Help needed with Pros and Cons of Ampeg Tube Amps.

Personally, I'd go for the 2-Pro instead of the CL simply because it's rackmountable, has more features like the graphic EQ, tuner out, effects loop, and from what I've heard about it they seem to be a little more versatile than the CL....

Also, the 2-Pro is 10 pounds less which may or may not be a big deal for you...

BTW, I checked your band out and a bassist in a band similar to your sound in my area uses the 2-pro and it sounds sooooo good, IMO

 

The SVT 2 pro has the great tube sound of the CL, with added features. I'd go with a 2 pro because you can get the same sound as a CL, yet you have more tone shaping options so that you can tailor the sound to your needs.

Hope I helped :]

 

+1 go with the 2 pro or see if U can find a 2nd hand svt 2 non pro- even better IMHO OR a SVT-VR( similar to the SVT2(non pro)
The SVT-2 NON PRO is apparently pretty darn close to the orig. or early SVT's & has a far nicer sound- so I've heard.
AMPEG TUBE HEADS Pro's:- GREAT sound, LOUD(even the V4BH is Plenty loud enough!!!), No more 'servicing' required than a Solid state amps, sound that is FULL , warm & 'feelable' more so than S.S. amps thet I've tried at least! Loud!!!!! Really the V4BH would be all that is needed unless U R up against 2 or more 100w Marshal(or equal) stacks & are playing REAL loud ! I have a 300w Fender 300PRO-all tube- & it is LOUD AS ****!!!!
- Unless U don't like the sound(in which case U shouldn't buy one in the 1st place) -U'll never have to buy another amp!
Cons: need to buy a new set of OUTPUT tubes (6550's or KT88's) after 10 yrs or so. Depending on use-they can last 20+yrs- DON'T be fooled into thinking U need to retube it after 2 yrs.... unless U notice a marked deterioration in sound. Just get it serviced once a year -if U use it often- & all's well. IME
- Heavy!

 

For me the choice is between a vintage '70s SVT and an SVTII (non-pro),
hands down. I would only consider the SVTII if I really wanted the tone shaping capabilities, but I run my SVT fairly flat and get almost all the shaping I need from the midrange knob.

 

Id go the VR....because it has less features

thats just my bag when it comes to ampeg...plug in turn up and destroy

it really comes down to your taste i guess. Ampeg make some great amps, you won't be dissapointed either way you go.

 

It depends on what sound you like.
For oldschool like tone Id go for any of those 2 channel svts or maybe the II (never tried it).

If you want more modern compressed brutal evil scooped tone, then get either a CL or IIpro.

I personally so much prefer the oldschool tone for its legendary midgrowl thunder.

 

I don't hear anything modern in the Classic, to me it just sounds like a less good vintage one. The SVTII is very similar to both, but I like them more than the Classic.

Using a good set of power tubes makes a big difference as to the growl you'll expect to get.

 

+1 Definatley the 2pro or non-pro. Love my non-pro and if given the choices you stated, I would go with the rack mountable greater choice of sounds that is the 2pro.

Cheers

 

And a really good set of power tubes is expensive. Those leads to the disadvantages of all tube ampegs. It needs a Power-Tube swap every 5 to 10 years - and its HEAVY. The rest is advantages only

 

Not a massive difference, I just like the build quality and the relative simplicity of the SVTII. There is something about the voicing of the electronics that just sounds very good to me over the Pro, and much closer to the sound of the vintage ones.

 

I would take a Portaflex over SVT's anyday. B15N vintage one would be ideal, modern ones are OK too.

 

I don't think you'll get much help here as things are devided pretty evenly into the 2 camps. I use an SVP-Pro pre-amp which is the pre-amp section from the SVT-Pro. I never use the EQ but I sometimes use the drive. The only way you're gonna know is to A-B the heads through the same speakers. This is a substantial investment, rely on YOUR ears to make the decision.

 

Both pretty good sounds, I like the 2-Pro better but let your own ears decide.

I'm sure there's more to it... but the major feature difference is the gain/master setup on the pro. If "grit of an all tube head" to you is a driven preamp tube, you may like the Pro better. To my ears the desireable tube grit comes from the power section, and the non pro simply does that better (even if it's only a slightly different circuit design).

I think there may be a few other tiny details... speakons? 7 vs 9 band EQ? Modern grey graphics... all of which are pretty much non-issues for me.

 

You might consider PMing Psycho Bass guy about this. He's the resident tube amp guru.