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Is it just me, or do Ampeg SVTs not do it for you?
- Thread starter thumpybumper
- Start date
- Status
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,638
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- John K Custom Basses
an SVT 4 Pro is a completely different animal than an SVT. i own both a GK 1001RBII and two SVT's and the GK is a great amp and i love it, but it definitely doesn't blow away my SVT's. IMO, its quite the contrary.
My SVT II Pro requires time to warm up. It also requires tubes that are in good working order and biased properly. Clean power and a quality speaker cable are big plusses. Yes, it's a beast and it requires maintenance but if all those bases are covered, it absolutely rocks when paired with my 810e or my 410Hen.
It's very likely that the Ampeg amps you tried were simply not maintained well, allowed to warm up, had old tubes, were not biased (if applicable) or...
Is Ampeg(model X) better/worse than [insert other amp name here]? Without question and unequivocally yes and no.
It's very likely that the Ampeg amps you tried were simply not maintained well, allowed to warm up, had old tubes, were not biased (if applicable) or...
Is Ampeg(model X) better/worse than [insert other amp name here]? Without question and unequivocally yes and no.
It all depends on WHO made the Ampeg you are playing IMO. Ampeg has had many owners, it is just a brand name not a god. Those that defend ANYTHING with a "Ampeg" name on it are the ones that need to grow up and maybe smell the coffee? Again just IMHO from using and being in MI repair for a lot of years? 
I bought a 80's Ford Mustang off a guy on CL a few weeks ago... When I took it out on the road the other day it was sputtering and missing. I saw another guy driving one and he was only going like 30 mph..... Is it just me or do everyone think that Mustangs are slow pieces of junk, or are the vintage one's really fast... personally I think that all mustangs suck
Well in this case it's the broad sweeping generalization based on one or two brief encounters and the subsequent disparaging/dismissal of all of them that is the qualifier for the OP to grow up.
I am no Ampeg zealot, but give me a break man.
I am no Ampeg zealot, but give me a break man.
I have never been into Jaco and i will never be, but this was totally unnecessary, what´s with making fun about dead people..? If you want to bash his legacy, that´s OK but this is kinda sad
I should be apologizing for the derail, but this is (IMO) one of those dead end threads anyway.
WOW we have a Fender's suck and Ampeg suck threads going on at the same time! I have never owned a Ampeg and may never will. But I would NEVER say they suck.
Which is why I point out that "Ampeg" is not the original Ampeg, it is a name that has been bought and sold many times. To defend or condemn all "Ampeg" requires anyone to wake up a little?
All the "Ampeg" I owned was pre MTI and wonderful stuff. The last to leave the stable was my V4-B and with tears it was packed to survive a bomb blast!
All the "Ampeg" I owned was pre MTI and wonderful stuff. The last to leave the stable was my V4-B and with tears it was packed to survive a bomb blast!
It all depends on WHO made the Ampeg you are playing IMO. Ampeg has had many owners, it is just a brand name not a god. Those that defend ANYTHING with a "Ampeg" name on it are the ones that need to grow up and maybe smell the coffee? Again just IMHO from using and being in MI repair for a lot of years?
Andddd, that's why we're talking about the SVT line of Ampegs in this particular thread.
- Oct 7, 2000
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- Endorsing artist: Musicman basses
Oh boy. I never really wanted to say it here, but I have to say it now - I agree with the OP. Don't know if I'd use the word 'suck', but there is no way in hell I think SVTs are worth the money and the lugging around that people do.
I've played through lots of SVTs (even 70s ones, when they were new ), in studios and on stage and I've always had an incredibly rough time getting them to cut with a sound that I liked. Perfect example is right here . Although ya can't entirely hear it in the vid (the sound thankfully was also going through a board), trust me, that amp was distorting like crazy, and I had to keep the volume down considerably in comparison to the rest of the band. I enjoy the headroom I get with my gear, and the ability to get loud and tweak it however I want without having to struggle endlessly.
My guess is that SVTs have the same appeal as old Fenders. They have the 'vibe' that some people are looking for, and once they dial in the perfect tone there's no reason to turn back. Well, actually I can think of lots of reason, refridgerator similarities being one...
