Eden VT-300A versus SVT (intial impression)

[tombowlus]

Well, I have had some more time to play around with the Eden, and I was able to use it with some additional cabs, as well as compare it to my Aguilar 680/728 (using Whappo, Jr.). To my surprise, tonally, it really held its own against the Aggie duo. With all EQ set flat, the VT-300A again had more low end (and the 680/728 is no slouch in this regard!). Very thick lows, but not overly muddy, and easy to balance out with EQ. With regard to the highs/mids, it was a bit of a toss-up. I'd call them equally good, but certainly unique. Still, I'd say that the VT-300A sounds more like the 680/728 than it does the SVT or the 359.

Now, where the 680/728 leaves the Eden in its dust is in sheer volume and pant flapability. The 728 has massive headroom, and the dynamics and texture of the tone is so good you really have to hear it to appreciate it. More 3D sounding than with the Eden, and much more "alive." One thing that you can't do with the Aggie rig, though, is to get an overdriven tone at lower volumes, which of course, you can dial in with the VT-300A.

All in all, I felt that the Eden was a much better match for the Whappo, Jr. than it was for the Ampeg 8x10. The Jr. is fast becoming my go to cab of choice with my tube amps. It just seems to love tube amps, and the lows stay nice and tight (whereas some other cabs seem to get a bit sloppy in the low end when powered with bottles). The Eden offers a wide range of tonal flexibility, and the Jr. is great at reproducing a wide range of tones.

I ended up taking my 680/728 to the gig instead of the VT-300A, because of the greater volume/headroom of the Aggie rig, but as it turned out, I never had the 728 up past halfway, and the Eden would have been more than enough. I did notice, though, that when you start to turn up the 680/728, it gets better and better the louder you go, and at the volume I was playing (with the throttle about half-way open), it doesn't get much better than 680/728/Whappo, Jr.). With the Eden, it seems to sound more consistent across a variety of volume settings.

At a fraction of the size/weight/price, I was very impressed with how well the VT-300A compared to the 680/728. Now, if only that dang footpedal wasn't so problemmatic...

Later, Tom.

 

[KJung]

While it's fun to compare many different amps and cabs in 'the basement' or even in a single rehearsal room, there's really no way of telling how an amp/cab/bass combo really sounds unless you've had them out on a number of gigs with other instruments playing and in different sized rooms with different acoustics at different volumes. Even more important is playing style and the bass that you have.... one guys dream PBass amp might sound absolutely horrendous to another guy slapping on an MTD and vice-versa.

I guess I've just read so many reviews on the forum that really could be misleading. I know this thread was labeled 'initial impressions', and that's cool I guess. However, it would be VERY helpful to include the style of music you were playing when reviewing, the type of bass, the general volume you were playing, and the number of gigs on which you are basing you impressions. It seems there are people that are using these reviews as important input into the purchase process, so the more info the better

 

[tombowlus]

While it's fun to compare many different amps and cabs in 'the basement' or even in a single rehearsal room, there's really no way of telling how an amp/cab/bass combo really sounds unless you've had them out on a number of gigs with other instruments playing and in different sized rooms with different acoustics at different volumes. Even more important is playing style and the bass that you have.... one guys dream PBass amp might sound absolutely horrendous to another guy slapping on an MTD and vice-versa.

I guess I've just read so many reviews on the forum that really could be misleading. I know this thread was labeled 'initial impressions', and that's cool I guess. However, it would be VERY helpful to include the style of music you were playing when reviewing, the type of bass, the general volume you were playing, and the number of gigs on which you are basing you impressions. It seems there are people that are using these reviews as important input into the purchase process, so the more info the better

Excellent points, all the way around!

My playing style is predominantly fingerstyle, with some pop and very infrequent slap. I play with a pick on occassion, but have not done so through the Eden (though I have slapped & popped through it and the other amps). Up until my most recent VT-300A vs 680/728 tesing, the only bass I used (in both active and passive modes) was my modified DeArmond Pilot 5 Deluxe (with Bartolini pups and Aguilar OBP-1). The last testing was done with my new Skjold Custom 5.

I have not gigged out with the Eden yet (nor have I ever gigged with an SVT rig). I have two gigs with the 728 (once with 659, and once with 680). The style of music for both gigs was a range of rock-n-roll, from 70's through modern rock. I have used the Eden, SVT and Aggie rigs at a number of fairly loud practices with this rock band, and I have used the Eden and Aggies at home in my basement (playing a wider variety of styles). As to general volume levels, our practice room gets up to "near gig volume" levels, but it's a smaller room (decent sized, but not venue-sized). At home, I sometimes play in my bedroom-sized "music room" and I sometimes set up in my large (over 1,000 sq. ft.) finished basement room, where I can let 'em rip without taking my head off!

Accordingly, this review remains an "initial impression" until at least I get that Eden out on some gigs...

 

[KJung]

Very cool! Thanks. It would be fun to somehow keep track of the reviews of different bass/rig combo's under different conditions, etc. I've had rigs (as I assume we all have) that sounded amazing in some rooms and absolutely horrible in others, versus other rigs that, while never totally blowing me away, seemed to have a certain consistency that actually made them a better choice.

