Any Ampeg SVT-CL thread recently?

ubersku · #1 02-13-2011, 05:27 PM

Considering going back to tubes. Wondering if there has been a recent thread about the CL amp. Can't find one in a serach. If not, I'll entertain opinions and experiences here.

JimmyM · #2 02-13-2011, 05:46 PM

love it. i like the vr just slightly better, but i love the cl, too.

ubersku · #3 02-13-2011, 06:20 PM

What reading I have done, most folks say the same. Aside from a few glitches with tubes which, from those users, have deemed it unreliable, it and the VR seem to be the flagship of tube bass amps. I had a Peavy VB-2 that died on me two weeks in on secomd use. Took six months to get fixed. It died again. That was a long time ago right after they first came out. But having Ampeg cabs, I feel the need to marry them up with the right head.

JimmyM · #4 02-13-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubersku

What reading I have done, most folks say the same. Aside from a few glitches with tubes which, from those users, have deemed it unreliable, it and the VR seem to be the flagship of tube bass amps. I had a Peavy VB-2 that died on me two weeks in on secomd use. Took six months to get fixed. It died again. That was a long time ago right after they first came out. But having Ampeg cabs, I feel the need to marry them up with the right head.

right on. either the cl or a vr is a great choice. but the non-master svt's like the vr feel just slightly more open to me. very subtle thing, although some others feel like it's not as subtle as i do. tonally i think it's a wash, though. they both sound magnificent.

micahturner · #5 02-13-2011, 06:37 PM

I love my SVT-CL. I've played it at several gigs and have had no issues with reliability.

derridiandrift · #6 02-13-2011, 06:50 PM

The CL is a great amp. Mine was a USA model that I picked up from a road dog. Fresh tubes and a new fan, and I was off to the races. I played about 60 gigs with the CL and loved my tone every time I turned it on. The only problem I ran into was with the effects loop jacks. They corroded because I never used them. It caused intermittent problems. It was an easy fix though... with the amp off, spray some contact cleaner into the jack and push a patch cord into it a few times. Do that

I sold my CL when I found a used USA VR, but there's not a thing wrong with the CL. Buy it, you'll love it.

dionthebass · #7 02-14-2011, 01:29 PM

i own a american svt classic and it sounds good and has tons of power but it has been repaired 3 times in the last year. i recently bought a 1974 ampeg v4b and i love it. it's power rating is 100 watts but dont let that fool you, it is very powerful. i use it with 900 watt 6-10 mesa boogie cabinet and it rocks. you could power 2 8-10 cabs with the v4b. the vr,cl and v4b are all great sounding heads but i prefer the v4b and is still working after 37 years, that reliability.

randall p · #8 02-14-2011, 03:57 PM

Buy one, you'll love it. Had mine since '06, never had any problems with it. Look at it this way, some amps take some tweaking to get a great sound. On a CL, turn every knob to noon and you may not even move them at all.

ubersku · #9 02-18-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

right on. either the cl or a vr is a great choice. but the non-master svt's like the vr feel just slightly more open to me. very subtle thing, although some others feel like it's not as subtle as i do. tonally i think it's a wash, though. they both sound magnificent.

Well you got me thinking + my inherent GAS (no, not that) and I started reading stuff bout the VR the other day. Boy have I read! Thinkin' I might look for a VR now. I realize tone is subjective, but hell, if I'm going to play in that cateogry, I might as well go with the top-'o-line. Interesting closed thread here made me stop and think about a few things, but I think I am ready. Now the hard part. Finding one!