Is the Ampeg SVT-CL really that bad?

[beans-on-toast]

I know you could get a dud, but this doesn't seem like an issue at all. Decades? C'mon son!

I kid you not. It does depend on the amp design and how it’s driven.

People will change tubes in a gigging amp as part of a regular maintenance program. Whether or not they need to. Some will install new tubes before going out on tour or into the studio. But people do tend to change tubes more often than they need to.

One thing that compares are the flats on my basses. I never change them unless I want to try something else for a few days. But then the old ones always go back on.

 

[basscapes]

Bass 11:00, treble 2:00, mids 3:00 at 800 hz, ultra switches off.

Thanks! Man, that sounds totally counter-intuitive to everything that my mind and soul would say is "flat". But hey, if it measures relatively flat, who am I to argue?

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks! Man, that sounds totally counter-intuitive to everything that my mind and soul would say is "flat". But hey, if it measures relatively flat, who am I to argue?

Well I didn't measure it...I compared it to the Marklass LMII I used to have which is flat with knobs at noon and the V4B I have now which is the same. But it's about as close as I could get.

 

[socialleper]

The only complaints I see are about weight. Beyond that people seem to love them.

 

[logdrum]

No

 

[basscapes]

Personally, the only bad rap an SVT-CL gets comes from my wife. She freaks out whenever I talk about buying one.

Me too! Especially when all of Sweetwater's "24 equal payments" for a CL comes out to about $75/month (or THREE payments if you use your own credit card)...

Damn this "buying a new house" thing!!!!

 

[Swiegand51]

I've owned (3) SVT CL's and I cant imagine not playing one as my main amp. I love it through almost any cab ive plugged it into. It takes pedals great. And, of course, it gets real loud. Why (3)? Well, I had a lot of issues with my LOUD made amp, which was my first. After a trouble free 12 months, it was constantly in the shop, and it was letting me down at the worst possible times. After several shops, numerous repairs, repeated re-tubings, there was even some custom work was done to shield a circuit or something (I cant recall the details, and it was over my head anyway). After finally getting it to run for about 6 months without issue, I sold it and bought a used St. Louis made model. That amp was perfect, and served me well for years until it was stolen. I replaced it instantly with another St. Louis made model and it has been my work horse for the last couple years, i assume it will be with me forever or until my daughter decides she wants to play bass Its actually apart on my kitchen table right now waiting for a replacement fan to arrive. The only thing i would consider replacing it with is a vintage CL or VR.

I know this post was years ago but what you described as all the issues you had with your LOUD made Ampeg is exactly what I had. I loved that amp but it had zero reliability so I had to eventually get it fixed one last time and sell it. This was my first Ampeg and tube amp and it really has turned me off to tube amps. I dumped so much money into it in two years. I’m sure this was just a bad seed but I used the same solid state for 20 years with no issues ,so maybe I’m spoiled. I will say, when it worked, it sounded incredible.

 

[Josh Pelican]

I liked my SVT-CL. Only reason I sold it was because I had an SVT-VR as well.

 

[Bassndrums73]

I can’t say enough about how much I love the sound of the SVT-CL. Here are mine.

 

[micguy]

The only complaints I see are about weight. Beyond that people seem to love them.

An SVT is a great amp for a rehearsal space. For gigging, no, but if I was in a band where other people moved our gear, then yes.