Anyway.... keep the reviews coming!

PS I just took the plunge on a Schroeder 1210 with the optional Selenium (I think I have that right) tweeter that should give the cab a little more aggressive hi-end.

 

[ehiunno]

i think Tom needs his own forum section for him to post reviews of everything, i mean he owns most of it anyways. . either way his reviews have helped me out immensly in making recent decisions, and even though i didnt end up getting anything he recomended, it was fun talking about it and trying stuff

 

[tombowlus]

i think Tom needs his own forum section for him to post reviews of everything, i mean he owns most of it anyways. . either way his reviews have helped me out immensly in making recent decisions, and even though i didnt end up getting anything he recomended, it was fun talking about it and trying stuff

Thanks! I'm glad that you found some of my comments useful!

Tom.

 

[Chef]

I run mine between 10 and 1 depending on how mad I am at the soundguy and how good a night the drummer's having.

Bwahahahahahaha...thud.



Funny-btdt

 

[4Mal]

From my experience the SVT is truly a one trick pony and yes it's a good trick. The trick involves the combination of the old tweeterless and sealed fridge cab as well as a suitable volume level.

In my case the cab was the one with the towel bar on the back. With any other cab I tried the SVT sounded not very good. So me thinks the head was specifically voiced for that cab. I did run the cab with other heads and as I recall it sounded great, particularly with an Acoustic (450 ?) which was a couple of hundred solid state watts and a graphic eq. I have no idea what setttings I used on the EQ regretably.

The SVT head just doesn't come alive until 10 to 11 o'clock on the dial - and that's too friggin loud for rehersal unless you're The Stones rehersing for Wembly in a hanger ubilt for a 747! (in which case never mind...)

Still, a wonderful trick when all the stars line up ... and you have a roadie... Here I am whining about moving my rack setup (6 spaces). I can't imagine going back to that monster!

 

[Bassin' 'Round]

In our smallish practice room, I couldn't push it past about 11:00 without stopping hearts, so I'll have to trust you on the volume capabilities of the SVT. Any idea why it's so much louder?



I think I may have experienced that. Still, it had so much low end to start with, I was pretty happy with the amount of low end at higher volumes.



I haven't noticed any flufffiness, or looseness from the Eden, but the SVT does have a growly low-mid presence that appears to be somewhat unique to the Ampeg.



Can you expand on this? I have noticed some intermittent volume dropouts when making changes on the footswitch (I noticed it most when changing the damping factor). But, some features (like mute, the damping control, and I think compressor on/off) are only controllable via the footpedal. Is there any way to "solve" this "problem."



Ha!

Thank you very much for the detailed and thoughtful reply, PBG! I do appreciate it.

Tom.

Old thread, but I'm looking at a vt-300. So, any info about controlling mute/damping/compressor without the footswitch? Thanks.

 

[alanbass1]

I owned a VT-300 for several years and ending up selling it because I couldn't get the same kind of growl and volume that I get from my '71 V4-B (modded for 6550's).

I would like to hear about this mod. Is there a thread on it?

 

[tombowlus]

Old thread, but I'm looking at a vt-300. So, any info about controlling mute/damping/compressor without the footswitch? Thanks.

As far as I can tell, I'm screwed without the footswitch.

Tom.

 

[DeadRBassistNJ]

Whats the diff between the 300A and the 300B?

 

[tombowlus]

Whats the diff between the 300A and the 300B?

Not much, as I recall. The 300 to 300A was more significant.

 

[bassfreakah]

fun read thanks tom!!!!

 

[Chef]

whaaaa: zombie thread!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Thanks @tombowlus for an excellent review. Even though it's old, these amps and cabs are still around, and your article was very informative. As of late I've become an Eden convert and am interested in what David Nordschow is doing over at DNA. I'm wondering if it's the next level of where he was taking Eden....?

Anyway, bought some Eden cabs and I'm amazed at their tone. Eden has to be one of the most overlooked brands on TB...

 

[tombowlus]

Thanks @tombowlus for an excellent review. Even though it's old, these amps and cabs are still around, and your article was very informative. As of late I've become an Eden convert and am interested in what David Nordschow is doing over at DNA. I'm wondering if it's the next level of where he was taking Eden....?

Anyway, bought some Eden cabs and I'm amazed at their tone. Eden has to be one of the most overlooked brands on TB...

Wow, that is an old one! Glad you enjoyed it! I ended up selling that VT-300A, but later on, I missed it, and I picked up a VT-300 (pre "A" version). These are definitely great heads. At one point in time, I would say that Eden was one of the most hyped brands out there. Eden is still a great brand, and David's new gear is also fantastic.

 

[GreyBeard]

I had a VT300 for a while. I never had the chance to gig with it, I just jammed with it in my studio. I played it through a berg 12, the one with the tweeter. It had a nice hifi sound with tube warmth. It didn't sound anything like an Ampeg though, it had a sound of its' own.