Ampeg SVT Classic vs Ampeg SVT 2 Pro

novo · #1 02-21-2011, 04:34 AM

Hi guys..

Am on the market for a new amp and I have shortlisted all my choices to these two amp

The SVT Classic or th SVT 2 PRO

any suggestions or opinions about these 2 amps please cause I need a professional opinion about them....
I read alot of forums highlighting that these two are some of the best by Ampeg but can't quite choose

Am going to get a 4x10 Hlf cab with either one of these

Thanks for your time

www.airportimpressions.com

BassmanAd · #2 02-21-2011, 04:45 AM

They're both brilliant. Sorry, that's not much help. The Pro-2 has more bells and whistles but is pretty much the same amp with a graphic eq and it's rack-mountable. I've owned both in the past and I wouldn't be able to choose between the two.

BassmanAd · #3 02-21-2011, 04:46 AM

BTW, you might want to consider a sealed cab instead of the 410HLF. Tube amps sound better through a sealed cab, to my ears anyway.

Rockmusician · #4 02-21-2011, 05:02 AM

I wouldn't buy either of them. Several years ago, I had a deal with Ampeg. I tried the SVT 2 Pro, 4 Pro and Classic. The 2 and 4 seemed very under powered and it was difficult to dial in a sound that had any clarity. The classic was better but still seemed under powered. It also weighs 95 pounds and over 120 pounds if you use a road case. I gave up the deal after less than 1 year.
Look at GK, Eden and EBS. The tone is better and they are much easier to transport.

waleross · #5 02-21-2011, 07:07 AM

I have the Svt-CL and it is a great amp and it runs through an 810-E. I know the 2-Pro's are great as well but I stayed with the CL. Ampeg however isn't as dependable as they should be. I had to use my warranty with my 4-Pro which is only a year old. There are other tube options, so I would look around for comparisons with the CL.

DanRJBrasil · #6 02-21-2011, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockmusician

I wouldn't buy either of them. Several years ago, I had a deal with Ampeg. I tried the SVT 2 Pro, 4 Pro and Classic. The 2 and 4 seemed very under powered and it was difficult to dial in a sound that had any clarity. The classic was better but still seemed under powered. It also weighs 95 pounds and over 120 pounds if you use a road case. I gave up the deal after less than 1 year.
Look at GK, Eden and EBS. The tone is better and they are much easier to transport.

a 4 pro under powered, only if you don't know how to hook up, that thing can destroy buldings

prd004 · #7 02-21-2011, 07:21 AM

They are very similar tone-wise but the graphic EQ on the 2 Pro is a nice feature. I know the EQ on my 3 Pro is footswithable and has a level as well making it a real nice footswitcable boost/EQ combo!

I don't however like the 410HLF, they are a b*#@h to move. All the HLF cabs have a tilt-back dolly type of caster system that was designed for the 810, works equally as well on the 610, but on the 410 it just doesn't work, the cab is too short and it's a royal pain in the ass to move around, very frustrating!

I VERY much prefer a 410 cab with four normal casters.

Moosehead1966 · #8 02-21-2011, 07:34 AM

2 things to consider:

1) There's A TON of threads about the merits of SVTs' on TB. Hunker down and read.

2) What would Jimmy say? I dunno for sure but would hazard a guess that he might say somethng like: " Their both great but I slightly prefer the VR." (Sorry if I got it wrong Jimmy.)

Either way, pinnacle of tube amps to a great many around the world. Can't really go wrong in my opinion.

Marc

eastcoasteddie · #9 02-21-2011, 09:31 AM

The first time I ever played through a 2-Pro (1994), it was through a pair of Eden 210XLT's I fell in love. It took me 12 years to finally get a 2-pro (2006), and I'm using it through a pair of SWR Goliath II cabs. Sounds amazing. I don't go for that "use a sealed cab for tube amps" thing.

I tried the SVT CL through an 8x10 and didn't really like it too much. I prefer the Bells & Whistles.

ryankself · #10 02-21-2011, 09:38 AM

I've had the pleasure of owning both a CL and a 2Pro, and I prefer the CL. I had a really hard time eq'ing the 2Pro to stay even remotely clean through the same cabs (yes, checked the tubes, etc). With the CL, I always felt it was way louder than I needed, while the 2Pro was just almost there but not quite without getting too dirty.

I play a Mesa 400 now and love it, if that's any indication of my insanity.

kosmicwizard · #11 02-21-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryankself

I've had the pleasure of owning both a CL and a 2Pro, and I prefer the CL. I had a really hard time eq'ing the 2Pro to stay even remotely clean through the same cabs (yes, checked the tubes, etc). With the CL, I always felt it was way louder than I needed, while the 2Pro was just almost there but not quite without getting too dirty.

I play a Mesa 400 now and love it, if that's any indication of my insanity.

