First Cab: Ampeg SVT or Portaflex or other?

[InhumanResource]

450 watts into a 112av, is unbelievably loud. You just have to try that one.

I'd love to! Putting 500 into the neos currently so I am a bit skeptical for now.

 

[DirkP]

I would definetely listen to the cabs before buying them. I, for example, don't like the SVT cabs at all, their scooped sound. But I really like the PF cabs - I have a 2x10 without a bass port. They are very different designs with a very different sound.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I'd love to! Putting 500 into the neos currently so I am a bit skeptical for now.

4 ohm, or 8 ohm? As in, is your amp pushing 500, or 300?

 

[two fingers]

If you want a great SVT sound, can find one and your back is strong, check out the SVT6-pro. They are older but IMHO the only way to go. Otherwise, find a good deal on an SVP Pro preamp and use whatever head you want.

This. I've owned pretty much every SVT. The 6 is tue closest thing to the real deal 300W tube version. It's an impressive piece.

 

[InhumanResource]

4 ohm, or 8 ohm? As in, is your amp pushing 500, or 300?

500 into a 4ohm load, but that shouldn't matter unless I am adding more. The cabinet can only do what it can do.

 

[JimmyM]

No offense at all, but how? I'm playing with a neo 212 with a drummer who plays fairly lightly, but when he gets going I'm goosing the volume knob pretty good. Really can't imagine a single 12 cutting it beyond a not very loud personal monitor.

Honestly, I did it all the time with a medium volume drummer. PA helped on the bigger gigs, and in a small enough room, I can still pull it off.

 

[InhumanResource]

Honestly, I did it all the time with a medium volume drummer. PA helped on the bigger gigs, and in a small enough room, I can still pull it off.

Definitely was thinking of a PA in the picture. Maybe my definition of a light drummer is a little skewed!

 

[MattZilla]

If you're getting away from combos there's little point in getting a cab with just one speaker.

 

[Soberglitch]

If you're getting away from combos there's little point in getting a cab with just one speaker.

Are there any combos that will sound anything like the SVT heads that have been mentioned here? I'm already running a VT pedal but want the real deal tube head.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Definitely was thinking of a PA in the picture. Maybe my definition of a light drummer is a little skewed!

Well yeah. But for real. Check this out. This was me after work one day. V4-b, p bass, 112av, Santa Barbara bowl. About half on volume, 3rd on gain. It'll blow your mind.

 

[Bassiclees]

After playing on a few in store and elsewhere I'm clear the only cabs I'm interested in buying moving ahead are Mesa Boogie Subways and eventually getting a paired up TT-800 head. The 1x12, 1x15 and 2x12's absolutely pound the snot out of every other cab (except for Genzlers) that I've played through. About to undergo a post-covid gear reduction and going to sell as much as possible and simplify around MesaBoogie for amps/cabs. To my ears and fingers there hasn't been anything I've played through that even comes close to the 'connected' feel a D-800+ or TT into an MB cab delivers. Do yourself a favor and get some time on one and see if it has the same impact. They are just sooo good, I have no idea how or why.

 

[Brich]

Maybe not a popular opinion here, but being a svt3 pro user for 8 years now (gigging it tomorrow night), it's been a solid tone monster. Admittedly, the bias does drift, I had a tech work on it 2 months ago and corrected the issue with some adjustments and a bit of silicone to tag it down (not permanently)

Otherwise, my favorite amp running into most any cab

Good luck in your decision!

 

[Soberglitch]

Well yeah. But for real. Check this out. This was me after work one day. V4-b, p bass, 112av, Santa Barbara bowl. About half on volume, 3rd on gain. It'll blow your mind.

Sounds really good. I think this tone is really damn close to what I'm after.

After playing on a few in store and elsewhere I'm clear the only cabs I'm interested in buying moving ahead are Mesa Boogie Subways and eventually getting a paired up TT-800 head. The 1x12, 1x15 and 2x12's absolutely pound the snot out of every other cab (except for Genzlers) that I've played through. About to undergo a post-covid gear reduction and going to sell as much as possible and simplify around MesaBoogie for amps/cabs. To my ears and fingers there hasn't been anything I've played through that even comes close to the 'connected' feel a D-800+ or TT into an MB cab delivers. Do yourself a favor and get some time on one and see if it has the same impact. They are just sooo good, I have no idea how or why.

I had a thread a few days ago on "if you could only have one amp" and the Mesa rig seemed to be the winner, followed closely by the Bergantino, GK, and Genzler. That TT800 sounds amazing.

 

[Bassiclees]

@Soberglitch if you pull the MesaBoogie trigger, get the 800+, WD or TT. The non plus 800 is missing a few features which are killer and the plus model is well worth the $100 price difference.

 

[Soberglitch]

@Soberglitch if you pull the MesaBoogie trigger, get the 800+, WD or TT. The non plus 800 is missing a few features which are killer and the plus model is well worth the $100 price difference.

If down the line I get the cash to pick up the Mesa I would 100% go with the TT800. That boogie channel is really all I would want. But, I'm just going off of the YouTube clips I've heard. If I was going to spend that kind of coin on a head I would also be looking at the Bergantino Forte HP.

 

[MJ_Sotti]

I always liked the 410HE.

I like sealed 10"s

 

[jdjk7]

Looking to break free from the combos and get my first head and cab. Thinking about a used SVT 3 Pro for the head since I want a SVT but don't want to spend SVT cash.

I want to get a 112, 210, or 212 cab and have been deciding between the SVT-112AV, PF-112HLF, and the Orange OBC112. What are the differences between these?

Any other suggestions? I don't need much in terms of volume so these cab sizes are really all I need and more. I'm trying to keep the price below $600 new for a cab.

I would not personally pair an SVT with 12s, I'd go with 10s, but I don't profess an in depth knowledge of them. I'd go for a 410. I run an SWR setup that is very SVT-ish out of a 4-ohm 2x10 and an 8-ohm 4x10. Get the SVT with 4x10 to start, then if you wanna expand, grab another 2x10 or 4x10 to stack. If you're so inclined.

 

[Mastermold]

The 112av is a great cab, especially for portability. But the 212av is literally my favorite cab that I've ever owned. I love it. So much, that I want to buy another.

As far as heads, you can find a pf800 pretty cheap used. I'd go with that over any of the older SVT solid state amps, other than a 4Pro. I loved mine. Sounded great and was super portable.

Two 212AV cabs stack like an 810.

 

[MattZilla]

Are there any combos that will sound anything like the SVT heads that have been mentioned here? I'm already running a VT pedal but want the real deal tube head.

"are there any hatchbacks that drive like monstertrucks?"

70-80% of the "SVT sound" is the stupid huge cab and its unique construction.

If you're stuck on small size, you might do well with some modelling amp. I know very little about them except that there are a lot of people who rave about them on here.

Also getting rave reviews, as mentioned in at least one post (and more will flow in, just because) is Mesa's current lineup. A lot of ex-SVT players love them.

 

[Soberglitch]

What kind of maintenance cycles should be expected on something like the SVT 7 Pro? I guess I should have asked around about this first before trying to jump into a tube head.

I'm becoming more open to the idea of a Portaflex 350 or 500 head or even the 112 or 210 Rocket Bass combo. Just really tough since the only Ampeg amps that I can try in person is a 110 combo.