SVT-3Pro vs. Mesa Walkabout

R. Laevinus · #1 11-17-2010, 12:19 PM

Hey guys, me again, posting another new thread. Hopefully this one will be less contentious than my history would seem to indicate...

Moving right along, I have a Mesa Walkabout head that I'm considering replacing with an Ampeg SVT-3Pro. What I want to know is, is this a good idea, or am I crazy?

I have spent some time with the Ampeg, though not in ideal circumstances nor for as long as I'd like. I think the tone is quite reasonable, and I'm sure I could work with it. I'm also looking to take advantage of the higher rated output wattage - 275w at 8ohms, as opposed to the Walkabout's 160w at 8.

HOWEVER, when I ran my search here on TB, I ran into some things that disturbed me a bit. Apparently there have been concerns over the SVT-3Pro's: Reliability; perceived volume, and tone in a band setting.

It wasn't apparent to me from the threads and reviews I checked out, whether these concerns were valid or vacuous, so now I'd like to call on the cats who own or have owned SVT-3Pro's to pipe up and let me know the score. Can an SVT-3Pro be relied on to perform? Is there any real difference between the US and Chinese models? (I read a lot of opinions, but if there was truth I must have missed it.) If you ran the SVT and the Walkabout into identical cabs with identical basses with identical players, which would give more volume before clipping/fartout/zero headroom?

Would you rather have the SVT or the WA? Why?

And if you've spent any time with both amps, please give me the skinny on how you found them, and which you'd rather have if you could only have one.

Thanks in advance!

JEDBass · #2 11-17-2010, 12:38 PM

Personally, I wouldn't replace the WA with an SVT3-Pro. I currently own a WA, and while I haven't owned the SVT3-PRO I've played through several for quite a few years in different situations, plus I owned an SVP-PRO for a few years (basically the preamp of the 3PRO). Here's my $0.02:

First, I don't think you're really going to get any significant volume increase from the Ampeg. I don't think I'd necessarily call it's power specs overrated, but I think it's inherent tone profile causes it to require more of it's available power to equal another amp's (such as the WA) perceived volume, especially if you go crazy with the EQ and Deep switches. As you probably know, the WA seems to get quite loud for it's rated output. Not sure what the exact reason is, but majority opinion here seems to back up that feeling.

Second, at least for what I've used it for, the WA just seems to sit better in a mix, and even though there are more knobs, buttons and sliders on the Ampeg, I feel the WA controls are just as effective, if not moreso (mainly due to the 3 band parametric). That said, if the graphic EQ on the PRO is used properly, it can double as a nice boost channel, which is something you just can't do with the WA.

If you do decide to move to the PRO, don't treat that annoying little gain LED like a limiter. IMO/IME, the entire Ampeg PRO series sounds best when that LED is on most of the time. If not, it seems the dynamics and harmonic detail just don't shine through as well. Also, and I think it's been discussed here before, but that tube drive knob is a little misleading. Conventional thought would have you think you want to turn it mostly up to get more of a vintage SVT sound, but IME it's quite the opposite. From what I understand that knob controls the plate voltage, and keeping it turned down or all the way gets you closer to that classic sound.

On top of that, if you're dying to have the "Ampeg SVT sound", I'd recommend you run a VT Bass pedal into the WA and keep the WA gain at a clean level, or possibly running into the effects return (whichever sounds better to you). That would probably get you closer to the real SVT than the PRO even would. Go figure!

I'm sure there may be other opinions of this. Good luck either way!

fenderhutz · #3 11-17-2010, 12:50 PM

I have owned 2 SVT 3 Pro amps and they are known to have problems. Both of mine broke with moderate gigging. I kept it rack mounted and out of bad weather and didn't toss it around. Both of them started failing with loud clipping at higher volumes. Sent them off for "factory" repair and they never got fixed. I made the mistake after the first one to try another one because I got a good deal new. Mistake.

Atomic Music near DC once had a policy (don't know if they still do) where they would be hesitant to take them because of reliability and they take just about anything on trade.

The tone you get out of a Mesa bass amp (no matter which one) will beat this Ampeg amp tenfold. Also, I would even venture to say 200 "Mesa" watts is about 300 (or more) "Ampeg" solid state watts.