If they work for someone, I'm not going to argue it, they don't for me. I take my Bergantino NV 6X10 any day over an SVT.
I've played through lots of SVTs (even 70s ones, when they were new
), in studios and on stage and I've always had an incredibly rough time getting them to cut with a sound that I liked. Perfect example is right here . Although ya can't entirely hear it in the vid (the sound thankfully was also going through a board), trust me, that amp was distorting like crazy, and I had to keep the volume down considerably in comparison to the rest of the band. I enjoy the headroom I get with my gear, and the ability to get loud and tweak it however I want without having to struggle endlessly. My guess is that SVTs have the same appeal as old Fenders. They have the 'vibe' that some people are looking for, and once they dial in the perfect tone there's no reason to turn back. Well, actually I can think of lots of reason, refridgerator similarities being one...
If they work for someone, I'm not going to argue it, they don't for me. I take my Bergantino NV 6X10 any day over an SVT.
I have a similar story. I was taking a look at this sweet awesome top-of-the-line Sony Hi-Fi stereo system on test display at Wal-Mart last week. Some 12 year old kids were blasting the speakers and breaking all the switches, so I had to squeeze in between them to get a look at it. I tried a couple knobs and it sounded like the speakers were blown. The radio tuner was missing and the cd changer was trashed. I had pre-conceived notions that all Sony electronics are complete garbage before I even walked in...so of course I already knew it would be broken and beaten. Needless to say, it validated my unfounded notions. Does anyone else think all Sony electronics suck?
The original SVT, the Magnavox SVT, the MTI SVT, the SLM SVT, or LOUD Tech SVT, all tube or SS, maybe hybrid? SVT became a marketing badge also.
Be interesting to have all of the Ampeg haters list what they actually do like.
I personally like my SVT-CL for certain types of music, but like other amps as well.
This is a complete personal and purely subjective thing.... As an example, I will never play another Mesa (excluding the 400+) as long as I live. Nothing more than the fact that the tone does nothing for me. Not a bad amp, but just not for me.
Can't we all just get along?
I personally like my SVT-CL for certain types of music, but like other amps as well.
This is a complete personal and purely subjective thing.... As an example, I will never play another Mesa (excluding the 400+) as long as I live. Nothing more than the fact that the tone does nothing for me. Not a bad amp, but just not for me.
Can't we all just get along?
It had a clarity about it~ but I played it through two Yamaha cabinets with a G&L L2000 with fresh strings always~ that helped a lot.
Totally suck? Well. No.
Lots of people like them. Lots of people dislike them. /thread.
Seriously, in the past few months and years Ampeg have had problems with their factories + financial problems, and it seems like they have given a little less service and MAAAAYYYBBEEEE a little less "love" on the making of their amps. Many people (including myself) have had problems with their newer SVT's (bias, bad tubes, etc.) Still they have a wonderful reputation -and I believe a wonderful sound, but some people will surely disagree-. Ask yourself if an amp model that "TOTALLY SUCKS" would really have such a nice reputation...
As for the tone, well, if you dislike it, some people like it. (let me tell you a secret : that's why it exists.) And yeah, countless bass players choose Ampeg's SVTs because they totally suck.
Lots of people like them. Lots of people dislike them. /thread.
Seriously, in the past few months and years Ampeg have had problems with their factories + financial problems, and it seems like they have given a little less service and MAAAAYYYBBEEEE a little less "love" on the making of their amps. Many people (including myself) have had problems with their newer SVT's (bias, bad tubes, etc.) Still they have a wonderful reputation -and I believe a wonderful sound, but some people will surely disagree-. Ask yourself if an amp model that "TOTALLY SUCKS" would really have such a nice reputation...
As for the tone, well, if you dislike it, some people like it. (let me tell you a secret : that's why it exists.) And yeah, countless bass players choose Ampeg's SVTs because they totally suck.
The original SVT, the Magnavox SVT, the MTI SVT, the SLM SVT, or LOUD Tech SVT, all tube or SS, maybe hybrid? SVT became a marketing badge also.
You'll have to ask the OP to clarify. I was going to do that myself. Going off what he said, we all have to assume.
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