why did ampeg stop making svp preamps?

TheNightLife · #1 02-07-2011, 02:27 PM

why did ampeg stop making the svpcl and svp pro? those things were awesome. was it just something that got cut with the new owners or was it not profitable?

Antipodean · #2 02-07-2011, 03:10 PM

I would assume it was because of poor sales. At the turn of the century, there were a number of amp manufacturers making bass preamps, so it was the trend of the time. But then the market changed and there don't seem to be as many now. Certainly not from the "mainstream" manufacturers.

The SVP-Pro was reported to be noisy. My one certainly isn't dead silent, but I wouldn't call it noisy. I still own my SVP-Pro, and love it. But mine does have problems with tube noise from vibrations (not unique to mine - there are other threads that discuss this).

Never had the opportunity to play through/own the SVP-CL.

Jim C · #3 02-07-2011, 03:24 PM

Same reason most comapnies discontinue a product; lack of profit
SVP-CL is really good

seamonkey · #4 02-07-2011, 05:50 PM

No Profit, not priced competitively, and somehow the masses believing that "all tube" including the power amp is what matters.

prd004 · #5 02-07-2011, 05:53 PM

Because Ampeg was on a roll of discontinuing all their good products!

MuzikMan · #6 02-07-2011, 06:00 PM

I would have to guess poor sales. Now I wish I didn't rotate my SVP-CL though. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20.

Calaverasgrande · #7 02-07-2011, 06:05 PM

It seems to me that seamonkey may have hit the nail on the "head".
I think most of the guys that are really into "tube tone" want the whole signal path to be tube. They are also more likely to gravitate to an all tube head box. After all, how many tube power amps are there out there?
Me, I like to gain stage my Mesa amp so that when I am playing softly almost no distortion is evident, when I play very hard it's very distorted and gritty. The all tube-ness certainly helps me acheive this.

It could also be that they did the math and realized you could buy a very large power amp and the SVP for less than the price of any of the SVT all tube heads.

Mayeb the folks at Loud are just trying to focus Ampeg on what it does well. SVT tube heads with 8x10 cabs. (Though I think they should reissue those VT guitar combos as well.)

JimmyM · #8 02-07-2011, 06:27 PM

slm dropped those preamps well before loud bought ampeg. and i think you're right...i've never played a hybrid or ss power section that gave me anywhere near what a tube amp does for me until in the past couple years. and even now i still don't think they have it mastered. getting a lot better, but still not 100%.

12bass · #9 02-07-2011, 06:47 PM

My horoscope predicts that JimmyM will have a Streamliner within a year....

RickBlair · #10 02-07-2011, 07:32 PM

I have played an early 70's SVT head and a SVP-CL/Stewart 2.1 through my Acme B2/B2W. I don't use an overdirven sound, but for clean sounds you would be pretty hard pressed to tell the difference between the 2.

I'm tempted to buy one of the micro amps but I may just get an even lighter power amp than the Stewart and a smaller case.

Rick B.

JimmyM · #11 02-07-2011, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12bass

My horoscope predicts that JimmyM will have a Streamliner within a year....

hey, i'm down with roger and andy and i really hope they do well with the streamliner.

Jerrold Tiers · #12 02-07-2011, 09:07 PM

They were discontinued because sales were exceptionally slow. You-all were not buying them, so no reason to make more.

We tried preamps several times, and they NEVER did well. Apparently only if you are satisfied to make just a few is it possible to make a business out of them.

They weren't even unprofitable... profits were OK, they just didn't move.

Sartori · #13 02-07-2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

It seems to me that seamonkey may have hit the nail on the "head".
I think most of the guys that are really into "tube tone" want the whole signal path to be tube. They are also more likely to gravitate to an all tube head box. After all, how many tube power amps are there out there?
Me, I like to gain stage my Mesa amp so that when I am playing softly almost no distortion is evident, when I play very hard it's very distorted and gritty. The all tube-ness certainly helps me acheive this.

It could also be that they did the math and realized you could buy a very large power amp and the SVP for less than the price of any of the SVT all tube heads.

Mayeb the folks at Loud are just trying to focus Ampeg on what it does well. SVT tube heads with 8x10 cabs. (Though I think they should reissue those VT guitar combos as well.)

Indeed. The people who care want the tube power section as well. And tube power amps tend to be the same size as a regular tube head, so...

Selta · #14 02-07-2011, 10:04 PM

I love mine. I don't care if I come to liking a tone that it can't get me, I'll be keeping it around regardless, as I know I'll come home to it when I regain my sense

. For now, it's the only pre for me though.

Calaverasgrande · #15 02-07-2011, 11:22 PM

I also seem to recall that the "matching" power amp was a tube fed mosfet piece. Surely not the target market ideal?

JimmyM · #16 02-07-2011, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

I also seem to recall that the "matching" power amp was a tube fed mosfet piece. Surely not the target market ideal?

they had an all tube svt 300 power amp.

kosmicwizard · #17 02-08-2011, 12:14 AM

What was the SVT 1600? All tube with a name that had no relation to the power output, or SS? I have seen a couple of these and never knew what they were to try and get into this market. I have also seen an all tube MESA power amp, but since I couldn't find a pre I wanted and it was on hold the next day I never got to hear either of these power amps. Thanks in advance. Cheers.

JimmyM · #18 02-08-2011, 12:14 AM

svt 1600 is ss.