Boxing Match: SVT-II vs SVT-II PRO

[jcodyhall]

What are the differences between the SVT II and the II PRO? What makes these amps unique? Which is the better amp? Who wins the fight?

All comments welcome!

Thanks

[anderbass]

Basically the SVT-IIpro has separate Gain and Master knobs and is more similar to an SVT-CL,
The II non pro just has a master volume and sounds more like a vintage SVT or an SVT-VR.

If your interested you'll find tons of SVT-II non pro info in this thread: Ampeg SVT-II appreciation thread

This quote from weary hobo has some good info for ya:

Originally Posted by weary hobo

I have one of each. The differences are these:

• The II and the II Pro have different preamps.
  
• The II has a 6-band EQ and a footswitch control. The II Pro has 9 bands and no footswitch.
  
• The II has two inputs: "normal" and "bright." The II Pro has a single input.
  
• The II has a single volume control. The II Pro has a gain control and a master volume control. It has a drive control as well.
  
• The II does not have a tuner out. The II Pro does.
  
• The II has a 2 ohm/4 ohm impedance switch. The II Pro does not.
  
• The II does not have an effects loop send/return. The II Pro does.
  
• The II does not have a polarity rocker switch. The II Pro does.
  
• Both units have a pre/post balanced out, but only the II Pro has a level adjustment pot.
  
• The rear-panel bias adjustment lights are a feature that came along after the II was discontinued; because it's an older model, my II Pro doesn't have them either. Newer SVT II Pros, of course, do.
  
• Similarly, the II has 1/4" speaker outs. My II Pro has both 1/4" speaker outs and banana-plug outs. Newer II Pros have Speakon outs, and, I'm guessing, 1/4" outputs as well.
  

There are a few differences in the chassis design as well. Of these, the only one worth noting (IME) is that the II Pros use ring-and-springs retainers to secure the power tubes, while the II uses a single metal bar that sits just above the tubes, spanning from one side of the unit to the other. This might seem inconsequential until you need to swap out the tubes; the bar is a real pain remove, while snapping off the individual spring clips on the II Pro is a breeze.

In terms of tone, I would say that while both amps are monsters, the SVT-II is a considerably less polite, which is why a lot of folks who've played both prefer it over the II Pro. Once you start factoring in the enhanced features of the latter, though, choosing one or the other becomes a bit more complicated, which is why I have (and love) both.

[Alex1984]

Yep, that's some useful information there, an amendment was made though:

- The II has a preamp out and power amp in, which is pretty much what the effects loop send/return is.

Also, I'm not sure, haven't looked behind mine lately, but, IIRC, the later II's made in early 1990s had a polarity rocker switch.

[eastcoasteddie]

I have one of each. The differences are these:

The II has a 6-band EQ and a footswitch control. The II Pro has 9 bands and no footswitch.

The II has a 2 ohm/4 ohm impedance switch. The II Pro does not.

I suppose as of late, the II Pro has some refinements. My '06 has a footswitch input in the rear, and an impedence switch.

[jastacey]

My 1997 SVT II Pro has a 2-4 ohm impedance switch

[Jonyak]

when did the II pro come into production?

I opened mine and it had a date sticker inside that said it was from 93. is that too early?

[StuartV]

I think there is some lack of clarity going on here.

There was an SVT II (non-Pro).
Then there was a small run of SVT II Pro (I think).
Now, there is the SVT 2 Pro.

3 different models. I think some of the comments in here are confusing the II Pro and the 2 Pro.

In particular the quote that is here that was taken from the other thread definitely seems to be comparing the II to the II Pro (not the 2 Pro). Because:

The 2 Pro:

DOES have a footswitch input (on the back). The footswitch has one button to toggle Mute and one to toggle the EQ section (which includes an overall level boost/cut slider) on/off.
Has only 1 input, but it has a Bright switch (instead of the II's 2 inputs, regular and bright).
DOES have a 2ohm/4ohm switch.
DOES have 1/4" out and Speakon out. If I recall the back of mine correctly, it has 1 Speakon and 2 1/4".

[jastacey]

I believe the model line is SVT II, then the SVT II Premier ( I think they made 250 ), then the SVT II PRO ....

[eastcoasteddie]

hhhmmmm....I was thinking the same thing about the SVT-II Premier being the short-run model before the II-pro...

then I found this

which says SVT II Pro on it; but it is the Premier model. Kind of looks like it functions the same as a standard II Pro, but has a more classic look of the SVT II.

The SVT II Pro that I always refer to is:

which is the same thing as the 2-Pro with the older facia design.



and finally the SVT II

[jastacey]

I guess they went to the Black push button switches after the SVT II Pro Premier, I noticed that the handles are differant on the 2 photos of the 1990's SVT II Pro

[StuartV]

So, ignoring cosmetics, there were:

SVT II
SVT II Pro/Premiere
SVT 2 Pro

Right?

And the SVT II Premiere was identical to the SVT II Pro, it just came first and was made in very limited numbers, before they went into normal production with it and called it the Pro, right?

[eastcoasteddie]

I 'think' that is the correct timeline....

[Alex1984]

The II was made in the mid-late 80's. They are different from the early 90's II in that: it didn't have a back cover and the front looked a little different (stencil "ampeg" + solid "SVT-II" rather than the other way around).

I think '93 was the transition period between II and II Pro Premiere, after that, they just continued with the II Pro.

[jason1980's]

Okay i'm bumping this one, I gotta hear more! lol.

[SactoBass]

I believe the SVT-II weighs 85 pounds, and the Pro version weighs 70 pounds.

I seem to recall reading somewhere on Talkbass that the SVT-II is heavier due to larger transformers.

[svtb15]

Subed

[oboylebass]

I have a newer, although USA made, SVT 2-PRO. I love this amp. I always run the master at 10 and pull the highs back a bit.

Seems like it starts to sound better after it's been on for 3-4 hours; the tubes start to get really, really hot. It just sort of "opens up".

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by oboylebass

I have a newer, although USA made, SVT 2-PRO. I love this amp. I always run the master at 10 and pull the highs back a bit.

Seems like it starts to sound better after it's been on for 3-4 hours; the tubes start to get really, really hot. It just sort of "opens up".

I'd be a little concerned about this. Should only take 10 minutes tops for it to warm up to its fullest.

[Turock]

Originally Posted by StuartV

I think there is some lack of clarity going on here.

There was an SVT II (non-Pro).
Then there was a small run of SVT II Pro (I think).
Now, there is the SVT 2 Pro.

3 different models. I think some of the comments in here are confusing the II Pro and the 2 Pro.

In particular the quote that is here that was taken from the other thread definitely seems to be comparing the II to the II Pro (not the 2 Pro). Because:

The 2 Pro:

DOES have a footswitch input (on the back). The footswitch has one button to toggle Mute and one to toggle the EQ section (which includes an overall level boost/cut slider) on/off.
Has only 1 input, but it has a Bright switch (instead of the II's 2 inputs, regular and bright).
DOES have a 2ohm/4ohm switch.
DOES have 1/4" out and Speakon out. If I recall the back of mine correctly, it has 1 Speakon and 2 1/4".

You seem to be saying that these things on the 2 Pro are different from the II Pro. Not true; the II Pro has all these things.