NAD! SVT7 Pro (also comparing it to my Streamliner 900)

[smeet]

Another convert. Mine showed up- after rehearsing it for four hours I'm totally sold. For the tone I'm after there is no comparison with the GB Streamliner. To me and my ear it is more present, more articulate, while being as warm if not warmer than the SL. Huge low end on it as well (actually was cutting lows similar to the SL, although not for the same reasons). Everyone in the band loved it which is important to me as well. Very versatile as well- the compression is very subtle and usable- I only put it on a smidge but it does the job while not sounding funky. Played reggae, classic country, rock, blues, boogie woogie, and funk through it in one night and never really spun a dial other than rolling on and off on my P bass.

I don't know how to describe the difference between these two amp- my instinct is to say that the SVT 7 sounds like the real deal while the Streamliner sounds like it's trying to be the real deal. Sounds goofy even writing that but that's my take. Much more musical, present without sound brittle or too clean, and very warm. The gain stage is super usable as well and while I don't think it gets nearly as gnarly as the SL can I think it's perfect for dialing in a little 70's tube driven warmth.

I may change my opinion over the next months worth of gigs and rehearsals but so far this thing makes me feel like I've found home again.

John- thanks for the push- so happy I trusted your post!

Wow, that is quite a ringing endorsement. Especially compared to the amazing Streamliner. I can't wait to get one of these.

And please keep us all informed about your experiences with cutting out in high-volume situations.

 

[johnk_10]

Another convert. Mine showed up- after rehearsing it for four hours I'm totally sold. For the tone I'm after there is no comparison with the GB Streamliner. To me and my ear it is more present, more articulate, while being as warm if not warmer than the SL. Huge low end on it as well (actually was cutting lows similar to the SL, although not for the same reasons). Everyone in the band loved it which is important to me as well. Very versatile as well- the compression is very subtle and usable- I only put it on a smidge but it does the job while not sounding funky. Played reggae, classic country, rock, blues, boogie woogie, and funk through it in one night and never really spun a dial other than rolling on and off on my P bass.

I don't know how to describe the difference between these two amp- my instinct is to say that the SVT 7 sounds like the real deal while the Streamliner sounds like it's trying to be the real deal. Sounds goofy even writing that but that's my take. Much more musical, present without sound brittle or too clean, and very warm. The gain stage is super usable as well and while I don't think it gets nearly as gnarly as the SL can I think it's perfect for dialing in a little 70's tube driven warmth.

I may change my opinion over the next months worth of gigs and rehearsals but so far this thing makes me feel like I've found home again.

John- thanks for the push- so happy I trusted your post!

of course you can trust me!

you're also describing exactly my take on the two amps. i'm glad to hear that yourself got a 7Pro and that you're pleased with it. IMO, every once in a blue moon a company comes out with an amp that has everything that i want, and just as importantly, has nothing that i don't want, and for me the 7Pro is it. i think that ampeg really hit a home run with this amp.

 

[Boomer777]

I would say your regrets would be at a minimum. The 610HLF is voiced with a bigger low end than what dudes like those you named off were using in their heydays, but it's not crazy low end like the 410HLF, just a little extra warmth. My favorite Ampeg cabs are voiced more like the 810e and 410he with more of a rolled off low end, but I also have a couple of PF115he's that have a low end similar to the 610HLF, and I enjoy using them for a change of pace sometimes.

Since the open B rings at approximately 30 Hz or so ---- what is to be said of the 610 HLF where in the specs it states the following:
Frequency Response (-3dB): 53Hz-18kHz
Usable Low Frequency (-10dB): 42Hz

Can u pls translate?

Also IYO where does the Berg 610 fall as far as FR & ULF - Is it capable of thunder down under?

 

[Lazarus.Bird]

Listen to my clip if you want to hear the berg with the 7 pro. That's the reason I put it there

 

[BullHorn]

I mentioned my fear to a friend and he just said 'Why get Made-in-China might-cut-out Ampeg when you can get a Bugera BVV3000 for half the price'.

How do I answer than. :|

This guy is like DiCaprio in Inception, now I'm looking at Eden heads.......

 

[R Baer]

Nice clips John. I'm guessing the Ampeg has a much flatter "flat" tone.

 

[kringle77]

Lazarus, thats a pretty serious fuzz tone you have going on there. That's the bluebeard?

 

[Lazarus.Bird]

Yes it is! Amazing pedal. I forgot to make a mental note of how I had the amp set at practice but I believe I had the gain on the 7 Pro set to 11:00 or so? The gain in the amp worked great with the Bluebeard. Some amps get too mid heavy regardless of how EQ'd but I felt the 7 pro gave me a very good balance of fuzz and full massive tone.

 

[johnk_10]

Nice clips John. I'm guessing the Ampeg has a much flatter "flat" tone.

