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Help! Ampeg SVT 3 vs GK 400

open_space

open_space

Aug 7, 2006
219
7
Minsk, Belarus
www.osband.com
#1
I am on the market for my first rig. I live in Eastern Europe and over here my options are very limited: I can get either a new GK head, a Hartke head, maybe Ashdown or a used SVT 3 pro. Ampeg is actually the most expensive of the bunch and I will have to get it used (eBay probably, although shipping is quite expensive).

Finally, I think that I will have to choose between GK and Ampeg, because I am not a big fan of Hartke gear and Ashdowns seem harder to find. I have very little experience with both amps and I am not sure which one will be best for me.

I play a Fender MIA Jazz and a Fender MIA P. Actually it's almost always my Jazz bass because my band likes it much better than the P. I play with pick and fingers and don't slap. I like punchy and full bass tones, think modern pop rock bands (Arctic Monkeys, Travis, The Kooks, The Afters).

I played GK amps twice. Both times I played through Backline series through GK 4X10 and 1X15 and first time I really disliked the tone. Next time I fiddled with controls a little bit more (that's when I learned not to touch the boost control because it sounded weird). I really liked the sound of my Jazz bass through GK playing with fingers, but with the pick it seemed a bit too thin. I don't know. I wish I had more time to test it.

With Ampeg it was really simple as I was already familiar with the controls (I played SVT 4 Pro through Ampeg 4X10), but it seemed that it was not as loud as GK (well, the club was bigger as well). It sounded good I guess and the band liked it as well. But I am concerned about the lack of volume that some people notice and with Ampeg being really expensive, I don't want to run that risk. Also it wasn’t as clear as GK with finger. As far as I can tell it’s also quite heavy.

New GK over here will be around $700. Used Ampeg from ebay+shipping+tax = about $950. What would you do? Also, for now I will be using a 2X10 home made cab.
 
#2
I am a 20 year non-pro part time player, played in many bands, mostly cover bands. I use P-basses. I have played Hartke, GK and currently play Ampeg SVT III Pro. I just got a Tech 21 Sansamp Bass Driver and that little gadget did more to improve my tone than any amp ever did. You might check that out. For what its worth, I do like the SVT I have, although it is a bit noisey.
 
#3
I play an MIA Jazz through the 3 pro and I've never had to worry about it being too thin - pick or no pick. I've read all the complaints about the Ampegs being underpowered, and while the do seem to be a little generous with their power ratings I've never felt like I had too little power.
I'm convinced that pairing the 3 pro with the right cab is the answer to the power problem. If you put it with a 2x10 8ohm cab it's going to sound underpowered (but same for the GK) because you're only producing about half the wattage you would be getting out of an 4 ohm cab (or two 8ohm cabs together bringing the impedance down to 4 ohms) If you can find a well voiced 4x10 it will push enough air to make either head sound louder.

I used to use a hartke 4.5xl with my 3 pro and it was plenty loud for most applications. With an Ampeg 8x10 the 3 pro was a beast.
 
#4
+1 to both posts. I had an svt 3 pro pushing an ampeg bse410hlf cab both made in usa and never had 1 problem. I truly had a hard time selling that head. I also ran my signal through the sansamp bass di to help get that old, milky tone of the original ampegs. Now Im playing a 73 SVT through berg nv610 and although I run the signal passave through the sansamp I will never play a show with out it. It has saved the day once already when I had a solder joint go bad in my svt. Every bass player should have one in their bag/board. I would spend the extra $$ and get what you want. But what ever you decide you do need at least a good 410 cab.
 
#5
Thanks for the replies. But what about GK? Ampeg seems to be a good head, but it's a bit pricey.

I used to have a bassdriver DI and I found it useless. No mids, no matter what you do with controls. It was ok at home at low volume but with the band? Forget about it. A simple DI without EQ works much better for me.
 
#6
open_space said:
Thanks for the replies. But what about GK? Ampeg seems to be a good head, but it's a bit pricey.

I used to have a bassdriver DI and I found it useless. No mids, no matter what you do with controls. It was ok at home at low volume but with the band? Forget about it. A simple DI without EQ works much better for me.
Click to expand...

I used a GK400RB for ten years through a pair of 1x15 cabinets, playing a P bass. It was a great sound. It could handle almost any room and only ran out of headroom on big outdoor stages. I tried the SVT 3 Pro. I didn't like it as much. It was okay, but didn't have the power of the GK. But that's just my opinion. Some people agree with me; some don't.

Debates like this come up all the time and will never be resolved. You have to try them both, make a decision and live with the consequences.

As far as the Sansamp goes-I have one. I never needed it when using the GK. It makes a good direct box though.
 
#8
walknbluez said:
By the way, what is the difference between SVT-3 and SVT-4?
Click to expand...

A LOT. Just look at the different controls on the front of both, and factor in the huge power difference between the two. ;)

Responding to the OP (open_space): I LOVE my GK head (a 2001RB) for pickstyle and fingerstyle playing. I enjoy other GK heads just as much.

I wouldn't be concerned about the tone sounding thin with a pick - GK heads are a centerpiece of a lot of punk bands with pickstyle bassists, not to mention, other genres (for example, bands like Tool).

However, it sounds like you're coming from a familiarity with Ampeg heads. I'd suggest spending a bit of time with a GK head to familiarize yourself with how to use one. A good starting point: Input Level at 11:00, all four EQ knobs at 12:00 (flat), Contour and Presence at minimum (zero), and Boost as desired. Then, turn up the Master, and mess with the EQ as you like at a higher volume.

Also, the Boost control is a wonderful thing on a GK head, IMO. But how great/awful it sounds when turned up will depend on the Input Level setting. Again, you just need a little time to see what a GK head can do for you. Once you get a handle on how to use one, you can make a more educated decision between the two heads you're looking at.
 
#10
Comparing an SVT-III PRO to a GK 400RB, IMHO the SVT wins in tone, power, flexibility, looks, and reliability but it's about twice/three times as heavy. Larger GK heads may be a different story in terms of headroom, and even though the 400RB sounds great with a Precision Bass, you may find yourself driving it's great tone into fuzzville trying to get the volume needed for some gigs. I speak from experience about this, the little GK is great for lots of things, just not low end AND high volume combined.
 
#11
I have a SVT3 pro with a 2x10 SWR + 1x18 SWR Big ben and it`s true It hasn`t the same power than the GK, but I preffer the sound and I fixed that problem with a tech21 DI sansamp and a mono DBX comp.
I was thinking about changing the SWR 2x10 for a 4x10 GK.
.
 

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#12
I'm a fan of the SVT Pro series heads, but for the money, maybe the GK would be a good choice. The Ampeg will have that warmer sound, but the GK will have more volume. It's a toss up. If you have the money to spend, go with the Ampeg, otherwise, get the GK. Either way you'll be rocking.
 
#13
I had the SVT-3Pro (USA) through an old Ampeg 8x10 and I constantly found it under powered, and after diming the tube gain, found it difficult to get any usable volume out of it in anything but the smallest of clubs. Underpowered and the head just lacked, for lack of a better word, balls.

I actually really like my Ashdown setup, but I phased it out once I got a Mesa Boogie 400+ and now I'm in the process of selling it.
 

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