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Anyone NOT like the SVT?

#143
I've had SVT's as backline supplied gear more times than I can remember, and each time I was "well, I'll struggle through this show....".

For me IMO/IME/YMMV and stuff, completely one sided/one dimensional tone that you CANNOT get away from. It ALWAYS sounds like an SVT.
Which either you like or you don't.

It's like a MM StingRay, it ALWAYS has that sound. Not that it's bad, but don't expect to be able to cover as much as say a Jazz Bass (loose comparison for an example).

I LOVE a real solid very clean tube sound. To me, the SVT just can't compete with say a DB750 in that dept. or the SA200.

And don't start with "well you never played mine or yes they can or you just haven't played enough on one to get it..." blah blah blah.
Yes I have and everyone (dozens) yielded the same results- unique SVT tone, without the capability of anything else. And inability to just be delicate and clean.

That being said, if I had a straight up rock gig and didn't really care much for a good solid clean tone, I my be inclined to get one.

Every time I open a Bass Player and see the gear list for a player and it lists SVT, I yawn and pretty much skip the article.

Again, the dozens I've played on, I never found one with a redeeming quality I could get into.

Genz Benz has a new amp out that is supposed to be in the flavor of the SVT etc....it's claimed to be able to be real clean as well.
If not they can keep it to themselves.

I'm not a super hi-fi crystal clean type of sound. Think generic Jazz Bass. Thats me. So it's not that I go for the uber tweeter sheen massive wide frequence response etc.

Note the 9.0 on top of the SVT:
IMG00047-20101017-0817.jpg



Originally Posted by ledyard
Why get an ampeg?

Right here:

Click to expand...
That's pretty much why I don't like them.
 
#145
I agree with Mike. Difficult to get away from the inherent tone. I am not a big fan of them. I have used them several times as a backline as well, and frankly its just not what I look for in bass tone(especially when I am using my upright on the gig ugh...). I can see why people would like them though.
 
#148
ledyard said:
Why get an ampeg?

Right here:

Click to expand...


Well, that's one tone. That's also about the opposite of the tone I get out of mine on the gig.

If you need the "SVT bursting into flame" tone to be loud enough for the gig, you need a second head. But it might also be the tone you want. That tone seems to be one that people like, and modellers model. It's not the only tone the amp has, by any means. Listen to some Rudder and you'll see what I mean.
 
#149
yes, you guys are right...all the players that have used svt's over the years all sound the same. rocco prestia, marcus miller, cliff williams, juan alderete, george porter, jr., jerry casale, bill wyman, dug pinnick, gene simmons, rob trujillo, hutch hutchinson, stefan lessard, darryl jones...they all sound 100% identical to that clip of allen woody. it's totally the amp and not at all you.

:rollno:

seriously, i respect that the svt is not for everyone, but when there is so much evidence to the contrary, claiming it only has one sound is ridiculous.
 
#150
Thank you James; my SVT through a modern Berg cabinet (HT322) sounds as hi-fi as previously owend pre/power rigs (Alembic, SVP, Presonus, Yamaha PB-1, TC parametric, etc).

It's cool if you don't like then, but the ability to produce very low through very high frequencies (with the appropriate cabinet) is not a shortcoming IMO.

I say the downside is weight, VERY occasional tube replacement, and for some, 300 watts. The other short coming is a squekr clean, not particulary deep, almost strident tone that is doable with SWR and Trace. Having owned both, I'd say that this compressed, slap happy, mid scooped tone is more easily accomplished without the SVT.
.02
 
#152
JimmyM said:
yes, you guys are right...all the players that have used svt's over the years all sound the same. rocco prestia, marcus miller, cliff williams, juan alderete, george porter, jr., jerry casale, bill wyman, dug pinnick, gene simmons, rob trujillo, hutch hutchinson, stefan lessard, darryl jones...they all sound 100% identical to that clip of allen woody. it's totally the amp and not at all you.

:rollno:

seriously, i respect that the svt is not for everyone, but when there is so much evidence to the contrary, claiming it only has one sound is ridiculous.
Click to expand...

I don't remember Marcus using one, but I guess he could have.
And out of the guys you mentioned, almost all are rock players that IMO, would be a perfect fit for an SVT- a grindy tube sound. And that's what they get. The others are more rootsy and again, the STV would work great.
It's not like you mentioned John Pattucci and say Jeff Berlin in there as well.
Your list was pretty much, mostly all players who get the same thing.

IME with them, it wasn't easy to get away from the "SVT Sound".
An SVT has a certain character. It's FAR from an extremely versatile amp IME/IMO.
I'm yet to hear one that will do the "Marcus Miller" tone as he has.
 
#153
MikeBass said:
I don't remember Marcus using one, but I guess he could have.
And out of the guys you mentioned, almost all are rock players that IMO, would be a perfect fit for an SVT- a grindy tube sound. And that's what they get. The others are more rootsy and again, the STV would work great.
It's not like you mentioned John Pattucci and say Jeff Berlin in there as well.
Your list was pretty much, mostly all players who get the same thing.

