SVT-CL vs SVT-4 Pro

[tbird36go]

Here is the honest truth from a guy who has owned four SVT classics & five SVT 4 pro's, ME! The classic is a great amp I just use mine for recording. I'n my metal/indie rock bands trying to push past or just keep up with two guitarist was a nightmare with the classic. I couldn't keep up & got lost in the mix most of the time. The 4Pro's are my all time do it all & kill all guitarist amp. The problem most of these people (on talkbass) have with their 4pros is USER ERROR! The 4pro will only pump out 490watts @ 4 ohms & 300watts @ 8 ohms if you run her mono with a regular 1/4" speaker or non specific wired speakon cable. This is why people get gain problems & it sounds like the amp is way under powered because SOME PEOPLE DON'T READ MANUALS ALL THE WAY THROUGH! If you run her with a re-wired speakon (takes 2 seconds) like the manual says! & run her mono she will blast out 1200watts @ 4ohms & 900watts @8ohms. This is where I make my money & put guitarist on their knees! I currently have 3 gold lion 12AX7 tubes in the preamp section of my current 4 pro & it's sounds like a bass tidal wave bashing a wall of guitars. Their is even a instruction video on youtube (by Ampeg) showing you how to wire a speakon cable to pull the full butt load out of the 4 pro. I've been doing this for 25 years now & have touched dang near everything under the sun bass wise. The 4 pro is a beast hands down thats why so many pros & non pros in the know use them everyday. TYPE THIS INTO YOUR YOUTUBE SEARCH, "Ampeg How-To: Build a Mono-Bridged Cable for the SVT-4PRO" I use my classics & 4pros with Ampeg 810E cabs only.

[tbird36go]

Also I've never had one problem with any of my 4pros in the 17 years playing Ampeg gear & only 2 of my classics had minor issues... The SVT 2 pro is just a classic with a 4 pro cover but it's still only 300 watts. Just remember it would take 4 SVT classics to put out the same wattage a 1 SVT 4 pro. More Wattage = More Headroom = More Volume. I also have a Traynor DB800H 800watt head that is the most tube sounding hybrid amp I've ever had with headroom of the Gods & will go toe to toe with my 4pro. I'ts got a built in distortion circuit that feeds direct from the 12AX7. I'm strictly Ampeg now so I may sell her.

[JimmyM]

When I want overdrive with an SVT tuber, I use pedals or I turn up the gain and turn down the master. Yeah, it's not the same, but it's a lot more controllable on a gig and won't get me fired. Lately it's been this little overdrive pedal based on a Greedtone. Got a few others but that one covers pretty much all my live needs these days.

I've seen some folks take a low powered tube bass rig or even a guitar amp through a bass cab and let rip some distortion blended with a clean from their SVT, too. Gets a little unwieldy, but can sound quite glorious done right.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by qandb

Thank you but,. maybe I wasn't clear enough, I usually play in a two-channel setup, where I have a clean/slghtly gritty Ampeg sound and a more heavily overdriven sound, which I can switch during a song (with a footSWITCH). Since the CL doesn't offer that, what do you people use to boost your sound during a song?

I just switch pickups on my bass. One is intentionally far higher output.

[derridiandrift]

I have an MXR 10 band eq that I step on for more gain or for a different flavour. I've also used a VT pedal for more gain. It can be set up flat, so that there's no difference in the tone when it's bypassed.

Tbird, I ran my SVT4-pro mono bridged after building the appropriate cable and it's true... this amp is really loud that way. It was louder than I needed for many of my gigs. Most times I just ran one side of the power amp into one cab. I don't think anyone in this thread is disputing the brute force or versatility of that amp. I don't know about the accuracy of Ampeg's power claims for the 4-pro, so I don't think there is much value in debating 300 watts versus 1200, or whatever it is they claim the 4-pro produces. Regardless of the numbers debate, the 4-pro is, indisputably, a very loud amp.

