Doesn’t have to be. I ran mine dead clean and it crushed.
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I miss my SVT rigs....
- Thread starter henryjurstin13
- Start date
I've had several SVT's over the years ( CL, SVT-2's ) Had the 810 cabs also, , then I discovered "TalkBass", changed everything I knew about bass amplification, for the better I might add, got tired of hauling the big 810's, and after reading about the Bergantino NV610, I got one, one of the best things, I did, ran it with all kinda of amps, but as always, found my self with some I haven't used, and started slim down , sold the SVT-CL that I had, I found that I could cop the "SVT sound" with a Fender Super Bassman & the NV610, I've tried several cabinets with the SVT-CL & the SVT2's that I had over the years, and I like the sound of a tube amp, with a seal cab, ported cabs can sound good, but I think, it's an acquired taste, at least for me,
So, there are alternatives to the various tube SVT amps ... you may have to go through several amps to find out, in your quest for tone.
As to what I use now on a regular basis, a Mesa Boogie Subway 800+ with either a pair of Aguilar DB112 ( there OK, but I like the punch, that 10's bring to the table ), or a Bergantino HS410 ( love this cab, anything you hook up to it just sounds good ) and the good old NV610, I like it better than the SVT 810, ( I've has several SVT's 810's of different flavors), interesting on how one's aproach to tone evolves, over the years, and yes I still drag out the big iron, but, most gigs, are small clubs,sports bars, and I'm tired of the volume police, going apepoopie, when a large cabinet/amp get carted in, and it always starts, before it's plugged in, Oh Well .... I'd like to go the small lite-weight route, but my check book won't allow it ....need to win the Lotto!!
Below are some amp/cab combinations over the years ... enjoy the amp/cab porn
So, there are alternatives to the various tube SVT amps ... you may have to go through several amps to find out, in your quest for tone.
As to what I use now on a regular basis, a Mesa Boogie Subway 800+ with either a pair of Aguilar DB112 ( there OK, but I like the punch, that 10's bring to the table ), or a Bergantino HS410 ( love this cab, anything you hook up to it just sounds good ) and the good old NV610, I like it better than the SVT 810, ( I've has several SVT's 810's of different flavors), interesting on how one's aproach to tone evolves, over the years, and yes I still drag out the big iron, but, most gigs, are small clubs,sports bars, and I'm tired of the volume police, going apepoopie, when a large cabinet/amp get carted in, and it always starts, before it's plugged in, Oh Well .... I'd like to go the small lite-weight route, but my check book won't allow it ....need to win the Lotto!!
Below are some amp/cab combinations over the years ... enjoy the amp/cab porn
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I think likely the best piece of gear I ever bought for $300 is my 4 Ohm Eden D410XLT.
A good 6 x 10 sealed cab seems attractive though if I needed more speakers I'd more likely add an 8 Ohm D210XLT or XST that isn't beat for the right price.
A Barefaced cab or cabs would be ideal, if I had the budget for that.
A good 6 x 10 sealed cab seems attractive though if I needed more speakers I'd more likely add an 8 Ohm D210XLT or XST that isn't beat for the right price.
A Barefaced cab or cabs would be ideal, if I had the budget for that.
I haven't used barefaced 10 cabs, but their 12xn based cabs are awesome. I have two big baby 3's. Stupid light, stupid loud, and handle gobs and gobs of power and low-end. I tested them with 900 watts going to the pair and car-audio bass tracks from YouTube. The low-end response is amazing. I did set an hpf of 30hz on the poweramp. Most off-the shelf cabs would've been hitting their mechanical limits with that type of load. The bb3s simply kept going. As an frfr bass cab, they're amazing. Getting a mesa tt-800 this week to test with them.
Romantic ideals aside, the SVTs just sound great and if you're able to use them, use them. I've got great Class D and other stuff when I need it, but when the gig warrants and SVT I always enjoy them.
It is funny though - prices for fridges and svts are all over the board. Same thing with "big iron" amps. I'd love to own another svt-ii non l-pro... simply nostalgia. Then i grab one bb3 cab and my class d rig b and carry everything I need in a single trip (bass in a backpack-style mono or kiesel softcase on my back) and easily transport it all in the trunk of my civic out of sight, and realize I'll never own a heavy rig like that again.
