Ampeg SVT - what's what?

[pelagiamusic]

I read through a bunch of threads and I understand the general feeling is the SVT is a great amp series by ampeg...a standard kind of like the JCM line from Marshall for guitar.

My question is...since many of you regarded it as popular because it's what is on the radio...which one in the series will achieve that tone??

I am joining a touring pop punk band and basically I need to achieve that tone. (I don't care about weight or anything other than tone)

So while I know there are a world of probably more preferable tones to discerning bassists here....what is THE amp model for this type of music?

I play a Stingray 5.

HELP! THANKS!

[Mr. Foxen]

Sansamp.

[pelagiamusic]

I have a sansamp bass driver...that's not my question..

also although tone is most important...rack mountable would be clutch

[MN_Bass]

SVT Pro 2 or 4, Great Tone, just plug in!

[coreyfyfe]

If you want rackmount and all tube then SVT-2 or 2 Pro.

[weekend warrior]

There is only 1 SVT years 69-1980 Get a real one,They are the amp in wich all others are measured.If you look around you can probably score a 70's one for 1,200.00 to 1,500.00 price range.Basically the same price as a new Vietnamese VR reissue SVT.There is nothing in the world that sounds like it!

[okcrum]

Originally Posted by weekend warrior

There is only 1 SVT years 69-1980 Get a real one,They are the amp in wich all others are measured.If you look around you can probably score a 70's one for 1,200.00 to 1,500.00 price range.Basically the same price as a new Vietnamese VR reissue SVT.There is nothing in the world that sounds like it!

New SVTs are not made in Vietnam, since mid-2008. They are made in South Korea. They also sound great and are built well.

You can get the sound with any SVT, just stay away from the very early Vietnamese serial numbers (Ampeg will tell you when/where the amp was made if you email them a S/N). New or old is your preference, just expect to put some money into refurbishing older rigs.

EDIT: All SVTs since mid-1970 use essentially the same power amp design. The biggest sonic differences are in the preamps.

[weekend warrior]

Any tube amp will need tubes eventually so thats normal maintainence.It is expensive with an SVT (around 380.00)because there are so many tubes.I had a cap job done on mine 3 years ago should be oh 30-40 years till i have to have another one.Other than tubes and this cap job ive never had a single problem with any old SVT.Having a tube amp of any kind is a whole different world from the maintenence free solid state amp.Besides in the end its the tone that matters

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by okcrum

New SVTs are not made in Vietnam, since mid-2008. They are made in South Korea. They also sound great and are built well.

You can get the sound with any SVT, just stay away from the very early Vietnamese serial numbers (Ampeg will tell you when/where the amp was made if you email them a S/N). New or old is your preference, just expect to put some money into refurbishing older rigs.

EDIT: All SVTs since mid-1970 use essentially the same power amp design. The biggest sonic differences are in the preamps.

and even the preamps are basically the same as well, except for the difference between the non-master vr/vintage models and the master/gain cl/2 pro. there's a slight bit of difference between gain/master and non-master, but not so big where you couldn't use them interchangeably.