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Ampeg SVT vs Orange AD200B

#65
Travelrock said:
I think a 8x10 cab is out of the question (just to big for me to transport and probably quite heavy to)... what cab would you recommend to these amps if I just get one? A 4x10 or 1x15? Or?

I've been using one or two 15" cabs pretty much all my life - from different brands..
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When it comes to cabs: Keep in mind that it is highly recommended to use the Ampeg SVT with a 4 or 2 ohm load. Operating this amp at an 8 ohm load is NOT recommended. Your two 15" cabs are probably 8 ohms each, and would be a great match for the Ampeg when used together. However, it is not recommended to use a single 8 ohm load (ie, just one of your speakers). You'd need to use them together.

The Orange has 4 ohm and 8 ohm outputs.

The Fender Super Bassman has 2, 4 and 8 ohm outputs.
 
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#66
Travelrock said:
Thanks all for your comments! It's really been an interesting read, exactly what I hoped for. Also got me curious about the Matamp GT200... sounds like most of you guys regard that one somewhat a holy grail of tube bass amps. Right? ... I think a 8x10 cab is out of the question (just to big for me to transport and probably quite heavy to)... what cab would you recommend to these amps if I just get one? A 4x10 or 1x15? Or?

I've been using one or two 15" cabs pretty much all my life - from different brands. ...
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My "holy grail" of tube amps would either be the Trace Elliot V8 or Aguilar dB728 power amp along with a Read Purity or Kern 777 preamp :hyper: .

A single cab, easily schlepped, relatively pretty light? I'll take an "or" :laugh: ... 3 choices:

1. 15/6 (or 15/6/1) with a new 4-ohm 3015LF (if the cab must be 4-ohms). This will easily keep up with (if not surpass) any commercial 410 / 215 / 2 x 115.
2. 1212/6 (or 1212/6/1) with 8-ohm 3012LFs. ~10% more firepower than a 15/6 (15/6/1).
3. AudioKinesis Hathor 1855 (4-ohm version, again if you must have a 4-ohm box). About 1.5 x the horsepower of a 15/6 (15/6/1).
 
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#68
Travelrock said:
Thanks all for your comments! It's really been an interesting read, exactly what I hoped for. Also got me curious about the Matamp GT200... sounds like most of you guys regard that one somewhat a holy grail of tube bass amps. Right?

As most of you said, probably can't go wrong with any of these. And as several suggested, of course I'll try to find some to try out on my own. (However doubt I'll find them at the same store.)

I think a 8x10 cab is out of the question (just to big for me to transport and probably quite heavy to)... what cab would you recommend to these amps if I just get one? A 4x10 or 1x15? Or?

I've been using one or two 15" cabs pretty much all my life - from different brands.

I should perhaps add:
I do use several basses; Gibson Thunderbird, Fender Precision, Musicman Stingray, Fender Jazz and even an old BC Rich Mockingbird. I play lots of styles from time to time but raised on 70's rock (classic rock/blues based hard rock) and I do tend to lean towards that kind of music these days.
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I had one of the Ampeg 410HLF cabs for a while, but running the SVT trough it, at volume (also using a Gibson Thunderbird) the damned light kept coming on! Ampeg at some point put a warning light in the 410HLFs that tells you when you're overdriving the cab. There's lots of really great cab options these days, too.

Oddly enough, I used the SVT through a Trainor 210+115 (all in one cabinet) at a rehersal once and it sounded pretty good. Smaller footprint, east to move around, big sound.
 
#69
iualum said:
Mesa 400+, Trace V4 or V6, Fender 300 Pro ... gimmee any of those before the Peggy & way before the Orange :bassist:.
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I sold my 400+ I'd had for almost 20 years. I had it side by side with the Orange for six years, and played them through the same cabinets/basses, etc. I loved the 400+, it is an extraordinary amp. Loud, clean, warm. Can be Hi-Fi through the second input (padded, different voice) or more Ampeg-like through input 1. Loud, durable. I sold it after a while because I couldn't really get the Orange tone with 400+, and if I want loud and clean, I might as well go light weight, so I got a Thunderfunk for clean volume.

The Trace V8 is nice from what I remember about it years ago.
 
