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Ampeg SVT Vintage vs. Ampeg SVT-CL

zartalexander

zartalexander

Guest
Mar 17, 2012
105
9
California
#1
I'm aware that I'm not the first one to make a posting like this, but I still wanted to get some input and clarification.

A local pawn shop has an Ampeg SVT V-9 for sale at a very reasonable price. Condition is good (worn but everything seems in tact) From what I have gathered, it is basically just a 70's era SVT, not to be confused with the Ampeg V-9. I guess the main give away is that it has four channel inputs as opposed to the V-9 which has two. I know the only other differences are that the v-9 has dist/reverb and a different preamp (intended for guitar). I'm assuming the one I'm looking at has the same preamp as an SVT...?

Anyway, I'm using an SVT-CL. Which is cool, but I've never gotten to compare it to a vintage SVT. A lot of users on TB and elsewhere claim that there is a significant difference in tone and character. Like significantly better. I'm somewhat satisfied with my CL, but I could probably sell it for the same price I could buy the vintage one. That is, if this is even worth it (also assuming it has no major functional problems, which the seller claims it does not)

I know this sort of falls into "subjective" territory, but I would be curious to see what y'all would do.

Also using a Gibson G3 and Berg 610.
 
#4
Well, I'm not an Ampeg expert like Jimmy, and he hears this differently than I do, but...
I tried a brand new SVT CL and an SVT VR (supposed to be more like the 70s SVT) side by side in a store, and with identical settings, bass, and cabinet, the VR sounded much richer and more alive. It was not a subtle difference at all. Maybe there was something wrong with the CL, but that's what I heard.
 
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#7
Chris 'Wighat' Jordan said:
It's just a plain ole SVT. The chassis are marked SVT/V9 because the chassis are the same in either case. Same with the V4 and VT22.
Click to expand...
That's what I thought. Part of me was kind of hoping it was a V9 at first because I like the way the V4 sounds with bass. But it would be nice to have 300w instead of 100w.
Which still leaves me with the decision of vintage SVT or SVT-CL...
 
#9
I owned the CL, had a VR for a short time, and ended up with a "skunkworks" 80's era SVT-HD. I returned the VR, because fiddling with the CL settings a bit, I could get the two to sound so close it wasn't worth the extra money to me to upgrade to the VR. The SVT-HD was my favorite though. I really felt the sound was a bit more open and rich, but only slightly. All three heads are winners in my book. I think you'll find that your decision will boil down to a matter of preference over function.

I should mention, I spent a little over $600 dollars having the HD serviced after receiving it. It had been many years since the amp had been to a tech, and a couple of the tubes and caps were testing poorly. So, be sure to consider the potential cost of servicing when weighing your options.
 
#11
smeet said:
Well, I'm not an Ampeg expert like Jimmy, and he hears this differently than I do, but...
I tried a brand new SVT CL and an SVT VR (supposed to be more like the 70s SVT) side by side in a store, and with identical settings, bass, and cabinet, the VR sounded much richer and more alive. It was not a subtle difference at all. Maybe there was something wrong with the CL, but that's what I heard.
Click to expand...
Hey, I just plug into them and listen like anyone else does. The only difference is maybe that I've played every single one of the different SVT's at some recent point in time, and I own a 69 SVT that was one of the first off the lot ;)

And with all due respect to your findings, and I fully support your findings as you see them, when I take an SVT-CL and crank the master all the way and use gain to control volume, the differences between the CL and VR disappear to my ears. I've sat for hours comparing my Heritage CL to my 69 and I honestly can't tell the difference. But a lot of folks like the two channels and the single volume control of the VR, and I do, too. But I get a very VR-like sound out of the CL, and I can go either way. So my feeling is that if you are fortunate enough to own any SVT at all, from the most vintage of vintage SVT's to the most recent SVT-CL's, you should totally rejoice in it and not sweat which model it is.
 
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#12
Honestly there may not be too much respect due to my findings. I've played only a handful of tube amps in my life, and those were the first SVT's I've played. What I did was put all the tone controls at noon, dime the master, and compare the sounds. I'm sure you're right, and the same sounds can be pulled out of each one. It seemed like the "default voice" of the two amps I tried was different. I'm certainly willing to believe I forgot to set something the same on the two amps. They both sounded great to me.
 
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#13
I have a 2001 SLM SVT-CL and a 1972 Blackline SVT. I prefer the '72 but agree with Jimmy that if I take the master volume out of the equation with the CL and use the gain to control volume, I can get much closer than most people would think.

The clear answer is - try and see what you think.
 
#14
Mild hijack (sorry)... I own a 1995 SLM SVT-CL and I have never cranked the master volume all the way, then used gain as needed. Is this the way to do it? I've typically just blended both of them, with master volume being higher. I'm feeling pretty dumb / noobish right now, but it's happened before and it will happen again.
 
#16
vivaknoxvegas said:
Mild hijack (sorry)... I own a 1995 SLM SVT-CL and I have never cranked the master volume all the way, then used gain as needed. Is this the way to do it? I've typically just blended both of them, with master volume being higher.
Click to expand...

You've got it.

The master is simply a pot placed at the output of the preamp. When turned up, the full preamp signal is passed to the power amp, much like there is no master. The gain is used to control the overall volume. This is how non-master amps work. When the master is turned down, it attenuates the preamp.

People feel that the amp sounds more open with the master on full.
 
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#18
Loki182 said:
my SVT doesn't have a Gain knob :) volume=OD

something to take into account is older models don't have separate controls for gain and volume, only master
Click to expand...
We appreciate the input from you, but that is why this entire discussion is taking place ;) Trying to make a CL sound more like a single volume SVT such as yours.

vivaknoxvegas said:
Mild hijack (sorry)... I own a 1995 SLM SVT-CL and I have never cranked the master volume all the way, then used gain as needed. Is this the way to do it? I've typically just blended both of them, with master volume being higher. I'm feeling pretty dumb / noobish right now, but it's happened before and it will happen again.
Click to expand...
LOL! At least you admit it!

But seriously, you can do it either way. Adding gain adds compression until it starts adding audible distortion, which many people like, so it's totally not wrong to set it the way you're setting. I've done it a million times till I learned about cranking the master. But cranking the master and using gain to control volume will give you the least compressed sound.
 
#19
beans-on-toast said:
You've got it.

The master is simply a pot placed at the output of the preamp. When turned up, the full preamp signal is passed to the power amp, much like there is no master. The gain is used to control the overall volume. This is how non-master amps work. When the master is turned down, it attenuates the preamp.

People feel that the amp sounds more open with the master on full.
Click to expand...

To add to what beans said here, I generally approach tube amps with the opposite philosophy with which I approach solid-state amps. With a SS device, you generally set your input gain to just below clipping and then turn up your master volume to the desired level. With tube amps, you generally optimize your tone by turning the master volume as high as possible and then bring up the gain (then you can readjust the two for sane stage volume level if you want some break up).
 

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