo LED de
Picos (#3) se iluminará en forma constante cuando
el amplificadora se utilice de esta manera.

6. BAJOS: Esta perilla sirve como el control pri­mordial para las frecuencias bajas. Esto permite un
rango de 8dB de recorte ó de refuerzo a 50Hz.

1. INPUT: Connect your bass guitar here
using a shielded instrument cable.

2. -15dB PAD: If your bass has high-output
pickups or active electronics you may notice
the Peak LED (#3) flashes or stays on even at
low settings of the Gain control (#4). To keep
the signal clean, switch in the Pad. This will
attenuate the input signal to the preamp allow­ing you to get the best signal to noise ratio for
your bass.

3. PEAK LED: This LED lights whenever any
preamp stage is near the point of being over­driven. Adjust the Gain control (#4) until a
strong signal from your bass causes this LED
to flicker.

NOTE: If the LED stays on with the Gain at a
low setting, use the 15dB Pad (#2) to attenu­ate the input signal and readjust the Gain.

4. GAIN: This serves as the input level control
for the amplifier. For the best signal-to-noise
ratio set this control so the Peak LED (#3)
flashes when you strike a string fairly hard.

5. DRIVE: This control is used to overdrive the
preamp in order to get various harmonic
enhancement or distortion sounds. In the fully
counterclockwise position the preamp is in the
cleanest condition. As the control is rotated

clockwise, signal level is increased to drive the
preamp harder (into distortion). The tone of
the signal is also changed to provide a
smoother overdrive. The tone controls may
have to be readjusted to obtain the overall
desired tone. The Gain control (#4) and -15dB
Pad (#2) interact with the Drive control. For
greater overdrive, the Pad switch should be
out and the Drive control fully clockwise. Use
the Gain control to set the amount of overdrive
desired. The Peak LED (#3) will glow steadily
when the amp is used in this manner.

6. BASS: This knob serves as the primary low
frequency control. This allows for a range of
8dB of cut or boost at 50Hz.

7. ULTRA-MID: This is the primary midrange
control. Rotate the control to the left of center
for a “contoured” sound (more distant, less
midrange output) or to the right of center for a
sound that really cuts through.

8. TREBLE: This knob serves as the primary
high frequency control. This allows for a range
of 17dB boost or 22dB cut at 5kHz.

9. EQ ON LED: This LED indicator lights
when you engage the EQ by the front panel
Master control (#11) or the footswitch (#23,
rear panel).

10. GRAPHIC EQ: These slide controls allow
you to adjust the output of the frequencies
shown beside each control. The center posi­tion of each control is flat (no boost or cut).
These controls only affect the sound when the
EQ is turned on.

11. MASTER: Set the overall output level of
the amplifier with this control. The Effects
Loop and Balanced Out (#18, 19, 22) are not
affected by the Master control. Pulling the
Master control turns on the Graphic EQ (#10).
When the footswitch is used, the front panel
switch is bypassed.

12. LIMIT LED: This LED indicator will flash
on any time the internal limit circuit is called
upon to keep amplifier’s output signal clean.
This indicates that the amplifier is nearing full
output and the limiter is keeping it from clip­ping the output signal.

13. POWER ON LED: This LED indicator
lights when the POWER switch (#14) is
turned on.

14. POWER SWITCH: This heavy-duty rock­er switch applies AC power to the amplifier:
the amp is ON in the up position, OFF in the
down position.