If I'm being forced to use provided backline instead of my own rig, I'm praying to see an Ampeg up there waiting for me. At least that way I know it'll be relatively easy to get a good sound out of it.
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Ampegs vs good value brands?
- Thread starter Cole Louis Allar
- Start date
Never understood comments like this. I own an SVT-3 and have gigged with many SVT's as backlines. My 3 has never sounded quiet compared to a SVT. I think most people who complain about their volume don't know how to set their gain/tube gain/volume correctly.
Ampeg makes some great stuff, and some not so great stuff. One of the very best amps I've used was the SVT 2. Like someone else said, probably best to avoid some of the not so well known amps, like the b4r. Ampeg 810s can sound great and have a ton of volume, but you've gotta think if it's practical for you and it's the sound you want. They are a very mid ranged cabinet, not a lot of deep lows or very sparkly highs. They're also overkill for smaller shows and a nuisance to move.
Personally, I prefer my Mesa ph410 to the fridge that I gigged for years. It goes lower and higher than the fridge on the frequency side, and it's much easier to move. I've yet to play a room where it wasn't sufficient volume wise.
Again, ampeg makes some great stuff, but I feel that Mesa is more consistent and reliable for the price. Unless you're talking about the heritage line, but that's an even higher price point.
Personally, I prefer my Mesa ph410 to the fridge that I gigged for years. It goes lower and higher than the fridge on the frequency side, and it's much easier to move. I've yet to play a room where it wasn't sufficient volume wise.
Again, ampeg makes some great stuff, but I feel that Mesa is more consistent and reliable for the price. Unless you're talking about the heritage line, but that's an even higher price point.
Oh yeah, I know and did mention that...didnt know they had to be 4 Ohms though, I heard from quite a few people it didn't matter if the cab was 4 or 8 Ohms, at least with the PS300 this is the case! Yeah, its heavy(at least the 300 is) probably why there are *3* handles on it!!LOL...
How much are they selling it for? Just curious as the PS400 is considered one of the best bass amps
Loading my ampeg 810 on and off the trailer is a collosal pain but soooo worth it on stage. THE FRIDGE!
My favorite amp setup that I had ever owned was my Ampeg SVP running through QSC PLX 3602 going into an Ampeg SVT410HE. It had all the tone of an SVT3 but with 10x the power (something the SVT3PRO lacked IMO). Nowadays my back is loving my TC Electronics 115 combo. Light, powerful, and has a good tone. Most of my volume comes from the PA, so I dont need a ton of power behind me.
But everyone should pay an original SVT though a 810 once in their life. It does make you a perspective on bass tone and moving air.
But everyone should pay an original SVT though a 810 once in their life. It does make you a perspective on bass tone and moving air.
I run an Ampeg SVT450 with EQ , Ampeg 410 cab and never look around for anything else. Four different basses from the p to a ramble cat all sound great through that rig.money very well spent.
Oh yeah, I know and did mention that...didnt know they had to be 4 Ohms though, I heard from quite a few people it didn't matter if the cab was 4 or 8 Ohms, at least with the PS300 this is the case! Yeah, its heavy(at least the 300 is) probably why there are *3* handles on it!!LOL...
How much are they selling it for? Just curious as the PS400 is considered one of the best bass amps
I think it's $999. Trading Musician in Seattle has it, or at least they still did a couple weeks ago. It has been in there for a long time.
Thanks!! Yeah, I wouldn't want to lug around the cabs those had, let alone 3!! I guess they sounded pretty bad too beside each being very heavy, they actually made a separate stand for the head as well, it looked like a shopping cart LOL!! I seen an old ad for it, they claimed the cabs vibrations were bad for the amp or something like that!? I thought about selling my 300PS, but it sounds too damn good!!
Even though I kind of agree with you, it's not an SVT. Probably very similar, but not same. Even the new PFs sound incredible, but they are not SVTs. Said that, even though I'd love to have an SVT with an 8x10, I don't see the point. I could not take a 8x10 cab to the stages where I usually play (venues in Spain tend to be small). Those new class-D amps sound really good. The biggest cab you can see in my circle are 4x10 cabs, and even them are rarely seen. I play with a 2x12 and I've seen a lot of 2x10 combos and 1x15.
