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Most versatile SVT???

slap5string

slap5string

Jul 19, 2010
373
3
Cleveland, Ohio
#1
Ok - I'm a GK guy - that'll never change, but recently I've come across a group of guys that play a wide variety of music and am in need another rig. I have owned an Ampeg
B2R in the past but need more "juice" than that one offers. My question is...which SVT amp and cab will give me the most versatility to go from funk, to classic rock, to reggae, to metal? and also...what is considered Ampeg's "flagship head/cab combination (not looking for a combo :))
 
#3
The classic is an all-tube Ampeg SVT Classic head on top of an Ampeg 8x10 fridge. That gets "classic Ampeg tone" and was probably used on the first of all the examples you mentioned, cuz it seems to be the first amp used for everything.

However if you don't want a 90 lb $1000+ head, you may want to look at the Ampeg SVT-Pro line, theres a whole bunch for varying needs (some all solid state, some tube pre-amp, some huge wattage, some not as much.)

If it were me I'd be shopping for an Ampeg SVT7 Pro and some beastly cabs that can move some serious power, I own a 3Pro right now and it could use some more juice but the tone is all there.
 
#5
For closest to the original Ampeg tone the SVT VR with their 810 cab is it. The Classic will allow you to get grind earlier and the SVT 7pro will come closer to both and is considerably lighter and cheaper.
I have played the new Fender Bassman 100T, nice amp but IMO not in the same ballpark as an all-tube SVT.
 
#6
Tim1 said:
For closest to the original Ampeg tone the SVT VR with their 810 cab is it. The Classic will allow you to get grind earlier and the SVT 7pro will come closer to both and is considerably lighter and cheaper.
I have played the new Fender Bassman 100T, nice amp but IMO not in the same ballpark as an all-tube SVT.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your input.

One question - where does the SVT 4pro rank among the list?
This is all tube as well, no? I looked on the Ampeg artist list and it appears most artist either use the 4-pro or the SVT-CL. What are the differences between the two?
 
#7
the 4 pro is a hybrid. Tubes the pre but big old solid state transformers in the power section. Different tone from either. The head that gets the closest to an all tube SVT tone was is the 7 pro which is why I own one. You can't really go wrong with any of the SVT pro series or any of the all tube stuff. If money was no object I would own the SVT-VR. It gets praise from the guys who have owned originals and it sounds just a little sweeter to my ears the an SVT-CL.
 
#10
My biased opinions below.......

I love my 71 svt and have brought it around to every big cab friend to try out with both my fender jazz deluxe (active) and lakland duck dunn (passive) before buying a few. I heard a difference in a newer SVT classic, but can't say that it was night and day with my blue. I'm no audiophile.

My favorite combination is with a Berg NV215, plenty of round warmth, low end thump, not really slow, and if you want to you can add the horn which I leave off. Second to that is the Berg nv610 which added some punch versus the 15's thump and with the horn can really get aggressive. I haven't tried the one with 12's and I still want to try an Aggie.

Nothing against the Ampeg fridge (only tried a newer 810), but it seemed only loud to me. I really didn't like it with an older Mesa 215 in a road case that I tried out as it seemed to quack and was again loud versus musical. My friend uses his old GK800RB with the Mesa and it sounds great. I didn't like modern Eden/SWR cabs, just not my sound. An old Hartke 215 was the most unique, and oddly enough kinda cool in a weird way but wouldn't suggest for being versatile.
 
#11
recently i required a SVT-VR and it really brings the bees knees, had I known how great it was I would have gotten one years ago. A downside is that with no master volume you can't get that wonderful amp overdrive sound at lower volumes. The amp shines at high volumes. I always play REALLY loud so its' not a problem for me. At lower volumes you'll get really wonderful clean tones. It might not be the versatility you're after, yet that lower volume clean tone is really nice too. it's a great base for any pedal you might want to play into it.


I've owned and played a SVT-5pro and a SVT-2pro which were also great amps, but they pale in comparison to the VR.
 
#12
Thanks for all the great info! If I am reading everyone correctly, it appears that the SVT-CL has more "grind" to it than the SVT-VR? Which would mean that it may suit the heavier stuff better? Robert Trujillo, Geezer Butler, etc... The SVT-VR would be more of the "classic", clean tone? The SVT-4pro and SVT-7pro with their SS power amps may be a bit more responsive to faster attack?
 
#18
An all tube SVT is the choice IMO; have used it with an 8x10, Berg HT322, EV TL606, and EV 2x15; sounded great with them all
Hated the 3 Pro I had in spite of tube rolling
The only other amp that sounds close is the Walkabout, have not tried the Streamliner though
 
#20
slap5string said:
Thanks for all the great info! If I am reading everyone correctly, it appears that the SVT-CL has more "grind" to it than the SVT-VR? Which would mean that it may suit the heavier stuff better? Robert Trujillo, Geezer Butler, etc... The SVT-VR would be more of the "classic", clean tone? The SVT-4pro and SVT-7pro with their SS power amps may be a bit more responsive to faster attack?
Click to expand...

As I said before the 7 pro is pretty darn close to sounding like its all-tube counterpart. The 4 pro not so much but it still sounds good. That faster quicker attack thing, I don't buy that. Whether I have played a tube head or solid state when I play a note on the bass I hear it right away. The 4 pro and 7 pro have different solid state power sections with the 7 pro being class D and the 4 pro being an "old fashioned" lead-sled with transformers. I wouldn't call the 4 pro quicker but different yes. We can only tell you so much about sound, you would really have to play them to see. If I could pick any it would be the VR or the CL for a close second.

For one idea of how the 7 Pro sounds:
The 7 pro is in the soundcloud in my sig with a 410hlf and a jazz with the neck pickup favored with dead flat wounds.
 

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