Ampeg SVT 450H bad reviews here?

DangerFlow_Nate · #1 09-20-2011, 06:28 PM

I recently played a house rig that had a Ampeg SVT 450H head and some sort of Ampeg 4X10s. I am currently playing an Ampeg SVT 400T from the mid 90s with 4X10 Hartke cab and that rig I played at the gig blew mine away as far as tone....it was clearer and the lows lows were much more defined (I rock a 5 string).

There was a recent thread here I was just checking out and the SVT 450H got ripped. I generally am not into gear much so I feel like I might be missing something here. Any input appreciated cuz I am so ready to to put forth the 800 with tax for the SVT 450H.

BassBob1 · #2 09-20-2011, 06:39 PM

The SVT 450H isn't bad, its the same exact head as the B-2RE just in a cabinet. For the money the SVT 7 pro is much much much nicer sounding and much lighter weight. I have one and love it. If JimmyM didn't beat me too it I can tell you the 7 pro sounds very very close to an all tube SVT. If you don't need the power that the 7 pro puts out check out the PF 500. I haven't played it but it apparently sounds quite similar to the 7 pro.

Bass_Pounder · #3 09-20-2011, 06:53 PM

Probably more of an issue with your cab vs. the Ampeg cab. Especially if the one you used was a HLF model

arthur31686 · #4 09-20-2011, 07:00 PM

Yeah its just a b2re that costs more because it looks like an SVT-CL. I might be completely wrong here but that's essentially what I have always thought.

It looks better on top of a 810 than the b2re thats for sure.

DangerFlow_Nate · #5 09-20-2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassBob1

The SVT 450H isn't bad, its the same exact head as the B-2RE just in a cabinet. For the money the SVT 7 pro is much much much nicer sounding and much lighter weight. I have one and love it. If JimmyM didn't beat me too it I can tell you the 7 pro sounds very very close to an all tube SVT. If you don't need the power that the 7 pro puts out check out the PF 500. I haven't played it but it apparently sounds quite similar to the 7 pro.

Thanks for the input ..I have just read some reviews and will be sure to try out the SVT 7 Pro .

JimmyM · #6 09-20-2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassBob1

The SVT 450H isn't bad, its the same exact head as the B-2RE just in a cabinet. For the money the SVT 7 pro is much much much nicer sounding and much lighter weight. I have one and love it. If JimmyM didn't beat me too it I can tell you the 7 pro sounds very very close to an all tube SVT. If you don't need the power that the 7 pro puts out check out the PF 500. I haven't played it but it apparently sounds quite similar to the 7 pro.

Ya, the 7 Pro rules the solid state Ampeg stuff as far as I'm concerned, and the PF500 and PF350 aren't far behind at all. The 7 Pro has a little more oomph but the PF500 and 350 have the Ampeg sound, too.

DangerFlow_Nate · #7 09-20-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

Probably more of an issue with your cab vs. the Ampeg cab. Especially if the one you used was a HLF model

I have the Hartke HCV-410. I bought it new about a year and a half ago. Thanks for the input.

Gearhead17 · #8 09-20-2011, 09:10 PM

Was the house rig hooked up to the PA system? Sometimes the extra low end you heard was mostly the subs underneath or very close to the stage.

I once tried a very nice Eden house rig and thought the rig sounded fantastic along with having amazing low end response. By time I owned each piece, the set up sounded decent, but did not have the low end I wanted nor did it do what I wanted tone wise. The subs at the place I tried the rig at, are gigantic and crazy loud - I learned the hard way about bass rigs.

DangerFlow_Nate · #9 09-25-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

Was the house rig hooked up to the PA system? Sometimes the extra low end you heard was mostly the subs underneath or very close to the stage.

I once tried a very nice Eden house rig and thought the rig sounded fantastic along with having amazing low end response. By time I owned each piece, the set up sounded decent, but did not have the low end I wanted nor did it do what I wanted tone wise. The subs at the place I tried the rig at, are gigantic and crazy loud - I learned the hard way about bass rigs.

It was, great point, however in this case I think I was able to pick out the tone from the bass amp speaker.

**B-string** · #10 09-25-2011, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DangerFlow_Nate

It was, great point, however in this case I think I was able to pick out the tone from the bass amp speaker.

Bass is not directional, no you couldn't unless the house PA was muted!

RickenBoogie · #11 09-25-2011, 03:41 PM

+1...and +1 to the difference being the cab moreso than the amp. An SVT410hlf puts out major low end, and cannot be fairly compared to your Hartke cab. There's lots of 4x10's on the market, and most all sound different from one another.

eyeballkid · #12 09-25-2011, 03:47 PM

all that aside. The only SS amp I miss is the SVT 450H. I think its tone is just sooo good, full and responsive and has everything in it I had hoped the hybrid SVTs I had wouldve. It only is was a teeny bit more power.

TMart99 · #13 09-25-2011, 06:00 PM

I've also been asking about this amp, lately.

Today, someone told me that the SVT 450H is nothing more than the SVT Micro VR head, in a much fancier shell.

Is there any truth to that?

Is this SVT 450H that bad in terms of tone? I mean, I understand it lacks power. But is the tone that bad?

If so, what is it about the tone that's so bad? Is it thin, shrill and brittle sounding?

Not thick, warm and tuneful sounding?

coreyfyfe · #14 09-25-2011, 06:25 PM

No the SVT-450H was the B2RE in an SVT style box, the PF-350 has the same preamp as the Micro-VR.

eyeballkid · #15 09-25-2011, 06:56 PM

the tone is great!.. for solid state.

coreyfyfe · #16 09-25-2011, 07:03 PM

IMO there are much better heads both from ampeg and others, but that's why it's my opinion

Gearhead17 · #17 09-25-2011, 09:29 PM

The 450H is a cold sounding head for sure. Lots of grindy upper midrange and not much warmth in the low mid range. It's a clear sounding head for sure.

The head is considered "underpowered" because it is naturally scooped around 500-600hz and has a built in boost around the 30hz to 50hz area. So when you turn up the head, you run out of power quickly since it tries to recreate useless low end. It also sounds quieter than other heads because of the mid scoop. You end up turning it louder and louder just to get by and end up running out of power quite fast.

eyeballkid · #18 09-25-2011, 09:44 PM

weird.. i wouldnt have described it as cold at all, and I dialed out alot of the upper midrange.. just enough to cut thru and boosted the low mids a little and dropped the 30-50hz are on the graphic.. so I found it quite nice.. and was surprised that I did.

Musicman20 · #19 09-26-2011, 02:44 AM

There is so much more choice nowadays. I think they are terribly expensive for basically a 'fake' SVT.

If it were me, and it had to be Ampeg, id go for the the SVT Pro 7. The 450 is outdated and underpowered, (Ive used it for touring...it was loaned to me).

Other choices:

Orange Terror Bass - light, very powerful, excellent grit
Genz Streamliner - very light, very loud, sounds very tubey to my ears
Markbass LM3 + VT Bass - very light, loud, and works excellently with the VT bass pedal

There are other options, like the Genz Shuttle 9.0, or Gallien MB500...

Sartori · #20 09-26-2011, 03:57 AM

I used a 350H for years. Worked well for me, but I didn't have the EQ set anywhere near flat.