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Anyone NOT like the SVT?

#221
calypsocoral302 said:
For those of you who say that Ampeg can't do funk, all I have to say is-- tell that to Bootsy!


...yeah... didn't think so!
Click to expand...

I saw Bootsy's Rubber Band in '94, front row. He had a steady bass player (who was a midget/dwarf) who played a red Precision through Ampegs, nice and tight like Motown. When Bootsy came out (he wasn't even on stage more than 50% of the time...) he was wearing a cape and facing the drummer, back to the audience. When Bootsy turned around, all he did was just touch his strings - open palm, full hand - and there was this giant wave of explosive, creamy, fuzz-toned BASS that literally knocked people dancing off their feet. He seriously did this over and over again throughout the night. Walked off the stage (band kept playing, midget bass player walking all over the funky lines) and then crept back out... hit his bass once, held his hand in the air with the P Funk salute, and then retreated again... and again... and again. What a night!;)
 
#222
JimmyM said:
tumblr_ky7qujFlRD1qzn2wro1_500.jpg
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Truth be told, that particular sword cuts both ways.

;)
 
#223
my band's guitarist has the ampeg SVT CL and the ampeg SVT III, I don't really like the all-tube classicm - it's too boring and he never punches through the mix when he uses it live - even though he's got a 610 cab I can't hear him. The SVTIII delivers more definition, but still suffers from that same problem. Oddly enough I've never had a problem cutting through with my 250 watt warwick through my 410 pro cab. He thinks the Ampeg is the "end-all/be-all" of bass amps, I feel my 2,000 bucks could go to a much better head.
 
#224
I've used a lot of SVTs (dozens of times) as backline rigs on bigger arena / outdoor shows, but they're not my first-choice preference. That being said, I've never owned one (and I probably won't purely for issues of weight and portability) and so I haven't had the opportunity to sit with one for hours and tweak it.

In comparison with other backline amps, I've found that it is probably easier to get a good tone on an SVT than others, which are either love-it-or-hate-it (for me, SWR and many Eden amps have fallen into the latter category), but that I haven't ever been able to go from a "good" tone to a "great" tone on an SVT. It starts at "pretty good" and just goes to "good" ... IME.

In summary. I guess I would say that the best thing about an SVT is that it is very, very hard to get a *bad* sound out of it!
 
#227
An old SVT, is like an old muscle car,.... powerful, vintage cool vibe, style, and hard on gas (back). It will suck you into your seat with gobs of torque. If you keep it in good operating condtion, it will never leave you stranded, and for sure you will get more chicks than a guy in a Subaru.....;)

Some guys like the buzz of adrenaline and testosterone....a slight vibe of outlaw....they drive muscle cars and play SVT's. To the OP, if your band needs some horsepower....and a couple of friends to help carry your stuff, you know what to do...

Others want reliable transportation, very little maintence, etc. They drive the subarus. (look, I like some Subarus especially when doing rally car driving or birdwatching....oh a themos of camomille tea while watching birds is very relaxing:cool:) If you are not playing meat and potatoes music that demands that sound and a cucumber in the front of your pants, get something smaller and lighter. Your choice.

Also regarding the eq and preamps on the vintage SVTs.( I swore I would never tell anybody this) Plug in to channel 1. Take a short jumper cable and plug into the other Channel 1 input, and then with a confident toneshaping smile, jump it to channel 2.....Voila now you have two channels of ultimate tone shaping that still sounds like a big block. All the old school guys may have been doing this I don't know. But when guys who are not used to this supreme tone shaping ability, they miss a chance to fine tune the sound like a 2 channel crossover. Another reason why SVT's are cool....don't forget da tunderbird :bassist:

Burnt
 
#228
BurntReynolds said:
An old SVT, is like an old muscle car,.... powerful, vintage cool vibe, style, and hard on gas (back). It will suck you into your seat with gobs of torque. If you keep it in good operating condtion, it will never leave you stranded, and for sure you will get more chicks than a guy in a Subaru.....;)

Some guys like the buzz of adrenaline and testosterone....a slight vibe of outlaw....they drive muscle cars and play SVT's. To the OP, if your band needs some horsepower....and a couple of friends to help carry your stuff, you know what to do...

