Svt 4 Pro or SVT Classic?

CptZacSparrow · #1 03-26-2010, 05:26 PM

Hi, I am currently torn on which head unit to get, I currently have an Ampeg SVT 4 pro paired with an Ampeg 8x10 classic cab. I am really specific in my tones and want every string to be equal in volume. I was originally going to get an Ampeg SVT Classic, but the one I purchased refused to work and GC gave me the 4 pro as a settlement. I have my own amp tech who said he can personalize my head, but I am worried if I stick with the 4 pro I will wish I had the classic. Any opinions from real bassist that understand sound and tone would be greatly appreciated.

heath_r_91 · #2 03-26-2010, 05:33 PM

If GC only gave you a 4 PRO then they owe you money. An SVT-4 PRO costs substantially less than an SVT-CL

Personally I'd go with the SVT-CL between the two. It's an industry standard amp that you are almost guaranteed a good tone out of. It doesn't have my tone, but it does have good tone.

The SVT-4 PRO does have some good tones but I have to try a lot harder with anything solid state to get what I call a good tone.

**jmattbassplaya** · #3 03-26-2010, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heath_r_91

If GC only gave you a 4 PRO then they owe you money. An SVT-4 PRO costs substantially less than an SVT-CL

Personally I'd go with the SVT-CL between the two. It's an industry standard amp that you are almost guaranteed a good tone out of. It doesn't have my tone, but it does have good tone.

The SVT-4 PRO does have some good tones but I have to try a lot harder with anything solid state to get what I call a good tone.

+1

Yeah, if you paid for a CL and they gave you a 4 then they owe you a couple hundred bucks lol

RickenBoogie · #4 03-26-2010, 05:59 PM

But, between those 2 heads, it's really a matter for your ears to decide which one sounds better. Neither is "better", both are different.

CptZacSparrow · #5 03-26-2010, 07:17 PM

Ah, I forgot to mention, both were used. I paid $899 for a used classic, but when I tried it out at the store it kept having a strange crackling noise coming out of any cab I plugged it in to. After a few days of miscommunication and even attempting to get my own amp tech to fix it GC offered me a used SVT 4 pro for a hundred dollars less and a one year warranty. However, I still have the option of returning the 4 pro and having them find another used SVT classic of equal value. And as for the judgement of my ears, I am not sure what to say. I am really trying to get that smooth warm bass tone where you can hear ever single high and low note with equal balance.

**jmattbassplaya** · #6 03-26-2010, 08:40 PM

Strings being equal volume would be more of a pickup issue. You`re not playing a StingRay are you?

Also, have you considered trying Markbass? A lot of Ampeg users tend to like a lot of Markbass products.

**jmattbassplaya** · #7 03-26-2010, 08:45 PM

Or, have you considered trying Aguilar?

beebassdude · #8 03-26-2010, 09:00 PM

depends on what sound you want. i had a 4 pro and i decided to switch to a tube amp because tube amps just have a sweet sound that you cant really get out of a SS head. i was debating between the CL and the VR and i personally thought the VR blew the CL away so i went with that. GC had discontinued them and i found one for 1500 new instead of the 2k list price.

it all depends on what kinda music youre playing and what you wanna do. you said "smooth and warm" and those are tube words lol!

JimmyM · #9 03-26-2010, 10:30 PM

4 pro's nice but the cl is the #2 amp of all time, the #1 being the vr. there are a lot of pros who use the 4 pro, love it, and sound great with it, but let's face it...tubes, dude!

CptZacSparrow · #10 03-27-2010, 12:49 AM

I had a markbass little mark II for 3 years and to be honest I wasn't feeling it. I have been curious about Aguilar but they are pretty expensive (I imagine because of their great sound). As for my bass, no I do not use a StingRay. I use a Fender Deluxe Active Jazz bass and a Fender Standard Mexican Jazz Bass (currently installing passive Bartolini pickups). I have yet to try the SVT classic with a full band, but it sounds like that is more of the direction I want to go in. I was thinking about just getting a BBE Sonic Maximizer to go with my SVT 4 Pro but in the end I think I will just want to get a tube. lol

JimmyM · #11 03-27-2010, 01:10 AM

ya, don't waste money on stuff to fix your amp sound like a sonic maximizer. just get what you want to begin with.

wetzelman1 · #12 03-27-2010, 08:17 AM

a compressor or limiter will help with evening out string volumes, the tubes act as compressors that's why you get that with tubes. IMHO the 4 pro doesn't have anywhere near the depth and warmth of the cl, if that's what you're going for. I just made the jump from the B2R to the 2 Pro. I had to use a whole bunch of pedals to get an acceptable tone before but now it's just plug and play with the amp.

Alexander · #13 03-27-2010, 02:47 PM

Definitely the CL - power tubes are the shizzle...

beebassdude · #14 03-27-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

4 pro's nice but the cl is the #2 amp of all time, the #1 being the vr. there are a lot of pros who use the 4 pro, love it, and sound great with it, but let's face it...tubes, dude!

im sure youve answered this before, but ill ask you again lol. in your opinion, how close is the VR to the original blueline series?

PinkFloydDan · #15 03-27-2010, 04:24 PM

Hands down the SVT-CL

I would have taken the CL to a tech to have them look it over. The fix would have still been well worth the expense of having an SVT.

It's an incredible, dream amp. I love mine. In fact, the tubes are still on after practicing for an hour. I think I will return to that.

fourstringburn · #16 03-27-2010, 04:40 PM

Tubes? just be prepared for the upkeep costs and weight. Bottom line, which sounds best to you?

CptZacSparrow · #17 03-27-2010, 07:17 PM

[quote=fourstringburn;8902831]Tubes? just be prepared for the upkeep costs and weight. Bottom line, which sounds best to you?[/QUOTE

Yeah, that was the only reason I took the 4 pro. I also forgot to mention that my band is really experimental and I might start using effect pedals and I hae heard the classics are not the way to go with effects.

Tajue17 · #18 03-27-2010, 08:29 PM

get the Classic,,,,, even the mesa 400+ which I liked better than the CL but CL is the best Ampeg head (personal prefrence) I'd say

**jmattbassplaya** · #19 03-27-2010, 09:38 PM

I know JimmyM will give me crap for this... but remember the CL is 80-odd lbs. I don`t know about you, but I`ll pass on that

Buster Brown · #20 03-27-2010, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

I know JimmyM will give me crap for this... but remember the CL is 80-odd lbs. I don`t know about you, but I`ll pass on that

Well, I dunno....I gave up worrying about the "weight" factor a long time ago...but I still use the 4Pro. Owned both the CL and the VR..both great amps, but after a while the 4 Pro just really did it for me...but if there any older CLs out there....well, I would never say never!