OT: Ampeg Heads

[kaaikop]

Well I was happily minding my own business, happy with my SVT-3PRO...
Until one day I realized this thing is not as powerful as I expected (I like a lot of
"fat" bottom end). And the other day, I went to the store and fell in love with
the SVT-4PRO. The sales guy was an Ampeg (and EBMM) fan, and took the time
to explain to me the differences (he also personally went from SVT3 to 4).
Not only it is a lot more powerful, but what I didn't know is that you can bi-amp,
sort of crossover, and send the Lows to (in my case) the 15", and the highs to
the 2x10, which makes a lot of sense to me...
What are your experiences? should I pull the trigger?
I would not loose much, can sell the 3 for a good price, and the 4 is a few
hundred bucks more, not too bad I think for a big change... in sound, and headroom

 

[Cory T]

This may not be the answer your looking for, but after using the 4 for awhile, after quite a bit of talking one of my buddies talked me into getting an SVT Classic and I have Never looked back. Once you get that thing going it has the most amazing warmth and growl. I also play a stingray 5 use with a 4x10 and a 15. Either way if you havnt triend one out before at least give it a chance. I also have a Mesa 400+ and prefer the simplicity of the SVT.So like i said. Sorry if this didnt help much, but at least give it a try.

-Cory

 

[Psycho Ward]

I love the MarkBass stuff, but I also have a SVT-CL and that thing will always have a home here at Camp Psycho.

I also today for the first time in a while fired up the old B-18-N and played the single H Bongo 5 thru her... my God what a sound!!! I'm not sure that thing needs more than 80 watts, it shook the house just barely up to 3!

 

[Aussie Mark]

I've never heard a biamped rig that sounds any better than a single cab or two cabs in parallel.

 

[tkarter]

Dave LaRue is playing an Ampeg SVT 4 -Pro . At his gigs.

What you do does depend on what you like and where you are going.

Once you find your sound you know and from then on it works.

imho

tk

 

[syciprider]

I have an SVT 4 Pro. I always have the gain dimed to get the growl of the tube pre. I also have a Sansamp GT2 in front to send it to grainy overdrive.

Make sure you have the speakon cable wired correctly so you get the full bridged output of over 1 kilowatt.

FWIW: My SVT CL and SVT 4 Pro sound very similar outside of the fact that the CL breaks up at high levels.

 

[barkatozz]

I've been using an SVT1000, which is all solid state, for a few months now & love it. It' physically looks like an SVT CL. Since I've been using it I get people all the time asking about it & are blown away when I tell'em there are NO tubes in it. If you check my MySpace page, there is a video of me playing a Bongo thru it. I use an Ampeg 610 cab.

 

[kaaikop]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the different opinions.
For the sound, it's pretty simple, I love Ampeg... so for me, going from one
Ampeg to another is a safe bet. I just need more headroom.
The Classic would have been my "dream" amp., however it's like 90 lbs. or
something, and that's just too heavy... that's why I use "only" a 115 & 210,
these are pieces I can manage by myself, up & down the stairs all the time,
without breaking my old back, LOL

 

[Moondog]

Another option . . .

Rack mount a SVP-CL preamp + a power amp?

Mine sounds fantastic, very similar (perhaps better)
than my last SVT-CL, more versatile & much lighter!

Over on that 'other' forum, many have said it
better imitates the 70's SVT's (than the SVT-CL)
but I don't know . . never played thru an old one.
Regardless, SVP-CL is a great sounding, well
made pre for under 500 bucks.

 

[Darth Tater]

Not a big fan of current Ampeg stuff after reading that they closed their USA plant and moved production to Vietnam.

 

[kdsi44]

ive been through tons of ampeg amps....had the svt-4 pro and didnt like it....had a 70's svt that i loved but was stolen....then got a newer svt-cl....sounded ok, but not like the original....then i tried an original svt-2 rackmount...it sounds as good or better than my 70's svt.....it thunders.....i got it on evil bay for 650 shipped with nos tubes and skb case.....i have that now and an orange ad200b....and the ampeg kills....seriously.....you should def go for an the svt pre/power amp optin if weight is an issue....

 

[Urwordsbreakmed]

Do it you have so many more options with an svt 4 pro cant go wrong like you said its only a few bucks more... So worst that could happen is you get the same thing you have now but with more power

 

[barkatozz]

My reason for choosing the SVT 1000 was......weight....it's about 50 lbs......much lighter than a CL, sound......while it doesn't have tubes it has their new circuitry which at the push of a button you can get a "tube like" sound....& being I can go from playing classic rock to modern between bands, I can just change some settings & get either sound. Not extremely close sounding to a CL BUT unless you are a solo artist, no one is going to pick your sound apart. I recently played at a benefit...& a bass player who is more a veteran than me commented on my Ampeg "tube head" saying after hearing me playing "The Real Me" that my lows were nice & growly & the high notes were clean & crisp just like Entwistle.......he almost hit the floor when I told him it was all solid state.......what matters most is what you sound like cutting thru the mix.....you CAN'T play thru an amp by yourself & judge your sound.....I personally think my sound is like ass crack w/ me playing by myself BUT when I listen back to it in the band situation it's perfect. When I had that "perfect sound" by myself, my "full band" sound sucked. Just my experiences thru experimentation.

 

[syciprider]

Not a big fan of current Ampeg stuff after reading that they closed their USA plant and moved production to Vietnam.

I don't think that has happened yet.

BTW, does your Made in China computer dampen your enthusiasm for the internet as well?

 

[barkatozz]

I don't think that has happened yet.

BTW, does your Made in China computer dampen your enthusiasm for the internet as well?

WHAT???? MY PC ISN'T US MADE??????

 

[tombboy]

I've got an SVT II Pro playing through an Ampeg 810 cab. Not sure if its because the whole think is flightcased or not but I get the most unbelieveable tone and power through the rig. I do lose a little when I play through the -15db input (ie, with my 'Rays - active) but the venues we play, the difference is easily made up FOH. More importantly my trousers still flap!! Only other downside is the weight. The head alone weighs close on 80lbs fully cased and together with a 200lb+ cab and case... that's the reason I also have a BA115AV for rehearsals!!
I think the answer is to try them all and go for what you feel and like, not the salesman. He'll be on commission and will try to sell you a tea chest if the profit margin was good enough.

 

[kaaikop]

Thanks for all the great suggestions

BTW, I just checked with Ampeg, everything but the B-series cabs and BA combos, is still made in USA. That's very important to me.
I mean... would you buy a Harley Davidson if it was 5K cheaper, but made in China??? not me!
I have nothing against the land of the rising sun, but for God's sakes, let's try
to keep our jobs here!

 

[strummer]

Thanks for all the great suggestions

BTW, I just checked with Ampeg, everything but the B-series cabs and BA combos, is still made in USA. That's very important to me.
I mean... would you buy a Harley Davidson if it was 5K cheaper, but made in China??? not me!
I have nothing against the land of the rising sun, but for God's sakes, let's try
to keep our jobs here!

Uh, the land of the rising sun isn't really china, you know