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Hi Buzz,
As I suggested when we rode a couple of weeks ago I think that an angle headset may help. Slackening the head angle will increase the front center (and thus wheelbase), slow the steering and lower the BB slightly.
[url] http://www.workscomponents.co.uk/works-components---10-degree-ec34---traditional-1-18-fitment-6-p.asp [/url]
I think that your idea of running the chainstays at the longest setting is good.
Personally I would consider wider bars to slow the steering rather than a longer stem. A short stem with wide bars will slow the steering without moving your weight forward; this is good for steep trails.
If you’re finding the brakes too strong [i]cruzheckler[/i]’s suggestion of smaller rotors is sound.
Hope to ride with you again soon.
Edd
There's soft and there's soft. My point was that I think these kind of bikes perform at their best with wide enough rims and big enough tyres (and stiff enough carcasses) to run lower pressures. Obviously the quicker and harder you ride, the bigger/tougher you need to go. The last thing you want is the tyre squidging/rolling/squirrelling amount but a reasonable about of give will stick you to the ground harder - and running higher pressures is equivalent to running less damping so things get more boingy when you go too hard.
I can't imagine enjoying riding any MTB fast downhill with the saddle up, especially any hardtails, and especially any long fork hardtails where you need the leg movement to keep the rear tyre as happy as the front.
I began riding on a sov and had it set up a few different ways. If you are not that confident hammering downhill then slackening it off may help but that will perhaps take away from how it was conceived. Its no downhill, FS bike after all. I ended with Lyriks set at 140, more travel seemed to raise the bb too high. This seemed to cope in the Peaks but was also OK for woodsy singletrack places like Wyre and Cannock. The frame is so burly that 36's seemed a better choice than 32's to me. That said its a versatile frame and a lighter build with less travel might be fun. One of the nice things about the sov you can change it quite a bit to suit your style, requirements. If you want slammed rear end and short travel you can have it or you can go for an easier ride at first. I would personally just get out and ride it