#70
mistergoats said:
I had one of the Ampeg 410HLF cabs for a while, but running the SVT trough it, at volume (also using a Gibson Thunderbird) the damned light kept coming on! Ampeg at some point put a warning light in the 410HLFs that tells you when you're overdriving the cab. There's lots of really great cab options these days, too.

Oddly enough, I used the SVT through a Trainor 210+115 (all in one cabinet) at a rehersal once and it sounded pretty good. Smaller footprint, east to move around, big sound.
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The light acts like a fuse for the horn, is my understanding.
 
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#71
TMARK said:
The light acts like a fuse for the horn, is my understanding.
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Yep, that's right. I actually managed to destroy the horn on the cab. I almost forgot about that. It was at the "zero" position, so effectively off, and we were playing and then something popped. I took the cab back to L&M and they gave me a replacement, then I managed to trade that new one for an 810 and some cash on craigslist. Have not looked back. Worth hauling it around.
 
#72
mistergoats said:
Yep, that's right. I actually managed to destroy the horn on the cab. I almost forgot about that. It was at the "zero" position, so effectively off, and we were playing and then something popped. I took the cab back to L&M and they gave me a replacement, then I managed to trade that new one for an 810 and some cash on craigslist. Have not looked back. Worth hauling it around.
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I keep my horns at about 30%, depending on the cabinet. Like you I learned the hard way about the light-fuse!
 
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#73
Out of 410 or 115 I would definitely go with 410 for its ability to move more air. No doubt others will suggest fearful but I have no experience with those. I do have a Bergantino NV115 which sounds superb with the Orange, as does my Bergantino NV215 - so if you go AD200 I can confidently recommend two NV115s (as did Tom Bowlus in his reveiew). Another cab which is nicely priced, sounds good with the Orange and is no too big is the Ampeg 212AV.
 
#74
The OBC115 is just a TL606 design (minus batting which I added to mine). I think they are good cabs and have a certain flavor to them I suppose. Which, I also prefer over the OBC410. The OBC410 is nice but I think it was just missing something for me. I'm not a huge 10's kinda guy. More of a 15's or 12's.

I think if I'm ever hurting in the bottom end department again I'll just go back to the GK212 Neo II. Those are some bad mamma jammas.
 
#78
This thread is a great read! To the OP: I'm also in the market for an all tube head. Over 10 years ago, I owned an SLM-era SVT2-Pro; before that I owned an SLM-Era SVT-CL. I used an Ampeg 810E cabinet btw. I love the Ampeg tone, I especially love their eq system. I wasn't completely happy with either of my SVT's, though. Neither of mine stayed clean enough for my tastes at gig volumes. I was hoping to get the same clean tone/headroom that I got from a mid 70's SVT that I borrowed for big gigs a long time ago. That was one incredible amp!

I've never considered the Orange, but the one's I'm most interested in are the Verellen Meatsmoke head and the Reeves Custom 225. I'd also like to try out the Ampeg SVT-VR, the Fender Super Bassman 300, and the Traynor YBA-300.

The Traynor head intrigues me, it can run either EL34's or 6L6's. I cannot locate one to try out, though.

I'll echo the opinions to try out the SVT and the ADB200 to hear which you prefer.
 
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#79
One of my first amps was an Acoustic 220 head with 2x15 cabinet (perhaps modelname was 215B?) that I got late 70's and it was a real work horse, reliable without any issues for years and years! Later I got a Pearce BC-1 preamp with a Carver 2x450 watt Power-amp and did run them through 2 Cabinets with 15" McCauley speakers. The dual channel is quite useful to blend two tone settings. I also used a number of other ones throughout the years up until now, but they've all been solid-state.

They've been reliable but lacking some of the tube warmth and organic sound with a light bit of distortion that really makes the bass sing without loosing that growl and definition. It's quite comforting reading about how a lot of you really love their tone and set-up, whether it's Ampeg or Orange or the other tube-amps mentioned, if one put up that kind of money that's what one hope to get. I will further investigate some of the other suggestions you've been given here too; Matamp, Reves, Mesa etc all sounds quite interesting too.

I would prefer it not being extremely heavy (I do understand tube amps often are) and I would love if I could control the level of natural tube distortion even at low volume.
 

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