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I miss my SVT rigs....

How much do you miss that big iron?

  • Buy it, TONEZ!

    Votes: 84 55.3%
  • Live in the now, man!

    Votes: 33 21.7%
  • Pedal into a class-D is the same thing, bruh!

    Votes: 35 23.0%

  • Total voters
    152
One of the more entertaining solutions one user had.. lol Many folks listen with their eyes and not their ears..

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I was lucky enough to buy a used SVT head and cab back when i was in high school. That tone and visual effect (plus that brand name elitism) has pretty much stayed with me all this time. Seems i've always been hauling around an 810 or 610 bottom, or two 410's and some sort of Ampeg tube or hybrid head.
Well, HS was over forty years ago. Now i'm running an Ampeg PF-800 through two Ampeg NEO 410 bottoms, along with a Tech21 VT-DI pedal as a "Channel B".
Does it sound exactly like my old 70's era SVT rig? Probably not, but close enough for me. And my pushing-60 back, knees, hip sockets, etc. are not complaining as much either. Just my opinion :)
 
I'm weird, but having played through tons of SVT rigs as backlines over the years, I just never bonded with them. Maybe just too "pillowy" for me. Now, put a crusty 'ol 400RB on that fridge cab and I'm a happy camper.

I agree. I've always found the svt to be more reputation from a bygone era. They are underwhelming in the power department and are expensive to maintain and a real pita to transport. I sold my v4b and svt a while back.
 
I used to have a USA Ampeg head and 6x10 cab. It sounded fantastic, especially when cranked. But any time I had a gig that required that much firepower a backline was provided by the venue. So, the Ampeg rig never left my music studio. I couldn't justify keeping that monster setup just for band rehearsals in a 20x20 room, and let it go. I'm glad I never had to cart it around anywhere. These days it's Mesa Subway series all the way.

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I played though a stack that weighed more than me my youth. Now I play ampless gigs - I walk in (in one trip), hook my stuff up, and I'm connected to a PA with FAR more power and cone area than any rig I ever owned. If you want to make the place shake, an SVT is OK for a bass amp, but compared to many modern PA's, it's seriously outgunned.

Don't miss a thing about that old rig.
 
I've not had a regular gig in quite sometime... my old band gets together about 2-4 times a year for fun. I've got plenty of stuff I can gig with, and don't "need" an amp.... but, I find myself looking at SVT pics a lot lately. And it's really unfortunate that I keep coming across the picture below, which are both of my old stacks.... band hiatus + no job = SOLD for cash.

I really got tired of lugging this stuff around by myself, and opted for lighter/easier... now I'm (foolishly?) considering tracking down a stack to live in my music room - or maybe, even take to the occasional big stage gig.

I figured lots of us have been in this situation, feeling nostalgic & missing the great gear of our glory days. Buy? Keep daydreaming? Spray paint my markbass rig with Ampeg logos?

cimg39202-jpg.1389611

I have two SVT-CLs that I have been gigging with a host of cabinets for many years now. At most I only gig a few times a month and don't have stairs or health issues or an other obstacles preventing me from using them. If you want it and can afford it, I don't see why you shouldn't enjoy it.
 
I've been feeling the same as of late recently. GC near me has a used one in fantastic condition for $499. I'm seriously thinking of going back this weekend to get it. If it's still there (which it probably won't be), then I'll get it. If it's already gone, i'll take that as a sign it wasn't meant to be. I have absolutely no need for it, doubt I'll ever use it outside of my little jam room, but will purely be cause I want. I got my first 810 in 1992. I had been playing for two years and just started high school. My parents recognized that me playing bass wasn't something that was just a fad for a youngster, and saw that I loved it and bought me one as an 8th grade graduation present. They probably paid around the same price for my new one back in 92 that this is selling for now used.

I had that original 810 cab until I was about 24, so I got 12 good years out of it. Only reason I didn't have it after that, is that I was moving and buddy tried to unload it from his truck bed while in the bed itself, and didn't judge the weight right. It was like one of those videos of an old smoke stack being demolished and falling over on its side. It fell about 3 feet forward straight down and just exploded lol. I still have the badge from that cab, and used the speakers in something else, can't remember.

‘I will say this, if you do buy it, I have some advice. Don’t leave it on standby forgetting to turn it off or you may get an unpleasant surprise from your utility company….I don’t think you need to ask me how I know..LOL!!! Hope it’s still there for you.
 
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Reactions: MCF and gregunit
I've not had a regular gig in quite sometime... my old band gets together about 2-4 times a year for fun. I've got plenty of stuff I can gig with, and don't "need" an amp.... but, I find myself looking at SVT pics a lot lately. And it's really unfortunate that I keep coming across the picture below, which are both of my old stacks.... band hiatus + no job = SOLD for cash.

I really got tired of lugging this stuff around by myself, and opted for lighter/easier... now I'm (foolishly?) considering tracking down a stack to live in my music room - or maybe, even take to the occasional big stage gig.

I figured lots of us have been in this situation, feeling nostalgic & missing the great gear of our glory days. Buy? Keep daydreaming? Spray paint my markbass rig with Ampeg logos?

cimg39202-jpg.1389611
Awesome Rig. Unmatched tone. I have a pedal that gets close but not quite.... But I can't lift "the rig" anymore and I can put the pedal in my bass case. It's the house pa that people hear anyway.
 
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Reactions: rickwebb and MCF

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