Mesa Boogie 400+ or SVT-4PRO ?

[Lesfunk]

Boogie all the way.
However Ampeg makes a great product...

 

[Lesfunk]

For Me To POOP ON!

 

[RickenBoogie]

If it were a 6Pro, it would be a more difficult choice, but it isn't, so 400+ all the way.

 

[lorenk]

I have to say...a few of my "bass hero's" play the 4pro, so I would love to try it out, but I do love my 400+.

And, as someone mentioned on the first page (Ncognito I think?) a lot of touring bands use the 4pro.

And I would like to suggest this: Get both.

 

[basspro]

Take your 400+ and your bass to the local music store that carries Ampeg, and try them side by side with the same or very simiular cab your using, and then decide for yourself.

I use either my 5pro or BB750,the 400+ is a great head as well.

 

[Timmay on bass]

I own both, and I prefer the tone of the Mesa, especially for rock, and the Ampeg weighs almost as much. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking of selling the Ampeg, because I can get the same tone out of a much lighter head.

 

[strke-fender]

Paul McCartney uses a Mesa... and he's a Beatle.

seriously???

 

[Gearhead17]

Take your 400+ and your bass to the local music store that carries Ampeg, and try them side by side with the same or very simiular cab your using, and then decide for yourself.

+10 Definitely try them out. Both will do a good job for you.

I recently sold my 400+ and bought two 4 PROs (one for backup). The Mesa has that unmistakable tube growl, but I never felt like it had much headroom for the low end especially on my 5th string. I could make the head distort beyond what it could do a little too often. The 4 PRO has that thick/round Ampeg tone that finger style playing really excels at. It also has a good growl with a pick and a good bass. I don't miss the tube growl with the 4 PRO. I also have way more headroom for my tone overall with the 4 PRO, I am not going back to tube power sections any time soon because of that.

 

[Synplicity]

Get a 2Pro.

 

[tonester]

two different heads and two different sounds,all tube against half tube.i
like both amps for which the other one cant due

 

[whoatherechunk]

no reason to compare. two completely different beasts. depends on your application and quest for desired tone.

 

[coreyfyfe]

I recently sold my 400+ and bought two 4 PROs (one for backup). The Mesa has that unmistakable tube growl, but I never felt like it had much headroom for the low end especially on my 5th string. I could make the head distort beyond what it could do a little too often. The 4 PRO has that thick/round Ampeg tone that finger style playing really excels at. It also has a good growl with a pick and a good bass. I don't miss the tube growl with the 4 PRO. I also have way more headroom for my tone overall with the 4 PRO, I am not going back to tube power sections any time soon because of that.

I will step in here to disagree. I'm not particularly a fan of the 400+, I've always been an ampeg king of guy, but IMO, the 4 pro is NOT ampeg tone. I've been using one for the past month with a cover band I was filling in for (belonged to their regular bass player), and I did not like the tone. I play passive basses finger style, and in this setting I used my 78 fretless p, 78 jazz, and a DJ5, and my V4/8x10 set up absolutely killed the 4-pro/8x10 set up this guy had. If you like tube tone, the 4-pro is not the way to go IMO.

 

[Gearhead17]

I will step in here to disagree. I'm not particularly a fan of the 400+, I've always been an ampeg king of guy, but IMO, the 4 pro is NOT ampeg tone. I've been using one for the past month with a cover band I was filling in for (belonged to their regular bass player), and I did not like the tone. I play passive basses finger style, and in this setting I used my 78 fretless p, 78 jazz, and a DJ5, and my V4/8x10 set up absolutely killed the 4-pro/8x10 set up this guy had. If you like tube tone, the 4-pro is not the way to go IMO.

I guess I prefer the round/warm punch of the 4 PRO over the Mesa's tube growl. Then again, I used the Mesa 400+ with two Eden 410xlt's - it might not have been the best combination. I also do not like the SVT CL's or the 2 PRO because both of them have that lack of headroom for my 5th string. Then again, it's all in my head! Tube growl is non-existent on the 4 PRO.

 

[Krügmeister]

Get a 2Pro.

X100

 

[WalWarrior]

I use both. I have a Mesa shock mount rack, at the bottom of the rack is the 400+, seperating that from the Ampeg SVT 4 pro is a 2U space rack fan to pull air through. On top of the Ampeg is a 2U space 31 band EQ, on top of that is a 1U Alembic F-1X preamp, on top of that is a 1U single rack space split left side Shure Bass guitar wireless unit, right side Shure PSM 600 In ear monitors, on top of that is a 1 U Korg tuner, and on the very top space is a Furman AR1215 power conditioner. I utilize two Mesa Road Ready cabinets, a 2X15 and a 1516B. The Mesa powers the 1516, and the Ampeg powers the 2X15. Some nights at bigger venues, I'll bring along two extra Eden 4X10 cabs, and use the Ampeg to power those while the 400 + powers the Mesa Cabs. I wanted to get Paul McCartney's live rig setup, but instead of utilizing twin 400+'s, I Use the Ampeg SVT 4 Pro.

Both Amps Kick ass! Good luck!

 

[chasegriff]

I'd go with the Mesa. I hope you and your wallet have fun re-tubing that thing though.

 

[the humanity]

Mesa.

better quality and sound.

and put wheels on your cab, just roll the whole rig in. problem solved.

 

[Hotrod98Z]

I'm not a fan of the newer Mesa stuff, but the 400 slays. I definately prefer the ampeg cabs over the boogies, but as far as amps, i was never impressed with the ss/hybrid ampeg stuff, including the 4pro, imo go with the boogie.