• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Has Ampeg made a BAD bass amp

#41
To be fair I have owned:

V4B, SVT-CL, BT-25B, SVT 3 PRO, B2 head, SVT 3 PRO, SVT 350H, B15R Fliptop, B100R combo, Micro VR, plus a ton more not counting the cabs such as Classic 15, Classic 210, 610 HLF, PRO 410 HLF, 410 HE, etc etc etc.

I was died hard Ampeg for the longest time and having a local dealer that cut me good deals didn't hurt either.

I know what good Ampeg tone can sound like. The B2, 350H, 450H, 200T, 400T, Portabass series, and the cheap Crate style carpeted lower end cabs (B series?) were not good Ampeg tone. I am sure there are a couple I am forgetting in this list.

Just my .02.
 
#43
pgk said:
the current single channel/master volume svt is the biggest pos i've ever played thru, but a proper svt is a thing of beauty of course
Click to expand...

Is that the VR? I've only played one in a shop, but I LOVED it!! I have an SVT3-PRO which I also really dig, and used a B2Re at school for a few years which I also thought sounded great (compared to my Hartke which I was using at the time).

Only other Ampeg I've ever tried was a PF500 in a shop (we have a severe lack of them down here!) and that was a cool little thing too, if a little sterile for my liking (was A/Bing it with the 3-PRO when deciding which to buy).

Honestly though, I'd be happy with any of those. I'm sure not all their amps are gold but I'm also sure you could do a lot worse.
 
#44
The BT-140 head I had (circa late 60's - early 70's) was unmitigated junk. It did sound pretty good...when it worked. Which was not often. Once I saved the $$$'s, I bought a brand new SVT with one 8-10 cab in 1975. What a great amp!!! Wish I could move one of those today :( Also lot's of love for the B-15's I own and owned.
Al
 
#45
Ampeg CL (for me) since I couldn't get a good clear sound out of it. If you wanted your tone to be covered in wool, then go for it!

SVT3Pro. Underpowered and useless.

Pretty much all their lower end amps and combos (SVT450, 350, B2, B2R, B4, BA210, etc etc) although I really liked their BA115 combo for some reason.

V6B, early 90s V4B reissue, late 80s SVTs... I could keep going...
 
#46
GeneralElectric said:
SVT3Pro. Underpowered and useless.
Click to expand...

I don't understand why everyone here says this? I have a single 8ohm 410 hooked up to mine and have never had to go past 1 o'clock on the master volume, nor have I had any need to squeeze out any extra headroom with the EQ's volume control.

Is it just some Chinese whisper that people with no idea keep repeating? Because we play LOUD and I've never had any problem (passive basses, keep my pedals at unity volume).
 
#50
Venom of God said:
It's a newer LOUD model, so that may be the case. I'm sure JimmyM or someone would know though?
Click to expand...
As far as I can tell, a 3 Pro today is the same amp it was 17 years ago when it first came out. I used to have one of the early ones, and no, it is not underpowered. People only think it is because they mistake the input light for a clip light. Crank that gain knob using your ears and ignoring the light, and then it will put out every bit of its clean wattage if you want it. It has been tested by others and always hits its claimed 450w @ 4 ohms/275w @ 8 ohms on the bench.

As for the CL, while I rank it #2 between it and non-master volume SVT's, it's a darn good #2 and not that far off the mark from the VR or other non-master SVT's. It's maybe just a tad compressed compared to the VR, but blindfolded I doubt I'd be able to tell the difference. I use them all the time on the road, and maybe twice in 12 years have I gotten one that wasn't working, and one of them, which is at the Turning Stone Casino in NY, has been fixed ;)
 
#52
My SVT3-Pro was a USA model. My friend bought it from Jerry Jemmott along with an 810 when he left Ampeg's endorsee list. I bought it off of him when he stopped playing out and I sold it myself a few months after that.

I used the 3-Pro with a few cabs. I used a 70s Flatback 810 with the square speakers when I had the 3-Pro and it couldn't properly push the cabinet like my other heads at the time could. I don't care about clip lights, I just use my ears, since most of them are bull **** anyway. It could push my 1x15 find though (SVT115EN) very well, but since it always did a piss poor job on larger setups, I said **** it.

I don't really use SVTCLs as a backline. I've played them before at stores and didn't like them, and a few times with a band. I couldn't get my sound out of them. They're not that great in the high end IMO and IME. I wouldn't buy one.

More often than not, I'm the guy supplying the backline and I've been playing through SVTs on and off since I started playing bass around 2000. My SVT credentials include having a pair of SVT-VRs, a 71 Blueline SVT, and then two MTI ones from the 80s. The MTIs were the worst of the bunch. I'd like to get another VR one day, I couldn't tell the difference between that and my blue line once I put good tubes in the VR. And its half the price.

I don't currently own an SVT but I do own an Ampeg amp.
 
#55
Whats with all the 200t hate. I love mine. It's been all over Mexico, Canada, and on many tours around the US (I received mine from a friend who was in a pretty big touring band) and it has never ever had a single problem and personally, I like the tone I'm currently pulling from it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: meatwad
#57
Well everyone has different opinions, I spose. It's all good. As long as YOU like the gear you're using that's all that matters, even if it's something that others don't care for.
 
#59
JimmyM said:
Well everyone has different opinions, I spose. It's all good. As long as YOU like the gear you're using that's all that matters, even if it's something that others don't care for.
Click to expand...

If it makes everyone feel better my B25B is my second or third favorite bass amp of all time depending on how you look at it. Just behind the Mesa 400+ and the black face Fender Bassman which are basically the same amp give or take 230 watts.

I currently own a B25B and a B18. B18 kills for low level jams, but it breaks up too early for me.

I'm also a fan of the clean SVT sound which not many people are. The CLs IMO and IME are all thump and not much else.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back