Crabby · #4 11-17-2010, 12:53 PM

The SVT3 is really not a very loud amp for its power rating. I tried one a few times and was very underwhelmed. I think you would be stepping down in quality by going from Mesa to Ampeg, especially those two models.

R. Laevinus · #5 11-17-2010, 12:55 PM

Thanks very much, guys! I appreciate your candor, and it would seem that you've steered me clear of a deal I'd be regretting later on.

Cheers!

TheLarch · #6 11-17-2010, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R. Laevinus

Thanks very much, guys! I appreciate your candor, and it would seem that you've steered me clear of a deal I'd be regretting later on.

Cheers!

Seems like the wise route.

I have had both and while I didn't have any reliability issues with either, I regret selling the WA and don't miss the SVT3-Pro in the least.

When I need my Ampeg fix, I just run my VT Pedal as a pre-amp into my Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0.

**Eric Perry** · #7 11-17-2010, 01:09 PM

I agree with everyone here. I've never owned the Mesa, but I have owned the SVT. I never had reliability issues, but was very unimpressed with every other facet of that head, primarily its volume.

R. Laevinus · #8 11-17-2010, 02:21 PM

Phew! Clearly a close one!

Thanks!

silky smoove · #9 11-17-2010, 02:55 PM

I've never owned either, but have played both several times. The 3 always seemed low on power for its rating, whereas the WA always seemed to have more power than its rating would imply.

The tones are quite different, specifically in the voicing of the midrange, so that could be a determining factor for you. For me the WA tone wins that battle in a huge way. More complex midrange content with less clank (though I wouldn't call the 3 clanky) and more of the tube-amp-like bloom that comes with the M-Pulse line of heads from Mesa.

WardEarth · #10 11-17-2010, 03:19 PM

Seeing as there is some bashing on the svt-3 pro, I have to stick up for it. The lowish power is true, but it is enough for any medium gig; and any bigger gigs should probably get you some pa options.
I've always enjoyed the sound and, as for reliability, it recently survived me totally wrecking my car.

Picked it up off of craigslist about 2 years ago. $600 included a large skb rack, good korg rack tuner, and cheap rack effects.

vin*tone · #11 11-17-2010, 03:45 PM

+1 to pretty much everything said. except...... I found the tone of the SVT 3 to sit very nicely in a band context.

sneha1965 · #12 11-17-2010, 03:52 PM

I have both and have been playing more of the WA lately though I miss the mute switch and extra outlet on the back of the SVT-3 Pro.

RickenBoogie · #13 11-17-2010, 05:00 PM

I would have to agree, not a good trade. The 3Pro is a good amp, and certainly more than good enough, but the Walkabout is a GREAT amp, and you won't find that tone anywhere else. The grass is always greener, etc, etc,...keep your Boogie.

R. Laevinus · #14 11-17-2010, 06:07 PM

Thanks a million, guys, I'm awfully glad you steered me off of that one.

Also, I should mention that I'm impressed at how civil this thread has been, and how little bashing has occurred - specifically, none. Threads like this remind me why I ponied up cash to surf the web.

Many thanks!

GizmoTheOne · #15 11-17-2010, 08:03 PM

Tone in a band context? I find my 3PRO great for that matter... I guess it all depends on what genre you play, what bass you play, etc.

I currently own a 3 PRO, have played a few months with a borrowed WA. They really are voiced differently.

I agree with everything that has been said before, BUT...
I love the Ampeg tone, actually I like it better than the WA's, though I agree the latter is pretty unique.
I tried both in the studio, and in my ears the 3PRO killed the WA hands down.

However, when it comes to POWER, even though the ampeg is rated way more than the Mesa, they have almost the same power.
-This amp (Ampeg) has tricky secrets ; you gotta learn how it works and do a lot of trial and error before finding good tones. For example, using the graphic EQ level slider on the 3PRO to increase volume leads to clipping and farting . Many people haven't took enough time to make the amp work correctly and so the reviews are mainly bad ones.

I am pretty happy with my 3PRO, though I agree there is probably something better. MESA and Ampeg are both great manufacturers, but they don't rate power the same way

BTW, who said use the VT Bass to get the Ampeg tone???? -10 000 to that. Use the VT to get an "SVT-CL-like" tone. Way different.