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Ampeg SVT 4 Pro

J

jackall237

Aug 5, 2007
319
3
Arkansas
#1
Not too long ago I purchased a Tech 21 RBI setup thinking I was going to like the preamp/power amp approach. I've since changed my mind based upon the fact that there's too much stuff that go wrong with each piece of equipment. After hearing Steffan from DMB and numerous others I think I've decided to go with a SVT 4 Pro. My question is this.. Would there be any benefit in me keeping my RBI? Would I be able to use both the RBI and the SVT? Thanks so much for any answers, or opinions on switching from the RBI to the SVT.. Thanks again!

*edit* And if any of yall have personal experience with a Bag End Q10BX-D and want to recommend a good rack-mounted amp, I'd love to hear..
 
#2
Apart from a bit grind or grit your going to get most of the tone from the 4 Pro that the RBI would give you anyway. As far as heads go there are plenty more heads out there available for a cheaper price that are much better and roadworthy than the 4 Pro. Read the reviews section. But from what Ive heard they have a tendancy to breakdown and are generally underpowered. of course IMO.
 
#4
How many problems can you have with a pre/power setup that you won't have with conventional bass amp? Sansamp is a quality name and I've never seen someone complain about one crapping the bed. As long as you get a decent power amp (Crown, QSC, Crest, etc,) and a halfway decent cable to connect them you won't have any problems. If you like the sound of the Sansamp, keep it get a Crown XLS402D for a grand less than an SVT4. You'll get practically the same power ratings and I wouldn't be surprised if it blew it out the water volume wise.
 
#6
the 4 pro isnt a bad head. i have it and i never struggle for volume, i use an eden 410xlt with it. though the power ratings might be over-exaggerated, its by no means a weak amp. id say since you have the rbi already, just grab a cheap power amp and youd be good. or even find a powerfull amp, that may not produce the best tone, and use the rbi as the pre and the power section of said amp for power. it will def save you some money.
 
#7
Stingray_EB said:
Apart from a bit grind or grit your going to get most of the tone from the 4 Pro that the RBI would give you anyway. As far as heads go there are plenty more heads out there available for a cheaper price that are much better and roadworthy than the 4 Pro. Read the reviews section. But from what Ive heard they have a tendancy to breakdown and are generally underpowered. of course IMO.
Click to expand...

Bull, I've gigged mine religously for 10+ years, it's never let me down. Not once.
 
#10
Out of all the Ampeg stuff I've owned, the only amp I liked was the SVT4-Pro paired with the SVP-Pro preamp. Outstanding stuff; I liked it even more than the SVT-CL I had. People say the 4Pro is weak and unreliable, but I never had a problem with mine, and as for volume, it's just one of those amps that takes some clever manipulation to make sing. You can't mono-bridge it into a 410HLF, smile the EQ and push the buttons and expect it to kick through the mix.
 
#11
i've got a 4 pro, i've had one problem with it maybe 3 years back but aside from that its been solid for the better part of 6 years (and i drive that sucker hard).

Good tone, lots of knobs to tweak your sound, plenty of ways to configure it. I think its a good head but I don't have experience with some of the other amps that people have bruoght up here so its definitely worth some effort to try a few out.
 

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