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Anyone NOT like the SVT?

#241
selftitled907 said:
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.
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an svt 450 is hardly an svt, bro. it only looks like one.
 
#243
I'm GASing for a SVT 2 pro.

I currently use Genz Benz amps because they are the best quality vs value for money amp IMO.

Ironically, GB is almost the polar opposite of Ampeg as they are such a high fidelity amp with hardly any sound colouration. I will keep my GB gear even after I get my Ampeg.

Ampeg on the other hand sound like no other amp. They probably charge too much for them but it seems to be the way it goes unless you go third world manufacturing.

It is the be all end all bass rig IMO.
 
#245
I has a late 60's SVT... Liked it but prefer a amp with different characteristics. Had an SVTIII Pro that I really liked... but still not for me. I leaned more towards the SWR camp.... Until I found the perfect combination of SVT and SWR in my Agguilar DB750.

All great amps, just pick what works best for you.
 
#246
dhomer said:
To answer the original question.. I wouldn't hesitate to play through one, but I wouldn't own one.. maintenance and the occasional retube just a bit too pricey for me..
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Cost of maintenance and re-tube 1996 Ampeg SVT 2Pro... $0.
Cost of maintenance and re-tube 1996 Ampeg V4B... $0
Cost of maintenance and re-tube 2006 Ampeg V4BH... $0

Know anyone playing through a 20-40 year old SS amp?
Cost to replace SS amp every few years... current market price.
 
#248
MikeBass said:
Hmm....I never utter the word amp for rock, amp for country amp for smooth Jazz.
You did.

I did say if I had a rock gig I would use one because I feel they excel there.

And I get a great sound thank you. Just not one I like from and SVT.

And no, they're not known for toneshaping flexability....
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Isn't this discussion more a matter of JimmyM really digging the SVT tone and implementing it (as his style) to a lot of different music, and you wanting to meet the specific tonal characteristics for the genre?

It sure seems that way. But I am with Jimmy here! Find a tone you like and use it everywhere! It makes it easier to find the rig for the gig!
 
#250
I dislike SVT's but only because I've only been able to try them with my upright bass when they were the provided backline at shows I've played. For me, they have too much low end and too much "sub" bass (or so it seems) not enough "bite" to the mids and not enough fidelity in the high end.

BUT!! I'm sure I'd love it if I got to try one with my Fender or Gibson. For upright, definitely NOT the tone for me. Actually my heart sinks everytime I show up for a show and the backline provided is Ampeg.


EDIT: Forgot to mention. I've never owned one so I never got to sit down and read the manual for whichever model I must use at a particular show. For the midrange knob, it's just labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. ***. It's nice to know the ACTUAL FREQUENCY I'm adjusting not just 1-5. That's crap design and slightly condescending to the end user. I need to know what the freq's are for those settings when I walk in cold to a gig with a rig I'm unfamiliar with (EQing an upright bass is HARD!!!). I'm not an idiot like Ampeg thinks I am. I actually know what frequencies I want. Why do they insist on not telling me anything!? ugh... Ok, sorry. that's my rant for today.
 
#251
JimmyM said:
more what? more knobs? more chocolaty goodness? who really gives a crap, to be honest? and how many times are you going to keep moving the bar? btw, other than the gbe1200, blech! you couldn't have named off more amps i dislike than if you'd have recited behringer's entire product line.


don't patronize me ;)

mike, it's apparent to me that i could sit at home tomorrow, record several completely different tones with the svt, and you're still going to stick rigidly to your silly assumption that it's only got one sound. so since i've got better things to do tomorrow (no, i didn't have better things to do today, you smartasses out there), i'll be doing those things instead.
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Ofcourse it's only got one sound! It's the only one with that sound. It's why it's become the standard it is. You can, however, tailor the sound so it can be used for other purposes than just straight up rock 'n roll.
The signature sound doesn't mean it is a one trick pony, but it's a good place for haters to strike (not saying Mike is a hater) because that's what people love it for.
No matter how much you love it for some people the toneshaping on isn't drastic enough. Some people want a REAL hi-fi sound with the SVT sound for funky stuff. SVT's can still be used in funky ensembles if you like what it adds.

I DON'T SEE THE FREAKING PROBLEM o.0

As for the toneshaping. It's not really big on that either. But then again, that's not the thing Ampegs are known. Leave serious toneshaping to Line6 >.<
 
#255
Doelle said:
Ofcourse it's only got one sound! It's the only one with that sound. It's why it's become the standard it is. You can, however, tailor the sound so it can be used for other purposes than just straight up rock 'n roll.
The signature sound doesn't mean it is a one trick pony, but it's a good place for haters to strike (not saying Mike is a hater) because that's what people love it for.
No matter how much you love it for some people the toneshaping on isn't drastic enough. Some people want a REAL hi-fi sound with the SVT sound for funky stuff. SVT's can still be used in funky ensembles if you like what it adds.

I DON'T SEE THE FREAKING PROBLEM o.0

As for the toneshaping. It's not really big on that either. But then again, that's not the thing Ampegs are known. Leave serious toneshaping to Line6 >.<
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line 6...lol!

i still say i can get any tone out of it that i need. and in a cab with a tweeter, i can even get the ice-picky treble sounds i hate. don't mistake lack of knobs for lack of versatility.
 
#259
I've owned 2 SVT-CL's and an SVT2-Pro, I used an 810E or SWR Goliath Sr. I tried very hard to make the SVT work for me, but I couldn't find a way to dial out the raspy distortion at loud settings. While my 2-Pro was in the shop I bought a GK2000RB head and found it worked much better for my style.I gradually sold my Ampeg gear. I love how other people sound through SVT's, but I don't like how I sound through one.
 
#260
I think it is funny that all you have to do to irritate the ampeg-philes is say; well lets play jeopardy-
_ne trick p_ny

it's in good company though. Others of the breed include Fender Twin, Ludwig Vistalite, Fender Tele, Fender P, Mesa Dual Recto (even with all the knobs and switches, its just a dozen shades of black), Shure SM7, Rick 4001, Musicman Stingray etc.
Ampegs are great, they just weigh too much.
 

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