Ampeg Amp HELP!!!

[iriegnome]

I am wanting to get into an Ampeg head. The tone and sound I am looking for can best be found here - Head East - Never Been Any Reason - YouTube
right about 4:08 or so....
My problem is I have no clue about these amps. There are dozens of different ones, Br1's 2's RE's Classics SVT's 200's 350's and on and on and on!!
Currently I use a SWR BASS 750 running 3 12" 8Ohm cabinets (Running a total of 2.6Ohm's and about 850w). I have plenty of headroom, but I need it to cover my 3 guitarists and 2 drummers.
Can anyone help sort some of this out????

[iriegnome]

I have found that the BR's are solid state as are the 450T and 350T, so those are out of my quest. I have also found in general opinion the SVT 3Pro or the Classic or something of a VR series???
Anyone??

[Crater]

That Head East track is a mid-70's record, so it's a safe bet if they were using an Ampeg on that track, that it's an 'original' tube SVT. They are still available new, but they are heavy and expensive! And it is expensive to replace all 6 power tubes when they need replacing too. But if you can afford it, there's no doubt that is THE bass rig for classic rock.

I don't really hear anything unique about the tone of that bass solo part around 4 minutes. Just a trebly sounding bass guitar. I would think you could get really close to that tone with almost any amp. Just need a bass with fairly fresh roundwound strings. Sounds like it might be a jazz bass on the bridge pickup, but I don't know really.

Good luck with your tone quest.

[Alex1984]

From JimmyM's description, an SVT 7 Pro is a good choice to an all tube SVT if you don't want to bother with the 80 pound head.

[coreyfyfe]

I would think you could get close to that tone with what you have. Sounds to me like a P-bass with a pic. Lots of upper mids. I'm definitely an ampeg fan, but I don't think you need an ampeg to nail that sound. But, if ampeg is what you want, I'd say go for the real deal - either an SVT-CL/VR or SVT-II Pro. If you don't want to deal with the weight, the SVT-7 is regarded as the best of the hybrid heads ampeg sells (SVT-3, 4, etc). If you want cheap, I can get a pretty decent tone out of my PF-500. Definitely not full tube response, but not too bad either. A little compression and a ton of gain and you're almost there.

[iriegnome]

I have never used a full tube amp. I have been a SWR guy for 20+ years, tube pre solid state amp. I think that the tone I am looking for is only in tubes and not solid state which is why that tone elludes me. So, I am not sure that the 7pro will work, since it is pretty similar to my amp.
Are there differences in the CL/VR and the Classic or the original?? I currently use an amp at 850 watts, but tube power is completely different

[tom once dead]

Get a P bass, and you should be able to get that tone with almost any Ampeg svt series head.

[lfbassguy]

Originally Posted by iriegnome

I have never used a full tube amp. I have been a SWR guy for 20+ years, tube pre solid state amp. I think that the tone I am looking for is only in tubes and not solid state which is why that tone elludes me. So, I am not sure that the 7pro will work, since it is pretty similar to my amp.
Are there differences in the CL/VR and the Classic or the original?? I currently use an amp at 850 watts, but tube power is completely different

I have the swr amp you have and the 7 pro. I will tell you they are nothing alike. The 7 pro, imo, eats the swr for breakfast. It really does sound like a tube amp. I can't even get close the the tone of the 7 pro with my swr.

The problem is, you can't go lower than 4 ohm's with the 7 pro.

[alexgeddy]

hi,

first time I heard that band mentioned on here..I use a GK head and an SWr 4 x 10 with a Modulus VJ and can dial in that tone on the record//listen to it at least once a week!!

Good luck

[bassplr66]

Originally Posted by iriegnome

I am wanting to get into an Ampeg head. The tone and sound I am looking for can best be found here - Head East - Never Been Any Reason - YouTube
right about 4:08 or so....
My problem is I have no clue about these amps. There are dozens of different ones, Br1's 2's RE's Classics SVT's 200's 350's and on and on and on!!
Currently I use a SWR BASS 750 running 3 12" 8Ohm cabinets (Running a total of 2.6Ohm's and about 850w). I have plenty of headroom, but I need it to cover my 3 guitarists and 2 drummers.
Can anyone help sort some of this out????

I have B2RE & B2-48, I put 2nd cab on other side of stage, or back behind keys & lead, lead uses my hartke 210 for amp stand

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by iriegnome

Are there differences in the CL/VR and the Classic or the original?? I currently use an amp at 850 watts, but tube power is completely different

Okay...lemme try and help out a little. For current Ampeg all tube amps, you've got:

Ampeg SVT CL: Very similar to an original SVT, but it's got an added gain know which makes it easier to get the amp into overdrive without cranking it up to deafening levels.

