• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ampeg Heritage SVT vs. Aguilar DB751

#21
I have owned a (regular) SVT-CL, and currently own a SVT-2pro (premier edition) and a Aguilar DB750.

Out of the 3 I have to say that the Aguilar is a hands down winner for me.

Let me start out by saying that I am a long time guitar player turned bass player (I like bass more) and I have started several stupid threads trying to figure out how to use my bass gear, so take what I say with a grain of salt. Also I play hard rock with a Ric and my fingers and dial in a fairly gritty and aggressive bass tone.

First lets start with the SVT-CL vs. SVT-2pro. I like the 2 pro more than the classic. Other than the drive control and extra eq options. I felt that the CL was a more 3D sounding amp while the 2 pro was more flat and up front. Now I liked the CL more playing by myself, it has more depth and sounds great. But that flat upfront character really helps the 2 pro stand out in the band mix. But in the end Jimmy is right by saying they both sound like SVTs.

But I like the Aguilar the best. To me it sounds like an SVT but has more punch and definition. I also like the gain structure on it better, the SVTs get grindy while the Aguilar gets wooly (that is the best way I know how to describe it). I guess I like the Aguilar because when you crank the gain it gets a fatter rounder sounding distortion than the SVT.

The big seller for me between the two was the fact that the Aguilar seems to have more punch and clarity. Also it has a more even sound. The SVT (CL especially) some notes would be much louder and others would be much quieter despite the fact I am playing with the same intensity. The Aguilars volume seems much more even as you play all over the fret board.

I don't know if that will help. You really need to sit down a play them for yourself.

One more thing. The Aguilar is WAY louder than the SVTs. I cranked my 2 pro at the studio I was at (gain and master at about 2 o'clock) it was screaming through the 810 (sounded great BTW). I then switched to the Aguilar with the gain and master at noon and it seemed to be about 30%-40% louder!!! Just STUPID loud. And since the Aguilar has a solid state power amp you don't need to crank the crap out of it to sound great (or should I say it sounds more constant over different volume levels).

I don't know if that would help. But I am a Aguilar guy. I'm even thinking about selling my SVT 2pro because of how superior I find the Aguilar.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Peke, punchclock, Harrison Wagner and 1 other person
#23
I had a gig last night and brought both markbass lmiii for a set then the db750 for the rest of the sets. Both through the berg hs410. The lmiii just sounded so whimpy in comparison.

I have tried most of the popular microheads and they still have years of tech development before something aval truly comparable to a db750 or svt.
 
#24
That's a big dilemma you find yourself into.

Here's my experience for what it's worth.

I've own multiple SVTs in my life, from older 70's one to newer CL. I've always love them but then again, every time I had to lift it on top of the cab, I didn't like it as much.

I also own a DB750 (i assume they sound similar to the DB751).

If I A/B the SVT and the Agui in the same cab by my self, one after the other. I found myself loving the SVT much better then the DB750. It seems every time I go back to the SVT, it's like an orgasm of sound.

But. If I play live with a full band there is no comparison. It's the Aguilar DB750 that wins hands down. It seems to me that the DB is better balance across the board. With the SVT, I can be super punchy on the lower string but then I can't hear certain notes on the upper register. I never have this problem with the DB.

I even tried it multiple time at the same venue.

Also, it seems to me the Ampeg sound better the louder you play it and the DB being solid state power doesn't care how loud or no loud you are.

Don't get me wrong, it may all be my fault somehow and I really think you can't go wrong with either one.

That's just my experience with both of them.
 
#25
FWIW, I got a curiously Ampeggy sound out of the new Aguilar TH500 micro amp. 500 W into two Aguilar DB212 cabinets. I could barely turn it to "1" in my garage. That thing is loud! And the tone can be dialed in with a complex front end that has the interactivity of a Chapman Stick... I still haven't figured it out completely, but with a 1974 Precision with flats I could dial in a sweet vintegey tone. And like I said, it wasn't past "1" and everything strted rattling in my garage. Very comparable experience to my Aguilar 751.

