Ampeg SVT-7PRO Poll

[eyeballkid]

i dont see this thread as bashing, cos the intent is to take a user poll of experience to see how it actually breaks down..... for the record, i love ampeg in general, but im not sold on this model, im also not sold on class d in general so thats another issue... i love my fender jazz, but i think that some models are stinkers... I loved my Ashdown, but steered clear of certain models for reasons of taste or reliability. its fair to take a softly scientific look at the user experience. lets just see how many of us are sideline players and how many are "in the game"... i know some who are in the game and super happy and thats awesome...

 

[Jack Wren]

Not sure how I would vote on this one. I had one and liked it. I traded it. Not because I had issues. Not because I didn't like the sound. I just found something else I liked a little better. Mainly because I've played Ampeg all my life and just wanted something that was a little different. That doesn't mean I don't like the amp or the sound. Polls can sometimes be too black and white. Maybe another category would be "I had it and would recommend it" or something like that.

 

[vin*tone]

Another gear bashing thread I could do without.

IMO It will probably do the opposite - and put the reliability issues into some kind of perspective. The vast majority of 7 Pro users never have a problem and most love the tone they get out of it.

 

[drpepper]

I choose have/love because I have and like for the most part so far. Last gig with it was outdoor with Uber410 and that was the best so far. I was totally digging the tone.

 

[smeet]

My advice to would be 7 pro owners: Do it, and for heavens sake, worry more about what notes you play when, and less about the TB scuttlebutt.

My advice is... Decide for yourself but ignore other peoples' experience at your own peril. I listen to all "sides". Several people said they had no problems with their 7 Pros. I bought a new rev C00. It had problems. I liked the sound but not enough to always be worried about failure. I decided to return mine and got a different make. That was the right decision for me. I won't tell anybody else what they should do, but my experience is factual, and maybe it can help somebody (even Ampeg) to know about it.

You should do a Poll just like this one for every amp.

That's not actually a bad idea. If we had a database on how many units failed, across many different makes and models, it would put these discussions into perspective.

I played a different brand of micro amp that cut out on me today. Really respected brand made in the USA, too. I don't see any threads about how it's got a faulty design just because of a few faulty units.

If you feel the design is faulty, start a thread. If it cuts out on a lot of people, others will chime in with their experiences.

I think free flow of information is a good thing. Get all the stats, good and bad, out in the open, for all brands. Even my favorites. Even yours.

 

[georgestrings]

I played a different brand of micro amp that cut out on me today. Really respected brand made in the USA, too. I don't see any threads about how it's got a faulty design just because of a few faulty units.

But the key question is - would the manufacturer stand behind it and fix it, even if you weren't the original owner??? - or, would they tell you to bite it, like Ampeg does???

To me, if an amp fails, it isn't the end of the world - as long as the manufacturer makes things right... It shouldn't be like pulling teeth to get a company to fix an amp that's less than 2 years old - orginal owner or not - ESPECIALLY an amp with a known issue...


- georgestrings

 

[JimmyM]

But I don't feel the design of that amp is faulty, Smeet. That's my whole point. I think I simply plugged into a broken unit. It happens. I've seen and played enough of the Ampeg micro amps to know that it's not a faulty design but rather occasional manufacturing defects that are likely no more than any other company but seem magnified because they sell so many. And I certainly have no intention of dragging another good and well-intentioned company through the mud because of a manufacturing defect.

 

[JimmyM]

But the key question is - would the manufacturer stand behind it and fix it, even if you weren't the original owner??? - or, would they tell you to bite it, like Ampeg does???

You mean "bite it" like they told the dude with the broken board who schnorred a free one from Ampeg? Or the guy who got his broken 7 Pro replaced but was mad because he had to go through the original owner to make it happen, even though their warranty policy is clear?

You're trying too hard to be controversial.

 

[Downunderwonder]

You mean "bite it" like they told the dude with the broken board who schnorred a free one from Ampeg? Or the guy who got his broken 7 Pro replaced but was mad because he had to go through the original owner to make it happen, even though their warranty policy is clear?

You're trying too hard to be controversial.

There is no doubt in my mind that "bite it" is the standard CS treatment for a 2nd owner with trouble on a near new amp. That's an accounting decision. They have decided making every new ampeg more expensive to cover transferring warranties will make them less profit.

Until Loud management change that policy it you'll always have to pursue senior CS to get taken care of in the way of those examples. Then the controversy would die because you'd never get unholy bitchfests over breakdowns.

