Ot: I Hate My Amp!

[phatduckk]

id say something's probably wrong.

Ive played a few svt4's and they're not my thing, but i wouldnt call em wussy. yup, overrated n all that - but its not like a 100 watt combo can do em in.

i say u should get it checked out before buying something else

 

[kdsi44]

ritchie rich...check this....here is my amp and cab journey....just thought it might help you a bit...

ampeg svt-4 pro w/ 410hlf cab-hated both of them...cab too boomy and head way underpowered, and just like you say....gutless

ampeg svt-cl w/ 410hlf....cab still too boomy

svt-cl with ampeg 410 and 115 cabs, better but to muddy

svt-cl with ampeg 810....still too muddy

mesa mpulse 600 with ampeg 810....nice setup...i still miss that amp sometimes

svt-cl with bergantino nv-425....incredible cab....absolutely incredible...head still just ok

never looked for another can since i found the berg...here are the heads i tried

ampeg svt-classic 2003
orange ad-200b
ashdown abm500 evo ii
markbass lmii
1974 vintage svt

so after saying all that....i still own the orange head, the 74 svt, and the little mark....for me, the orange and svt absolutley kill, but they weigh a ton...the markbass is an incredible head...cheap, lightweight, awesome sound.....

so i say ditch the ampeg crap and buy you some markbass, or a vintage svt....in short...

patrick

 

[Bob Loblaw]

I just recently bought my SVT 4 Pro and i love it. Great tone, and plenty of power. I have mine paired with a SWR Goliath 3 and Goliath 3 jr.

 

[tadawson]

For no reason other than that's what it says on the manual.

Perhaps. But going to the Neutrik site would just be confusing then - since that is NOT one of the wiring standards for speakon, but apparently something Ampeg-centric and nutty as a fruitcake . . . . but, it is what it is . . . .

- Tim

 

[jamesattard]

So I got this Ampeg SVT-4 Pro......

I'm running it through an SVT410HLF........

And it seems completely gutless......

I used to have an Ampeg B-2 head and it seemed to get way more volume and tone than this......

What am I doing wrong?

Ritchie

Hello Ritchie,

Although I don't afford Ampegs, I love their stuff. Very professional. I use low-end equipment like Behringer, but I confess that with my current setup, they sound much better than any Trace Elliot and GK I have heard around here in Malta. So in terms of tone and volume, I think it all depends on your whole setup.

Secondly, I have checked the specifications for SVT4-PRO and SVT410HLF. According to the specs, since the cab (SVT410HLF) has a 4ohm nominal impedance, the SVT4-PRO should be running at 490W or else if you decide to make it mono-bridged, it should be running at 1200W. With that said, you have to be careful since the SVT410HLF, according to specs, is rated at 500W (RMS) - so you would not want to run it as mono-bridged.

As a result, in theory, you should be delivering 490W of power from your setup. If you think you're having a weak sound, either the head is damaged, or else, you might also check if you have the -15dB switched depressed as it will attenuate your signal by 15dB. Again, I gathered this info from the specs.

Good luck mate.

 

[silverburst]

...Another thing that sucks is that the market is completely flooded with used 4 pros so you'll most likely take a huge hit if you try to sell it.

On trhe other hand, this is a good time to buy. Maybe you need to just motor through this, and buy a couple more. That wouldn't be wimpy. Of course you would have to buy a different car to move your amps around in.

 

[Big Poppa]

Ampeg seems to be a company in transition with new owners form the financial world and have transitioned much of the production offshore.

 

[Slim]

I used to use SVT 4PRO with 410HLF and I found out my 410HLF sounds better with Ampeg B2RE which is a solid state 450W amp to 4 ohm and very full sounding combination to me and it is loud enough at 12 oclock on drive and 9 oclock on master with all eq at flat with SR5. I think 4PRO should be used with 810 cabinet. I visited an amp repair shop last month and I saw two 4PRO there so I think they may not be so reliable amp

 

[Dr Stankface]

If you get ANY Ampeg, it needs to be the V4B.



Ya happy Travis? I admit it.

 

[tkarter]

My take on this thread is BP should call Dave LaRue and say I am sending you a Markbass amp. Your SVT 4 pro sucks.


IMHO

tk

 

[bovinehost]

I think BP likes Markbass well enough, don't you?

 

[Big Poppa]

only one of those was hooked up but it sure sounded good even with ham hands playin it
(i dont mean ben either)

 

[bovinehost]

Hmm, I thought it was a secret that only one of those was hooked up.

it sure sounded good even with ham hands playin it

I thought John did nicely (for a drummer).



That rig did sound mighty nice. I jammed for a bit with John and Luke during sound check and had to get a drool cup.

Jackie

 

[Rano Bass]

I know i'm a little late to the party but i have to say this:
I have gigged with three different svt4 amps, two of them from rental bussines in Ensenada, the other was the house amp at the House of Blues in San Diego. All of them were under powered compared to my GK 700rb, even when paired with an 8x10 svt speaker.
There are lots of better options for bass amps these days IMO, but i still see a lot of people using ampegs, including Dave LaRue and Tony Levin so i guess they're just not for me.

 

[Dr. Nick]

Hi, everybody.

I realize this is a matter of personal taste, and maybe I just am lucky, but I have a 4-Pro and it sounds great. I A-B'ed it against Edens, G-K and other Ampegs, and it was the winner hands down. (This is shortly before Markbass came on the market here in the US)

For my style of playing, it just sounded best to my ears, and I get numerous compliments about it. I don't know if it is truly 1200w, all I know is that I never have to turn it up past 3.

One thing I noticed is you really have to find the right cab to go with it. It sounded okay with SWR and ampeg cabs, but it sounded fantastic with an 8 ohm Eden 410XST. YMMV.

Ritchie, I'm sorry it ain't workin' for you. I hope you find something that makes you happier!

 

[RitchieDarling]

I have talked to several people who use this head a swear by it. I think it just needs a good dialing in.....

I've gotten lots of ideas and pointers.....

So, hopefully I can bash it out this week....

Thanks to everyone!

Ritchie

 

[tforemanfan]

I used to love Ampegs to death, but as of recently I've began to see that GK makes much better sounding amps, even though people will say that tube sounds better and SS. But, to be truthful, I like the OD channel found on GK's better than the sound of a 'naturally distorted tube amp'. Basically, if it roars when you hit the E string, then it's good.

 

[WesC]

I still use my ancient little GK400RB and it still sounds great.


I wouldn't mind a 1001RB-II though.

 

[EBMM7181]

I think BP likes Markbass well enough, don't you?

Anyone know what Head that is?

Im guessing Little Mark II - But I'd like to know for sure

 

[Dr Stankface]

Hard to tell but i'd say SD800. Little Marks aren't rack mountable.