Both amps needed maintenance in the time I owned them. The 4-pro burned up when it was brought in to the venue from the truck in the winter and turned on while there was still condensation all over it. The CL needed to have the dirt cleaned out of it and a few pots changed after years of playing dusty festivals. Just regular wear and tear. No big deal.

[tbird36go]

Originally Posted by derridiandrift

I have an MXR 10 band eq that I step on for more gain or for a different flavour. I've also used a VT pedal for more gain. It can be set up flat, so that there's no difference in the tone when it's bypassed.

Tbird, I ran my SVT4-pro mono bridged after building the appropriate cable and it's true... this amp is really loud that way. It was louder than I needed for many of my gigs. Most times I just ran one side of the power amp into one cab. I don't think anyone in this thread is disputing the brute force or versatility of that amp. I don't know about the accuracy of Ampeg's power claims for the 4-pro, so I don't think there is much value in debating 300 watts versus 1200, or whatever it is they claim the 4-pro produces. Regardless of the numbers debate, the 4-pro is, indisputably, a very loud amp.

Both amps needed maintenance in the time I owned them. The 4-pro burned up when it was brought in to the venue from the truck in the winter and turned on while there was still condensation all over it. The CL needed to have the dirt cleaned out of it and a few pots changed after years of playing dusty festivals. Just regular wear and tear. No big deal.

I clean my amps out with an automotive vacuum every year because of this... When one of my bands went on vacation we left all of our gear in our practice space. Two weeks later we have a show so we pack up & head out. We go on before the headliner & start setting up on stage. I throw my 4pro (inside a skb rack) onto my 810E & pop the rear pannel off. Spiders! tons of baby spiders come pouring out of the rear & side vents! I have a bit of arachnephobia & I freaked out for a minute. I could only watch a s all those spiders engulfed my bass head. I found my balls & plugged in for sound check, fired her up & she went the whole show without a hitch. Half the time I was just staring at the amp coverd in spiders & people close to the stage kept pointing at it. Needless to say maintinance goes a long way.

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by tbird36go

Here is the honest truth from a guy who has owned four SVT classics & five SVT 4 pro's, ME! The classic is a great amp I just use mine for recording. I'n my metal/indie rock bands trying to push past or just keep up with two guitarist was a nightmare with the classic. I couldn't keep up & got lost in the mix most of the time. The 4Pro's are my all time do it all & kill all guitarist amp. The problem most of these people (on talkbass) have with their 4pros is USER ERROR! The 4pro will only pump out 490watts @ 4 ohms & 300watts @ 8 ohms if you run her mono with a regular 1/4" speaker or non specific wired speakon cable. This is why people get gain problems & it sounds like the amp is way under powered because SOME PEOPLE DON'T READ MANUALS ALL THE WAY THROUGH! If you run her with a re-wired speakon (takes 2 seconds) like the manual says! & run her mono she will blast out 1200watts @ 4ohms & 900watts @8ohms. This is where I make my money & put guitarist on their knees! I currently have 3 gold lion 12AX7 tubes in the preamp section of my current 4 pro & it's sounds like a bass tidal wave bashing a wall of guitars. Their is even a instruction video on youtube (by Ampeg) showing you how to wire a speakon cable to pull the full butt load out of the 4 pro. I've been doing this for 25 years now & have touched dang near everything under the sun bass wise. The 4 pro is a beast hands down thats why so many pros & non pros in the know use them everyday. TYPE THIS INTO YOUR YOUTUBE SEARCH, "Ampeg How-To: Build a Mono-Bridged Cable for the SVT-4PRO" I use my classics & 4pros with Ampeg 810E cabs only.

Very nice of you to point a few of these things out, however I have none of these problems that you so aptly point out. I know exactly how to run my 4pro (one of the reasons I carry it back and forth across the country). I can blow windows out of a rehearsal space most any time I want, but in 99% of any band setting, that's not "usually" the way the business works.

In terms of pure "tone", for me, the CL beats the 4pro, hands down. However, the 4pro does an excellent job for a truly hybrid amp. Granted, my CL is a Heritage model and I play it through the HSVT 810, while I usually play the 4 through the 610HLF Classic - but I have interchanged them and gotten very acceptable results.

