I’m running a ToneHammer 700 through a Barefaced Two10S.
Great old school vibe, plenty of volume, and you can get sort of an svt vibe.
Great old school vibe, plenty of volume, and you can get sort of an svt vibe.
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Hypothesis : replace my SVT stack and small combo by a single medium amp… but what?
- Thread starter Inconnu
- Start date
I think this depends on how much gain/grit/girth/distortion you are looking for.... Aguilar Tone Hammer series is made to be pushed into this territory, Markbass might still have the protective circuitry - so, it might shut down if you are pushing into too much dirt. My LMT800 is great, but it's clean only. That Markbass Vintage looks super cool, but I've not played one...
I actually intend to keep using an overdrive pedal for distortion, I need to have a clean sound too! I use a Carl Martin Bass Drive for that, which I really like.
I’ll try a Markbass too if I see one.
I actually like my Markbass stuff a lot... that VLE (vintage loudspeaker emulator) knob is perfect for instant ol' school!!! I use several different drive/dirt pedals, and I like my base tone to be warm-tube driven more than super clean.
+1 for Markbass heads - I play through a Markbass Little Mark III going into an Ampeg 4x10 at our practice space and although it's not an SVT it definitely has its own thing that it does delightfully well.
IME, if you're going to get something different you need to enjoy and embrace it for its differences.
If you try to dial in everything you get to sound like an Ampeg, you'll just be frustrated. IMO, you need to be prepared to move beyond that sound if you're going to move beyond Ampeg.
(You could insert pretty much any brand with a signature sound in that last statement)
Yes. What is the hypothesis? I think you are describing a series of independent variables with your control group being your original rig.
I am a fan of the head + multiple small cab setup. Modularity for the win.
There are so many good options these days! My preference is for Genzler (MG800 + BA12-3) but there a number of great amp manufacturers out there. Seconding @Wasnex - try out different amps if you can. Find one with a sound you like!
There are so many good options these days! My preference is for Genzler (MG800 + BA12-3) but there a number of great amp manufacturers out there. Seconding @Wasnex - try out different amps if you can. Find one with a sound you like!
I've spent the last 25 years trying to find and amp that sounds like, and offers the same tactile response as a V4B / SVT, and weighs under 20 lbs.
So far nothing has been close enough.
The Streamliner was closest with weight (but murky to my ears) and, Ampeg tube pres with power amps were decent but above 20 lbs.
In between was a Tone Hammer, MB LMII, Mesa TT800, GK 1001 RB and MBF 800, Ashdown ABM 500, Genzler, SWR's, and a few other's I've forgotten.
I've spent a time with Broughton SVP and Flip Top (which ironically I liked more than the SVP).
Also have used the Barber Linden pedal which was OK. Did not like the Sushi Space Heater at all.
Next steps are upping my weight range with a Traynor YBA 200 (assuming I can try in advance).
Also considering an Ampeg SCR pedal.
Any other suggestions?
Edit: Forgot to mention my old Walkabout which I never should have sold...
So far nothing has been close enough.
The Streamliner was closest with weight (but murky to my ears) and, Ampeg tube pres with power amps were decent but above 20 lbs.
In between was a Tone Hammer, MB LMII, Mesa TT800, GK 1001 RB and MBF 800, Ashdown ABM 500, Genzler, SWR's, and a few other's I've forgotten.
I've spent a time with Broughton SVP and Flip Top (which ironically I liked more than the SVP).
Also have used the Barber Linden pedal which was OK. Did not like the Sushi Space Heater at all.
Next steps are upping my weight range with a Traynor YBA 200 (assuming I can try in advance).
Also considering an Ampeg SCR pedal.
Any other suggestions?
Edit: Forgot to mention my old Walkabout which I never should have sold...
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The PF50t weighs 19.4lbs. I think it's probably closer in sound to the V4B, but definitely Ampegy. I am assuming you want more power, or this would be a fairly obvious choice.
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Correct sir, I'm looking for 200 watts minimum.
Do any of you guys have experience with either the Peavey YB-2 vs. Traynor YBA200 vs. an SVT?
I'm beginning to think I should have never sold my Walkabout...
I have various amps that capture various elements of the SVT's tone and feel. But none of them integrate all of the SVTs qualities. If you want the full SVT experience, IMHO the only solution is an SVT. Even the PF50T, which is very Ampegy, does not sound and feel exactly like an SVT.
Haven't tried one, but I am pretty sure the YBA200 is not very Ampegy. Comments suggest it's voiced fairly bright.
The OM says the VB2 is 54lbs. The YBA200 is 44lbs. So it seems you will need to go hybrid or solid state to meet the goal of 20lbs.
If you were reasonably happy with the Walkabout, have you tried the WD800? I demoed a Walkabout a long time ago, and don't remember it reminding me of an SVT. ???
I agree the Streamliner is not super clear and focused. However, to my ears, neither is an SVT. Did you try rolling any tubes?
