"Dream" Ampeg Amp - If they build it, would you buy it?

[zaten]

Since way back I started playing and got obsessed with gear and tone, I've consistently had just 1 DREAM amp in mind.

Like many fellow bassists, I've always wanted an SVT head but the weight, cost and power are way beyond my needs. No matter how much I desire it, I'll NEVER own one.

The amp I have in mind, however, if Ampeg ever build it, I would take to bed with me. It has to satisfy each and everyone of the below criteria:

1- Ampeg ALL-TUBE head I'll never be able to shake off my love/lust for the SVT/V4 in all their incarnations! The Micro-VR is good effort for an SS but I find no substitute for tubes.

2- LIGHT-WEIGHT (40lbs or less) - I need to be able to take it places without worrying about who's gonna help me carry it. Portability is key in this day and age.

3- 200W, switchable to 50W - I seriously don't need 300W! I'll be much happier with 200 tube Watts (loud enough in rehearsals and sweet OD on tap without blowing up the room! Mic and/or PA available everywhere else). I also would love to be able to switch it down to 50W so that I can bring home with me that full tube tone without having the neighbours knocking on my door. That'll be sweet!

4- SVT-VR tone through and through - This is the sweetest sounding amp to my ears. My ultimate amp would have the exact same tone (or as close as possible).

5- $$$ Accessible but high quality Ampeg have recently rolled-out great-value amps. This should not break my bank account either. I would happily pay the same price of an SVT-7Pro for it but it shouldn't cost more.


This hypothetical amp seems like pure common sense to me. Why Ampeg has not yet built this is honestly beyond me.
I'll bet my life savings the amp would sell like hot-cakes (I'd buy it in a heart beat) and I'm hoping I'm not alone in this sentiment.

Please share your thoughts if you feel the same way. Maybe if we're numerous, enough Ampeg might actually take notice and do something about it!

[husky123]

Yeah I'd be in line.

3 outta 5 ain't bad. SVT 7 Pro rules!

[DanNowhere]

Originally Posted by zaten

Maybe if we're numerous, enough Ampeg might actually take notice and do something about it!

if the Ampeg facebook page is any indication, they do. they refer to Talkbass posts over there quite a bit.

I think a 200W tube head would be perfect for my needs as well. I've been looking at Traynors and other heads in the 200W range recently, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I have a 100W V4BH which does a pretty good job, but can't justify the weight/cost of the big daddy SVT, and is more power than I need anyway.

[WhiteNinja]

I have the SVT-VR, and I do agree with some points. Getting that sweet OD without nuking the neighbourhood, let alone the other band members, would be pretty sweet. However, the tone of that thing is just AMAZING. Having a switchable output wattage like many of the smaller practice amps would make it perfect (50w, 100w, 300w, for example), but I can't imagine that working on an SVT due to it's construction, which is key to it's tone.

Being lighter would also help, but I'm willing to take the sacrifice of 80lbs for THAT tone.

[bassgod0dmw]

Sounds pretty good to me, I think I would just want to add a gain knob so I can get some grit out of it without cranking it.

[Josh Pelican]

I mentioned it in another dream thread:
-Ampeg SVT-CL (or VR) that weighs about 50 lbs less.
-Ampeg SVT-VR with built-in fuzz you can turn on and off.
-Ampeg cabs that can handle more wattage/power and have lower frequency range (i.e. F#).

The first two would never happen. The second is a possibility. Not as concerned about the power handling as I am the lower notes. An Ampeg with a horn that produces F#? I'll buy six.

[Freddels]

The 7 Pro is just about it. If they could get tube sag in there, it would be just about perfect!!

[staindbass]

alot of a tube amps sound/tone comes from the iron, or transformers. i dont think thats something they can skimp on

[Slackerprince]

I got my 7 Pro for 15% off at MF.
$680 for all you get is pretty darn good.

