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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 still prefer tone, feel and vibe of playing my old SVT-2 non-pro, or blueline SVT for rehearsals at my home studio, but I've been gigging a 1st generation Orange Terror 500 for like 8 years now. It's EQ is fairly limited, but my (always-on) VT pedal helps to dial in an Ampeg'ish vibe with more pronounced low-mids that's been scratching my SVT itch fairly well on stage.
Thanks for this.
My SVT-CL is set pretty much flat with a slight boost at position 3 and no Ultra hi or low. Gain at about 12:00 and master at 1:00 - 5:00.
While I appreciate the 8x10, I've been using vented cabinets like a GB 2x12 or Berg HT322.
Sounds like you can make the bass and low mids sound very similar between the two?
Into the same cab with those settings, yes. I can get them similar, but not necessarily the same.
I just messed around with my SVT on those settings (minus the master being that high). Into their matching cabs (WD800 into Subway 115/210) the WD is brighter and more articulate. Goes deeper (ported), but doesn't have that low mid density that the SVT/810 produce and my attempts to EQ it that way just kind of make the amp sound hollowed out (scooping the mids where it's strong while trying to boost the mids where it's weak).
Plug the WD into the 810 and that low mid density is there.
I'm not exactly sure how that will translate into your cabs.
The elephant in the room being the volume. If you're overdriving your SVT I don't know how that'll compare to the 800 overdriven. I run the WD800 into it's limiter all the time and have no complaints about how that sounds, but I'm not in a position to push my SVT that hard and A/B them at the moment.
Thank you. Really appreciate the detailed response.
Sounds like I should try the WD. They seem to be cheaper on the used market than the old WA these days.
I enjoyed 300w to 500w through 1 4x10 for a long time. If I took 2 4x10s I was taken out of the mains outside. One allowed me to crank it and have it work producing every inflection. Meanwhile I keep pro small amps because I end up in those small room/studio/house concert settings where my sound needs to be in scale. Did one yesterday. Big sound easy load in.
This feels like a 180 from the suggestions on this thread, but would an IR pedal and a frfr cabinet (e.g. the Headrush, etc.) be an option? It seems like the appealing aspects of your SVT are being lost due to heft and volume, but you may at least be able to create a reasonable facsimile of what you love about it in a more portable, quieter package if you can find a preamp that works for you. It could probably all be acquired relatively cheaply as well, if you wanted to hold on to your current amps for posterity.
I thought of that before, but I feel downsizing is starting to be a necessity, so one amp to do everything is really where I’m going.
I am using a headrush MX5 into the headrush FRFR 112 and an 108. My 3 main reason for going this route.
1. Size: I can get a decent enough reproduction of the SVT that i do not need to lug around that big heavy amp. My rig is about 35 pounds total and takes up very little space on stage
2. Styles: I play many different styles on both my EUB and my P/J. The mx5 allows me to dial in just the right sound for the gig at hand.
3. Amp less stage requirement. Many of my gigs are starting to switch to an amp less setup.... Either I have in-ears or I can use my FRFR for a low volume stage monitor.
1. Size: I can get a decent enough reproduction of the SVT that i do not need to lug around that big heavy amp. My rig is about 35 pounds total and takes up very little space on stage
2. Styles: I play many different styles on both my EUB and my P/J. The mx5 allows me to dial in just the right sound for the gig at hand.
3. Amp less stage requirement. Many of my gigs are starting to switch to an amp less setup.... Either I have in-ears or I can use my FRFR for a low volume stage monitor.
This is basically what I was angling towards with my comment, but I appreciate that this approach may not be comfortable for everybody. I figured cab modeling could be the gateway drug to taking the full plunge.
This is my "Franken-B-15". A Valvetrain Brandywine 50 watts all tube with a Bag End S-15D that is nice & sensitive (important for extracting as much volume & headroom as possible from a lower wattage amp IME).
