Greetings fellow Tb-ers and to the SVT-7 Pro Club! I would like to apply for membership to the club; my qualifications and story follows.
I recently acquired (my) SVT-7 Pro, having no:
a) explicit intention of looking for/getting another amp*
b) awareness of the SVT-7 Pro's existence
c) awareness of this thread/club's existence
I went to my local GC as I'm wont to do on occasion just to see what's "new" in terms of both new and used item inventory. Well they had a '12 Am Std P in Olym White w/ tortoise shell guard but with a maple neck, which has historically NOT been my preference. I figured, "what the heck", let's handle it, plug it in to see what if any real change/improvement(?) the new models--specifically the Vintage P/U's--might offer. As I already own an American made ca. 2005 SVT-CL albeit not with the 810 Classic cab as was set-up in the store, I instead opted to plug into--what's this, an Ampeg "SVT-7" Pro???--and Ampeg 610 Classic cab set-up they had 2 spots next to the SVT/810-CL set-up. Well not only was the instrument itself one of the sweetest most buttery action along with correct intonation up/down the neck I've played either new or vintage status (always check those 17th-19th frets!), I was fully blown away by the "sound" of the 7Pro/610! Yes, I acknowledge maybe those Vintage P/Us were also contributing to the sonic/tonal bliss I was hearing...
To try and shorten my great American novel here: I really wasn't in a position to drop $799 on a new 7Pro, (even with my GC Card--mind I wasn't even looking for an amp!) so I go to walk away and lo & behold I spot a used 7Pro in a stack of 3 amps around the corner and it's priced at $549! Hmmmm...I talk to one the managers I'm friends with to check if they're having any sales (as they typically do EVERY other weekend it seems). They knock $50 off plus a little bit extra, and I said "w-t-f: Why not?!". I'm then offered a great deal on the (new) 610 cab as a package (really great deal & there were no used ones there to consider either, btw) but I really DO have to be fiscally prudent right now and figure let me first try it with my dual Aggie GS112 cabs anyway and if it's not the same then I'll have to consider my options re: the possibility of maybe searching the local CL for a used 610, never mind the financial ramifications of same.
So far (3 weeks or so now), I can say it's been *just* as an impressive and fulfilling set-up to my ears and I haven't "missed" my SVT-CL while it sits in deference to the 7Pro. Btw, my 7Pro is a "C00" Revision model and I've experienced none of the well known and documented cut--wait I'm so superstitious I'd rather not even type those words!!!
To ease your minds, I will NEVER sell my SVT-CL and at this point I firmly regard the 7Pro as being my new reference and it's not going anywhere either!
*A couple years ago I had the notion of acquiring a SVT-3 Pro as a "portable"/solid state amp option after hearing that in a set-up with a pair of Aggie GS112s, which in fact lead me on the search that ultimately resulted in buying the 2 used GS112s I'm using now; I now regard the 7Pro as supplanting and obliterating any personal desire for any other Ampeg Pro-Series or "hybrid" design amp. To that aspect, also know that I'm an "analogue/tube" guy when it comes to BOTH music AND home audio/stereo gear, and I've been extremely leery of Class D/Digital amp topologies; I take comfort that the 7Pro uses a 12AX7 in the pre-amp section, and it would seem that Ampeg has finally figured out how to properly utilize and apply Class D technology if only with this specific amplifier/application context.
Whew! Oh yeah, one final (I promise!) thing:
No pics-No Bass? No pics-No amp!
So, do I meet the qualification criteria to join the club or is this a case of "I don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member!"?
PS-I have other pics of my full set-up including my basses, but apparently they're too big & I'll need to re-size them for TB...
