Everyone who's saying the svt4 is **** compared to the 400+, there two completley different amps, it depends on what style you play and what tone your looking for. You are the only one who can make the decision, just try them both out and try to find the tone you want on both and see which one you prefer.
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AMPEG SVT 4 PRO vs. MESA BOOGIE 400+
- Thread starter jepETC
- Start date
Nope, even cheaper! Link Removed
What I can't understand about this whole thread is that whenever someone describes the SVT-4 tone it is something along the lines of "it's got that Ampeg tone." When most describe the Bass 400+ it is "an SVT on steroids." Yet so many claim that they are apples & oranges.
especially after you factor in the high quality shock case. the amp plus one of those mesa cases i should have just purchased an svt.
oh, and anyone that says the mesa sounds like an ampeg on roids smokes lot's of crack. amp sounds NOTHING like an svt. if it did i might still have one.
the 400+ is actually one of the lightest all tube heads. have you ever carried a vintage svt? now that **** is heavy.
I Know I own an SVT But This is comparing a SVT IV to a 400+ but This is 2 diffrent amps.
I think a ampeg svt II and a mesa 400+ are a better comparison they both are tubed powered, fit in a rack.
I have to agree with badgroove, the SVT4 may sound pretty good but in the long run has been far from reliable in my experience. Plus the power is WAY over-rated. I would take the time to test the Mesa and roll with the one you like.
bah! i don't get it, did mesa come out with a 400+ light and a 400+ heavy? It's been clarified here that they only weigh 45 pounds or so, which is not heavy for a tube amp. But i always hear complaints about the weight. I cant compare the two, but I dont think ill ever buy a different amp after buying my 400+. its from 92 and looks like it was dragged behind a van from gig to gig, but is exactly the tone i'm after and i just cant get enough of it. I wish i had 2 of them and keep one home with me. Keep it on standby with the back facing me for a night light. I kinda wish it had a glass front...
I think many people who complain about the Mesa have doubled its weight by mounting it in a heavy duty shock case. Me, I just have mine in a lightweight Gator rack case which has served me well and survived one horrendous drop.
It's all a matter of taste but if it was me 400 all day long. I can say this because I payed hard earned $ for a Pro 4 but I won't speak my full opinion on it because you can't have your own opinion without somebody getting their butt hurt over it. now if you were talking about an older Ampeg amp, then you would a real decision
If you can only have one, and if its for gigging out live, then I say go with the ampeg. I own Ampeg, GK, and the venerable 400+.
The thing you've gotta remember about the 400 is that it's like an older bassman. A bassman with a lot of improvements, but a bassman. The tone control will not be as versatile as the Ampeg. No mid range boost, it starts out as a cut, and set on 10 its almost flat. I think one other guy said he is constantly fiddling to get something usable, and I agree. It really has the bottom though. I really thnk this amp does well with efficient "old school" cabs, like 810, or 2 15's. Now before the food fight starts, I will say that I do not use the graphic eq on the 400, I got it because it was a tube amp, and I prefer to keep the signal path all tube. Also, the 400 only makes about 250 clean watts, rms.
The SVT4 is very similar feature wise to the gk800rb. Bi ampable, crossover, the whole deal. Btter for use with modern cabs with tweets, or 410 + 115, more of the "hi fi sound"
If distortion is a part of your tone, the the 400 has got it. It's really good for going in and out of distotion, great natural compression, clean to dirty with out changes in volume. Great touch sensitivity.
If your going to have preamps and pedals for achieving a variety of tones, including distortion, then the ampeg is the better choice, imo.
You can't beat the 400+ for pure tubey goodness. Sometimes, I must admit, that during a gig, I'll take a peak at the back of the 400, and the sight of all those 6l6's, glowing in glorious thermionic splendor...sorry, almost lost it there.
The thing you've gotta remember about the 400 is that it's like an older bassman. A bassman with a lot of improvements, but a bassman. The tone control will not be as versatile as the Ampeg. No mid range boost, it starts out as a cut, and set on 10 its almost flat. I think one other guy said he is constantly fiddling to get something usable, and I agree. It really has the bottom though. I really thnk this amp does well with efficient "old school" cabs, like 810, or 2 15's. Now before the food fight starts, I will say that I do not use the graphic eq on the 400, I got it because it was a tube amp, and I prefer to keep the signal path all tube. Also, the 400 only makes about 250 clean watts, rms.
The SVT4 is very similar feature wise to the gk800rb. Bi ampable, crossover, the whole deal. Btter for use with modern cabs with tweets, or 410 + 115, more of the "hi fi sound"
If distortion is a part of your tone, the the 400 has got it. It's really good for going in and out of distotion, great natural compression, clean to dirty with out changes in volume. Great touch sensitivity.
If your going to have preamps and pedals for achieving a variety of tones, including distortion, then the ampeg is the better choice, imo.
You can't beat the 400+ for pure tubey goodness. Sometimes, I must admit, that during a gig, I'll take a peak at the back of the 400, and the sight of all those 6l6's, glowing in glorious thermionic splendor...sorry, almost lost it there.
I call BS on it. Otherwise, what happens when you have your bass plugged in but aren't playing anything? You run the risk of blowing the thing up?!?!
I think your original inclination was right
What about when the transistors in the SVT-4 die out? You gotta remember that they have a lifetime aswell, and the harder you drive them, the quicker they die out.
I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be cheap to replace. Heck, maybe cheaper components, but I doubt they'll be as simple to replace (major tech time, probably a whole new board).
IIRC, most tubes have a lifetime of ~50,000 hours, so unless something goes wrong elsewhere in the amp (sadly I know that pain, something went on the circuit board and blew the tubes out with it), or the tubes are abused or used outside the operating parameters, things should be fine.
(I think a lot of the stigma is associated with the literature that most suppliers include stating to change the tubes every X years).
(A pair of 6L6s is generally cheaper than a single KT88/6550, so even though it is more tubes, it would be cheaper than retubing an SVT)
Don't be fooled, the Mesa is a very expensive amp to retube. In order to be cheaper than an amp with 6 6550's, you have to find 6l6's at less than half the price. 6550's are going for mid 30's, 6l6 for mid to low 20's.
Nope, even cheaper! Link Removed
What I can't understand about this whole thread is that whenever someone describes the SVT-4 tone it is something along the lines of "it's got that Ampeg tone." When most describe the Bass 400+ it is "an SVT on steroids." Yet so many claim that they are apples & oranges.
the real svt's (old svt's, cl's and vr's) are more powerful than the 400+, no doubt. thats one reason the 400+ is lighter, the transformers are smaller and lighter. the difference might not be enough so that you can hear it, but its true none the less. I also agree that the svt4 is a different animal.
The point being that a 400 is not an svt on steroids. Its a bassman on steroids.
On the otherhand, an svt 4, or 5 or6 or however many of those there are are not like an svt all tube. Its marketing and branding. "Super Valve Technology" does not live in transistors.
Even the "new" svt cl and vr are not the same circuit as the original.
If you really want distortion...why wouldn't you just use an effects pedal of some sort? I'm confused by people saying the Ampeg SVT-4pro doesn't distort as well as the Mesa 400+...just use a freaking pedal right? I've only been playing bass for about a year and a half...so it could just be my inexperience talking here. I don't know if most of the audience (other then hardcore bass players) are going to know the difference between amp distortion and an effects pedal coming through a 810 or a house PA. Maybe it's just me.