Ampeg SVT VR: It's is supposed to be an homage to the original. Cleaner sounding overall than the CL, but will get nasty if you crank it up.

Ampeg SVT-II Pro: Rack mount version of the CL with an added 9 band graphic EQ for additional tones.

Heritage SVT CL: I'm honestly not too sure on what the difference is between this and a "regular" CL. I guess these are still made in the US?

Heritage B15: Portaflex (fliptop) combo, 30 watts. It's a great studio amp, although people do use then live. I think the Heritage series is supposed to be very close to the original B15 design. They are also crazy expensive.

As for tube watts being different, a watt is a watt is a watt. Someone else can come and explain why tube sounds are perceived as louder. It's something to do with harmonics. A 300w SVT will do you more than plenty fine.

For discontinued stuff, you've got:

SVT: The original. THere are quite a few versions between all the different owners. You'll see Magnovox era, SLM era, etc.
SVT II: Rack mount version of original SVT, with added 6 band graphic EQ. Usually referred to as an SVT II non pro.
Skunkworks SVT: SLM era SVT, made using the original circuit boards, and as close to specs as their specialty division could make.
B15R: 60w/100w version of the B15
SVP-CL: All tube preamp of the SVT-CL
SVP-Pro: All tube preamp of the SVT II Pro
SVP-BSP: The Billy SHeehan Preamp
SVT-IIP: The preamp of the SVT II
SVT-300: Rack mount, all tube power section of the SVT II

I'm sure I'm forgetting a few models, or some info...but this is the gist of it.

[Alex1984]

Actually,

Skunkworks SVT was made by SLM in the first years that they took over. They resemble the MTI era amps.
SVT-IIP, the SVT-II's preamp section
SVP-BSP, the Billy Sheehan Preamp
SVT-300, the SVT-II's all tube power section.

[dukeorock]

That sounded like a P-bass bigtime...I'm betting the amp used was...no amp at all...direct to a studio pre of some sort, tube compressor, then on to tape...betcha Johnk has the ears, he'd tell you in a second, and I'm only listening on crappy computer speakers, but a fairly heavy gauge pick, and brand new set of roto's, and sounds a lot like a P-bass to me. Ampegs are iconic for a reason, but really, you could get that sound with a hundred different amps, IMO. I don't hear anything about it that screams Ampeg, but I could be full of it

[coreyfyfe]

Skunkworks were the first SLM models of SVT built using the same circuit of the originals after buying the company from MTI.

The SVT-CL is basically a single channel SVT but the circuit path is a little different.

The SVT-VR is a reissue of the original with modern upgrades.

The heritage is a CL with a more rugged circuit board and premium tubes, hand assembled and tested in the US with the same basic components as a standard CL.

The 2 and 2 pro use a slightly different preamp design than the originals.

[bassgod0dmw]

Originally Posted by Alex1984

Actually,

Skunkworks SVT was made by SLM in the first years that they took over. They resemble the MTI era amps.
SVT-IIP, the SVT-II's preamp section
SVP-BSP, the Billy Sheehan Preamp
SVT-300, the SVT-II's all tube power section.

Yep, thanks! I'll edit my original post...

[johnk_10]

i think that you could get that tone with a p bass w/rounds thru alot of amps, but an SVT would definitely do it.

for example, here's a quick mp3 clip that i just made thru my SVT (i never learned this particular song but i think this is similar enough to what he was playing at 4:08).

the first part of the clip is the p bass and the second part after the 2 sec pause is the jazz bass (both with roundwounds with a pick):

PBASSvsJBASS-SVT

[iriegnome]

i think I am more confused than before
Wow, there is just a ton of different things about the Ampegs. I am pretty certain the Head East example I provided was a P-Bass through a SVT. Don't remember where I read that. Anyway, I have tried a bunch of different setings with a couple of P-Bass and others, but can't put my finger on that tone!

[johnk_10]

you have to remember that they probably went direct and mic'd his amp and then eq'd and compressed it in the studio. IMO, it's a P bass with rounds and pick either way.

[dukeorock]

Originally Posted by johnk_10

you have to remember that they probably went direct and mic'd his amp and then eq'd and compressed it in the studio. IMO, it's a P bass with rounds and pick either way.

Exactly my thoughts...I wouldn't be shocked to find it was just direct, but again I am listening thru crappy computer speakers

[JimmyM]

I saw pics of them today, and it looked like he was using Acoustics at one gig. But I thought I saw an Ampeg head next to it, but I couldn't make it out.

Anyway, you can cop that sound easy enough from an SVT.