IME with them, it wasn't easy to get away from the "SVT Sound".
An SVT has a certain character. It's FAR from an extremely versatile amp IME/IMO.
I'm yet to hear one that will do the "Marcus Miller" tone as he has.
Click to expand...
svt through a cab with a tweeter...marcus sound.

seriously, anyone who thinks jerry casale has a similar sound to stefan lessard and darryl jones has a similar sound to cliff williams is someone who is way more interested in pushing an agenda than arguing intelligently about the merits of the svt.
 
#156
JimmyM said:
svt through a cab with a tweeter...marcus sound.

seriously, anyone who thinks jerry casale has a similar sound to stefan lessard and darryl jones has a similar sound to cliff williams is someone who is way more interested in pushing an agenda than arguing intelligently about the merits of the svt.
Click to expand...

And my agenda would be what exactly? none except I've had many as provided backlines rigs Jimmy and didn't care for them.
They all did what they did very well. Just I don't like that kinda thing.

Darryl Jones to Steffan Lessard isn't so drastically different as you would think. As is Devo either in a live setting.
And you are still in the rock vein.
More would have to do with the fact that DJ is using (mostly) a passive Jazz and Lessard a freakin' active Modulus and Casale a Vox or some other odd ball bass.

And your example of an SVT through a cab with a tweeter fails. You made a statement with nothing behind it.
 
#157
MikeBass said:
And my agenda would be what exactly? none except I've had many as provided backlines rigs Jimmy and didn't care for them.
They all did what they did very well. Just I don't like that kinda thing.

Darryl Jones to Steffan Lessard isn't so drastically different as you would think. As is Devo either in a live setting.
And you are still in the rock vein.
More would have to do with the fact that DJ is using (mostly) a passive Jazz and Lessard a freakin' active Modulus and Casale a Vox or some other odd ball bass.

And your example of an SVT through a cab with a tweeter fails. You made a statement with nothing behind it.
Click to expand...
spare me your bs, mike. just because darryl plays with the stones doesn't mean he's a rock player. let's not forget where he got his start...miles davis. and jerry casale plays a steinberger. and i have slapped many times using an svt and a cab with a tweeter on it, and i can easily get marcus tone with it. just flip on the ultra-hi switch. i guess if you're one of those "never have a tone knob anywhere but noon" dorks, you would think it couldn't do that sound, but it can easily do it if you are willing to turn a knob.

so i give your attempt to discredit what i said the sign of the null set.

{ }
 
#158
JimmyM said:
svt through a cab with a tweeter...marcus sound.

seriously, anyone who thinks jerry casale has a similar sound to stefan lessard and darryl jones has a similar sound to cliff williams is someone who is way more interested in pushing an agenda than arguing intelligently about the merits of the svt.
Click to expand...

:D:D:D

and on your first point.....You plug a SVT into 6 different cabs then your going to get 6 completely different sounds. Almost everyone that trys one in a store plays it through the ampeg cab its plugged into. Or if they try it backlined, its most always through the matching 8x10.
Then ofcourse there is the bass choice itself. So you have cabs and basses.....two different factors that will make the SVT sound however you want it to.
If I hear a great rock tone, new or old then yeah 9 out of 10 times you can hear the Ampeg tone. But when I listen to someone playing something other than rock or metal, that might be playing through a different cab, let alone a bass thats not a fender or gibson, AND have the amp EQ'd away from rock....you might not be likely to guess the amp unless told what it is.
 
#159
JimmyM said:
spare me your bs, mike. just because darryl plays with the stones doesn't mean he's a rock player. let's not forget where he got his start...miles davis. and jerry casale plays a steinberger. and i have slapped many times using an svt and a cab with a tweeter on it, and i can easily get marcus tone with it. just flip on the ultra-hi switch.

so i give your attempt to discredit what i said the sign of the null set.

{ }
Click to expand...

I seem to remember seeing him use SWR back in the Miles/Madonna/Sting days.
Hmm....

And in the context he's playing in now, he's doing a rock gig and playing appropriately.
I don't see him playing or sounding like he would in Miles. I'm pretty sure he would tell you the same thing- show up and play for the gig.

And no bs James, you still failed to really show me anything.

If you go back to my original post, just because you disagreed with my on the gig, real world experience, you claim that there is an agenda at play.
Still at a loss for what the heck it could be really.

Please point me to something.
A youtube clip of DJ and/or Lessaed is more than likely a blend from a massively complex rig and now that I think about it, we can pretty much remove those two from discussion.

You seem to be getting pretty bent on this. Still haven't figured out why James.

So, here's my nuts for you: { } { }


BTW ledyard...used them through SWR Megaolith cabs as well back lined
 

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