svt7-pro vs. EA iAmp 800 thru a Bergantino 210?

sleeplessknight · #1 04-12-2011, 05:23 PM

Hey all, I currently have an EA iAmp 800 that I've been running through a Bergantino 210. It's been a great reliable little amp, but... it just lacks a certain "something". Maybe I just prefer an amplifier that has 'color' to its tone? Anyway, I tried out an Ampeg SVT7-Pro at the local Guitar Center through an Ampeg 410 and... it was pretty impressive! Would I be out of my mind if I wanted to sell the EA and pick up the Ampeg? Has anyone run an Ampeg thru a Bergie? Any input folks could give would be most helpful!

jad · #2 04-12-2011, 06:44 PM

I run a 7-Pro through a HT310, and I like it a lot! The HT310 is a different animal than your AE210, so it's not apples to apples. I goose the mids with this cab and cut the highs just a bit. One thing I've noticed is that it seems like the mid knob has less impact between 9:00 and 3:00, outside of which even small changes make a big difference. Anyone else notice this? If the iAmp ain't doing it for you, give the 7-Pro a go. Wait 'til you have a gig coming up, pick up the Ampeg at GC and try it out on the job. If it don't cut it, take it back.

JimmyM · #3 04-12-2011, 08:05 PM

7 pro is super hot. i'd do that dealio in a second.

sleeplessknight · #4 04-12-2011, 08:05 PM

More or less hot than an 8-pro? ;-)

Gearhead17 · #5 04-12-2011, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleeplessknight

More or less hot than an 8-pro? ;-)

There is a little bit more growl out of the 8 PRO over the 7 PRO. Otherwise, the 7 PRO kicks butt and will give you a little more color over the other amp you have.

JimmyM · #6 04-12-2011, 09:19 PM

btw, when i said "super hot," i meant "super good." it'll get very loud, as a 1000w amp should. but i meant i loved the tone i got out of it.

sleeplessknight · #7 04-12-2011, 09:22 PM

Oh no worries man, I figured that's what you meant. So yeah, it looks like I'll be making a pilgrimage to Guitar Center to see what I could get out of my EA iAmp 800. It's not a BAD amp, it's just... hard to put my finger on what doesn't do it for me. I guess it doesn't sound like a BASS amp to my ear. It sounds like a very loud, very clean, very bass-frequency-specific PA amplifier, which doesn't really suit my sound very much :-)

JimmyM · #8 04-12-2011, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleeplessknight

Oh no worries man, I figured that's what you meant. So yeah, it looks like I'll be making a pilgrimage to Guitar Center to see what I could get out of my EA iAmp 800. It's not a BAD amp, it's just... hard to put my finger on what doesn't do it for me. I guess it doesn't sound like a BASS amp to my ear. It sounds like a very loud, very clean, very bass-frequency-specific PA amplifier, which doesn't really suit my sound very much :-)

ya, ea stuff has made me feel the same way. otoh, i have a bud in new zealand who loves that kind of thing. but as far as i'm concerned, ampeg = bass.

GrowlerBox · #9 04-12-2011, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

ya, ea stuff has made me feel the same way. otoh, i have a bud in new zealand who loves that kind of thing. but as far as i'm concerned, ampeg = bass.

Who's your bud in NZ, Jimmy? I know one guy who plays EA -- mostly upright though, and he's a sax player. If you're ever visiting in the Wellington area, drop me a line, I'd love to buy you a beer.

JimmyM · #10 04-12-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

Who's your bud in NZ, Jimmy? I know one guy who plays EA -- mostly upright though, and he's a sax player. If you're ever visiting in the Wellington area, drop me a line, I'd love to buy you a beer.

dang, i was in wellington about 4 years ago. love love love new zealand. really want to go back. unfortunately, ticket sales were not great, so it's been a little tough.

anyway, it's a dude in auckland named derek tearne. he used to play in a cool world music band called many hands. he hangs out on alt.guitar.bass a lot.

GrowlerBox · #11 04-13-2011, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

dang, i was in wellington about 4 years ago. love love love new zealand. really want to go back. unfortunately, ticket sales were not great, so it's been a little tough.

anyway, it's a dude in auckland named derek tearne. he used to play in a cool world music band called many hands. he hangs out on alt.guitar.bass a lot.