So, I am biased toward Aguilar, but, just pointed out that you could possibly get by with a modern micro amp like the TH500.
 
#26
Thanks for all your input,so after all this discussion I ended up going with the Streamliner 900, like the size of it and quite a few TBer's said they sold their Aguliar 750 and use the Streamliner. I guess in the end I couldn't see spending the cash. Plus it gives me just another amp to try and still someday have the option of going Ampeg or Ag. I may have it in time for a gig this Friday, will let you know how it works for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheRealKong
#31
Wow so I re-read this entire post and was surprised that I ended up going with the SL900, which I liked but it just wasn't the tome in my head. So I sold it bought a Traynor YBA300 sold it cause I got a killer deal, (which I posted about back in early Jan., I think) on a Heritage SVT. It is the tone in my head but now I feel the urge to add a second amp to the stable and am seriously looking at a DB751 or a Thunderfunk 600. The 751 would be used as just can't get myself to spend the $ on a new one. Funny how things have changed.
 
#32
Ok now I am having fun, possibly losing my marbles but... I bought a fellow TB'rs Aguilar DB751 today, it will be part of my lighter/smaller gig rig. I know call me crazy but heard what my bonus check would be this year and couldn't wait to spend some of it. Now I will have both beasts SVT and Aguilar's Big Boy to match.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheRealKong
#33
kimmyt said:
Ok now I am having fun, possibly losing my marbles but... I bought a fellow TB'rs Aguilar DB751 today, it will be part of my lighter/smaller gig rig. I know call me crazy but heard what my bonus check would be this year and couldn't wait to spend some of it. Now I will have both beasts SVT and Aguilar's Big Boy to match.
Click to expand...

I would like to know how they both compare...:bassist:
 
#34
just to resurrect an old thread... I have owned tons of Ampeg amps and cabinets before switching over to all Aguilar. I own or have owned all Aguilar cabs, a Tonehammer 500 and DB751 amp. It's all very high quality gear. The sound is consistent and the gear is highly dependable.

With that said, I was missing an Ampeg SVT and a couple of weeks ago I bought a Heritage SVT. It's absolutely true that no other amp sounds like an SVT.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered the perfect rig: I plugged the SVT into the Aguilar 410 and 810. Finally, all these years later, the result is tone heaven.

I'm keeping the DB751 though. It's just too nice a piece of gear to say adios to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: punchclock, TheRealKong, Mastermold and 1 other person
#35
Buster Brown said:
I dunno..I guess I see your point about weight, but I have a hard time agreeing with it and, in some respects, the weight thing is a "red herring".

When we play - the entire band loads in-out and we all pitch in for the "heavy lifting"....no one person does too much in the way of lifting.

Shoot, I have a MarkBass CMD121P that I use on any number of occasions when it just isn't practical to use the Ampeg rig or even the 6X10HLF cab.

But any chance I get to take the HSVT-CL and the HSVT 8X10 - I take it!! :D
Click to expand...

Same here. I'm 48 and use an SVT on most every gig, even the church gig.
 
#36
kranahan said:
If your band is not that loud, then I would recommend an Ampeg V4/V4BH. 100 all tube watts and only approx. 40lbs. Sounds great and can get relatively loud. Check into it.
Click to expand...
Im guessing your talking about the svt style v4bh. My 70s v4b seemed to weigh about double that. Or it sure did feel like it...but yes they tend to run out of steam but if u need just a touch more volume, (other members) i would use an empress compressor and boost the volume with the input and output on the empress. Did wonders when my svt3 pro would run out of steam. Cheerz!
 
#39
I've only played through a DB751 once, through two DB410's. Did not like the DB410's because with the tweeter off, they're pretty dark sounding cabs. Sounded to me like they only do 3k on the top end, and I need at least 4k, and 5k is preferable. But the head is very nice...it's very clearly influenced by the SVT, and it may not be known to most people on here, but I like SVT's :D However, I'm a tube snob at heart, and while I do use SS and hybrids sometimes, I do prefer the power tubes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheRealKong
#40
OK, there is no "real" all-tube - SVT in my garage. But a SVP Pro together with a massive Class-H - poweramp (Class H? Think Gallien Krueger!), a V4b Reissue, and a SVT CL - Clone, the Bugera BVV 3000.

