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Mesa/Boogie M-2000 rigs or Ampeg SVT-2 Pro rig?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Hugh Jazz, Sep 19, 2001.

Which rig?

  1. Option 1

    7 vote(s)
    38.9%

  2. Option 2

    5 vote(s)
    27.8%

  3. Option 3

    6 vote(s)
    33.3%
  1. Sep 19, 2001 #1
    Hugh Jazz

    Hugh Jazz Guest

    Sep 13, 2001
    Atlanta, GA
    Ok, I've been looking around, and I have some more amp options available:

    Option 1:
    Mesa/Boogie Basis M-2000
    Mesa 4x10
    Mesa 1x15
    Price: middle

    Option 2:
    Same as option 1, except there's a 2x10 instead of the 4x10.
    Price: lowest

    Option 3:
    Ampeg SVT-2 Pro
    Ampeg SVT 8x10
    Price: highest

    The price difference between each option is ~$300.

    Which one would be the best option, especially for a progressive bassist (style = mixture of metal, rock, jazz, blues, classical, mellow stuff...basically everything)?
     
  2. Sep 19, 2001 #2
    boogiebass

    boogiebass

    Aug 16, 2000
    The Mesa stuff will get you closer to a warmer "old school" sound while the Ampeg typically gives you a more edgy "modern" rock sound. Your decision should be based on your own needs and what kind of sound you're after. I greatly prefer Mesa Boogie gear over the current SLM Ampeg stuff but that's largely because of the sound I go after in my classic rock trio. Of course, I would get the 400+ instead of the M2000, too! Good luck with whatever you decide.
     
  3. Sep 19, 2001 #3
    Mad Subwoofer

    Mad Subwoofer Guest

    Aug 30, 2000
    Fairfield-Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
    Ampeg stuff is cool but i have had a wonderful 10 year relationship with all of my mesa gear. I have owned the 400+, the 2x10RR, 1x15RR, the diesel 2x15 and now have the M-2000. Mesa stuff is exceedingly reliable and their customer support is pretty great. Any company I can get (and keep..) on the horn with a minimum of hassle is worthy of my hard earned sheckles. The 400+ is probably a better amp than the M-2000 tone wise (easier to get a wicked tone from..."plug n' play) but the later is very flexible and a heck of alot lighter. Don't let the eventual re-tubing of your 400+ scare you off....you wouldn't have to do THAT for quite a while and when you do it's like having a brand new amp. I would go for the 2x10 option myself. It's damn heavey but they sound great with that 1x15! I had the 400+ and traded it in for the M-2000. it sounded fantastic, the best I've heard really. I just got tired of hauling around all that glass, kinda like a big TV set. The "simulstate" power amp on the Mesa is very cool..after your signal leaves which ever preamp you choose (SS or tube) the amp drives the mosfets with a 3rd driver tube. If you crank your preamps you can drive this tube a bit...a SS power section that kinda "breathes". Better than just the trendy tube pre-SS power amp thing. If you can keep yer "GAS" in check and don't have any rack stuff I'd say the 400+ over the SVT. With a bit o' tweakin' you can get a VERY punchy midrange from it. If you think you might expand into rack land...get the M-2000. It has all sorts of cool switching jacks on the back.
    That said...the new Mesa stuff looks a little sketchy to me. "Lighter" cabs might mean more "delicate." The roadready cabs of old are overbuilt and BUTT heavey, but they sound remarkably better than the Diesel series did, due to their non-resonant walls I'd say.
     
  4. Sep 19, 2001 #4
    Hugh Jazz

    Hugh Jazz Guest

    Sep 13, 2001
    Atlanta, GA
    Well the thing is, I would go for the 400+, except I'm getting a pretty good deal on the M-2000. I would love to have both, but hey, even one mesa is a dream come true for me (sad, isn't it?).

    I'm really not even considering the ampeg at all. I shouldn't have even included it in the poll/post.

