Ampeg SVT CL Vs. Mesa 400+

[Warpeg]

I've owned both, as well as an SVT-2 Pro. The 400+ and CL are gone, but I kept the 2 Pro--if that tells you anything.

They were all great heads. I liked the clean tubey tone of the 400+, but it lacked organic character and depth. I liked the warmth and growl of the CL, but it had little versatility and couldn't get very clean. I found that the SVT-2 Pro is the best of both worlds. For my playing styles, I can get both heads' tones out of the 2 Pro.

 

[K-Funk]

I've owned both, as well as an SVT-2 Pro. The 400+ and CL are gone, but I kept the 2 Pro--if that tells you anything.

They were all great heads. I liked the clean tubey tone of the 400+, but it lacked organic character and depth. I liked the warmth and growl of the CL, but it had little versatility and couldn't get very clean. I found that the SVT-2 Pro is the best of both worlds. For my playing styles, I can get both heads' tones out of the 2 Pro.

and your opinion of the original SVT-II?

 

[Fealach]

Personally, the tone of the CL never did anything for me. I have had (simultaneously) a 400+, SVT-2Pro, and a Peavey Classic 400. Of these, I kept the 2Pro the longest, I liked its distortion and the versatility, easy to get the desired level of clean/distortion. It always sounded like an Ampeg, though. The 400+ is a great head, and it was very tough to decide on selling it over the 2Pro. Of the 2 in question here, I'd pick the 400+, but the 2Pro is worth checking out.

 

[zzr0ck3r]

try the mesa fathom before you buy those