I think the Jule Monique 700 leans toward sort of an Ampegy quality, although it's more clear and focused. With the right settings, the Monique gets a bit grindy in a similar way to an SVT. The trick is to pull out the Sensitivity and Line pots, which adds more harmonic content/color. The Monique seems fairly close to the SVT tone I use. But it does not cover all of the SVT's tone variations.
OK, let me rephrase that… Hypothetically, I would sell both the SVT rig and the small Traynor combo to get a light amp that won’t disappoint me to have instead of the SVT. But… I wanted to get ideas what to look for. After over 50 replies, I’m getting ideas…
OK, Op here.
Thanks for your posts. As always, very inspiring. Here’s what I’m getting out of this:
- I don’t think a new amp should be a mimic of the SVT in a smaller package, it seems unlikely I’d get something satisfying with that kind of mind set.
- I need to try amps with an open mind and look at it as an occasion to get elsewhere sound wise while keeping what I really like in a bass sound (which is a very personal thing). In other words, it doesn’t have to sound like the SVT.
Heads I want to try after reading your posts:
- Traynor YBA100 (rent one actually)
- Ampeg PF 50t (not sure… 50 watts)
- Aguilar Tone Hammer (500 or 350)
- Darkglass Microtubes 500
- Markbass stuff
- Mesa Boogie 800 models
Cabs… I’ll see… that’s the part I’m not quite sure. 2x10, 2x12 or two 1x12 are the routes I’m aiming at to go with something under 45 pounds.
Thanks for your posts. As always, very inspiring. Here’s what I’m getting out of this:
- I don’t think a new amp should be a mimic of the SVT in a smaller package, it seems unlikely I’d get something satisfying with that kind of mind set.
- I need to try amps with an open mind and look at it as an occasion to get elsewhere sound wise while keeping what I really like in a bass sound (which is a very personal thing). In other words, it doesn’t have to sound like the SVT.
Heads I want to try after reading your posts:
- Traynor YBA100 (rent one actually)
- Ampeg PF 50t (not sure… 50 watts)
- Aguilar Tone Hammer (500 or 350)
- Darkglass Microtubes 500
- Markbass stuff
- Mesa Boogie 800 models
Cabs… I’ll see… that’s the part I’m not quite sure. 2x10, 2x12 or two 1x12 are the routes I’m aiming at to go with something under 45 pounds.
Well, I was expecting you, the all knowing tube bass amp guy, to have expert opinions between the Ampeg, Traynor, and Peavey all tube amps!! Oh well..
Yes- I don't think 20 lbs is possible for something really close. 44 lbs instead of my SVT-CL's 84lb weight is doable. My GB 2x12 cabinet is about the same weight.
I sold the WA as I was using it with a 1x15 at the time and it didn't have enough clean headroom.
When I did use it with the 2x12 it was the same volume as the SVT assuming clean output and pretty flat EQ.
It was a mistake to sell but at the time they were everywhere for $450 and I thought I could replace it easily.
I borrowed a Streamliner 600 and compared it to my SVT with the 2x12. The SVT had a more defined, clean tone. Since it was a friends amp I didn't roll tubes even though I have some nice used originals from 60's and 70's. I did feel that if I had one more band of EQ I could have cleaned up the low middle and made it work.
Any idea if the 900 has the same tone? My buddy got his for $400 and it would be worth an experiment to try again. The tactile feel was very good as I remember.
The Mesa TT800 that I had was a great amp but not for me. I could never get the low end to work out on a live gig even with the HPF. Is the WD800 that much different? This could be another good alternative.
For home use, my SVT head makes me very happy. I don't play enough gigs to spend a few thousand on a gigging amp for bars / clubs.
I gig both a WD and SVT.
The problem I have with comparing a WD against an SVT is which version of the SVT are we talking about? Flat? Mid boosted/scooped? Ultra Hi/Low? Etc. There's a lot of sounds I can pull out of an SVT, some of which the WD isn't particularly good at. Further, (IMO) the 810E is a solid 50% of the SVT sound.
Personally, I think the WD is an outstanding amp, but I think you should get it if you like it for it's WD sound.
IMO, the WD is naturally brighter, clearer, more articulate and more open. It's also the first hybrid amp I've played that didn't make me wish I was playing through a tube amp. It has a great feel that is dynamic to how hard you lean into it. However, it sounds like it sounds and I think the harder you try to shoehorn it into the SVT thing the more frustrating it becomes.
Conversely, the SVT is thicker (some would all it muddy) and more 3D (I don't know how else to describe it). It also naturally does the Ampeg thing, and if that's the sound you're after an SVT will (obviously) do that in spades.
But, swap cabs and plug the WD into the 810e and it sounds more like an SVT, and plug the SVT into the Subway 115/210 and it sounds more like a WD.
Realistically, both amps have powerful EQs that are able to dial in a wide variety of sounds, so it's hard to pigeonhole the amps into a specific "sound", but in very broad strokes that's how I see the differences.
