New Amp Day! Ampeg SVT350!

Fullmetal · #1 05-14-2010, 04:19 PM

So I finally went to the store and tried out an Ampeg... I was blown away! I tried an SVT450 in the UK equivalent of GC and absolutely adored it, ran a Fender Jazz through it (what I normally use) and loved the sound! However, the price was very steep

So I put aside any thoughts of buying it.

However, my friend came along with me and took me to his local guitar shop (called Badlands Guitars, never heard of it before) he was looking for a Marshall stack that he'd been watching in there. Unfortunately his stack was gone, however in the window they had something beautiful, an Ampeg SVT350 (instead of 450) with a classic 4x10 cabinet... For a fraction of the price! It had been put on ebay so if I wanted it, I needed to purchase it immediately. Of course I needed to sleep on it, so I went home and thought about it. Next day, it was in my possession!

So I absolutely adore this amp and I can see why people would make a big deal. They are powerful, sleek and sexy amps that sound amazing. Or so I thought.

After playing around with my Jazz bass, I swapped to my Ibanez SR705. The sound was muddy and horrible, I couldn't find a single setting that I liked. I tried it with my ATK bass, same again. I've been considering trading them in for a Musicman Stingray but now I think I can justify it.

So I'm wondering if anyone else has had an Ampeg (or any amp really) that has sounded great with some basses, but not others. The Ibanez basses sounded amazing when I used them with my Hartke previously, but now they sound bad.

mbrook907 · #2 05-14-2010, 04:45 PM

Yeah I tried to scoop one of those up here in the classifieds, but it wasn't to be...

Sartori · #3 05-14-2010, 04:49 PM

Lots of people on here hate them, but I always liked mine a lot. Would have kept it as a backup if I could have afforded to do so.

Of course, I never used that wide a variety of basses with it, so who knows. Basically just used my Ibanez 4001 copy and my Peavey p-bass copy (which I later modded because I hated its sound).

georgestrings · #4 05-14-2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fullmetal

They are powerful, sleek and sexy amps that sound amazing.

Hahahahahaaa!!! - so, you really haven't played many quality amps, huh??? I'm glad you're happy with your new amp, but if you compare it to ANY other amp with a similar rating, you'll likely see things a bit differently...

- georgestrings

thudstaff23 · #5 05-14-2010, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgestrings

Hahahahahaaa!!! - so, you really haven't played many quality amps, huh??? I'm glad you're happy with your new amp, but if you compare it to ANY other amp with a similar rating, you'll likely see things a bit differently...

- georgestrings

How can you read this thread from your pedestal? Different strokes for different folks.

Fullmetal · #6 05-14-2010, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgestrings

Hahahahahaaa!!! - so, you really haven't played many quality amps, huh??? I'm glad you're happy with your new amp, but if you compare it to ANY other amp with a similar rating, you'll likely see things a bit differently...

- georgestrings

Well there is always someone with a different opinion. I understand you might not like this amp but I find that it fits my needs perfectly. I have tried many other amps but none of them really appealed to me (including Marshalls and Mesas).

Sartori · #7 05-14-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fullmetal

Well there is always someone with a different opinion. I understand you might not like this amp but I find that it fits my needs perfectly. I have tried many other amps but none of them really appealed to me (including Marshalls and Mesas).

Haters gonna hate.

eyeballkid · #8 05-14-2010, 06:31 PM

ya know, ive gone thru dozens of amps... many of them tube amps, and i gotta say the tone of the svt-450 was spot on!!!.. i assume the 350 is the same. I woulda kept mine, but my band is way loud and it could hang, but just barely, and that worried me. I keep thinking about pickin up another for that awesome tone.

and as far as the different sound with different basses, thats everybody's experience. ya cant go wrong with a jazz or a stingray thru an ampeg.
for example: my jazz sounded great thru my ampeg 450, ampeg svt, ampeg v4b, traynor yba 200-2, fender 300t and the mesa.. and not as great thru my ashdown. my stingray sounds great thru all of the them but the mesa, and best thru the ashdown and the v4b... my warwick sounds good in everything but the traynor and the fender 300t to my ears.. and if we start talking about cabinets with each it gets even more fun.

