Ampeg dream will become true but I am scared.

[desert_rain]

Hi everyone. I am so confused for these days because I can not decide my next amp and cabin combination. I always admire ampeg tube amps svts are my dream.

my wife knows this passion. Last week she came to me with budget for making real my ampeg tubby dream. She always support my bass journey so She create 2k euros budget for my tube dream.

You can imagine, how happy I were when I heared. And after I started to research(thomann, I live in europe) svt cl, svt v4b etc. I read lots of thing in talkbass(tube watt, ss watt etc)

I play heavy metal, hard rock and I have gig rarely, stages are mostly midium sized or small. I play with two loud guitarist and loud baterist( yeaa heavy metal) first problem is watt problem, I wanna buy SVT Cl or Used SVT VR but These are heavy and maybe more powerful for many stages? SVT v4-b 100w and lighter, it looks perfect for me but I am confused for medium sized gigs. Is it enough? Also i am confused which cab fits? Neo cabs seems perfect but svt cabs are tradation. I am tiny guy(55kg) this is why weight is much more important for me.

Btw I have Markbass 121h combo at home, maybe best way is buying extension to my combo and make it 2x12. But I am heavy metal bassist and I wanna tube dirt... I have never played a tube amp yet but I want it

What do you suggest:

A-) 100w svt v4 is enough for you, If not PA will be there.
B-) buy 300w CL or VR, you wont need another amp until you are death.
C-) Buy extension to your combo, add dirt with pedals(I have tech21 bddi). You are tiny and be light. You can save lots of money and buy another things.
D-) buy darkglass microtube 900 and 4x10 neo, be light and dirt. Miss tube chance.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

B-) buy 300w CL or VR, you wont need another amp until you die.

Buy once, cry once.
Make them tears of joy.

 

[High Camp]

In your case, I would consider the V-4B amp with the right cabinet.
(300 watt tube amps might be a bit overkill)
Choice of cabinet is maybe even more important than choice of amp.
Then, what cabinet?
A SVT212 cab comes to mind, or a SVT610HLF.

This is the area I would go.

IMHO, YMMV

 

[desert_rain]

In your case, I would consider the V-4B amp with the right cabinet.
(300 watt tube amps might be a bit overkill)
Choice of cabinet is maybe even more important than choice of amp.
Then, what cabinet?
A SVT212 cab comes to mind, or a SVT610HLF.

This is the area I would go.

IMHO, YMMV

I see your point. What do you think Svt410hlf? I prefer SVT 212 because of its size.

 

[Bim1959]

I used to have a mid 70s SVT that I sold when i moved to Florida. I used it on stages ranging from a corner stage to huge stages. You cant go wrong with an SVT. I still miss mine btw.

 

[RoadRanger]

If your guitards have 100w half or full stacks a V4B can't keep up. "Metal" tends to imply "stoopid loud". An SVT is great if you are a youngish gym rat and have the transport for it. I get close enough with an Aguilar TH-350 into two 1x12 cabs - single trip carry for me .

 

[beans-on-toast]

If you can, buy a new amp with a warranty. Used amps can require tech expenses and cost you more in the long run.

At 55kg, a CL or VR is going to be very difficult for you to move and set up. You would need someone to help you. I gave up moving my own equipment long ago due to back problems.

 

[jasmangan]

I agree with roadranger, the vb4 won't keep up in your situation. Get the CL with a good 410, you can always add another 410.

 

[GreyBeard]

If you are like me, you won't be satisfied until you get the full boat. SVT with 8x10 cab. If you can get it now, go for it.

 

[JGbassman]

I love the SVT CL coupled with the Heritage 410 HLF cab. They are perfect for a small to medium sized stage and has a wonderful thick, tubey sound.

 

[ezra1]

I am wanting a SVT rig myself.

 

[5thsand4ths]

The SVT-CL is a beast to get around. If you go that route invest in a dolly. It's a damn good head though. I have a PF500 and an SVT-CL. I use the PF500 in small rooms and SVT for anything mid and larger. I can get enough loudness out of the PF500 but the SVT floods the room with a richer, deeper and somewhat pillowy sound that I can't replicate on the PF500 or anything else. You'll need at least a 4 ohm cab setup. Good for 4ohm and 2ohm. I haven't tried a V4 but it's probably a great amp too.

 

[JimmyM]

The SVT and V4B are excellent amps, but there is no way we can judge how much volume you will need. The V4B is way more than I need, but I've heard people tell me it wasn't enough for them. Who knows? But when you say "metal," that tells me SVT. Still, I've seen some very heavy bands make use of a V4B. Lemmy used 100w heads, after all. His were Marshall and he had two of them with very large cab rigs, but still...

 

[Spectrum]

I can't tell you which is best for your situation, but I would rather get one of the Ampeg tube heads over the other options. But I just had to capture this:

buy 300w CL or VR, you wont need another amp until you are death.

I realize that this statement is a result of English not being your first language, but I want Ampeg to put something like this on a T-shirt.

"SVT CL. You won't need another amp until death."

That would be a pretty metal ad campaign for Ampeg.

 

[Thummel]

Don't be squared! Get the SVT with the 8x10 and rock on bro! Hey, if it's too loud just turn the volume down a little.

 

[bassvi]

Marshall VBA400 or the Mesa 200+w tube heads are also an option. VBA400 with a VBC 412 can get crazy loud....

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Go big or go portable.

Go big: Get the Ampeg SVT and the 410HLF cab like @JGbassman setup. That's a nice compromise. Some guys say that the 810 is easier to move around because of the handles and big truck wheels.

Since you are a smaller gent, get the second Markbass cab. The MB112 combos are incredible for their size, regardless of what others say. I've used them in medium rooms with loud drummers and sounded great.

Get this pedal:

On the other hand, now that I think about it, I'm going to recommend the full Ampeg stack. When I was young, I had the privilege and luxury of owning an SVT/810. I loved it. Now for my gigs and portability it's no longer practical. But if you're playing loud, own the SVT/810 for one time in your life. When you're older you won't be able to haul it around like you used to.

Good luck and let us know what you choose!

 

[JimmyM]

Go big or go portable.

Go big: Get the Ampeg SVT and the 410HLF cab as shown above. That's a nice compromise. Some guys say that the 810 is easier to move around because of the handles and big truck wheels.

Since you are a smaller gent, get the second Markbass cab. The MB112 combos are incredible for their size, regardless of what others say. I've used them in medium rooms with loud drummers and sounded great.

Get this pedal:

View attachment 1175936

On the other hand, now that I think about it, I'm going to recommend the full Ampeg stack. When I was young, I had the privilege and luxury of owning an SVT/810. I loved it. Now for my gigs and portability it's no longer practical. But if you're playing loud, own the SVT/810 for one time in your life. When you're older you won't be able to haul it around like you used to.



Good luck and let us know what you choose!

Man, Will, you had me right up until you posted that picture...that's an SVT 450, which is a B2R solid state amp in SVT clothing. Here...let's go for the gusto:

 

[Raw N Low]

I'd say shop for a used mint USA SVT 2 Pro and a 810. I could see such options like a parametric EQ as a useful tool.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Man, Will, you had me right up until you posted that picture...that's an SVT 450, which is a B2R solid state amp in SVT clothing. Here...let's go for the gusto:

Sorry I was very sleepy and getting up for work at 6:30. May the Gods of Ampeg forgive me... and of course, @JimmyM