👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
  • Security notice: Ernie Ball staff will never send you a direct message about a prize or giveaway, and will never ask you to click a link to "claim" anything.
    If you receive a message like that - even from an account whose name looks official - do not click the link. Please report it using the Report link on the message so the moderators can act. A scam campaign impersonating admin accounts was blocked on 29 July 2026; those accounts are banned and their messages have been deleted.
Axis 30th Anniversary

O/T I want a big ass Ampeg SVT

Psycho Ward

Psycho Ward

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2005
Messages
5,053
Location
Elk Creek, VA and Murrells Inlet, SC
Every time I see a bass player on Leno they almost always have the classic 300 watt, all tube SVT with usually an eight ten cab. I have a SR5 and 4, Sterling and a Bongo on the way, shouldn't I also have the big Ampeg stack?


OK, so I don't have a bass gig at the moment, but wouldn't a big Ampeg SVT rig make me cool? Sure my Ashdown ABM 500 stack is more powerful, but Ampeg SVT is cooler.... right? Or am I just another fool with more money than brains?


I've got a deal in the works for the head, around 1300.00 new, what you do???
 
Psycho Ward said:
Every time I see a bass player on Leno they almost always have the classic 300 watt, all tube SVT with usually an eight ten cab. I have a SR5 and 4, Sterling and a Bongo on the way, shouldn't I also have the big Ampeg stack?


OK, so I don't have a bass gig at the moment, but wouldn't a big Ampeg SVT rig make me cool? Sure my Ashdown ABM 500 stack is more powerful, but Ampeg SVT is cooler.... right? Or am I just another fool with more money than brains?


I've got a deal in the works for the head, around 1300.00 new, what you do???
Click to expand...

There is good reason why you see so many SVT's: They do rule the roost when it comes to bass amplification and tone. You just can't beat the SVT tone. Nothing rattles the bowels better.
Granted they may be huge , cumbersome beasts. But they are worth their wieght in gold.

and I think having one makes me cool (er)! ;)

I bet you could do better than 1300.00 if you walked into yer local GC and plopped down about a G for one out the door. GO FOR IT MAN!!!
 
Make you cool? Umm, only if strained backs and the occasional $400 bill for tube changes and leaky capacitors are en vogue...

Seriously, I played an Ampeg head for a while. The monster (which I bought ancoent and used) had an awesome tone, but crapped out after 6 months with a $500 repair bill -- including tube changes etc.

I saved the dough instead and went back to a nice, solid state GK 800RB head.

Still have the Ampeg cab, though, and might piggy back an Ampeg SVT pre-amp in the near future.

Ampeg? Tone, yes! Broken backs, no!
 
Well... I came from the keyboard world, you know 450lb B3's, so a bass amp ain't going to scare me. Plus I'm only looking at new ones with the 5 year warranty, and in 5 years I'll probably be dead anyway, so I may go for it anyway. :D :D :D
 
Psycho Ward said:
Every time I see a bass player on Leno they almost always have the classic 300 watt, all tube SVT with usually an eight ten cab. I have a SR5 and 4, Sterling and a Bongo on the way, shouldn't I also have the big Ampeg stack?


OK, so I don't have a bass gig at the moment, but wouldn't a big Ampeg SVT rig make me cool? Sure my Ashdown ABM 500 stack is more powerful, but Ampeg SVT is cooler.... right? Or am I just another fool with more money than brains?


I've got a deal in the works for the head, around 1300.00 new, what you do???
Click to expand...

I always assumed that the bass amps on Leno & SNL, etc. were the stage rigs for the show.
 
Coolness factor a given and aside, Ampeg tone is the absolute bomb!

My Stingray and Yamaha BB414 basses, as well as the Bongo, sound incredible through my B2R and SVT-15EN bottom.

I can only drool at the thought of pure SVT tone with the Stingray pumping through there! :eek:

My advise, Chuck...go with it! Be sure to check out the lighter and every bit as potent PRO Series before making the final decision.
 
Last edited:
Psycho yer not psycho... and just a little NAMM tip.... saw some pics/specs that I maybe shouldn't have seen today but all I am going to say is hold off until NAMM before you order up an SVT CL or SVT AV...... there's gonna be a 3rd to pick from :D

and yes... I think these last couple of years I've used every imaginable config and brand under the sun but when I saw the John Mayer Trio last week on Conan and Pino, Mr.Ashdown amps and Epifani cabs, playing through an SVT CL and a fridge that's when I just kinda went...yep, Ampeg=bass . There are still a ton of great amps and brands out there but ya know what, '06 might have me finally settling on a brand for a while :rolleyes:

....and I think they've got a fun little speaker comin' out too......
 
Psycho Ward said:
Every time I see a bass player on Leno they almost always have the classic 300 watt, all tube SVT with usually an eight ten cab. I have a SR5 and 4, Sterling and a Bongo on the way, shouldn't I also have the big Ampeg stack?


OK, so I don't have a bass gig at the moment, but wouldn't a big Ampeg SVT rig make me cool? Sure my Ashdown ABM 500 stack is more powerful, but Ampeg SVT is cooler.... right? Or am I just another fool with more money than brains?


I've got a deal in the works for the head, around 1300.00 new, what you do???
Click to expand...


I have VAST experience with Ampeg. Just go to my profile and see for yourself. A classic all tube SVT at 1300.00 is a great buy!! If that is what you want....go for it. Let me give you some of my experience with the CL. It distorts at a realitivly medium volume....say 200-250 watts or so...this is what most svt fans love however, it's that "tone" that only an SVT all tube can give. Fair enough. I like CLEAN HUGE bottom end, and you WILL NOT FIND IT with a CL head. Not enough balls. I now use a SVT 1000 s/s head. 1350 CLEAN watts. Nirvana. Mosfet output section, very warm sounding. I have owned 5!! Svt models this year. Please pm me for any other questions.
 
Ampeg

Hey,

You guys can't go wrong with Ampeg, even the solid-state stuff. In addition to my 4X10, my little 100 Watt BA-115 practice amp kicks!!!:p

In fact, sometimes I use it on my church gig, as I can DI it through the PA if I want.;)
 
shamus63 said:
Coolness factor a given and aside, Ampeg tone is the absolute bomb!

My Stingray and Yamaha BB414 basses, as well as the Bongo, sound incredible through my B2R and SVT-15EN bottom.

I can only drool at the thought of pure SVT tone with the Stingray pumping through there! :eek:

My advise, Chuck...go with it! Be sure to check out the lighter and every bit as potent PRO Series before making the final decision.
Click to expand...
IMO the B2R 's tone doesn't have much in common(besides the Ampeg name) with an SVT Classic. I'm a fan of Solid State amps so I actually prefer the tone of the B2R(I played one for 4 years) over the SVT Classic. Volumewise though the SVT wins out over just about anything out there. However, I did a side by side comparison with my GK 1001RBII and an SVT Classic out of an Ampeg 8x10 and the GK had no problems keeping up with the SVT.I just prefer the solid low end,quickness and clarity that solid state amps provide. IMO tube amps while having a very nice warm/buttery tone just don't have the punchiness and ooomphh in the power section that I prefer. But to each his own, play what you like and what works best for YOU. That's all.......
 
If you are going for power and tone - Mesa Big Block... expensive but Bongos sound soooooo nice through them (esp with their 15/4x10 cab).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Classic Rock N Roll Slinky
Back
Top