ampeg svt 4 pro Vs. mesa big block 750

[JimmyM]

Bob, you are definitely larger than life, but one thing you said is true IMHO as well. With a big cab like an 810 or a 215, I would agree that it's better to whomp it hard with a goodly amount of power than have two big cabs into one amp and have it split the power. Of course, my definition of goodly includes half of a 4 Pro while yours doesn't, but I will also agree that most 2-channel hybrids I've played seem to sound better bridged. I always thought my SWR SM-500 did, for sure.

[xshawnxearthx]

Originally Posted by rbonner

That's nice. I'm really glad all you guys who have run your amps with two cabs HAD ENOUGH POWER for the duty that day. Most days of the week in average gig sizes I agree too you could get by with it. But that's not what I built for.

If you look at all the touring pros using 4PROs or SVT's and multiple SVT810's they are putting an amp per cab. That's just the way it is. I also discussed this at length with Dino at AMPEG, the only amp they claim to be able to really drive a pair of 810's is the 8PRO. Good luck getting one.

The 4PRO and most of these amps either cannot handle 2 OHMS (the BB can just not enough poop) or you have to run them in stereo to drive 4 ohm cabs. There is a considerable drop in power going from 1200W to 490W at 4 OHMS with the 4PRO (and the BB750 but the 750 is not stereo.)

When driving two cabs I can turn the amp ALL THE WAY UP, I do not feel safe running the thing like that. I am able to have a lot more headroom and slightly more output driving an amp per cab. I also feel the rig sounds better.

Now WILL ONE OF THESE RIGS POWER A PAIR OF CABS? Well yeah DUH... But if you want the THUMP that an AMPEG 810 cab can generate you need to put POWER to the cab. There's more to just loud volume, I'm talking the tone the cab can generate. I'd rather run one cab and hit it good than two and not have enough power to whomp the cabs. This is what I found out the hard way.

$15,000 later I'll put my rig up against anybody's.

I'm heading out now to go visits Jaywa at the Legion, while not my Genre' they are a very very good band. One of their guy's wife just had a kid today and won't be there, this will be interesting. Maybe I should sit in with my Theremin?

BOB

with all that said, i'm just saying it's possible to run two 810's with a 4 pro and have it sound good. it wasn't the end all be all for me, but it did the purpose. i had a problem running an 810 with a bridged 4 pro. the way i like my rig to sound...with lots of grunt and low end, i could hear the speakers popping when i really dug in.

anyway. if i'm running my 4 pro, i'd rather have it going into a pair of cabs. not so much to 810's, but a 410x15 set up. something i feel A LOT better with running the 4 pro in bridged. especially when i want to play loud, and have the grunt.

i don't know what i would do with 6 4 pro's, 32x10, and 4x15.

[rbonner]

Originally Posted by xshawnxearthx

i don't know what i would do with 6 4 pro's, 32x10, and 4x15.

You add 6 21" subwoofers to them.

Jimmy, for the most part you and I see eye to eye. But yeah I do LIFE about 10DB louder. That's OK though.

Seriously, this is where the BAD THINGS happen. When AMPEG jumped from 50 watt Speakers to 100 watt speakers a couple things happened.

First it required the cab to be HIT with at least twice the power to WHOMP it. That took away the ability for an SVT to slam two cabs.

What do guitarists do? They put 30 watt speakers in their cabs so they can get them to PROPERLY BREAK UP right?

SO here we sit with 800 watt cabs, well I can guaranty that when you have 1200 Watts at your disposal and play the cabs so they are taking 800 watts they are LOUD LOUD LOUD.

This is also the complaint some of the MESA 400 and 400+ and Marshall VBA400 owners have, they have to make super loud to get the proper tone out of the amps.

A bass amp is not like a kick drum where you shove the wife's bathroom rug in the bottom to tame the thing. You need to push it just right to make the tone and do it at a volume that works in the mix.

