Skunkworks HD or SVT II?

[astav]

Howdy friends. I'm in the process of upgrading my bass rig. Love my V4 but am looking for more headroom. I'm fortunate enough to be looking at a average condition Skunkworks and a very clean SVT II in a road case both for about the same price. Pretty fair deals really. I've played plenty of SVTs but never one of the Skunks or IIs. Thoughts?

[JimmyM]

both are fantastic heads. i'd go for the skunk because it has two channels.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Given the relative rarity between the two, I would go with the Skunkworks.

But I don't use SVTs, so take it with a grain of salt.

[coreyfyfe]

Glad to hear you're enjoying the V4. As far as SVTs, the Skunkworks will be closest to vintage in terms of design and tube-path and being a two channel instead of single channel. The SVT-II will have different tone shaping options, given the graphic eq and different switching, etc, but certainly sounds good in it's own right, and as far as I've read sounds a lot closer to vintage SVTs than the II pro/SVT-CL with the separate master/gain. Comes down to what you're looking for I suppose. The SVT-II being rackmount could come in handy if you plan on using any rackmount add-ons (tuner, sonic maximizer, wireless, etc). The SVT-II also has the XLR line out for recording/FOH uses.

[anderbass]

I've never played a Skunkworks, but I've been gigging/comparing my SVT-II (non-pro) and my 72 SVT blueline for several years now. I pretty much never feel the desire to use channel 2 (on my blueline) or the graphic on my SVT-II, but barring those 2 options I've been amazed at how close the tone, volume and feel is on both of mine.

Lately I've been gigging my SVT-II and pretty much just using my blueline for rehearsals, but this is mainly just because I have less worries about my II being damaged in its rack case while transporting, or possibly being stolen when I have to leave it back stage or out in the car before and after gigs. If you can find any possible way to afford both, I'd vote for that.

[JimmyM]

anderbass, the 2 channel is very handy for those who like a clean/effected rig without having to buy two amps. also, when i first got my svt working again, i would use both channels set flat and blend the two in order to get some mids and high end happening a little stronger, but then i got the bright idea just to turn the tone knobs on the 1st channel

but either way is all win. an svt is an svt is an svt. even the cl, which don't get nearly as much love on here as the non-master svt's, is an svt.

[anderbass]

I hear ya Jimmy, I did spend some time blending/playing through channel 2 on my blueline but nowadays pretty much just always plug into ch. 1 and call it a day.

Have you ever had a CL and your old blueline in a side by side comparison with a band?

I owned a (recently serviced) late 90's CL for awhile and did several side by side/band-mix comparisons up against my old SVT-II. I thought my CL actually sounded a bit better while soloed, but in a band mix I just kept getting the urge to constantly tweek the CL's tone knobs while I never seem to get that urge with either of my other SVT's.

[JimmyM]

only once and i had to use different cabs, and i only got to check it on upright. but i was able to dial in approximately the same sound. not quite the same...the cl felt just a tad constricted compared to mine, but it wasn't far off the mark at all. i have to use cl's all the time when i fly, and unless they give me one of those crap osb cabs, it always works out great for me.

[astav]

Thanks everyone. Still pondering. I'll let you guys know when it happens.