I got it for cocktail jazz, but it turned out to be surprisingly good for rock with PA support. I couldn't drown out the drums or guitars onstage if I wanted to, but I can hear and feel everything I play in a way only tube power seems to be capable of delivering for me. The line out sounds great through my own small PA and I haven't had any complaints from the FOH crew or band mates, yet!
It won't fill a large barroom or outdoor concert without PA support like an 800 watt class D might. But with the 4 ohm stack it can hold its own at an outdoor party! (That drummer gets pretty loud, too.)
Just food for thought.
I got it for cocktail jazz, but it turned out to be surprisingly good for rock with PA support. I couldn't drown out the drums or guitars onstage if I wanted to, but I can hear and feel everything I play in a way only tube power seems to be capable of delivering for me. The line out sounds great through my own small PA and I haven't had any complaints from the FOH crew or band mates, yet!
It won't fill a large barroom or outdoor concert without PA support like an 800 watt class D might. But with the 4 ohm stack it can hold its own at an outdoor party! (That drummer gets pretty loud, too.)
Just food for thought.
As a followup to this: taking this tack doesn't necessarily mean adopting an amp/cab modeling multi effects pedal. If, for example, the only effect you care about is a little bit of overdrive, your entire "stack" could consist of a (e.g.) Nux Melvin Lee Davis preamp pedal (which has amp and cab modeling built in) and the FRFR cab. That might not be exactly the tone stack you want, but there are plenty of alternatives. The point is, this path doesn't necessarily mean effects chains and menu diving.
Since you say you are getting by with a 200w / 112 combo, I think you can easily step it up (like way up) and still manage to have a very light load in...
If you want a single cab (which I recommend, based on your 112 experience), then I'd recommend the best 210 you can buy. OR, even better... a 2x12 rig is VERY manageable - often hardly bigger than a 210 - and I think it's about the best single cab solution.
I'd be looking for a used, slightly older cab that I can get a good deal on because it's slightly older and not the latest and greatest.
Doesn't help you, but for example there is a like-new Genz-Benz 212 cab for sale on TB in Tennessee for $650. That is a KILLER cab, and hundred of dollars less (maybe half price) than some other 212 cabs because it's a little older and not the flavor of the month.
Look for a used Bergantino CN212!
As far as amps, there have been some good ones mentioned.
To me, if you want that HEFT of the SVT, then get a used Streamliner (the 600 would be plenty). There are some great comparisons of the Streamliner and SVT from WAY back.
I think the Quilter BassBlock has a very nice heft as well - a great sounding amp.
The Tonehammer is a pretty great amp.
You might also check out a Magellan 800. I don't personally care for that amp (something about the baked in voice), but they get a lot of love, and seem to sell for cheaper than many of the other 800w amps.
If you want a single cab (which I recommend, based on your 112 experience), then I'd recommend the best 210 you can buy. OR, even better... a 2x12 rig is VERY manageable - often hardly bigger than a 210 - and I think it's about the best single cab solution.
I'd be looking for a used, slightly older cab that I can get a good deal on because it's slightly older and not the latest and greatest.
Doesn't help you, but for example there is a like-new Genz-Benz 212 cab for sale on TB in Tennessee for $650. That is a KILLER cab, and hundred of dollars less (maybe half price) than some other 212 cabs because it's a little older and not the flavor of the month.
Look for a used Bergantino CN212!
As far as amps, there have been some good ones mentioned.
To me, if you want that HEFT of the SVT, then get a used Streamliner (the 600 would be plenty). There are some great comparisons of the Streamliner and SVT from WAY back.
I think the Quilter BassBlock has a very nice heft as well - a great sounding amp.
The Tonehammer is a pretty great amp.
You might also check out a Magellan 800. I don't personally care for that amp (something about the baked in voice), but they get a lot of love, and seem to sell for cheaper than many of the other 800w amps.
If you are going to get the TH350, then just get the TH500... It's not that much more $ used, hardly bigger, and the big reason for me is that you get significantly more watts (clean headroom) if you are using a single 8 ohm cab. Which if you end up with a single 14, 2x10 or whatever, is pretty likely. I've had the 350, 500, and 700 watt version of the TH. Great amp!
