Ampeg SVT VR vs. Fender/Sunn 300T?

[Noseferatu]

I've narrowed my choices down to the VR and the 300T. I play hard rock. I like to get a nice SLIGHTLY distorted hot, crunchy tone with alot of mids. I still want clarity too.

[Din Of Win]

They have pretty different tones.

I've played out of the Sunn(fender) 300t more recently and really enjoyed it... but i would still choose the SVT-VR over it if i had the choice. The Ampeg also seems more reliable. I've known a few dudes that have had problems with the 300t, but i know virtually NO one that's had issue with the SVT-VR.

Can't really go wrong with either though...

[groovaholic]

You mention wanting a good bite in the mids.

In my experience, the Sunn and Ampeg are both a little scooped sounding (if you end up with Ampeg, you'll definitely want to AVOID the Ultra Lo -- it's a mid-vacuum)

I'd say Peavey Classic 400 if you can find one. The Mesa Bass 400+ would be another solid contender; they are easier to find than the Peavey, but cost more.

[jastacey]

Both amps are good sounding, in there own way ... if I were going to get the Sunn/Fender 300, I'd get the Bassman 300 pro, as it will most likely have the most current revisions, and the VR, get it modded, to deal with the low voltage issue ... the only thing in common, in these amps is 300 watts and the 6550 output tubes

[eyeballkid]

ive had 2 SVT-CLs, and 1 actual Vintage SVT...( i know, none are the VR.. but you get the idea)and theyre gone. I still have the Fender 300T. my ONLY complaints with it are the weight and size and that you NEED a roadcase to protect the knobs and sliders.

I love the svt, but the fender is SOOOOOO much more versatile! plus a used one can be had for around a grand.

[Tim1]

I run a VR but have played the the 300T a few times in supplied backlines. I have always found the VR to be far more intuitive and much easier to quickly dial in the required tone.

[johnbegone]

I've got the Sunn 300T. It's the most versatile tube bass amp I've ever seen. I can dial in a pretty decent SVT vibe with it, but I can do a lot of other things as well. It definitely can take time to learn the amp and be able to dial in the exact tone you want, but I've never heard it sound bad.

The SVT is a one trick pony, but that one trick is REALLY good. If you like the sound, go for it.

If you like mids, consider the Orange AD200B. That thing is all mids. Didn't work for me, but it's a good sounding rock bass amp.

[Alex1984]

SVT scooped? Really? I found it to be middy but also with enough treble and harmonic content to give it a good definition, and it can sound very refined.

To beat JimmyM to the punch: The SVT is many things, heavy, and arguably overrated, but it is, IMO, by no means a one-trick-pony. It excels at rock, but also does everything else very well.

[Din Of Win]

Originally Posted by johnbegone

If you like mids, consider the Orange AD200B. That thing is all mids. Didn't work for me, but it's a good sounding rock bass amp.

I'd +1 this.

I'm not a huge fan of it... but it's totally worth checking out, and may be the sound you're looking for.

[BogeyBass]

Ampeg VR is noisy with alot of hum, of course it varys from location and power line.SVT's are known to create wormholes of doom that suck away your midrange and exchange them for boomy bass . A great way to get alot of power from 6550's is to run em at 600v, which svts are well known to do. Low cost garbage tubes don't last very long in svt and if they do they are on the edge of blowing up with the high plate voltage. The Fender/Sunn 300t has more EQ options for people who like that sorta thing. Too much for me...in todays market you could pick up a Fender 300t for much less. All SVT's are overpriced because of the large BS reputation they have as being "the classic bass amp" Orange 200 is a piece of garbage, undersized transformers, poo assembly work, overheat, pc board mounted sockets. I think the 300t is poo mounted pc board sockets, the SVT don't know, don't care. TWO things that make a expensive heavy amp worth a darn (1) Ultra Linear output (2) 2 ohm speaker tap. So with all that negative blabber I said,... . (1) SVT =expensive ,overated noisy tube fryer assembled in vietnam, always breaks, expensive tubes only (2) Fender 300T Cheap ,Lots of tone control, re soldering tubes sockets every 6months, can use garbage tubes/ with tone and power loss, some break...some don't. Sure i sound like a negative jerk, but this is what modern companys offer...so whatever.

[I<34080]

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

rant

So is that a vote for the SVT or 300T?

[eyeballkid]

been playing my 300T for 2 and 1/2 years regular at loud volumes for hours and havent had to resolder a thing or have ANY maintenence (knock on wood).. the resolder issues were with the SUNN, which was actually fenders first foray into this amp, and it had some bugs from what ive heard on multiple folks experience.. the modern fender is top notch.

