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Botique SVT Killer?

Which head will survive the end of the world?

  • Reeves

    Votes: 19 17.0%

  • Hiwatt

    Votes: 10 8.9%

  • Matamp

    Votes: 3 2.7%

  • Aguilar

    Votes: 26 23.2%

  • Orange(?)

    Votes: 10 8.9%

  • Suck it up get an SVT and knock on wood

    Votes: 33 29.5%

  • Other (Please post any other I missed)

    Votes: 11 9.8%
  • Total voters
    112
tb420

tb420

Sep 23, 2008
356
0
#1
Hey
Time to tour and an SVT seems like more trouble than its worth. So I'm looking for something that will last till I die.

I've got it down to

Reeves
Hiwatt
Matamp
Aguilar

This is for my new Indie band. Tone needs to be huge and punchy and just on the edge of tube break up. I'm afraid the Aguilar will be too clean, but I don't know. Also, I was lookinga t the Orange AD-200 but I'm afraid it will have the same issues as an SVT.....

Thanks
 
#4
in all honesty i think for a working band (no roadies) i'd never use a big tube head like that, i'd much rather have something like a nice trace ah1200, in a live environment (/to the general public) a tube emulator will sound every bit as good as a break back amp.
 
#8
On my blackberry so I can't multiquote but to the issues I've seen first hand were my friends VR farting then shutting down mid song. 3 songs later he had the other bands Crvin rig set up and running.

As for portability, I'm 18. I was dropped into this band that really has it together and seems like it could make something big happen. I have to pay my dues somehow.

That Verellen Meat Smoke looks cool and is pretty cheap compared to the others. I've never heard of them and so I'm a little skeptical about quality, any thoughts?
JimmyM said:
i think ampeg's over the worst of their issues. they seem to have made a comeback after they fired the dope who used to run loud.
Click to expand...

That's good to hear. When do you think it would be safe to buy one? The one they have at GC has been there for a while and I wouldn't want to buy one online because it could be NOS.I'm really looking into the Orange AD-200 because there's a dealer local to me. Are these made overseas or in the UK?

Thanks to everyone for the help.
 
#9
You'd be hard-pressed to find an amp tougher than the Aguilar DB750. It's heavy as hell, but can really take a beating. I had one that saw about 300 shows in 2 years, and never so much as hiccuped. It wasn't always handled with care, either. In fact, I witnessed my first DB750 (I've had two) fall off an 8X10" cabinet and keep pumping (once a new speakon cable was found, that is!).
 
#10
You're looking at a $3k+ amp for an 'Indie' Band??

***?

As far as Lead Sleds go, why not try to find a USED amp?

From what I understand Trace Elliot V-types fit the bill.

Also, you could easily spend the same dough on a great amp, the entire Tech21 character series, a GREAT D.I., and getting a second workhorse bass.

I bet you could find an awesome Aguilar AG500 that would give you all the push you need for gigs for half the price of a DB750.

Try everything you can get your hands on, but Aguilar and Eden seem to be the amps that get gigged over and over without much failing.
 
#11
I really like the Orange AD-200. I almost bought one before I came upon a great deal on my Ampeg setup. Of course, mine is older. All US made stuff from the SLM days and it is just killer. Not a regret in the world. But, if I had to give up my Ampeg, I would definitely go for an Orange. I tend to like more vintage sounding amps, though. While the Orange and Ampeg sound different, they are just separate flavors of vintage awesomeness.
 
#13
Indie is a broad term. Think Arctic Monkeys and the Strokes. Lots of cleans but I need a dirty sound for solos and intros ect.
RTL said:
You'd be hard-pressed to find an amp tougher than the Aguilar DB750. It's heavy as hell, but can really take a beating. I had one that saw about 300 shows in 2 years, and never so much as hiccuped. It wasn't always handled with care, either. In fact, I witnessed my first DB750 (I've had two) fall off an 8X10" cabinet and keep pumping (once a new speakon cable was found, that is!).
Click to expand...
That's really good to hear. I have no doubt its a wonderful amp, I'm just wondering if it will work with my band. Most people I see playing them are in pop, hip-hop or jazz bands. I'd look into a Mesa 400 because they're rock solid but I've played one and the tone wasn't what I needed. Anyone have sound clips of a Aguilar being driven or breaking up?
 
#16
newbold said:
You're looking at a $3k+ amp for an 'Indie' Band??

***?

As far as Lead Sleds go, why not try to find a USED amp?

From what I understand Trace Elliot V-types fit the bill.

Also, you could easily spend the same dough on a great amp, the entire Tech21 character series, a GREAT D.I., and getting a second workhorse bass.

I bet you could find an awesome Aguilar AG500 that would give you all the push you need for gigs for half the price of a DB750.

Try everything you can get your hands on, but Aguilar and Eden seem to be the amps that get gigged over and over without much failing.
Click to expand...

Ya I am. I could be like everyone else and get a SVT rig and spend more money in repairs and replacements, or I could get it right the first time and never worry again. If you've never had the feeling that your gear could give out at anytime on stage, then I understand where your coming from. But I have, and its not fun.

I'd love to try out a Trace V6 or 12 if I could find one. Forgot about those...
 
#17
well you can play anything in any band and if it sounds bad, it's your fault ;) but i think all the amps you're looking at are capable of giving you what you want. as for aggie, justin meldal-johnsen did the second leg of the nine inch nails tour using a db750 into a db810 and an ag500 into a db412 and raves about his sound with them, so i think it's pretty well capable in rock as well as r&b.

but if you're wanting the svt sound, there's still really only one place to get it. as for why i'm more confident in them, there's nobody as butt-stupid as jaime engen at loud anymore. the new guy in charge of ampeg actually seems to care and seems to know what he's doing. i haven't seen near the amount of qc problems with their stuff as they used to have. but if you feel that strongly about it, there are plenty of used svt's that work just fine, and i wouldn't hesitate to take one out on tour. i'd probably have a tech give it the once over just to make sure, but i have the utmost confidence in my 40 year old svt. doubt i'd take it on tour if roadies are handling it, though.

so this dolt engen is at behringer now where he ripped ampeg completely off, eh? figures. just another reason not to touch behringer with a 10 foot pole.
 

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