Bottom line in any of this, of course, is personal preference. I LOVE my Ampeg gear! It serves me well, is easy to take care of and never hiccups on me - and isn't that what we're all looking for?

[bass.player]

Did I understand correctly you prefer the 4pro with the 610hlf over the CL?

[Buster Brown]

Originally Posted by bass.player

Did I understand correctly you prefer the 4pro with the 610hlf over the CL?

Not really sure if you're asking me, but no. I prefer the CL and the 810 with the 4Pro and the 610hlf coming in at second.

[warwick.hoy]

The answer is clear.

Get the SVT-CL and another 8x10.

I've played extensively with a buddy's SVT4 PRo. It's a great sounding amp,...but I own an SVT- CL for a reason.

All the rattling and maintenance requirements (I'm in the process of refurbishing it) and back massages aside (seriously not complaining about back massages with happy endings provided by my wife); SVT-CL is by far the best amp I've ever been in possession of.

IMO, YMMV, I'd love to have a go with a 400+

[tbird36go]

In the end I know we all love our Ampeg gear but qandb wanted to know if the volume (headroom) between the Classic & 4Pro would be the same. True answer is "Not Even Close" The 4Pro wins without a doubt. Again I have them both & play them both. I played with a rockabilly band last night with one guitarist & my Classic was perfect. When I play with my Metal band against two ripping guitarist the 4Pro is a must because the Classic just cant keep up.

[M. Owen Santy]

Originally Posted by tbird36go

Also I've never had one problem with any of my 4pros in the 17 years playing Ampeg gear & only 2 of my classics had minor issues... The SVT 2 pro is just a classic with a 4 pro cover but it's still only 300 watts. Just remember it would take 4 SVT classics to put out the same wattage a 1 SVT 4 pro. More Wattage = More Headroom = More Volume. I also have a Traynor DB800H 800watt head that is the most tube sounding hybrid amp I've ever had with headroom of the Gods & will go toe to toe with my 4pro. I'ts got a built in distortion circuit that feeds direct from the 12AX7. I'm strictly Ampeg now so I may sell her.

I had a 400w Yorkville XS400tc that was killer and traded it - bad ass little combo, should have never passed it on. Running Traynor YBA200-2 now and not problem keeping up with 150w Triple Rectifiers. Perhaps look at that or the 300w version: WAY under rated amps.

[qandb]

Originally Posted by tbird36go

In the end I know we all love our Ampeg gear but qandb wanted to know if the volume (headroom) between the Classic & 4Pro would be the same. True answer is "Not Even Close" The 4Pro wins without a doubt. Again I have them both & play them both. I played with a rockabilly band last night with one guitarist & my Classic was perfect. When I play with my Metal band against two ripping guitarist the 4Pro is a must because the Classic just cant keep up.

Exactly what I wanted to know. I'll give each one their fair chance but, in the end, if I can't hear myself (pretty loud band), the amp's no good... Plus, I'm starting to like the versatility of the 4pro (clean boost with EQ, OD+boost with pedal, etc.)...

[Sartori]

I can't imagine not being able to be heard in one's band with an SVT-CL and an 810 cab, unless it were a doom metal band or something.

But then, whatever works. As said, the 4pro isn't the amp for me, as it's just too damn clean. Was impossible for me to get any dirt from the one I tried. Whereas with the SVT-CL, it's not that difficult.

But then, everyone prefers different tones.

[tbird36go]

Originally Posted by SpectorErector

I had a 400w Yorkville XS400tc that was killer and traded it - bad ass little combo, should have never passed it on. Running Traynor YBA200-2 now and not problem keeping up with 150w Triple Rectifiers. Perhaps look at that or the 300w version: WAY under rated amps.

I love my traynor 800H it's a beast! but I'd rather have the YBA300. I'm gona put the 800H up for sale in the classified section. Dan Armstrong took alot of the Traynor ideas & amp design to Ampeg & came up with the SVT back in the day.