[johnbegone]

I should mention that after five years I did finally take my Sunn 300T into a tech when it stopped working. One of the wires had shorted out, which he had to replace. Other than that it's been very dependable. I took it on a tour without a backup and it did well. No flight case, I kept it in the back of our van away from danger. I retubed it with some JJ's and it's back to being my perfect amp.

[BogeyBass]

Originally Posted by I<34080

So is that a vote for the SVT or 300T?

That would be a vote for the fender300t....I bought 2 Sunn 300t when they first came out. I run multible cabinets both heads ran at 2 0hms always. factory tubes craped out after maybe 2 months.
(totally normal and expected) replaced tubes....6 months later little crakle sound on low notes..thought it was tubes...wasn't resolder all sockets up and running. From what i understand the fender 300t is the same as the sunn...never seen the guts before...been in and out of a sunn a million times. With the active tone controls on these models you should be more than able to dial in " tone" All tube amps are expected to have normal wear and pc mounted sockets are the norm. most socket problems come after first retube, or if you move the amp around alot when its hot. (which is pretty much what everyone does that gigs) no big deal just resolder every tube change, and stay away from cheap tubes. which includes anything sold by EH sovtec or JJ just go with what tube fryer svt uses Svetlana...otherwise JJ if you must. any 300 watt 6550 tube amp needs to use tubes with a large coke bottle glass envelopes. In the current tube market most of those are sold as "KT88" these are all my lame opinions since i enjoy torture, and my victims are amps... muah hah hah ha

[MikeyB]

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

...SVT's are known to create wormholes of doom that suck away your midrange and exchange them for boomy bass ... All SVT's are overpriced because of the large BS reputation they have as being "the classic bass amp" ...

1) Sorry, users are the ones that dial in the ultra-low and dial out the mids... not the SVT. And 2) Sorry again, but contrary to your post, the SVT actually pretty much IS the classic bass amp.

Yea, yea, yea... I'm selling one and I might come off as biased, but I've owned and played SVTs since the early 80s and they really are a standard in the biz. And no, I am not an Ampeg fanboy by any stretch. I don't even like most of their other amps, preamps, and, well, none of their cabs. Just know awesome tone when I hear it.

[BogeyBass]

Originally Posted by MikeyB

1) Sorry, users are the ones that dial in the ultra-low and dial out the mids... not the SVT. And 2) Sorry again, but contrary to your post, the SVT actually pretty much IS the classic bass amp.

i agree it is the modern classic, i just think personally its bs....most of the mid suck comes from the preamp and the way most approach it...i agree. Their is midrange to be found. i think most of it for me was the cabinets..i have only owned 90's and up 8x10 cabinets and wanna say most of the mid loss and boomy sound was the speakers...powerful yes...loud yes
absolute amazing tone...no Ive had 3 different svt a 70's, a early rack mount version,and a classic. all of them broke...all the time. This is just my experience no exaggeration. i hate ampeg can you tell...yes i bought them because i kept believing they were "the classic bass amp" Even if they have improved their manufacturing and had Nasa approve them for space travel. I would say that it would most likely be the first bass amp to break in space.......id give that contract to peavey, because they actually work...i hate them too but thats another can of worms.

[Alex1984]

Hmm, which amps don't you hate then?

Anyhow, I found the SVT to be very mid-present, ultra lo and ultra hi are mid scooping functions, which can give a very snappy slap tone. But, I do agree, I am still not impressed by the Pro series offerings.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by BogeyBass

i agree it is the modern classic, i just think personally its bs....most of the mid suck comes from the preamp and the way most approach it...i agree. Their is midrange to be found. i think most of it for me was the cabinets..i have only owned 90's and up 8x10 cabinets and wanna say most of the mid loss and boomy sound was the speakers...powerful yes...loud yes
absolute amazing tone...no Ive had 3 different svt a 70's, a early rack mount version,and a classic. all of them broke...all the time. This is just my experience no exaggeration. i hate ampeg can you tell...yes i bought them because i kept believing they were "the classic bass amp" Even if they have improved their manufacturing and had Nasa approve them for space travel. I would say that it would most likely be the first bass amp to break in space.......id give that contract to peavey, because they actually work...i hate them too but thats another can of worms.

Hmm, well, I've played through an SVT and it was an absolute monster.

Maybe your amps keep breaking because you treat them like crap? Or perhaps someone before you did? A car runs fine until someone fries the engine.

[GregC]

SVTs scooped? Wow! Only times I've had that happen is when I try one in GC and don't check the Ultra Hi and Ultra Low switches first.

[jackcheez]

SVT's are work horses. There's a reason you still see old ones around, beat to crap, with the last piece of tolex hanging off, and they're still working after decades.

I couldn't recomend one of these amps over the other. Chose the one you like. It's all win.