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Mesa prodigy/strategy vs. Ampeg SVT Cl

Your favorite amp

  • Total voters
    102
#41
I've never tried a Prodigy but I wanted an SVT until I A/B'd it against a Strategy. The SVT is a classic and instantly produced the sound we all grew up with, but in the end I preferred the more aggressive mids on the Strategy.

That said, I'd buy the Mesa because you like the Mesa sound. Hoping a Mesa will sound like an Ampeg is wishful thinking.
 
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#43
pfschim said:
JimmyM does not need to chime in on this topic for anyone to know what his views are regarding an SVT compared to anything, let alone a Mesa Strategy.
c'mon people ;)
Click to expand...

I was actually hoping Jimmy would ‘chime in’ to provide direct comparison information regarding the SVT and the V4B. So, respectfully, bullocks to ya.

Marc
 
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#46
_Some Dude said:
I've never tried a Prodigy but I wanted an SVT until I A/B'd it against a Strategy. The SVT is a classic and instantly produced the sound we all grew up with, but in the end I preferred the more aggressive mids on the Strategy.

That said, I'd buy the Mesa because you like the Mesa sound. Hoping a Mesa will sound like an Ampeg is wishful thinking.
Click to expand...

But tue strategy has almost the same weight AS an SVT?

Anyone else has experience with the strategy?
 
#49
Manticore said:
I see you're in Europe, and understand you're looking for a tube amp. You might want to try a HiWatt, which will be more readily available in Europe than the States. It won't be anything like a Mesa or an Ampeg, but you might just be surprised at how they sound...
Click to expand...

i thought about a english amp and Ended up with an orange or 120 from the 70ies + matamp 215.
The british Amps have a nice sweet tone, but when you push up the volume they get very harsh. Of course it has only 120 Watt but it is the Charakter of these amps.
When you have one with more Watts, they are super clean, like glockenglang, but I miss the little dirt which you get from an US amp.
Do you know what i mean?
 
#50
Rodrigues said:
i thought about a english amp and Ended up with an orange or 120 from the 70ies + matamp 215.
The british Amps have a nice sweet tone, but when you push up the volume they get very harsh. Of course it has only 120 Watt but it is the Charakter of these amps.
When you have one with more Watts, they are super clean, like glockenglang, but I miss the little dirt which you get from an US amp.
Do you know what i mean?
Click to expand...


A matamp gt200 with the MK1 tonestack. just as loud as my SVT. never harsh, i imagine the orange used el34 tubes, not ideal for thick warm bass.
 
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#52
I love the sound of a V4B but its not nearly as versatile as the 400+.
Granted, a 400+ is the last mesa amp I ever gigged with, so I can't compare it to the new ones - but as I recall, when paired with mesa cabinets it sounded magnificent in a lot of contexts: rock, blues, 'metal', funk, jazz-fusion and poppier stuff too...
 
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#53
mikewalker said:
I love the sound of a V4B but its not nearly as versatile as the 400+.
Granted, a 400+ is the last mesa amp I ever gigged with, so I can't compare it to the new ones - but as I recall, when paired with mesa cabinets it sounded magnificent in a lot of contexts: rock, blues, 'metal', funk, jazz-fusion and poppier stuff too...
Click to expand...

Sorry i forgot the 400+ in the poll. Noe it is available.
 
#54
I own several in the poll.. But for the main topic of the OP, I would pick the "Stradegy". It has way more options including a switch for 1/2 power etc.. It can do Modern to Vintage. Footswitch is a bonus too for toggling between mid tones and solo boost.. I'd still keep my Ampeg CL for straight up Ampeg tone when I want it but the Mesa Stradegy is my new goto Bass Head..:thumbsup:
 
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#55
markmck79 said:
I guess I will be the contrarian and say that I found it very easy to dial in a very Ampeg-ish tone on my Prodigy, once I understood how the tone stack works and interacts. Once you understand the stack then dialing in mid-boost is easy. Max the passive mid control, set the voicing to the flat setting and then dial back bass and treble down from "noon" to taste. Very simple.

The SVT is a one trick pony (admittedly a VERY good trick). But, the Prodigy is significantly more versatile than the SVT. Yes, it can sound hi-fi, if that is what you want, but it is also easy to coax output tube overdrive from the amp, especially with the variable power options.

If you only want an SVT tone, then get the SVT. If you want versatility (both tone, weight and power), then you can't go wrong with the Prodigy.
Click to expand...
No amp with an EQ is a one trick pony.
 
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#56
Rodrigues said:
What about the v4b does it sound like a SVT?
Some people said it is the same only with less power. Some other people said it different (less power in mids)
Click to expand...
The V4B is more aggressive in the mids, if anything.

Rodrigues said:
But tue strategy has almost the same weight AS an SVT?

Anyone else has experience with the strategy?
Click to expand...
The Strategy is about 22kg.

The SVT-CL is about 36kg.

Not really what I would call "almost the same weight."
 
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