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Is it just me, or do Ampeg SVTs not do it for you?

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#24
I own an Ampeg SVT-VR and IMO, the VR's kick the CL's a$$es. When I was first exploring Ampegs, all I had to try were CL's at Guitar Center. If you didn't like the CL, go try a VR because that's what a real SVT is.
 
#28
I think the OP is not fully experienced with the true sound of a real, vintage SVT. I personally do not like them: They are heavy, overpriced and not too versitile with other cabinets. It is very easy, if you spend a few bucks and do some reseach, to get a balls out tone from the right combination of pedals, solid state heads and cabs. The classic SVT though, IS what most bassists want to achieve with their tone but can't because of the limits of their gear. I would take my rig and pedal board over an SVT for everyday use anytime. Now if I had cartage, and didn't have to lug around that monstrosity around with my own two hands, sure, why not? The tone is the "holy grail" and unless one experiences it the right way it's easy to be turned off by it. It is by no means the end all though, and much more versatility and portability and tone can be had for less.
 
#33
I've played several and I have loved them, however I saw a guy live over the weekend with a svt-4 and ampeg 810, he sounded very blah, you could see the clipping light going insane and he wasn't loud at all. Truth is, if you don't know how to use the gear, you won't sound good even if you have 4000 dollars worth of gear with all the bells and whistles. I'm not trying to go on a rant here, but there's a lot of Bashing on TB that in my opinion is unwarranted. (90% of which is from people who never actually tried any of what they're bashing, I'm not saying you did that in this case tho). Look, the SVT line is loved by many on TB, hated by many on TB, and the honest to god truth is, not everything is for everyone, if you don't like it, move on. I don't see why people feel obligated to start these kind of threads, you could just as easily offer your advice to the next "what do you guys think of this head cause I want to buy it" thread. I've seen guys with everything from 15watt combos to 2 810 ampegs with SVTs and everything inbetween get absolutely astonishing tone, and I've seen people with the same set ups get upsettingly bad tone. It all comes down to the player, the ear, and what YOU like, no need to hate on someone elses idea of a good time.
 
#34
I used to feel I was the only Bassist on the planet that didn't think Ampeg were utterly fantastic.

They're certainly not awful, and I'm happy enough to use one which is a good thing 'coz they're pretty well ubiquitous as provided backline at festivals, but they just don't induce a feeling of reduced pants room.
 
#35
It takes a real man to tame the thumping bellowing beast that is the all tube ampeg SVT of old, the very definition and tone cripples the lesser mortals that would wallow and struggle in the mud like tarts at an 80's strip joint.
Has anybody mentioned how they seem to result in less blisters, must be that natural compression and upper mid punch somehow.
There is usually enough boom available anywhere to feel comfy. I don't own one anymore as I use two slightly smaller tube heads now, but I would not be unhappy about doing a gig with one again.:bassist:
PS Played a mark bass 4 x 10 rig in rehearsal the other day with a sans amp, It felt a bit odd to me and I could hear the cabinet blended with the sound of the speakers in it in an odd way maybe they just need some more batting, it sounded kind of hollow. But way better than most micro amp rigs I have had pass through the studio recently. There have been quite a few Ashdowns and the odd trusty old tranny Trace Elliot and of course the ubiquitous Peavey's.
But when Dave Pybus manhandles the old SVT in, there is a richness and troatyness not there in the other amps.:ninja:
 
#36
I had a friend that let me practice with his 8x10 svt for a few times and there wasn't really anything about it that blew me away. I for sure wouldn't say it was a bad amp, ampegs are still great amps, but there's just something about ashdown amps that does it for me. :)
 
#37
I bought my first real bass amp in 1981 at age 15~ I played through a wall of different Ampeg set ups and didn't like any of them. There was a lone Sunn Coliseum 300 in the corner~ I plugged into that & it sounded like a grand piano on steroids. I guess I liked hi fi tone at a young age~
 
#38
thumpybumper said:
I bought a bass off a guy on CL a while ago, and checked it out in a Guitar Center to see if it was worth buying. Plugged it into a number of amps and the Ampegs they had sounded utterly anemic through the 8x10. The cheapie new Acoustics sounded way better, but still nothing like my good old Acoustic 450s with a pair of 15s.

Then I went to a small concert (outdoors, granted) where the bassist was playing with an Ampeg SVT and 810...and it was weak weak weak! I could hear it, I guess, but I couldn't feel a damn thing!

Is this only the case with newer Ampeg units, or are the vintage ones just as lame?
Click to expand...

You are either off your medication or you are really really really high!
 
#39
Mike Shevlin said:
I bought my first real bass amp in 1981 at age 15~ I played through a wall of different Ampeg set ups and didn't like any of them. There was a lone Sunn Coliseum 300 in the corner~ I plugged into that & it sounded like a grand piano on steroids. I guess I liked hi fi tone at a young age~
Click to expand...

that's a new one for me. the three solid state Sunn Coliseums that i've owned (two of them years ago, and one recently) were about as far from 'hi-fi' as any amp i've ever played thru. they were all midrange and had no low end at all. now a Sunn 2000S, is a different story. they're one of my favorite amps of all time.
 
#40
Big Mike Ipp said:
I've played several and I have loved them, however I saw a guy live over the weekend with a svt-4 and ampeg 810, he sounded very blah, you could see the clipping light going insane and he wasn't loud at all. Truth is, if you don't know how to use the gear, you won't sound good even if you have 4000 dollars worth of gear with all the bells and whistles. I'm not trying to go on a rant here, but there's a lot of Bashing on TB that in my opinion is unwarranted. (90% of which is from people who never actually tried any of what they're bashing, I'm not saying you did that in this case tho). Look, the SVT line is loved by many on TB, hated by many on TB, and the honest to god truth is, not everything is for everyone, if you don't like it, move on. I don't see why people feel obligated to start these kind of threads, you could just as easily offer your advice to the next "what do you guys think of this head cause I want to buy it" thread. I've seen guys with everything from 15watt combos to 2 810 ampegs with SVTs and everything inbetween get absolutely astonishing tone, and I've seen people with the same set ups get upsettingly bad tone. It all comes down to the player, the ear, and what YOU like, no need to hate on someone elses idea of a good time.
Click to expand...

I agree. This about covers gear discussions.

Now let me move over to the bass section and find the guy who says "Why do Fenders suck?"

Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean it isn't any good.
 
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