    Which brings me to my true question: 4x10 or 2x10? I can get the 4x10 for ~$100-$150 more than the 2x10. I would think the 4x10 would be better because 4 speakers would provide a much fuller sound, and the added low end would be very nice. Right now I'm leaning pretty heavily towards the 4x10's.

    My desired tone is something like this: clear, distinct, treble-filled notes, with the boom to back them up.... Like the trebly pick sound combined with the lows of fingerpicking, and that added extra boom from the sub (I fingerpick by the way). So yeah...that should sort of describe what I'm looking for.

    Also, I got one quick (stupid) question: the 4x10 is rated 600 watts, as is the amp, whereas the 15" is rated about 300 or 400 watts (not sure on this one). Running the amp loud won't damage the cab will it? Because I'd much rather play through my amp and not go through the PA for smaller/mid sized gigs. I would go through the PA if i needed to do, but I prefer to use the rig like it was meant to!

    If anyone could shed some light on these questions, I'd appreciate it very very much.

    Thankee.

    EDIT: I forgot to mention that all the cabs are Diesels.
     
  5. Sep 20, 2001 #5
    Nino Valenti

    Nino Valenti Supporting Member Commercial User

    Feb 2, 2001
    Staten Island NYC
    Builder: Valenti Basses
    <img src="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1174383&a=8647027&p=50445750&Sequence=0&res=high">
    AMPEG ALL THE WAYYYYY!!!!!! I have the rig that tou're not considering any longer :( & I wouldn't trade it for anything!!!!

    As for not getting a warm sound out of an all tube Ampeg, I beleive you're mistaken this for a solid state or hybrid Ampeg amps. If it were any warmer, my clohes would be catching on fire. :p :)

    IMO Ampeg customer service is great. When I bought my SVT II PRO, it was when Sam Ash lost their dealership & they had it laying around for a while. It played fine @ Sam Ash, but when I brought it home it started to freak out. The next morning I went to work & called Ampeg (SLM) & told them my story. They sent me a new set of power tubes & I got them in less than a week!!!! It was all under warranty & they were FREE!!!! I sent the old ones back w/a copy of my receipt & that was that. I bought a new set of driver & pre-amp tubes, just to be on the safe side.

    I'm sure you'll be happy w/whatever you deceide.
    <a href="http://www.theoremnyc.cjb.net"><img width=385 height=70 src="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1174383&a=8647027&p=41535909&Sequence=0&res=high" border=0></a>
     
  6. Sep 21, 2001 #6
    Mad Subwoofer

    Mad Subwoofer Guest

    Aug 30, 2000
    Fairfield-Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
    Diesels don't sound as good as the roadready cabs so I really couldn't say. I'd go for the 2x10 over the 4x10 just because the Mesa 15's are very punchy and I really enjoyed the combo of my RR15 +RR2x10 together. If you are planning on using one cab alone maybe go with the 4x10. If always two cabs...then the 2x10. Just my preference really.
     
  7. Sep 21, 2001 #7
    Nightbass

    Nightbass

    May 1, 2001
    Seattle, WA
    Does the heavier armor on the RR cabs make an audible difference in sound? Other than that, I thought they had identical boxes and speakers.

    Nightbass
     
  8. Sep 21, 2001 #8
    Mad Subwoofer

    Mad Subwoofer Guest

    Aug 30, 2000
    Fairfield-Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
    Definitely. It has to do with wall stiffness and resonant points and the like. Cabs w/ bracing can get away with using lighter materials (ie:Acme.) The Road ready cabs sound so good because of the weight in my opinion. I own both Eden and Mesa RR and the Eden stuff just sounds a little more "spongey" and "delicate" to my ears. I owned a Mesa Diesel 2x15 which did not sound any where as good as my RR 1x15...same speakers and everything.
     
  9. Aug 20, 2002 #9
    monkeyfinger

    monkeyfinger Moderator Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Oct 29, 2001
    Warwick, Rhode Island, USA
    Tube fan here, so I say go with the SVT. I would suggest you look for a good used older SVT or a Mesa 400+. I am partial to the SVT, but they are both great amps.

