I tried a SVT

[GrapeBass]

As people have mentioned, GK amps have their own 'tone flavor' which is unique and quite different from the Amps tone. That's great! Cabs all have their own tonal personalities and Amps was lucky enough to have created the iconic 810 which marries well with their amps (surprise) GK extension cabs have always been quite good because of quality components (drivers) and their classic cab design (410, 115 etc.) helped them get accepted to be used with any head. The sealed vs ported cab design has been debated ad infinitum and (for me) comes down to what the player likes, what suits the need and expectation. I prefer sealed 10 cabs but do have a nice older GK 115 (ported) with a EVM driver that seriously kills.

Personally I do not like the GK 'sound' but do respect that they do their own thing and it does cut in the mix quite well. Their heads and combos have been revolutionary because they've always been small and easy to lug around. I give them credit for cutting their own path.

 

[sok monkee]

Ampeg 810 is a sealed design that works best with a big tube head (SVT) on a big stage as it was meant for. Very powerful flat punch through the mix tool to get your job done. Still the most popular backline rig in the industry. That said I sold my last two rigs more than 10 years ago. I don't have the desire or the back to attempt hauling one around lol. My drummer has his dads old 70's rig in his studio. A square back 810 sitting atop that dolly. I get all fuzzy feeling when I get to rehearse through it. Sure glad I can unplug and leave it sit there in its spot when I leave!

 

[Searay]

I started with Eden wt400 and 410 and then got an older 810. I did not care for the Eden head and Ampeg bottom. Then I got my SVT CL. I found it to be quicker, smoother, and more punchy than the solid state amp. Half an SVT is, well, half of an SVT.

 

[Wasnex]

Still the most popular backline rig in the industry.

In my experience SVTs, including vintage and CLs, are not that common. I rarely see them on stages or in music stores. I do see them in plenty of videos and also in concert footage. So it's clear they are respected and preferred by big name acts in certain genres. But I am not convinced they are the most popular rig for the entire industry.

 

[cornfarmer]

In my rehearsal space, there's a newish SVT Classic (tube) head and matching 8x10, owned by the space's owner/landlord. Next to that is my rig, an early 70's V4B with a shallow Peavey 2x15 cab that I rehabbed with new ports and two Faitals.

I've played both at loud volumes. The modern SVT rig sounds OK, but mine sounds more 'alive' for lack of a better word. The modern SVT sounds kind of dull, and two dimensional even with moderate/heavy handed EQ, moderate gain. The actual bass used (I've tried several) does not make much difference.

 

[tomich]

Having played one for eight years with endless numbers of heads, Ampeg 8x10 never sounded completely alive without a high-watt tube amp behind them. It never sounded bad, but it never sounded completely right until then.

 

[JimmyM]

In my rehearsal space, there's a newish SVT Classic (tube) head and matching 8x10, owned by the space's owner/landlord. Next to that is my rig, an early 70's V4B with a shallow Peavey 2x15 cab that I rehabbed with new ports and two Faitals.

I've played both at loud volumes. The modern SVT rig sounds OK, but mine sounds more 'alive' for lack of a better word. The modern SVT sounds kind of dull, and two dimensional even with moderate/heavy handed EQ, moderate gain. The actual bass used (I've tried several) does not make much difference.

Can't say that's been my experience. I have a Heritage SVT CL and a 69 SVT, and if I turn the master up all the way on the CL and use gain to control volume, it sounds identical to channel 1 normal on my 69. Now the V4B is a brighter head with knobs at noon than SVT's, so that may account for the sound difference, but as far as I'm concerned, new SVT's sound just like old ones.

 

[stevieg]

Ok not a whole SVT. Just a 810 classic. Ran my Gallien Krueger MB-800 fusion into it.

Now normally I run my GK through one of my GK 410's. And I love it.

But the drummer I jammed with last night has a studio and a few amps on hand there. He bought a SVT 810 classic last week and I invited me to use it.

I couldn't refuse him now could I.

I had a lot of hope that it would blow the roof off.

I was wrong.

Maybe it sounds better with an actual SVT head. But it just didn't sound good.

Volume wise it kept up against a 100 watt marshal half stack and a large loud drum rig. And punched through the pa.