Prices and condition of the various Ampeg HLF, HE and E type cabs that I see are these least consistent and I believe that's a probably a psychological function of people valuing their space more than those big boxes collecting dust. The heads generally hold more intrinsic value. There always seems to be more cabs than heads out there for sale.
I've had an SVT II, an SVT Classic and a B-15N before. Regarding the more desirable used SVT's I see for sale currently, I'm not very well attuned to how good their listed prices are in today's dollars, in today's market. The nominal prices certainly have gone up on in the last 10 years but I don't have the most calibrated sense of how good their values are. I suspect they're for fair prices and flippable at least.
What would be considered a very good price for an SVT II in excellent condition or a used SVT Heritage 50th that's less than a year old be now?
For local schlep bar gigs and the like, I like to keep it simple too. I use the SVTs more for venues when the audience is more discriminating.
The pics of the NV215…man I wish I still had mine. I recently discovered a recording I made from 2007 where I used a 73 SVT and it with a Jazz bass. Wow does it sound incredible. That cab is incredible. I always wanted to try the 610 though
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?
Killer setups!!!
I most definitely regret selling my SLM-Era SVT2-Pro, SVT-CL, and my 810E cabinet. I sold them all roughly 20 years ago, but I still regret it.
I still have a lead sled Crest CA9 stereo power amp and a Demeter HBP-1 tube preamp racked. IMO it’s an incredible setup, it can get ungodly loud and stay clean, but it’s still not an all-tube setup.
I won’t complain about my current amp setups, IMO all three are absolutely killer, but none of them are all tube, and I so miss having an all tube amp/sealed speaker cabinet setup.
However, I am going to buy a new SVT-CL, and an 810E in the future.
Here’s a photo of my Demeter/Crest rig sitting on top of my Mesa PH610 cabinet. Those very slight volume settings were painfully loud in the small bedroom where my various setups reside in my house.
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I’m very much in the same gigging situation. Smaller bars, small stages, and I’ve experienced the “That amp is way too big for this bar!!!” vibe.
Years ago, I bought my smaller setup with grumpy bar owners in mind. I’m starting to gig more lately, all In smallish rooms. I’ve used my smallest setup, which is an Aguilar TH500 head and two Aguilar GS-112 cabinets. It does a great job, no complaints from me, especially when it’s time to move it.
My other two setups are geared towards big rooms or outdoor festivals. I really look forward to gigs like that.
I guess it is excessive at this point but I have my SVT-CL and 810 in my home studio. I like to sit in front of it and hear it. I do not need volume, but I do enjoy the height of the speakers and the effortless power the amp provides. It's never going to be moved so why not? I do like the Sansamp for portability for those big front porch gigs.
Truthfully, I foresee my next all-tube setup residing in the jamming room in my basement. Mostly for self indulgence.
I recently bought a Class D Yamaha stereo power amp, which I’m putting in a rack with my Sansamp GED-2112 preamp. I’m running it into a pair of Mesa PH212s, and it sounds massive.
This setup was put together for a Classic Rock/Heavy Metal band that I’m in.
Reminds me of my mom's tale of walking to school when she as child. To which I responded: Yes Mom, up hill, against the wind, in a hurricane, both ways.
As mentioned previously, I have and have been using two SVT-CLs for many years, but sold my 810 when the gigs stopped, been using a 212AV or a pair of SVT 115 cabs. But we're starting to play out again, so might need another 810 ...Killer setups!!!
I most definitely regret selling my SLM-Era SVT2-Pro, SVT-CL, and my 810E cabinet. I sold them all roughly 20 years ago, but I still regret it.
I still have a lead sled Crest CA9 stereo power amp and a Demeter HBP-1 tube preamp racked. IMO it’s an incredible setup, it can get ungodly loud and stay clean, but it’s still not an all-tube setup.
I won’t complain about my current amp setups, IMO all three are absolutely killer, but none of them are all tube, and I so miss having an all tube amp/sealed speaker cabinet setup.
However, I am going to buy a new SVT-CL, and an 810E in the future.
Here’s a photo of my Demeter/Crest rig sitting on top of my Mesa PH610 cabinet. Those very slight volume settings were painfully loud in the small bedroom where my various setups reside in my house.
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