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Ampeg... Am I Missing Something

MK1

MK1

Nov 23, 2009
836
20
Grand Rapids, MI
#1
I read all over the place here how much everyone loves their Ampegs. Now before I get flamed, I'm not bashing Ampeg at all, I'm just trying to figure out what I'm missing. My tastes have changed quite a bit over the years, I used to think nothing was better than a neck-thru bass with active electronics, or a MusicMan with all the controls wide open. But now my main player is a Fender Mustang bass (and I typically roll the tone back half way). But this is just a taste I can't aquire.

They just never sound right to me. I love their designs (All tube SVT, Hybrids with more than one tube). My first real amp was a GK 1001RB (I loved that amp I've considered getting an 800RB for a backup), then I sold that a bought my Mesa 400+. Before I bought the Mesa I tried the SVT2, SVT3, SVT4, and the SVT CL. And I disliked each one (and I dislike Ampeg modelers even more).

Have I just been setting them wrong? I want to like them, partially because that is what is supplied at most clubs with a backline, and I would love to be able to go in and set up my rig and have it sound right to me. What characteristics am I looking for when I listen to an Ampeg? I'm just no seeing what there is to LOVE about them.
 
#5
hey JimmyM,
I'm not trying to say Ampegs are bad or inferior. I'm just wondering what I should be listening for. I know how much you like them, what is it about Ampeg that does it for you. Maybe I'm just going into it with the wrong expectation. I did forget to mention I love my buddy's vintage Portaflex. It would make life so much easier on me if I liked SVT's because I wouldn't have to tote my amp around as much.
 
#6
You're not alone. I've never understood what the big noise was about them either to be honest. The (very few) times I've played Ampeg gear it's sounded wooly and indistinct to my ears.

Strangely though I often like the sound of other people playing it.

I have the same issue with Ashdown gear and to some extent Trace Elliot, both of which I dislike but I know lots of people who sound great on it.
 
#7
Here's one thing I can tell you. SVT's light up a whole lot better with Passive basses. jazz and p basses if you have an active switch on your....I missed what your playing was it a music man? if you have active/passive pull the passive and make the amp do the work. that would definitley play to the Ampegs advantage.......
 
#11
To me a bass thru an Ampeg sounds like Phuum phuum phuum. Not bad, but definately
old school. I like and hear bass as puum puum puum. More punch. I played Ampegs for years then new amps, GK,SWR Eden etc... came out and are so clean. Ampeg rockers like the overdriven sound, that's cool but I don't like it all night.
You may be missing the definition that your amps have over Ampeg IMO.
 
#13
I suppose in order to answer the question, "what are you missing?" we would need to know what you're getting and what seems to be lacking.

I play a Stingray 5 (active), a Jazz V with flats (passive), my two home made basses - one fretless 5 strung with rounds and an active EMG soapbar a fretted 5 with rounds and a passive Barts - through an SVT II Pro and a 410 or an 810 and I love the sound I get for all of them.

The sound I like resembles John Paul Jones, Geddy, Chris Squire, Graham Maby, - gritty, warm, prog-sounding for the most part on the fretted rounds. When I go fretless I feel like I get plenty of mid character and personality - when I play the passive J with flats, I get that old, thumpy Motown flavor or the McCartney burble and bump.

What I don't get (as well as I'd like) is that crystal clear, Stanley Clarke sounding crispness - but I am able to get a very acceptable clean slap and pop sound - so it's not all about 'overdrive'.
 
#14
Here is my take on this thread. I have bought and traded a lot of Ampeg stuff during the past year. Recently I traded several Ampeg heads and some of their cabs. I have one SvTCL, 4Pro and an old SvT400t (1990's?) that is my back up. these heads are worth keeping and not selling. Ampegs current strong products are their cabs mainly the 810E/Av and the 410HLF. This is true when you read the daily threads on this site. These cabs are always in demand regardless of what make head is being used. .......:cool:
 
#15
Same old horse for courses, Waleross. I have never been a great fan of Ampeg cabs and have always gone for the heads and not the cabs. Although I have owned an Ampeg 810 in the past,for years I ran an SVT2 through two SWR Bigfoot 212 cabs, great sound.These days I run my SVT VR through Bergantino NV cabs which is just pure heaven. It seems that Ampeg are so well known and so prolific that they are bound to polarise the bass population. I do get tired of reading that Ampeg has just "one sound" - like most amps it has a certain character but there is a wide range of tones available with a little tweaking.
 
#19
Well, all I can say is, b series+upright bass=worst idea my schools band directors had. It was a muddy nightmare. They didnt really know what they were doing, so they asked one of the bass players in the school (I didnt go there yet, I was still in 8th grade). He was like, "Lolz, get the ampeg b-15, it sounds GREAT for jazz" The experience of fighting with that EQ every day for 2 years left a bad taste of ampeg in my mouth. So I know its stupid, but every time I hear ampeg, thats what I think of I guess

Luckily, they could hear how bad the bass sounded, and asked me to help them get another new amp. Hooked them up with a gk microbass (those 150w ones) :cool:
 
#20
The cool thing about tone is thats its all about what YOU like...if it doesn't sound good to you, it's totally not a problem. I do understand what your original question was and I think I might be able to add my $0.02 in on that ;-)

Most guys who dig tube stuff will be going for a vintage, vintagesque, or creamy overdriven tone. So like motown, indie rock, or KISS. I think these guys are looking for that low-mid punch or tube grit that gives their tone some aggressive bite. Personally, I feel there are plenty of pedals that can simulate that tone at not-arena volumes that do it for me, not to mention I have more control over them.

Different strokes man, but I may be wrong on the low-mid punch theory. Either way, play what you love bro...nobody can tell you what to play (unless you get signed to a major label!!) :bassist:
 

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