But did not have the presence or boom my GK 410's have.

In fact. Just one of my 410's sound better than this "fridge".

And yes I eq'd my brains out. Had to back off the low end and push some mids. Contour and presence adjusted according to the room. Tried running pre amp hot and cold.

It shaped up but was, in the end, a disappointment.

I guess I'm just a GK guy.

I have an 8x10 SVT cabinet which I love. I am currently using a Peavey head which I do not love. I'm seriously thinking about a tube Ampeg SVT head. I'm just not sure that the (anticipated) tone improvement justifies the weight.

Actually I fiund myself using my SWR Super Redhead more and more often.

stevieg

 

[bassboysam]

Having played one for eight years with endless numbers of heads, Ampeg 8x10 never sounded completely alive without a high-watt tube amp behind them. It never sounded bad, but it never sounded completely right until then.

this is especially true with the dark SLM era cabs. you need to play at stupid loud volumes to get some definition and treble out of it, regardless of which amp you're using.

 

[JimmyM]

this is especially true with the dark SLM era cabs. you need to play at stupid loud volumes to get some definition and treble out of it, regardless of which amp you're using.

Ya, definitely. This could also be a culprit.

 

[BurningSkies]

Eh. There are plenty of others out there.

But probably important to realize that they can be loud and punchy but don't necessarily go terribly deep. If you're looking for a cab that's pushing down in the super low range, this isn't it. They are very usable on stage though and I like that you pretty much know what you're getting sight unseen.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

Played through my SVT at practice last night. Love it.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Every SVT combo has sounded dull and woofy to me. The exceptions have been Mike Starr (Alice in Chains, "Facelift" album), and Rex Brown (Pantera, "Far Beyond Driven" album).

Every SVT combo has sounded dull and woofy to me. The exceptions have been Mike Starr (Alice in Chains, "Facelift" album), and Rex Brown (Pantera, "Far Beyond Driven" album).

Spector basses typically cut like a razor.

 

[JGbassman]

I love tone sculpting, and for that reason I have many different rigs I play live and record with.

I can understand not everyone liking the SVT, it's very distinct, but not everyone's cup of tea. I have an older (78) cab made of plywood, and it just kills. I've ran a MB 800 on it, where it was so punchy it would about knock me over. My CL head smooths out the sound and adds some tube goodness in there, but the cab is definitely a mid ranged cab that is tight and punchy. What I've always loved is the presumed amount of headroom and depth it feels like it has. My heritage HLF cab is super deep, but just doesn't have that huge sound the 810 does.

I also have GK 212 and 410 cabs, where they both sound great with a definite midrange edge. Regardless of what amp I run, those GK cabs have a certain voice.

So, what I've found is certain basses sound better tailored to amp systems than others. For instance, I prefer a naturally mid scooped bass, such as a jazz through the GK. In fact, my 2011 jazz v just kills through those. I absolutely love the tone.

For a nice fat country or blues sound, my active five string never sounded better than through the Heritage HLF. A deepness to the low B that doesn't sound like its out of headroom.

Moving on to the SVT 810, it's made for a p bass and my Spectors. It tightens up the five string Spector and relays the mid growl I love it for. The CL head makes it sound exactly how I want it. And my p basses, flats or rounds, they are just made for each other. It's a one-two punch that would leave Muhammad Ali jealous.

I will say the particle board 810 cabs to have a darker sound, and the new 810e cabs are huge sounding.

Regardless, some basses sound better with some cabs, simple as that. Of course this is based on my personal findings and highly subjective to what your ears tell you. Music and sound from our basses is a sum of parts, so is the amp, cab, and effects. Everything can change the sound based on its parts.

 

[DanGR]

Ok not a whole SVT. Just a 810 classic. Ran my Gallien Krueger MB-800 fusion into it.

Now normally I run my GK through one of my GK 410's. And I love it.

But the drummer I jammed with last night has a studio and a few amps on hand there. He bought a SVT 810 classic last week and I invited me to use it.

I couldn't refuse him now could I.

I had a lot of hope that it would blow the roof off.

I was wrong.

Maybe it sounds better with an actual SVT head. But it just didn't sound good.

Volume wise it kept up against a 100 watt marshal half stack and a large loud drum rig. And punched through the pa.