Yeah, it's a nice little spot -- came over for a year. That was 8 years ago. Anyone who doesn't live in Auckland tries to stay away though! Don't know Derek, but I'll keep an eye out for his band.

JimmyM · #12 04-13-2011, 12:21 AM

many hands broke up. no idea the names of what he's doing now.

chadds · #13 04-13-2011, 12:09 PM

Do you crank the pre on the iAMP800 to say 3:00 and dial up just the Master you need and keep the eq flat? Then add a taste of the eq. you need.
I was shocked what amp was hiding in there! I'd used my 800 for a year with the pre at say 11:00 and thought the amp was polite.
The wimpiest is when the pre and Master are about the same. Ugh!
I discovered this the day it was getting packed of to a lucky buyer.
It was big fat and warm. Who knew!

sleeplessknight · #14 04-13-2011, 12:10 PM

Really? I *am* a chronic knob-nooner, so perhaps that's the problem...

JimmyM · #15 04-13-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleeplessknight

Really? I *am* a chronic knob-nooner, so perhaps that's the problem...

though i really liked the 7 pro, i agree with turning the knobs. so the knobs aren't all pretty lined up the same...big deal.

also, i'm questioning the logic of using such a high power amp with such a small cab. i guess if you keep the volume down, it's fine, but it seems like gross overkill to me.

chadds · #16 04-13-2011, 12:20 PM

Really. There's a beast in there.
Tom B. turned me on to how bad those knob positions were

The linear audio taper of the iAMP means it actually keeps giving you more. Up there at 3:00 it grows a set of "tubes"

!
There is a bunch of harmonic content unleashed there.
Let us know your experience, please.

sleeplessknight · #17 04-13-2011, 12:27 PM

Jimmy: it's less an aesthetic thing, and more of a "I'm too lazy to want to fart with amp settings during a gig" :-p For previous amps I've owned (Eden, Ampeg V4B, etc) it's been a known setting with nice little detents so I don't accidentally dial in an anemic tone. However, as I've been learning by reading other posts here in the amp forums, with no risk comes no reward and apparently it just about cost me what could be a very, very cool amp.

chadds · #18 04-13-2011, 02:32 PM

I was doing a SWR kinda thing pre at 11:00, master where I needed it. Then I'd have to push in that low preset because it'd be so bland. Then it was good but way away from great. It had little dynamic flexibility caused by boosted low end eq. It had that, "it sounds great til everyone starts playing", tone. A good amount of warm low mids and mids show up.

sleeplessknight · #19 04-18-2011, 11:04 AM

Alright, so I took the plunge. I A/B'd my iAmp and the SVT7-Pro at Guitar Center this morning, and even with the suggested iAmp pre/master/EQ settings (which WERE a huge improvement, FWIW), the Ampeg clearly had more 'booty' to my ear :-) I talked the GC droid down $100 (they didn't have any new in stock, so they sold me the floor model) for a total price of $700 plus tax. Not bad, if I do say so myself!

Out of curiosity, is there a list of the 'unreliable' SVT7-Pro production runs? I've got the 'C00' model, which was supposedly sent out in December of '10. Is that late enough to miss some of the manufacturing defects?

JimmyM · #20 04-18-2011, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleeplessknight

Alright, so I took the plunge. I A/B'd my iAmp and the SVT7-Pro at Guitar Center this morning, and even with the suggested iAmp pre/master/EQ settings (which WERE a huge improvement, FWIW), the Ampeg clearly had more 'booty' to my ear :-) I talked the GC droid down $100 (they didn't have any new in stock, so they sold me the floor model) for a total price of $700 plus tax. Not bad, if I do say so myself!

Out of curiosity, is there a list of the 'unreliable' SVT7-Pro production runs? I've got the 'C00' model, which was supposedly sent out in December of '10. Is that late enough to miss some of the manufacturing defects?

yes. according to tom b, only the first run had problems.

btw, good decision to ab them directly. honestly, i don't think i ever heard a class d head sound as good as the 7 pro, so i kind of figured you would want it over the ea, but i'm also a big believer in not spending money needlessly, so it's good that you gave it a fair chance. ea makes nice stuff but it's not for everyone.