Should I Sell My Year-Old SVT-CL to buy an Early 70's V4???

Boss302 · #1 09-13-2011, 08:26 AM

I've been pretty pleased with the CL and it's really been working out but I came here to ask you guys if there's a clear advantage to selling it and buying a V4 from the 70's.

I'm not too keen about the fact that the CL is made in Korea(?) I'm worried about longevity. The V4 (also guessing here; please correct me if I'm wrong) is made in the United States, more specifically, St. Louis.

The seller says that the amp was in the shop last month and that all of the tubes have been inspected and changed if necessary (4 Sovtek powers) and the amp was given a complete cap job which is something that I hear a lot of these old Ampegs need. The picture looks good and the deal also comes with an Ampeg 4x12 from the '80s. $1000. I'm sure that I could get that for the CL so what do yall think?

**Freddels** · #2 09-13-2011, 10:50 AM

The V4 doesn't really sound like an SVT to me. I had one and sold it. I would keep the CL.

JimmyM · #3 09-13-2011, 10:54 AM

The SVT-CL's made in S. Korea are the same as SVT-CL's made anywhere, and while the V4 is awesome (they were mostly made in Elkhart, IN while Selmer/Magnavox owned Ampeg), it's 200w less. However, it's pretty easy to find SVT's when you need one and not quite as easy to find V4's, so you could always get another SVT should you change your mind. Still, I'd probably hang onto the SVT. Just my opinion, though...do what your heart tells you.

will33 · #4 09-13-2011, 10:55 AM

If your cl has more power than you need or you want to be able to get the cranked up tube amp grit at lower volumes it may be worth it. Just keep in mind the v4 isn't going to be able to play as loud without the grit should you want to do that. The v4 doesn't have an identical tone to the svt but it's a good tone and still speaks ampeg none the less.

kringle77 · #5 09-13-2011, 11:00 AM

I like the sound of the 70's V4's way more than the svt-cl but, it is pretty low on output. Sell the CL and get a 70's svt. Then, have it checked out by a good tech. If you are willing to haul it around, nothing sounds as good as an old svt.

anonymous02282011 · #6 09-13-2011, 11:05 AM

another consideration is that the V4B goes about 10Hz lower than a V4.

You can mod one channel of a V4 fairly easily so that it becomes a V4B. that way you'd have "guitar" channel (v4) and a "bass guitar" channel (v4B)

Having owned a bunch of SVTs and V4Bs, i chose the SVT.

grimniggzy · #7 09-13-2011, 11:07 AM

I'd rather have the V4

arthur31686 · #8 09-13-2011, 11:09 AM

If you play at loud volumes and love the sound of natural overdrive I would get the V4.

You could always sell it and find another SVT with ease if its not working out. I gurantee someone will snatch that clean V4 here or elsewhere.

**jmattbassplaya** · #9 09-13-2011, 11:11 AM

I wish they hadn't of discontinued the V4BH back in '06 (or so). I was going through an old MF magazine and saw that they were selling them back then. Sure it has less power, but the thing only weighed 45lbs

I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat if they came back on the market.

coreyfyfe · #10 09-13-2011, 11:13 AM

I sold my SVT-CL when I bought my V4 and eventually traded the V4 for my 74 SVT. The newer amps definitely have a different tone, not to say you can't make them sound similar, but I greatly preferred the sound of the V4 to the SVT-CL, and could get away without the extra wattage. Eventually I had an opportunity to trade the V4 for a 70s SVT and I jumped on it. Haven't been unhappy with my decision.

JMac4strngr · #11 09-13-2011, 11:15 AM

Hang on to the SVT, sell something else to buy the V4.

Fair Warning · #12 09-13-2011, 11:33 AM

Ditto!......Hang on to the SVT! Having a 40 year old amp is also something to worry about.....

Best case......have them both!

username1 · #13 09-13-2011, 05:27 PM

I owned a newer svt cl and an old v4b at the same time. The v4 had decent tone but i much prefered using the svt. It had so much more balls and punch in the low end that i was always dissapointed with the v4 when i would switch to it after using the svt.

Boss302 · #14 09-13-2011, 05:50 PM

I might just hang on to the CL considering there are other things that I might be able to get rid of. I think that would be best since I would probably be tinkering on the V4 and I'm an active musician and can't afford to have my amp out of commission.

That being said, how much should I offer him since I would like to buy only the amplifier? (He's selling the V4 and an Ampeg 2x12 from the '80s for $1000.)

Rezdog · #15 09-13-2011, 06:09 PM

Greetings from the North,

NO!

Happy Times,
Rezdog

someparts · #16 09-13-2011, 08:31 PM

Your profile shows you running an SVT-810E cab. The V4 sounds best to me on a 70s lower wattage SVT 8x10 flatback. After running an SVT head into a modern cab and then the V4, I found 100 watts wasn't the right power for a cab with the higher wattage speakers(for my taste anyway).

The V4 is a great amp, but I wouldn't swap and be without the hoss.

Darknut · #17 09-13-2011, 08:36 PM

I even like the old "real" ones (except for carrying them) & I pretty much hate Ampeg

TravTrav · #18 09-13-2011, 10:06 PM

I kinda skimmed over this thread, and I believe I am in the minority.

If the V4 is ace I would totally sell off the SVT. I like a gritty bass tone, and for me that would be easier to accomplish with the V4. Of course, that's totally personal preference.

Also, I'd imagine the V4 is more serviceable(?) but I have no evidence to back that up. And I only say this because newer stuff is made up of a **** load of PCB and SMD stuff, like I said though I have no idea if the SVT is like that.

Boss302 · #19 09-13-2011, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by someparts

The V4 sounds best to me on a 70s lower wattage SVT 8x10 flatback.

So do you think that the '80s 4x12 that he's selling with it would be a better cab for the V4?

coreyfyfe · #20 09-14-2011, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boss302

So do you think that the '80s 4x12 that he's selling with it would be a better cab for the V4?

Depends on the cab. Is it the actual V4 4x12 or one of the others? Like the slant cabs? Either way, it's probably not going to be a great cab for bass. If you like to tinker, look into JohnK_10's V4 cab threads. He swapped out the speakers with some others to make it a solid bass cab, but if you want to go that route after sinking a grand into the head/cab I'm not sure.

When I had my V4 I played it through a 610HLF, a 70s B40 (4x10), and a 70s flatback 8x10. The flatback 8x10 was definitely the best of the bunch, but it's a lot of cab to move for some people. The great thing about the V4 is they have a 2/4/8 ohm switch, so they've extremely versatile in the cab matching department.