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Ampeg SVT vs Orange AD200B

#81
Thanks to all for lots of interesting points-of-views and tips on my question about tube-amps, it really did help a lot to dial in what amps was for me.

I did play a few modern Ampeg tubeheads but it seemed to me they needed lots of volume to really sound their best, while the Orange AD200 really performed well even at low volume. I was unable to find any used 70's Ampeg SVT (which would have been quite interesting to try) or Matamp GT200 where I live and wanted to try before I bought anything. And the SVT-II non pro that some people really rave about was just to big and heavy for my need and situation. Aguilar DB750 was also on my list - but just to much money.

The thing that really sold me on the Orange AD200 is the bass really sounded great right away - I just plugged in and the bass was singing and growling beautifully straight away. I got a 4x10 from Orange as well and it sounds great with the AD200!
 
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#82
mistergoats said:
Okay, so further to my earlier explanation of "farty" in terms of the amp, I could not dial in a sound that was that delicate balance of clear, grindy and punchy on the Orange versus the tones I was able to easily achieve on the SVT. Perhaps muddy would have been a better descriptor? I had flat and punchy (what I equated to a muddy or farty sound coming out) or bright and overly sizzly without the warm presence. Like I could not dial in a solid mix of the two that worked for what I wanted to hear.

This is just speculation, but I'm guessing no matter how I explain it, you'll favour the Orange and I'll favour the SVT, and that's totally cool with me.
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I no its a old post but i agree with you i own a svt cl my self more headroom more power and if someone wanted to could still get that orange tone from a svt they might need a orange pedal to overide the svts preamp then they might be able to dial in the orange tone. But in reality there's a reason the svt is the mother of all bass amps its because its the best!!! Period i agree with you that you can dail tones easy on a svt and you can over power any guitar player when they pull there to loud crap lol
 
#83
AmpegSvtAndMe said:
I no its a old post but i agree with you i own a svt cl my self more headroom more power and if someone wanted to could still get that orange tone from a svt they might need a orange pedal to overide the svts preamp then they might be able to dial in the orange tone. But in reality there's a reason the svt is the mother of all bass amps its because its the best!!! Period i agree with you that you can dail tones easy on a svt and you can over power any guitar player when they pull there to loud crap lol
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The AD200 sounds and behaves pretty much like a blackface Fender Showman with about double the power (165-170W clean). It's a sound that SVTs do not do.

As far as the idea than an SVT "can over power any guitar player." That is absolutely laughable! If a guitar player concedes, consider yourself lucky. I have several vintage amps that will absolutely bury both of my SVTs. Also I have several tube bass amps that will bury my SVTs, and several solid state amps that will bury my loudest tube bass amps.

Despite this, I do agree that SVTs are probably louder than is reasonably useful for most bass players, and they are very, very good amps.

If you think the SVT is the best amp ever made, I can't argue with your opinion because you are entitled to your opinion. But let's not get too hyperbolic about just how loud an SVT can play. 300W into the 810E = 125dB. Most SVTs don't make 300W clean, but they do if you push them a bit.

I believe 100W into four Vintage 30s = 126dB...and that's about where a vintage 100W Marshall starts to break up.

You also have to deal with the Fletcher Munson curve, which shows the SPL for perceived Equal loudness. Notice low frequencies must be louder than mids. In other words for equal perceived loudness, the SVT must be able to play louder than a guitar amp.

Fletcher-Munson.gif
 
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#84
Ive used lots of bass amps over the years only the svt has delivered time and time again for me thats basicly all im saying there where times when i used × 2/8×10 cabs at 2 ohms it felt like it was going to blow my clothes off of course im not a rock star i can't play at those volumes for long i still have both cabs. Im not saying that a svt can blow away guitar players and Marshall amps but it has made a lot of them turn down because it was so loud not because they wanted to it was just to loud to play in a bar or a club. Orange makes an amazing amp if i like the disorted sound id get 1 but its not my thing but for me its the svt
 
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