So I just got home from the Legion. Had a really nice chat with Jaywa at the show during break. He's a super guy. The guy who's wife popped the kid was there. (wonder how long he'll be paying for that?) I've been paying for rolling in for my kid's childbirth 1.5 hours late with a whopping hangover for 18 years.

Jay and I discussed this thread for a while, HAHAHAHA. I was saying my 50 watt Bassman would have blown the American Legion apart. It's a big hall too. I have no idea how to make my 4PRO and an 810 sound good at this place without deafening everybody. That's what the little guy is for.

Yeah JohnK and all his premo amps has me hankering for another Bassman; a perfectly restored one. It's sad they built the 100's and 135's after 1967. I just love power. John here's what I want a Bassman with two 15" D140F's, 66 or 67 blackface that is perfect.

OH BTW that flat backed 810 cab belongs to one of the guitarists in JAY's band... He still hasn't sold it. Man what a small world sometimes.

BOB

[allexcosta]

Originally Posted by DanRJBrasil

+1
people love to bashes ampeg even if the ampeg product is better, if you try it out you will for yourself, svt4 for is much better

Perhaps that's your opinion. In my experience the SVT-4 Pro has no balls. I'd take a 200W GK400RB over it any day...

[rbonner]

Originally Posted by allexcosta

Perhaps that's your opinion. In my experience the SVT-4 Pro has no balls. I'd take a 200W GK400RB over it any day...

I agree, nobody makes a real amplifier... They are all designed by guys who "Think" they know what is needed.

I would love to LINE UP all the BIG POWER amps out there with a pair of 810's and start plugging stuff in. Measure the amps for REAL OUTPUT with a consistent input from one bass...

Run them through the spectrum with a signal generator and compare. A real side by side shootout.

I bet a lot of these 1200 watt rated amps are all marketing smoke. You really have no idea until they are really tested.

BUt just saying a 4PRO has no balls... Well no it doesn't, at least I haven't found any on them yet. But it has enough power to start my SVT-410HLF on fire and it has enough to make an 810 cab fart out... It doesn't create enough power to do that with two.

BOB

[illidian]

Mesa. IMO.

[xshawnxearthx]

yeah it def has enough power to make an 810 fart out.

[Musikill]

these days I think that the quality issues with Ampeg equipment in general should be part of the decision process. Ampegs move to Chinese manufacturing has hurt those products, particularly the cabinets. They are no where near as good as the older US made cabs. They 410HLF for example uses cheap chinese speakers and the cabinet is built using Luan plywood - not birtch. I have one of these and it is falling apart after only a few months. I keep it stored in a Tuki cover when not in use and take care of it but the tolex (which is very thin) is peeling off etc. You can grab the front edge of the cabinet and literally bend it with just your index finger and thumb. the cabinet is no longer made of 5/8 inch ply - it is now 1/2 inch and that makes a huge difference.

I have heard many 1st hand reports of the SVT 2pro failing or DOA from the retailer - at least 3 reports from guys I know that had to have 2 or 3 units replaced before they got one that worked And those are still made in the US I believe. I have both Ampeg and Mesa amps and I like them both but with the Ampeg quality issues - my next amp will be a big block 750. I was so close to buying the SVT 2pro but don't want the potential headaches. My experience with Mesa has been very good and they are easy to reach and quick to get youa part if you need it - they replaced a monoblock transister component free even after the warranty had run out - shipped it out the day I called and the next day I had the amp back from the repair shop. Ampeg needs to address their quality issues or they will lose the brand cache they have built over all these years. They charge enough to be building a solid quality product. Bring production back to the US - China is not where we want our musical products made.

[iblanky1]

SVT 4 PRO ... All Day ... 1200w continuos @ 4 ohms (1600w)

[iblanky1]

There is absolutely NO NEED for all the power that this amp puts out ... but run 50% to 75% playing Funk, Jazz, Blues, etc ... 1 4ohm GB cab and the SVT 4 Pro is ALL you will ever need .. especially is your sound man is correct! *wink*

[golower]

try using a crown power amp with any of these amps for your power needs .find the tone you like with the amp you like and then use the crown for the power needs if thats an issue .