SVT-CL vs Ampeg V4 - What gives?

allexcosta · #1 01-30-2011, 07:00 PM

So, here's the deal...

I have this friend who owns these two heads since ever. Both from the 70's but pretty well maintained and revised once a year by the same guy, an experienced amp technician.

I've never had the curiosity to A/B these heads, mainly because he just had a 8x10 Ampeg fridge which I happen to dislike.

I was at his house today and saw he just got a Bergie 6x10 and I said "wow, let's hear that new cab of yours".

Long story short, the 100W V4 was as loud as the 300W SVT-CL with better tone and a joy to play, mainly in louder settings...

Anyone A/B'd these and found similar results?

Tim Cole · #2 01-30-2011, 07:02 PM

TomB · #3 01-30-2011, 07:30 PM

I've owned a V4 since the '70's and played through both amps many times. I've never actually turned either up all the way... they're both very loud. The most noticeable difference to me is that the V4 breaks up quite a bit sooner volume-wise than its big brother... but it does so very nicely. It is a great-sounding amp.

allexcosta · #4 01-30-2011, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomB

It is a great-sounding amp.

It sounds a lot bigger than 100W doesn't it?

Tim Cole · #5 01-30-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allexcosta

It sounds a lot bigger than 100W doesn't it?

my v4bh doesn't

allexcosta · #6 01-30-2011, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Cole

my v4bh doesn't

Sorry, I'm not familiar with Ampeg models... Is it similar to the V4, also from the 70's?

kranahan · #7 01-30-2011, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allexcosta

Long story short, the 100W V4 was as loud as the 300W SVT-CL with better tone and a joy to play, mainly in louder settings...

The V4 does get loud but I can't even turn my SVT to a quarter without blowing my ear drums. My v4bh did get very loud but no where near my SVT. Try turning the SVT to 3/4 volume and the V4 to 3/4 volume then tell me how they compare in loudness.

cripula · #8 01-30-2011, 07:51 PM

I have a 70s V4-B, SVT and a Berg 610. The SVT is much louder.

Luckydog · #9 01-30-2011, 07:58 PM

The SVT CL was not made in the 70s. If you mean a 70's SVT, it will stay clean much louder than a V4. Similar tone family but much more headroom in a SVT.

coreyfyfe · #10 01-30-2011, 08:08 PM

Having owned both and having played them through the same cabs I can honestly say the SVT blows the V4 away volume wise.

panama · #11 01-30-2011, 08:11 PM

Ampeg has been scamming everyone. The SVT is really a 50 watt amp.

allexcosta · #12 01-30-2011, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luckydog

The SVT CL was not made in the 70s. If you mean a 70's SVT, it will stay clean much louder than a V4. Similar tone family but much more headroom in a SVT.

I'm sorry. As I mentioned before, I'm not familiar with Ampeg's nomenclature.

Don't know if there was anything wrong with his SVT, but the V4 had a better tone to my ears...

lowend1 · #13 01-30-2011, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Cole

my v4bh doesn't

Not in the same league as a 1970s V4B.

kosmicwizard · #14 01-30-2011, 08:28 PM

I have never tried a V4b yet, but there are actually a number of people that say they are sweeter sounding than the SVT's. However, I have never heard that any 100 watt head can keep up in clean volume to a properly running amp that produces 3 times the wattage. The SVT should be 4.77 dB louder than the V4, which is easily noticeable. Cheers.

allexcosta · #15 01-30-2011, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosmicwizard

I have never tried a V4b yet, but there are actually a number of people that say they are sweeter sounding than the SVT's. However, I have never heard that any 100 watt head can keep up in clean volume to a properly running amp that produces 3 times the wattage. The SVT should be 4.77 dB louder than the V4, which is easily noticeable. Cheers.

I don't know if that means anything, but I'm pretty sure it was a V4, not a V4B.

kosmicwizard · #16 01-30-2011, 09:00 PM

IIRC they are the same head (and both sound fantastic with bass guitar) just the V4 has reverb and was made for guitars ... the "b" means bass, but they are the same head. Cheers.

anderbass · #17 01-30-2011, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allexcosta

a joy to play

Man, sounds like things have changed since you posted this thread: Can't stand the sound of Tube Heads.

allexcosta · #18 01-30-2011, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anderbass

Man, sounds like things have changed since you posted this thread: Can't stand the sound of Tube Heads.

I knew that was coming...

Hadn't had time to sit with some tube heads from the 70s and understand their sound. Still think I wouldn't love them in a live gig, since amps change so much from your room to an open space.

Yes, I think today's Ampeg stuff isn't up to the quality the brand had in the 70's. I was quite scared first time I tried one of the new SVT-CL's... Very disappointing...