Others want reliable transportation, very little maintence, etc. They drive the subarus. (look, I like some Subarus especially when doing rally car driving or birdwatching....oh a themos of camomille tea while watching birds is very relaxing:cool:) If you are not playing meat and potatoes music that demands that sound and a cucumber in the front of your pants, get something smaller and lighter. Your choice.

Also regarding the eq and preamps on the vintage SVTs.( I swore I would never tell anybody this) Plug in to channel 1. Take a short jumper cable and plug into the other Channel 1 input, and then with a confident toneshaping smile, jump it to channel 2.....Voila now you have two channels of ultimate tone shaping that still sounds like a big block. All the old school guys may have been doing this I don't know. But when guys who are not used to this supreme tone shaping ability, they miss a chance to fine tune the sound like a 2 channel crossover. Another reason why SVT's are cool....don't forget da tunderbird :bassist:

Burnt
Click to expand...

Nicely put. :cool:
 
#229
BurntReynolds said:
An old SVT, is like an old muscle car,.... powerful, vintage cool vibe, style, and hard on gas (back). It will suck you into your seat with gobs of torque. If you keep it in good operating condtion, it will never leave you stranded, and for sure you will get more chicks than a guy in a Subaru.....;)

Some guys like the buzz of adrenaline and testosterone....a slight vibe of outlaw....they drive muscle cars and play SVT's. To the OP, if your band needs some horsepower....and a couple of friends to help carry your stuff, you know what to do...

Others want reliable transportation, very little maintence, etc. They drive the subarus. (look, I like some Subarus especially when doing rally car driving or birdwatching....oh a themos of camomille tea while watching birds is very relaxing:cool:) If you are not playing meat and potatoes music that demands that sound and a cucumber in the front of your pants, get something smaller and lighter. Your choice.

Also regarding the eq and preamps on the vintage SVTs.( I swore I would never tell anybody this) Plug in to channel 1. Take a short jumper cable and plug into the other Channel 1 input, and then with a confident toneshaping smile, jump it to channel 2.....Voila now you have two channels of ultimate tone shaping that still sounds like a big block. All the old school guys may have been doing this I don't know. But when guys who are not used to this supreme tone shaping ability, they miss a chance to fine tune the sound like a 2 channel crossover. Another reason why SVT's are cool....don't forget da tunderbird :bassist:

Burnt
Click to expand...

Or you could just drive an SVT:

2010_ford_f150_svt_raptor12.jpg
 
#230
When SVTs first came on the market (it was a LONG time ago), I thought they were awesome. The first time I heard someone use one, I was blown away. Since then, technology and good bass sound have evolved. They still have a good bit of punch, but I think the SVT is bettered by most of the decent amps out there. It doesn't have the transient response, the definition and detail of other amps in its class. Let's not forget they're damned heavy
 
#233
Sartori said:
The SVT is a one trick pony. These clips all sound EXACTLY the same. Obviously.



Everyone knows it's only possible to get one tone out of an SVT.
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Actually, I think the inherent tone of the amp is very apparent in all of those clips. The first two definitely showcase the nasally midrange of the amp. That's less so in the third clip; but overdrive aside, I wouldn't call it a radical tonal departure. Don't get me wrong; it's a good tone (the Happy Jack clip is awesome).

I do agree that it's a bit absurd to call an SVT a one trick pony. However, I think there is something inherently apparent in most SVTs that is always going to be there. My Mesa 400+ has a three band interactive EQ with push-pull pots and a defeatable seven-band graphic EQ. Even with all of that EQ capability, there is just something intrinsically "400+ish" about that amp that is nearly impossible to get away from, even through technique, different cabs, and different basses. It's not so much about tone. It's more about timbre.