You can't argue with the price on a new one. You'd think, if they were all that they're supposed to be, the cost of extending the warranty wouldn't be very much at all and they would still be a bargain.

 

[JimmyM]

Not going to argue with you on that. I wouldn't mind seeing the warranties be transferable.

BTW, the amp I tried out today also doesn't have a transferable warranty. Not all that concerned about it, though, since I'm not in the market for a used micro

 

[bobcruz]

I don't object to threads like this, or any factual discussion of any amp's reliability. I would never judge an amp solely by the things I've read about it on the internet, but I like that it's possible to get an inkling of an amp's reputation from user reports, and the more reports on a particular amp, the more reliance I feel is justified on the reputation that I see developing.

Consequently, I encourage JimmyM to go ahead and name the amp that cut out on him. If it's a rare occurrence, that will become evident from all other user reports about it.

 

[Downunderwonder]

I know TB contributors are but a small proportion of bass players but I wonder how influential it is on buying decisions overall.

I also wonder how many new amps get flipped inside the warranty period. The way some TB'ers go through them you would think no amp ever lasted more than a year before the next new sensation. The reality is somewhere between that my 18 year old Trace bought new.

 

[JimmyM]

Alright...I guess no real harm can come from mentioning it...Aguilar Tone Hammer 350. The 500 worked perfectly, though. And the 350 worked perfectly with the DB410. But into the SL112 it distorted and cut out at very low levels. Again, though, I'll add that Aggie has a stellar reputation and I believe it was a fluke broken one.

 

[Cteam]

I still bought the 7-pro even after reading all the issues because of the increased power and lighter weight over the PF500. When I first got it, I paired it with an SVT-210av as a light weight practice cabinet. That was horrible. I pushed as much power as I dared through the 7-pro without damaging the speakers and was not getting much volume and didn't sound great. I bit the bullet and bought a PN-115HLF. When the 7-pro was hooked up to that cabinet the amp came too life and sounded amazing. There was no end to the bottom as I kept turning the volume up. So I don't have enough time on this to give reliablililty experience, but paired with the right cabinet, it sounds great. There might be something to matching the cab and the amp.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

You mean "bite it" like they told the dude with the broken board who schnorred a free one from Ampeg? Or the guy who got his broken 7 Pro replaced but was mad because he had to go through the original owner to make it happen, even though their warranty policy is clear?

You're trying too hard to be controversial.

I feel like I'm *arguing* points with you a lot these days and I don't like it but...

I will say Genz Benz and Mesa are much easier to go through when it comes to servicing issues. IME, they'll always help you out even if you aren't the original owner.

 

[bassguppy]

Here's a partial list of bass amp manufacturers who only warranty the original purchaser. There's a few more that I'm going through. I'll also include those who do transfer to the next/2nd owner.

Ampeg - 5 year/2 year warranty non-transferrable

Ashdown - 1 year warranty original owner

Eden - 2 year warranty original owner

Epifani - 2 year warranty original owner

Gallien Krueger - 2 year warranty original owner

Hartke - 1 year warranty original owner

Marshall - non-transferrable warranty. can't find the duration.

Peavey - 5 year warranty original owner

 

[funkybass]

Here's a partial list of bass amp manufacturers who only warranty the original purchaser. There's a few more that I'm going through. I'll also include those who do transfer to the next/2nd owner.

Ampeg - 5 year/2 year warranty non-transferrable

Ashdown - 1 year warranty original owner

Eden - 2 year warranty original owner

Epifani - 2 year warranty original owner

Gallien Krueger - 2 year warranty original owner

Hartke - 1 year warranty original owner

Marshall - non-transferrable warranty. can't find the duration.

Peavey - 5 year warranty original owner

Hartke is 3 years, at least on the lh1000. And I'd bet Larry would make good on a used amp. He's just a killer dude.

 

[rodl2005]

As I've said, many times, I'm 100% pleased with my 7 pro.
It's been faultless & sounds superb.

I swear, if I didn't frequent TB, I'd not be aware of any "issues" & I'd just have a great amp that I'm totally happy with.

 

[JimmyM]

Hmm, quite a big list of manufacturers who don't offer transferable warranties. Makes me wonder why Ampeg takes all the crap for it on here. Oh yeah, I know why...because it's Ampeg.

 

[johnnynitro]

I love my 7 pro Have it mached with 2 410 svt he's. Sounds huge ! Many different tones !