810's rock because bigger is better for bass. That's just the way the physics work. Not that small can't work out very well, of course, but even the best small cabs sound twice as good when you double up on them. That said, I'm using my little BA112 v2 combo on my gig today 
Space considerations...
Space considerations...
Oh, please don't get me wrong. I am not suggesting my little fliptop is equivalent to an SVT and 8x10". The lead sled + fridge rig is without compare. There is something intoxicating about making the room shake with one of those things, and making everybody's pant legs flap with rich delicious all-tube goodness.
But these days most clubs around me at least have a PA and the amp is there so I can hear myself and make changes to my sound on the fly. I let the FOH broadcast it to the crowd. A lot of guitar players do this kind of thing too, micing small boutiquey tube amps and sending that to the PA. If you play metal or other similar styles, you need a bass rig which can cut through the Marshalls and Mesas and epileptic drummers so you can be heard on stage - therefore the 300+ watt, 70-lb tube heads like the SVT will always have a reason to exist. But most people don't need that much stage volume, is what I am getting at, and everybody wants a rig that's easier on your back, so long as your tone doesn't suffer. Just my two cents.
Even when you play at lower volume, there's something about an SVT810's tone that just grabs you!810's rock because bigger is better for bass. That's just the way the physics work. Not that small can't work out very well, of course, but even the best small cabs sound twice as good when you double up on them. That said, I'm using my little BA112 v2 combo on my gig today
pablomigraine
Commercial User
I've played and gigged heads from Ampeg, Fender, SWR, Peavey, Aguilar, Ashdown, Markbass, Genz Benz, Epifani, Carvin and many others... the Ampeg SVT-7Pro is one of my top 3 favorite amps of all time. It's the greatest features of all their best amps all packed together with one beauty of a power section.
And I'll give you another personal opinion about Ampeg that isn't very popular... they've gotten BETTER since being Made In China... at least the Cabinets have. The Ampeg 810 "Fridge" is one of the most recognizable speaker cabinets in the world. The last few years of American made 810's were a mess. Some were made with MDF, some were particle board, and the speakers inside were junk... IIRC Ampeg went through no less than 3 vendors for speakers for that cab before the LOUD Technologies takeover. I've gigged with probably a dozen of these cabs over the years, some mine, some rented. The best one I ever played was the brand new Chinese one. All Lightweight plywood construction, high quality eminence speakers, good quality sound dampening... and cleaner sounding and louder and more even than its predecessors.
Just my two cents.
And I'll give you another personal opinion about Ampeg that isn't very popular... they've gotten BETTER since being Made In China... at least the Cabinets have. The Ampeg 810 "Fridge" is one of the most recognizable speaker cabinets in the world. The last few years of American made 810's were a mess. Some were made with MDF, some were particle board, and the speakers inside were junk... IIRC Ampeg went through no less than 3 vendors for speakers for that cab before the LOUD Technologies takeover. I've gigged with probably a dozen of these cabs over the years, some mine, some rented. The best one I ever played was the brand new Chinese one. All Lightweight plywood construction, high quality eminence speakers, good quality sound dampening... and cleaner sounding and louder and more even than its predecessors.
Just my two cents.
Nothing wrong with the B4R, it is basically the SVT 4-PRO without the tube pre-amp. It sounds great with a Tech21 VT Bass pedal and outshines G-K 700RB and 1001RB, IMHO. YMMV.
I had an MIA SLM 8x10SE from 2006, i much prefer the 2000 2x15E and 1993 SVR-215 i have now. To my ears those 15's are some of the best full range drivers i have ever heard! Tight deep lows, clear mids and a tweeter for highs. The 2x15s might not sound as good as the old flatback 8x10s, but at least i can turn up and not have to worry about blowing speakers if i don't have both cabs hooked up, and the extention down to a true B at 30Hz is un matched.