D

[derridiandrift]

Originally Posted by staindbass

alot of a tube amps sound/tone comes from the iron, or transformers. i dont think thats something they can skimp on

+1

I'm no electrical engineer, but my guess is that it would be a serious challenge to get anything much lighter than the V4BH.

I think it would be cool if Ampeg resurrected something like the V4BH but with a quad of KT88 tubes instead of 6L6s.

[derridiandrift]

Originally Posted by WhiteNinja

Getting that sweet OD without nuking the neighbourhood, let alone the other band members, would be pretty sweet. However, the tone of that thing is just AMAZING. Having a switchable output wattage like many of the smaller practice amps would make it perfect (50w, 100w, 300w, for example), but I can't imagine that working on an SVT due to it's construction, which is key to it's tone.

I've gone full circle on the matter of OD. I like the old style SVT better without the gain control. For me, OD belongs in a pedal.

I have a B15R with a half power switch. I find I never have it in half-power, even when playing quietly by myself. It's a great feature in theory, but hasn't proven necessary for me. The volume control works just fine, thanks.

Lastly, I'd like to add that I like the old V4B output transformers that had three taps: 2, 4 or 8 ohms.

For me, it would have to be a V4B-ish reissue that's done the way they did the SVT-VR, but has three taps on the output transformer and either 6550 or KT88 output tubes. I'd part with my V4BH to own one of those. Funny thing... I had my V4BH at my tech's shop yesterday and we kicked around the idea of him building exactly that amp for me.

[TheRealKong]

Excelsior! I would like a SVT CL that gives You the possibility between 50, 200 and 300 watt by a switch. Could be possible by s circuit with 2, 4 and 6 power-amp - tubes. If the handles are built in a way, that 2 men can carry it, the weight should not bethe point.

I've got me an SVP Pro - Preamp with a power amp, that delivers 2 x 700 watt into 4 Ohm and 2 x 450 watt into 8 Ohm enclosures. This combination is powerfull, versatile because I can combine a 4 Ohm load at the one, a 8 Ohm load at the other channe if neccessary. Bridged there will be Mono 1 x 1.400 watt @ 8 Ohm.

Because the tone and power of this combination the weight does not matter to me. It certainly is heavy, I think about 25 KG pre- and poweramp in a rack. This would be more than 55 lbs.

So it wouldn't matter if Your dream - amp would have more than 40 lbs. Just install a pair off side - hanles that allow two people to haul it.

Just make up Your mind abvout shipping it to europe at a reasonable price - and I will get it!

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by staindbass

alot of a tube amps sound/tone comes from the iron, or transformers. i dont think thats something they can skimp on

Word. SMPS is really good but I'm unconvinced about its use with a tube amp.

[pgk]

a seven times louder (200watt) B15N stand alone head for me please. basically the front end of the Heritage B15 with 200 clean tube watts (6550/kt88) in a head format. that'll do me very nicely for the rest of my life

[pgk]

oh and NO master volume....

[JOE EDO]

...or someone make an SVT capatable attenuator. A good start!

[zaten]

Originally Posted by derridiandrift

+1


I'm no electrical engineer, but my guess is that it would be a serious challenge to get anything much lighter than the V4BH.

I think it would be cool if Ampeg resurrected something like the V4BH but with a quad of KT88 tubes instead of 6L6s.

I love the V4BH but I need more usable power for rehearsals.

Traynor have a 40 lbs 200W tube head. Haven't heard the tone but it's proof enough that it is definitely doable!

[pbass888]

sign me up for at least 1 and 1 backup please

[Gearhead17]

SVT all tube heads with a DI out that takes the tone AFTER the power tubes. Then we can send the sound guy the real tube tone without low end loss and not have to argue for a mic on our rig....

SVT attentuator is another great idea. SVT growl at lower volumes would be wonderful.

Discontinuing or completely redesigning the B2RE/450H. Even better, just get rid of the 450H.

[TheNightLife]

I would totally buy a v4bh with 6550's and possibly a switch to go from full power to half power. Eveything I need right there. I was going to mod one until I got a price together for parts.