Fullmetal · #9 05-14-2010, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeballkid

ya know, ive gone thru dozens of amps... many of them tube amps, and i gotta say the tone of the svt-450 was spot on!!!.. i assume the 350 is the same. I woulda kept mine, but my band is way loud and it could hang, but just barely, and that worried me. I keep thinking about pickin up another for that awesome tone.

and as far as the different sound with different basses, thats everybody's experience. ya cant go wrong with a jazz or a stingray thru an ampeg.
for example: my jazz sounded great thru my ampeg 450, ampeg svt, ampeg v4b, traynor yba 200-2, fender 300t and the mesa.. and not as great thru my ashdown. my stingray sounds great thru all of the them but the mesa, and best thru the ashdown and the v4b... my warwick sounds good in everything but the traynor and the fender 300t to my ears.. and if we start talking about cabinets with each it gets even more fun.

The SVT350 has the exact same sound as the 450, it's just a lower wattage (but I never need more than 300 watts and I've heard Ampegs provide more wattage than they say).

I used a Hartke HA5500 before as I said and I could play anything through it and it would sound amazing. Still thinking of going for a Musicman though, want to keep it simple and go "professional".

"Q" · #10 05-14-2010, 06:44 PM

I tried a 350 anniversary edition more than a few years ago and I disliked it very much. It reminded me of my peavey classic 400 a lot....tho a bit nicer.

In retrospect, I think what I perceive as kinda muddy and confused sounding is perceived as huge and warm to others. I'm betting SVT tone is something you love or hate even though I've only played through a couple of them.

georgestrings · #11 05-14-2010, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thudstaff23

How can you read this thread from your pedestal? Different strokes for different folks.

What can I say - I've heard alot of descriptions of that amp in the past, but never heard it described as:

"They are powerful, sleek and sexy amps that sound amazing"

As always, just calling it as I see it...

- georgestrings

maevinj · #12 05-14-2010, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgestrings

What can I say - I've heard alot of descriptions of that amp in the past, but never heard it described as:

"They are powerful, sleek and sexy amps that sound amazing"

As always, just calling it as I see it...

- georgestrings

So have you actually played an svt350 and 410? or you were just telling this guy his new amp he loves sucks based off of what other people have said?

georgestrings · #13 05-14-2010, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maevinj

So have you actually played an svt350 and 410? or you were just telling this guy his new amp he loves sucks based off of what other people have said?

Yeah, I've played that exact combination - more than a couple of times, actually... In fact, I've probably played every model of Ampeg amp and cab at one time or another - I've played plenty of gigs over the years on provided backlines, and in rented rehearsal spaces...

Sorry it twists some people's undies, but it's fairly common knowledge that the B2R, SVT350, B2RE, SVT450 are hardly known as being "powerful", and are fairly quiet for their ratings - when compared to other amps of similar ratings, like Peavey, Genz-Benz, G-K, Mesa, SWR, etc...

- georgestrings

Krügmeister · #14 05-14-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgestrings

Yeah, I've played that exact combination - more than a couple of times, actually... In fact, I've probably played every model of Ampeg amp and cab at one time or another - I've played plenty of gigs over the years on provided backlines, and in rented rehearsal spaces...

Sorry it twists some people's undies, but it's fairly common knowledge that the B2R, SVT350, B2RE, SVT450 are hardly known as being "powerful", and are fairly quiet for their ratings - when compared to other amps of similar ratings, like Peavey, Genz-Benz, G-K, Mesa, SWR, etc...

- georgestrings

Sorry I have to agree with georgestrings.
BUT, if it works for you who cares, it's rocking like you want it to.
There are some people that hate 400+ for reasons I cannot explain... so taste is subjective

rbonner · #15 05-15-2010, 12:09 AM

Kinda brutal there guys. When I was just two years younger than him I thought my 50 watt Fender Bassman was serious kick butt. He's got enough juice to rock and roll there. If its the sound he was looking for at this period in his playing, then cool. Some guys search their whole lives for tone.

BOB

JimmyM · #16 05-15-2010, 05:15 AM

wow, bum the dude out, willya?

it's a fine amp, and if it does what you want, forget what others say.

bottomfeedins · #17 05-15-2010, 08:41 AM

I have a SVT350, and play it through a BSE410HLF cab. I've had no problems with it, and I've gotten good tones out of it with my Fender USA J-Bass, Gibson T-bird, and Peavey T-40. I wouldn't call it "top-of-the-line", but no complaints here! I haven't heard of Ampegs putting out more power than they are rated for, however. The SVT350 would probably put out around 300 watts, give or take...