But did not have the presence or boom my GK 410's have.

In fact. Just one of my 410's sound better than this "fridge".

And yes I eq'd my brains out. Had to back off the low end and push some mids. Contour and presence adjusted according to the room. Tried running pre amp hot and cold.

It shaped up but was, in the end, a disappointment.

I guess I'm just a GK guy.

I too just don't get the fascination with the fridge. There again, I'm more of a full spectrum tone kind of guy. I guess if you play in a 6-8 piece band and only need to fill the sonic territory of the low end, it's great. I tried out a SWR 810 once and it's the bees knees compared to the Ampeg with it's full spectrum of tone. IMO

 

[bobyoung53]

Ok not a whole SVT. Just a 810 classic. Ran my Gallien Krueger MB-800 fusion into it.

Now normally I run my GK through one of my GK 410's. And I love it.

But the drummer I jammed with last night has a studio and a few amps on hand there. He bought a SVT 810 classic last week and I invited me to use it.

I couldn't refuse him now could I.

I had a lot of hope that it would blow the roof off.

I was wrong.

Maybe it sounds better with an actual SVT head. But it just didn't sound good.

Volume wise it kept up against a 100 watt marshal half stack and a large loud drum rig. And punched through the pa.

But did not have the presence or boom my GK 410's have.

In fact. Just one of my 410's sound better than this "fridge".

And yes I eq'd my brains out. Had to back off the low end and push some mids. Contour and presence adjusted according to the room. Tried running pre amp hot and cold.

It shaped up but was, in the end, a disappointment.

I guess I'm just a GK guy.

SVT cabs are not low end heavy, when I switched years ago from using Sunn 2000S double 15 cabs I had quite an adjustment period, kept trying to get all that low end out of the cabs and it just sounded muddy (these were the 240 watt early cabs) so finally realized I should try a more even tone from bottom to top, I love them now, been over 40 years now. I do have a ported 410 Ampeg cab I use on occasion but still love the 8x 10's. Punch all day and night. I still use 70's cabs and they are great sounding, have a very good top end and as somebody else wrote they are not all the same. Oh I do use SVT heads and think tube heads sound good through them, also use an old Fender Dual Showman which also sounds really good. When I've used SS heads through them, they've sounded kind of dry.

 

[da old guy]

If you are not using the 300 Watt all-tube SVT head you are kindah missing the whole point.

 

[Ian Lewis]

Ok not a whole SVT. Just a 810 classic. Ran my Gallien Krueger MB-800 fusion into it.

Now normally I run my GK through one of my GK 410's. And I love it.

But the drummer I jammed with last night has a studio and a few amps on hand there. He bought a SVT 810 classic last week and I invited me to use it.

I couldn't refuse him now could I.

I had a lot of hope that it would blow the roof off.

I was wrong.

Maybe it sounds better with an actual SVT head. But it just didn't sound good.

Volume wise it kept up against a 100 watt marshal half stack and a large loud drum rig. And punched through the pa.

But did not have the presence or boom my GK 410's have.

In fact. Just one of my 410's sound better than this "fridge".

And yes I eq'd my brains out. Had to back off the low end and push some mids. Contour and presence adjusted according to the room. Tried running pre amp hot and cold.

It shaped up but was, in the end, a disappointment.

I guess I'm just a GK guy.

From what I've heard, Ampegs have a sound all their own. Full, but lacking highs. Not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[pht2356]

It's perfectly okay to like the GK tone better...apparently Bob Gallien thought it was a nice option when he deigned his gear - and he grew up in the era when the SVT/810's were a benchmark tone. I always thought the Ampeg SVT and 810 had a lot of punch, round well-defined notes, and strong low end, but never a deep low, ported cab vibe.

IMHO both the Ampeg and GK sounds are kind of classics in their own right with clear appeal to players of differing tone goals. As always, YMMV!

If i had to choose ampeg or gk, i would make the obvious choice;both.

 

[JimmyM]

From what I've heard, Ampegs have a sound all their own. Full, but lacking highs. Not everyone's cup of tea.

I don't know where this "lacking highs" thing ever came from, but it's not at all accurate. There are some cabs they make that don't have tweeters, but they also make plenty that do. And all the heads have plenty of available highs.