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Are Ampegs Over-Rated?

#41
I've got a Peavey BAM 210 and an SVT 2 Pro, and a Peavey Pro 410 cab. Even if I hook up the BAM to the 410 and run it as 6 10s, it still doesn't sound quite as good to me as the SVT through just the 410.

Don't get me wrong - even the BAM210 by itself sounds really good and I wouldn't hesitate to use it for a gig where it is an appropriate size for the room. In fact, my band did use the BAM hooked up with an Aguilar GS410 exension cab to play a pretty good-sized outdoor gig and it rocked.

But, that Ampeg head produces The Tone that lives in my head...

Somebody on here has a signature that says something like "you can get 80% of the sound for 20% of the money...." That pretty much sums it up. Whether Ampeg is over-rated just depends on whether it's your "The Tone" and if that bit of difference in tone is worth the extra money to you. I'm 40-something, have a job that pays well, I'm single, and have no kids. The Ampeg Tube Tone was worth it to me (and I got a killer deal on the SVT).
 
#44
If Ampeg was as over rated as some people insist, it clearly wouldnt be as popular as it is today.

when steve bailey and victor wooten come together for the company, to design cabs for a certain sound, then i think the name is something they stand behind. I have owned Bxt cabs and there wasnt much that touched them for their time. Show after show people came up and complemented my tone, its just too bad they werent complementing my band..... =P
 
#49
Back in the 70's I had a brand new SVT head with 2 cabinets (yeah .... 2 8X10 cabinets .... 16X10"s ....for clubs! Whoo Hoo!)

It was some serious sound I must say but back then the centralized PA wasn't as prevalant as it is today and you had to fill the room .... and it certainly did the job.

I eventually moved into an Acoustic 370/301 setup (completley different animal) because it was easier to move and the 18 in the cab shook your pants!.

That being said ... there was nothing at all wrong with the Ampeg and far too many folks making a whole lot more money than me or most of us on this forum seem to prefer it. there has to be a reason other than advertising etc. these folks use this rig for real!!!

Now .... in the years that followed I've used all kinds of setups and eventually came back to the 10's when I started using the cloth front SWR's and Edens and used them until I bought an Eden D212XLT all with the WT800 head.
i've since moved again last fall and have Aguilar! 2 DB112's and for now the AG500 but I do have G.A.S. for the DB750 or DB751 .... heading back to an Ampeg vibe of sorts ..... this after 42 years of playing ... and I'm heading back to the tube sound regardless of the weight!

Well ..... my 2 cents says that Ampeg has something going for it....even if I am using a competitor I have to say there is respect from me for that rig.
 
#50
^^^ exactly, I use Swr stuff, and have been for some time. I keep an ampeg head around tho just to get that tone when i feel for it.

keyboard warriors always hate on whats sometimes popular, I love mesa as well i have a 400+ that is amazing, i dont think they are over priced or over rated altho some people seem to think so. My opinion of carvin is a different story but i wont get into that.
 
#51
I'm not sure how an icon and a classic can be overrated. Ampeg is that for sure.

Of course, I'm glad it isn't for everyone. ;)
 
#52
I loved my SVT-2PRO, sounded GREAT but unusually heavy!
I don't really hate on any brands I just have a preference for Mesa.
I can't really one brand is better than the other to be honest, but I would compare a Peavey VB-2 to ANY tube amp out there (even my 400+)
Peavey ROCKS!
 
#53
hasbeen said:
I'm not sure how an icon and a classic can be overrated. Ampeg is that for sure.

Of course, I'm glad it isn't for everyone. ;)
Click to expand...
lol! hey, i see no reason you should even have to choose sides. i know lots of folks with ampeg and something else. roger's right on both counts. have fun and play what you want...but you have to give ampeg its due. just cause it was in the hands of morons for the last few years doesn't make it any less a classic.
 
#54
Ampeg is the amp I like at the best as same as I like Sting Ray's basses and I only play on this two things.On other side the truth is that the most issue I ever have on my amps allways was Ampeg,but because of beeing in love with that sound and tone,I just keep buying and play Ampeg only.Peavey is great amp but different breed than Ampeg,probably that guys was joking about your Peavey was different one...
 
#55
again the OP was talking about "ampeg" Not just SVT's.
So while in the awesome category you have the VT combos and heads, and SVT series of tube heads. There are also all those Ampeg models that end in SS or T or something. Like the SVT 350T I used to own. It had a really flat flanger. (FLAT not fat). And looked just like a real SVT. I was very excited when I got mine, it was 350 watts! Lamness incarnate. With the limiter on it was weak, with the limiter off it ate speakers.
So if we are talking about the brand? Over rated.
Peavey I think gets short shrift because its stuff is, well, aesthetically ugly. The peavey logo is just corny and cheap looking. It is like an 8th grade metal heads idea of how his band logo should look! And the metal trim on their amps and cabs! Lose the aluminum strips!

But looks aside (Ugh the VB2?!) Peavey combos are pretty hard to kill. Some of their bass heads are damn loud and good. Their guitar amps are mixed. I have played some really interesting peaveys. But they have a lot of junk too.
Before there was Behringer, there was Peavey.
 
#56
Calaverasgrande said:
again the OP was talking about "ampeg" Not just SVT's.
So while in the awesome category you have the VT combos and heads, and SVT series of tube heads. There are also all those Ampeg models that end in SS or T or something. Like the SVT 350T I used to own. It had a really flat flanger. (FLAT not fat). And looked just like a real SVT. I was very excited when I got mine, it was 350 watts! Lamness incarnate. With the limiter on it was weak, with the limiter off it ate speakers.
Click to expand...
yep, i always judge a company by their cheapest head.
 
#59
I really loved my SVT-CL head and 610 SVT HE cabinet. However, I had to downsize. Now using a LittleMark 800 Tube with just a 410 SVT HE, or bigger gigs add the 115 HE then rig runs 4 ohms. Sounds great abd the 5 lb little Mark is surly easier to carry. But I still miss the valve SVT with its tone, tubes, and vibe. I would say Ampeg still very consistent and well made, US or not. I have had many other rigs including Eden which really blew.
You can't really go wrong with Ampeg.
 

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