On the Solid State or Hybrid - site I am a GenzBenz fan. Whe it comes to Class D its the Genzler Magellan.

Oh, I had the chance to play over lots of SVT's over the years, but I started in the early 1980's with Gallien Krueger Amps, at first with a 400 RB, than several 800 RB. Christmas 2014 I ran into a pristine 400 RB I from 1980 in mint condition for a steal.

OK, it is able to get a sound that comes near to a SVT with the GBE - hybrid - amps. They are meant to sound different, but if you are able to use the EQ..... There it is!

They are different animals, compared to a DM 750 / 751. But they are able to mimic the sound of an Agie, due to the mighty and versatile EQ - section. And it depends on the cab - a lot! My GBE 1200 is sitting on a Tecamp L 810, this cab does its work!

I may be dipped in dogpoopie (he he....), but I love the Bugera BVV 3000, in my (and some tube tech freaks in my german bassmens community) opinion a backwards engineered SVT CL - but much cheaper. I don't have any problems with this amp, using it now for about two and a half year. I use it together with a Tecamp L 810" - cab. It has this three dimensional tube sound all those SVT lovers are talking about, it is loud and gives me all the tube - goodness.

I wanted a "real" all - tube - Ampeg, and needet something for a punk band, togehter with a Precision Bass, played with pick and a 2 x 410" fullstack, sealed cabs. So I pulled the trigger on a V4b Reissue. OK, I have heard that the early V4 or V4b soundet like SVT but with less power. I found the Reissue sounds different. It is a sweet sound, having an all tube head cranked until the poweramp starts to saturate in much lower volumes than a full grown SVT - but it has a different sound due to its poweramp - tubes. There are 4 x 6l6 GC v/s 6 x 6550, this is a difference. The V4b Ri is not that beefy, round and ballsy as the SVT VR (BVV 3000), not in a way! And you notice, that it needs some Watts to produce serious low end.

The SVP Pro together with its RedRock M 4.5 - Class - H - Poweramp is a class of its own. It is able to deliver 2 x 320 Watt @ 8 Ohm, 2 x 450 W @ 4 Ohm, 2 x 520 W @ 2 Ohm, 800 W bridged @ 8 Ohm and 1.000 W bridged @ 4 Ohm. I use it always bridged @ 4 Ohm on top of a Tecamp L 810". The Preamp sure is able to give you all that a SVT is able to do, the same moment you miss the three-dimensionality of an all tube amp. But in a bandsetting you just recognize: "Ah, Ampeg!"

I have to use the Class - H - Poweramp in stereo (2 x 450 Watt @ 4 Ohm) and crank the poweramp to hear, if the Class H - Poweramp does the same as the GK-Poweramps do. You know the advice, Rob Gallien gives to his amps: Crank the poweramp (aka "hit the rails) for full, grindy sound. Lets see how a SVP Pro front end can deal with this. OK, next week there is some time - and an empty rehearshal - room.....

I ran into a GenzBenz NeoX t 212" - cab, really rare in Germany. Ever since I found and purchased it, I use this cab together with my Genzler Magellan. Now, lets call this a Class-D - Amp of the second generation. When it comes to punch, clarity and headroom this amp is a real competitor to my old GBE 750 (The GBE 1200 is out of this race due to its massive advance in power). And it has a semi . parametric EQ and a drive channel (with two different contour filters), you are able to dial in literally any sound you like - so you are able to dial in an Ampeg - sound with only a little twiddeling of the knobs. And yes, this Class D - poweramp is able to mimic a SVT - together with the NeoX T 212".

Be sure I want to use my all-tube-amps - or the GBE. But in smaller venues its fine to have a lightweight stack with a smaller footprint, not to talk about the transport in a car.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back