    I find the SVT + 8x10 cab works very well in many situations, even quiter ones. I think this is because the 8x10 spreads the sound around better than just about anything else. This gives a very full sound, even at low volumes.
     
  10. Aug 21, 2002 #10
    Lackey

    Lackey Supporting Member

    May 10, 2002
    Los Angeles
    Boogiebass; don't you have the Mesa and Ampeg gear switched around for the tones?? To MY ear, the ampeg SVT Classic thru an SVT cab sounded waaay old school,, lotsa midrange,, gritty with a dark vibe.Back to back with a 400+ or Mpulse 600 thru a mesa 4x10,, the mesa's had a more "even" sound,, not nearly as much grit,, and more clarity and depth.
     
  11. Nov 7, 2002 #11
    Mad Subwoofer

    Mad Subwoofer Guest

    Aug 30, 2000
    Fairfield-Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
    Phew! This is an oldy-moldy but a goldy! What did you end up with Hugh Jazz? I don't remember. In retrospect, that tone you describe is definitely in the M-2000 an amp designed more for "percussive, full-range styles" according to Mesa them selves; that "tebly pick-tone" ina nutshell. For a deeper, and possibly smoother tone with a more useable "grind" I would say the newer M-Pulse 600 series; folks seem to have many good things to say about those vs. the M-2000. The 400+ is the best to my ears and an SVT II would be very cool but perhaps not as flexible.
    So..what was yer final verdict? I am actually looking to trade my M-2000 for an M-Pulse myself.
     
  12. Nov 7, 2002 #12
    boogiebass

    boogiebass

    Aug 16, 2000
    No, I don't. And I also don't think comparing a Classic through an 810 to a 400+ through a single 410 is particularly useful or revealing.

    And although they're basically the same amp, he did say 2 pro as opposed to Classic.
     
  13. Nov 7, 2002 #13
    Mad Subwoofer

    Mad Subwoofer Guest

    Aug 30, 2000
    Fairfield-Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
    Mesa heads and Ampeg cabs are one of those combinations that really "works" IMO. Most Mesa gear has a fairly wide freq. response that can really bring out the best in those 8x10's for example. My Mesa heads didn't always work with every type of cab I would say...my old Edens for example; bleah.
     
  14. Nov 7, 2002 #14
    Hugh Jazz

    Hugh Jazz Guest

    Sep 13, 2001
    Atlanta, GA
    Damn, this is an old one. I went with the Mesa and haven't looked back. It gives me everything I need. Tonight I played our first outdoor show, and I was more than loud enough with the output a bit past halfway (around 1:00) going through Diesel 4x10s and a 1x15. I didn't really notice the low end as much as I wanted to, but it was outside, and I was in a position where the bass frequencies didn't have time to develop fully.

    And man, these SR2000 strings freakin' rock. They're quite bright, but I adore what they do for the midrange. Makes my tone, especially the lower notes, really aggressive and throaty with my amp settings. They give me a Lot of the power and authority that I started to lose with the old, ****ty, dead strings.

    I'm loving the setup so far.

    Of course, I wouldn't mind if someone donated a high powered tube power amp and an extra set of 4x10 and 1x15 cabs. I'd group the 10s together on one side and the 15s on the other.

    Ohhhhh the power....
     
  15. Nov 8, 2002 #15
    Mad Subwoofer

    Mad Subwoofer Guest

    Aug 30, 2000
    Fairfield-Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
    Ha! I once ran my 400+ w/ my old Diesel 2x15 and RR2x10, RR1x15 all at once. Words fail....
    Those SR2000's are terrific i remember. I think I used to break them or something so I stopped but that was ages ago; could have been technique. Very throaty was what I noticed.
    I have started setting my master on full and using the tube gain knob for volume with my M-2000. It seemed to clean up my sound somewhat live. Apparently the new M-Pulse series are much deeper in tone. I have a difficult time dialing up a truly wide bottom with my M-2000..but we all know that story.