I have a G-K 1001RB-II, a MESA/Boogie BASS 400 (non-plus), and a SVT II (non-pro). They all get the job done, have their own inherent tonal qualities and are incredibly loud. The 1001 and the 400 can only go down to a 4 Ohm load, whereas the all tube Ampegs can't do an 8 Ohm load but can do either 4 or 2. The SVT is supposed to be 300 watts with 6550's, the MESA 180 watts with 6L6's, and the G-K 700 SS watts. The 1001 is pretty sterile but can growl, the MESA adds nice breakup overdrive dirt but the SVT seems to be as loud as either of the other two at about 11 o'clock on the volume control. I am going to take my 2x15 out to the practice space tonight to turn up the SVT (I want to hear some OD from it) I can't turn it up through a 8x10 because it is too loud for the volume levels we practice at. The SVT-II is my favorite of the 3 because it somehow sounds like it has a pillow wrapped around the notes, it is big and comfy and somehow just seems to fill up the room more fully than either of the other two can. I was all excited before I got the SVT because it is a head that can go down to a 2 Ohm load, I imagined needing to play through both my 8x10 and 2x15 at the same time. However, it is so huge through the 8x10 alone that I can't imagine running both it and the 2x15 together at any level of volume level above 8 or 9 o'clock anymore.

But in regards to the OP, both the 2 PRO and CL have the gain/master knobs which the original SVT didn't ... The 2 PRO is rack mountable and more flexible tonally. The SVP-CL kills the SVP-PRO (these are the preamps of the respective heads). Ultimately, I don't know so I am going to cop out and say let your ears tell you which is right for your specific needs. Cheers.

ryankself · #12 02-21-2011, 07:35 PM

Just to clarify, I've got 6550's in my Mesa 400. Regardless, it's cleaner at higher volumes than my SVT-2Pro was capable of. And the CL I used to have could have beaten them both.

Here's a review from a fairly OCD kinda guy in 2006, for what it's worth (the tube amps are towards the bottom):
http://ebassist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8009

JimmyM · #13 02-21-2011, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moosehead1966

2 things to consider:

1) There's A TON of threads about the merits of SVTs' on TB. Hunker down and read.

2) What would Jimmy say? I dunno for sure but would hazard a guess that he might say somethng like: " Their both great but I slightly prefer the VR." (Sorry if I got it wrong Jimmy.)

Either way, pinnacle of tube amps to a great many around the world. Can't really go wrong in my opinion.

Marc

they're both great but i slightly prefer the vr.

the 2 pro and cl might as well be the same amp to me. i know they're a little different, but not that much. but lookswise i prefer the cl.

Sartori · #14 02-22-2011, 05:02 AM

Between those, I'd get the 2 Pro, because the CL doesn't get overdriven enough for me at normal volumes.

kosmicwizard · #15 02-22-2011, 09:47 PM

Okay so ... I loved the SVT II through the 2x15! I could get it to over drive at just past noon and it wasn't as mid punchy as it is through the 8x10. The lows were really felt and tight with a bite to them on the edge while still having a depth to the tone! I am going to try one more thing before I give up on the MESA ... I am going to put the JJ KT88's that I have in the SVT into the MESA and see what I think ... I like these tubes in the SVT and think that the only thing I would want to try in the future would be winged C 6550's (which come standard in the new production SVT's) or JJ 6550's (which are a new tube and are factory in the heritage SVT's) ... I will report back my findings on the tube switch in the MESA. Cheers.

SactoBass · #16 02-22-2011, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosmicwizard

the only thing I would want to try in the future would be winged C 6550's (which come standard in the new production SVT's) or JJ 6550's (which are a new tube and are factory in the heritage SVT's) ... I will report back my findings on the tube switch in the MESA. Cheers.

kosmic,

I believe the Heritage comes with winged C's.

ryankself · #17 02-22-2011, 10:10 PM

Kosmic:

A couple of things that made a huge difference for my Mesa 400 -
1) I put a 12au7 in the preamp position on the far left side facing the front of the amp (as proposed by Psycho Bass Guy, search the forum) and that made it sound way better in a few ways.
2) I've had a bias mod done so that I can bias the amp. I don't know if you're going to get much good out of a set of non-Mesa power tubes.

Getting back to the topic, though, one thing I forgot about my SVT2Pro. That thing is all corners if you don't rack it. I scraped and scratched the heck out of my arms carrying it around before I racked it. I thought of filing down the corners at one point, but that would have been a bit silly. Honestly, that's never stopped me from doing something before, though...

rodl2005 · #18 02-22-2011, 10:23 PM

Look for an old SVTII not a PRO II. & DON'T get a HLF cab. TOO BOOMY with the Ampeg Tube amps I found.

SactoBass · #19 02-22-2011, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Look for an old SVTII not a PRO II.

I have heard others say that as well.

Why is that?

Sartori · #20 02-22-2011, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SactoBass

I have heard others say that as well.

Why is that?

The original SVTII is more like a 70's SVT or SVT-VR. No master volume knob, etc.

The 2pro is more like the SVT-CL, but with additional stuff in the preamp more like one of the other pro series heads (graphic EQ, drive knob).