The SVT is the gold standard of rock bass. Unfortunately, 90% of rock tone throughout the history of modern recording has left me saying "meh." That's ironic considering I play a lot of rock music. :hiding:
 
#234
LiquidMidnight said:
Actually, I think the inherent tone of the amp is very apparent in all of those clips. The first two definitely showcase the nasally midrange of the amp. That's less so in the third clip; but overdrive aside, I wouldn't call it a radical tonal departure. Don't get me wrong; it's a good tone (the Happy Jack clip is awesome).

I do agree that it's a bit absurd to call an SVT a one trick pony. However, I think there is something inherently apparent in most SVTs that is always going to be there. My Mesa 400+ has a three band interactive EQ with push-pull pots and a defeatable seven-band graphic EQ. Even with all of that EQ capability, there is just something intrinsically "400+ish" about that amp that is nearly impossible to get away from, even through technique, different cabs, and different basses. It's not so much about tone. It's more about timbre.

The SVT is the gold standard of rock bass. Unfortunately, 90% of rock tone throughout the history of modern recording has left me saying "meh." That's ironic considering I play a lot of rock music. :hiding:
Click to expand...

True, but those are two separate sounds, at the very least. If it's a one trick pony, it should only be able to do one sound. Overdriven doesn't sound the same as clean, and is not appropriate to the same situations, period. Otherwise why would I change the settings on my amp between my black metal band and my folk rock band?

Not an SVT user, just tired of the "one trick pony" nonsense.
 
#236
I've been thinking about the ubiquitous SVT, and I've modified my opinion.

To be totally realistic, I would be super-exited to play through an SVT live, or own one, or play in a studio. I'd run a DI below 70 or 80hz, but yeah, they're really cool.

What sealed my opinion was the Heritage stack I say in a music store today. I've seen and played through a CL stack before and wasn't too impressed. It was low volume. This glorious example, however was just beautiful. You could just tell that it was an extremely well put together rig, and I really wanted it.
 
#237
I love my SVT 4pro paired with the 410hlf

\/\/\/\/\/With 410HLF\/\/\/\/
Pros: It is VERY loud when bridged, sound quality is very smooth, it projects accross crowds w/o losing sound all the way at the back, it has effects loops, bi-amp mode, 2x pedal outputs for EQ and mute, and a tuner out.

Cons: HEAVY!! Without not being bridged it's not "that" loud, running bi-amp is kinda tricky, pretty expensive, and it is REALLY heavy!

I really enjoy running my SVT bi-amp with a Ashdown MAG 300H on an Ashdown MAG410T. The Ashdown has a more crunchy/dirty sound and the Ampeg is more smooth; and I love the feel of 8x10" speakerz behind me:bassist:
 
#239
i owned an ampeg SVT450...i think thats what it was anyways, for all of a week before i traded it in. and though the tone was freaking outstanding. it was pretty set...the EQ didnt seem to do much of anything without going from a smile to a frown. either way....it still never came close to hitting the sound or volumes that i prefer. not sure what it was but it just couldnt cut through a band mix no matter how i adjusted the EQ and even through the PA....just didnt quite do it for me.

not my bag either. *shrug* to each there own i guess. i know those that love em with swear by em. i will however say this, many of my favorite bass players use em and make em sound good. maybe i needed an 810 instead of the 410 i had. oh well.
 
#240
I like the SVT. There's a reason it's a standard against which others are measured. I just like other amps better. Such as my Bassman 300. Or even better, a Sunn 2000s. Maybe not as powerful, but personally IMHO, superior tonally. Ever heard early bootlegs of Rush? That is a Sunn 2000s, not V4s or SVTs, and it go from that disturbingly trebly chainsaw of overdrive to the fattest fat sound ever. So I use the SVT as sort of a basis. Like "The SVT is good, is this better? Yes? Okay. No? Let's go find something else."

So, if I had to, I would not be displeased using one, but I would prefer a Bassman 300, Sunn 2000s, or......possibly a Marshall Major or Hiwat 200. Different strokes I guess.
 

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