help me decide on my ampeg!

Morson93 · #1 08-07-2010, 06:04 PM

Okay,

i've decided in 2 months time, i will have the money to buy an ampeg rig. head and 410 cab.

my question is, which head would be better?

I really like the sound of the SVT-CL, but i don't have over a grand to spend on just the head, so i've been looking at the SVT 450H. yeah it looks the same, but do these two amps have any sound similarity? do they sound anything like eachother? can this do gigs? The other i've been looking at is the SVT 3 Pro. Can this one do big gigs? are they both suitable for bedroom practise? which one will give me a more punchy, punk tone, like rise against?

also, whats the difference with all the 410 cabs? is something better in ones than the others?

ahbassman · #2 08-07-2010, 06:06 PM

CL. No question. You can't beat the tone of tubes.

Morson93 · #3 08-07-2010, 06:07 PM

i can't afford the CL, hence why i asked about the SVT 3 pro and SVT 450H.

re read please

wizay · #4 08-07-2010, 06:10 PM

vt bass + markbass

muddycreek · #5 08-07-2010, 06:13 PM

Why Ampeg? If you're not going for the all-tube SVT thing, or you can't buy the all-tube head, I think there are better choices. The SVT-III will be a perfectly decent head to gig with, and likely will never be the reason you sound *bad*, but I've never thought they were *great*, either.

At some point in the past, I think I picked up a late 70's SVT rig, head and cabinet, for less than a new SVT-III plus 410.

Morson93 · #6 08-07-2010, 06:16 PM

because i love the sound of ampeg. i don't know what it is but it's like i only ever hear it coming out of ampeg amps. these are my options because i don't want to have to wait forever to buy the CL or a SVT 4. i just wanted some advice on these two amps, how they sound and how they perform.

bombpop14 · #7 08-07-2010, 06:20 PM

In my opinion you will be disappointed with the 450h...not the same at all as all tube or the SVT 4pro tube pre. If you can't afford the flagship stuff, investigate other options. Just my .02.

Morson93 · #8 08-07-2010, 06:23 PM

how is the SVT 3pro? what other good amps give similar sounds to say a ampeg CL or SVT 4 pro?

bombpop14 · #9 08-07-2010, 06:29 PM

The SVT 3pro is OK, your not going to be floored by it. Wizay had some good advice...you can use a Sansamp BDDI or VT pedal with almost any decent amp and get an SVT sound.

rodl2005 · #10 08-07-2010, 06:37 PM

the svt3pro is a damn good amp. & If u R after the ampeg tone & on a budget... possibly your best bet.

(I owned a 3PRO & then a SVT-2. as the 3 pro just really whets ys appetite for the real AMPEG stuff.)
IMO - I'd go for a 2nd hand SVT-CL/II/II PRO or I actually use my TRAYNOR YBA200 more these days- does the AMPEG thing VERY Well, is all tube & as stated above- throw a VTBASS pedal in Before yr amp & darn near ANY amp- especially a MARK bass LMII will give U THE ampeg sound & lot's of THE ampeg sounds to boot.

I'd TRY as many of these as U can. If the 3PRO really does IT for U....OK But I STILL think after a year of owning it, MOST wanna swap it for the ALL tube Ampeg gear. & that VT bass pedal will give U a LOTTA that sound.

hbarcat · #11 08-07-2010, 06:43 PM

Don't get the 450, you will be disappointed.

IMO, if you want to get most of the way to the classic Ampeg fuzz, get the SVT-3 Pro. I owned one for 3 years and I was very happy with its classic rock sound. It's pretty much the same classic tube preamp section but with a solid state power section.

Purists will say that without the power tubes you're not really getting the real thing but, unfortunately, that costs about twice as much as the SVT-3 Pro (as you already figured out). A bonus with the SVT-3 Pro is it's a lot smaller and lighter and there's less hassle about having to replace tubes, plus you have more flexibility with cabinet impedance.

Some people say the SVT-3 Pro is too quiet and is less powerful than it's rated wattage would suggest. My experience with my amp leads me to disagree - it was always plenty loud enough for me.

Travis_Bass · #12 08-07-2010, 06:44 PM

I have an svt 3 pro and an svt 410 hlf. The SVT-3 PRO is really loud for a garage band Im in. Unless you're going against huge guitar amps and a loud drummer, the svt 3 pro wont dissapoint. It is a little tricky to get your sound, but once you do, you fall in love.

Morson93 · #13 08-07-2010, 06:47 PM

i'm buying a VT pedal this month to play through my 30 watt laney untill i can afford my SVT rig. I shall definately give the SVT 3 pro a good think and will try to pick one up off ebay or something to try save money. I really would want one before october so hopefully.

wetzelman1 · #14 08-07-2010, 06:49 PM

the 3 pro will sound like a solid state with a tube pre, the cl will sound like an all tube amp. If you don't really know the difference, go to GC or SamAsh or similar and try them out, they sound extremely different.

that being said, I have an SVT 2 Pro, sounds awesome, but weighs a ton and is a pain to gig with and gets very hot yadda yadda. My old Solid state amp with my tube emulation pedals was much easier to gig with and sounded good, buuuuuut if you're trying to emulate tubes, than you mine as well get a tube amp, IMHO.

#15 08-07-2010, 06:49 PM

I was interested in the SVT-3 Pro myself. Anyone know what is a good price for this in almost new condition?

thesandman · #16 08-07-2010, 07:09 PM

Do yourself a favor. Practice till you play better. Don't buy anything till you play like a mofo. You'll be $$$ and smiles ahead of the game.

panama · #17 08-07-2010, 07:14 PM

SVT-3 Pro + VT Bass + 410 HLF

JimmyM · #18 08-07-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesandman

Do yourself a favor. Practice till you play better. Don't buy anything till you play like a mofo. You'll be $$$ and smiles ahead of the game.

that's no fun.

as a longtime ampeg lover, and owner of vintage ampeg tubers as well as a former svt 3 pro owner, the vt into any amp will get you a lot closer to the ampeg sound than any solid state or hybrid. i did like the 3 pro, but the vt is so realistic it can't be denied.

thesandman · #19 08-07-2010, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

that's no fun.

as a longtime ampeg lover, and owner of vintage ampeg tubers as well as a former svt 3 pro owner, the vt into any amp will get you a lot closer to the ampeg sound than any solid state or hybrid. i did like the 3 pro, but the vt is so realistic it can't be denied.

You're right, I was having a "do as I say, not as I do" moment. Otherwise I'd still be playing into a Peavey TNT instead of a Skunkworks SVT.

Nighttrain1127 · #20 08-07-2010, 07:35 PM

+1 to what JimmyM said. Run A VT Pedal through any power amp and an the speaker of your choice it will sound very close to an All tube SVT rig.