Check this IdeaScale forum response from Dino at Ampeg when someone suggests a standalone SVT Suite pedal:
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Digital AMPEG Head Coming?
- Thread starter Lowbrow
- Start date
IMO, it would be a great thing for Ampeg to embrace and advance the super-flexible digital tone shaping capabilities of Yamaha's discontinued BBT-500H head.
It's a logical step in amplification. Having all kinds of plug-ins available in a small package with a lightweight power section will be an option soon enough. It's already "kind of" a thing with TC and (I believe) Berg.
Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me to see a bass preamp and/or head that is more in the format of a laptop.
I won't use them. But it makes sense to go in that direction.
Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me to see a bass preamp and/or head that is more in the format of a laptop.
I won't use them. But it makes sense to go in that direction.
I mean look at Darkglass w/ their E500. It's time for every amp maker to start thinking deeper.
Given Yamaha owns them both it wouldn’t surprise me to see some line6/helix and ampeg crossover stuff coming down the line. Use the helix knowledge base to integrate the svt suite stuff if they want to keep it entirely on brand.
Funnily enough, I mentioned this thought in another thread earlier today
Which manufacturer would you like to do what?
Something like a bass Catalyst amp would be perfect.
Yes! I said that not long ago. Now that Yamaha owns Yamaha and Line6...they own the rights to all the classic Ampeg nomenclature. Why let the Ampeg and Line6 guys work together to produce the greatest emulation of the classic SVT and B-15 tones on the planet. Price it like a Pod Go.
Isn't moving forward in the digital age the only way to grow the Ampeg brand?
Granted, they are the king of big tube amps but that's not a big seller (any longer).
Agreed that Yamaha, Helix, Ampeg is the logical step assuming it sounds great.
Granted, they are the king of big tube amps but that's not a big seller (any longer).
Agreed that Yamaha, Helix, Ampeg is the logical step assuming it sounds great.
I own one of those Yamaha heads and i think it's awesome -- and actually posted the suggestion on IdeaScale back when the forum was launched along with a suggested super-light update to the discontinued Diamond Blue line (hello, Rocket Bass combos).
Having tried some digital and class D stuff, I'm always skeptical of this kind of gear. Line 6, axe effects, and class D power might sound good when you're by yourself, but in a band setting there's no substitute for good ol' big iron and tubes.
Of course this is a generalized blanket statement and some folks are putting out some great stuff. That new Berg head is pretty awesome and moves some serious air with the right cabinet. But in my experience with the 7 pro, mark bass, and line 6, they didn't "feel" right when playing with a band. The amps just didn't "react" the same way, say a SVT, a GK 700rb, or even an old acoustic rig does.
I get that bigger bands can pretty much use whatever they want because in a 20K seat arena you are hearing the PA over everything, but for the normal everyday Joe or Jane playing smaller clubs it's a pretty stark contrast between simulation and the real thing.
That said, I think it's important to keep an open mind and if one was released I'd at least try it.
Of course this is a generalized blanket statement and some folks are putting out some great stuff. That new Berg head is pretty awesome and moves some serious air with the right cabinet. But in my experience with the 7 pro, mark bass, and line 6, they didn't "feel" right when playing with a band. The amps just didn't "react" the same way, say a SVT, a GK 700rb, or even an old acoustic rig does.
I get that bigger bands can pretty much use whatever they want because in a 20K seat arena you are hearing the PA over everything, but for the normal everyday Joe or Jane playing smaller clubs it's a pretty stark contrast between simulation and the real thing.
That said, I think it's important to keep an open mind and if one was released I'd at least try it.
I'd disagree. I was in a loud power trio (guitar with non-master Marshall 100w 1/2 stack ) and ran the Yamaha BBT-500H (500 measly watts) into two 4-ohm GK 2x12s and live it was brutally loud and no less substantial than the output of my tubey bandmate.
That's great and if you love that amp and it does what you need it to do then rock the poopie out of it! There is no one size fits all and everyone has their preference...and most of all I respect that.
Respectfully, I guess volume wasn't really what I trying to get at. It's more of a feel of the amp that I'm talking about. Just how a GK doesn't feel anything like an SVT, nor do the Mesa Carbines feel anything like GK's. There a "feel" to certain power sections of amps that for the most, not all, but for the most part class D is lacking in my experience.
Again, this is purely subjective and if you're happy, I'm happy.
Yeah I have no interest either but I know there's a market for it so makes sense to tap into it.
I've said this before on TB...It will sound like the real thing until you put it next to the real thing. Modeling feels lifeless to me, it sounds good but there is just something missing IMHO.
How would this work? An amp with wifi that would allow you to download SVT suite (and other pay to play plugins) and get all the sounds of Ampeg in one digital box?
great way to drive up revenue.
subscriptions, artist release downloads, year specific amps, etc
ver1, ver2, and on and on and on
great way to drive up revenue.
subscriptions, artist release downloads, year specific amps, etc
ver1, ver2, and on and on and on
Oh yes, selling amp with one amp model of choice and rest as add-ons. Free demo, monthly license etc. 
.
For me, no modelling but I understand that they cannot rely on SVT and tubes forever as only choice.
.For me, no modelling but I understand that they cannot rely on SVT and tubes forever as only choice.
(I guess, with a title like digital Ampeg in the thread, a tube vs everything else breakout was inevitable.....
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All it has to do is sound good ENOUGH. Of course, "good enough" is a subjective term. Even @agedhorse would tell you his amps "sort of modeled after" early Mesa designs don't sound exactly like those amps. I'm here to tell you they sound PLENTY "good enough". In fact, they simply sound great. You, in a room with my new amp and one of the early originals might not feel the same way. Subjective.
The more generations who NEVER step in front of an Ampeg SVT with a fridge cab, or an old fliptop, or an old Fender amp into a flat sealed 215 cab, etc. the less they'll care about dead matching what those amps sound/feel like.
So, again, it's a logical progression.
Also, keep in mind that those youngsters might actually see the new amp as an improvement over the older tech. If you GAVE me a vintage Ferarri it would sit in my garage. I've had the "pleasure" of riding in one. It was uncomfortable to sit in and felt like a go cart to ride in. ANY new sports car is a marked improvement over that old tech. I have no use for one.
I don't disagree with anything you've said but I have more fun driving my 81 chevy or '86 toyota than I do my newer lexus even though they don't perform as well.
On the other hand my boogie 400+ and ampeg pf50t perform way better on a gig than my other solid state amps I bring just in case. I do practice at home on modeling amps though and that is fine also. It's good to have choices and we all have our preferences
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