Thanks Rodger. it most certainly does.

one of the other major reasons that i really like the 7Pro over many other heads (including the streamliner and SVT VR) is that with the effects 'blend' control, you can patch an effect into the loop and blend it into the dry signal. there are starting to be alot of heads with this feature.

here's a quick clip that i just made using my jazzmaster bass (since it has a mute system on it) with a tech 21 red ripper just slightly blended into the dry signal. you'll notice that the red ripper gives it almost a bass synth tone.

jazzmaster bass/muted/SVT7pro/red ripper/3015 cab/alesis drum machine direct/ recorded with my zoom H4n.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[JimmyM]

Since the open B rings at approximately 30 Hz or so ---- what is to be said of the 610 HLF where in the specs it states the following:
Frequency Response (-3dB): 53Hz-18kHz
Usable Low Frequency (-10dB): 42Hz

Can u pls translate?

Also IYO where does the Berg 610 fall as far as FR & ULF - Is it capable of thunder down under?

Those are questions only you can answer. I've never had a problem using a 5 with an 810e, which doesn't go as low as the 610hlf, and the Berg has a similar response to the 810e. It's not necessary for the speaker to be able to produce a strong fundamental on those low notes since the energy from a 5-string's low notes comes way more from the second harmonic at 62hz, rather than the 31hz fundamental. But some do like having that low response. The 610hlf should be plenty enough low for most IMHO.

 

[johnk_10]

Since the open B rings at approximately 30 Hz or so ---- what is to be said of the 610 HLF where in the specs it states the following:
Frequency Response (-3dB): 53Hz-18kHz
Usable Low Frequency (-10dB): 42Hz

Can u pls translate?

Also IYO where does the Berg 610 fall as far as FR & ULF - Is it capable of thunder down under?

like Jimmy just said, and IME, there isn't a bass cab made that goes down to 30hz flat, and even if there was, it would take gobs of power to reproduce it. IMO, even a sealed SVT 810 cab sounds great with a low B (the berg NV610 and SVT610HLF wiil too) since it's the first harmonic, and not the fundamental, that you're really hearing on a low B.

 

[Boomer777]

Those are questions only you can answer. I've never had a problem using a 5 with an 810e, which doesn't go as low as the 610hlf, and the Berg has a similar response to the 810e. It's not necessary for the speaker to be able to produce a strong fundamental on those low notes since the energy from a 5-string's low notes comes way more from the second harmonic at 62hz, rather than the 31hz fundamental. But some do like having that low response. The 610hlf should be plenty enough low for most IMHO.

DBs and hz - I interpreted the Usable Low Frequency (-10dB): 42Hz as a deal breaker (the way I read this) the 610 HLF does not have the capability to properly absorb and reproduce 30hz

 

[johnk_10]

DBs and hz - I interpreted the Usable Low Frequency (-10dB): 42Hz as a deal breaker (the way I read this) the 610 HLF does not have the capability to properly absorb and reproduce 30hz

just an FYI, no cab does, and personally i really wouldn't want one that could.
-10 @ 42Hz actually makes for a pretty bassy cabinet, and the 410HLF is even boomier.
IMO, you really have to use your ears and not go by the specs on these cabinets.

 

[12bass]

... I'm guessing the Ampeg has a much flatter "flat" tone.

i still do like my streamliner but it has definitely taken a back seat to my 7 pro. so much so that i may even end up selling it.

I'm still left wondering if people wouldn't prefer the Streamliner if it were EQed somewhat flatter like the 7PRO. From the various clips, I hear what sounds like a very nice tonality from the Streamliner, but one which is too drastically EQed out of the box. I think I might actually prefer its tone to the 7PRO if Genz Benz just made the nominal EQ flatter.

 

[johnk_10]

I'm still left wondering if people wouldn't prefer the Streamliner if it were EQed somewhat flatter like the 7PRO. From the various clips, I hear what sounds like a very nice tonality from the Streamliner, but one which is too drastically EQed out of the box. I think I might actually prefer its tone to the 7PRO if Genz Benz just made the nominal EQ flatter.

IMO, then it would be a completely different amp, but i agree. that said, it worked extremely well for me at my last gig when i boosted 600Hz to 2:00, ran the treble at 1:30,and cut the bass tp 11:00.

 

[johnk_10]

I'm still left wondering if people wouldn't prefer the Streamliner if it were EQed somewhat flatter like the 7PRO. From the various clips, I hear what sounds like a very nice tonality from the Streamliner, but one which is too drastically EQed out of the box. I think I might actually prefer its tone to the 7PRO if Genz Benz just made the nominal EQ flatter.

remember, you can always run a parametric in the loop to 're-voice' it. and doing that still retains it's girth and balls.

 

[12bass]

remember, you can always run a parametric in the loop to 're-voice' it. and doing that still retains it's girth and balls.

Yes, that's possible... but too much messing around, IMO. Plus, I generally prefer not to make the signal path any more complicated than necessary. Although I'm not against twisting knobs, I think that a relatively neutral starting point is a good idea in amp design (the Baer amp certainly piques my interest). Still, there is something cool about the Streamliner tone that I don't hear in the 7PRO clips.

 

[kringle77]

John, I love the zipper clip!

 

[Vanni]

From the mids on up, the PF-500 sounds a lot like the 7Pro. But the 7Pro is noticeably more full and meaty down low, and a bit more warm and smooth. The PF-500 is a tad brighter, and has a bit more hiss when you crank it up. It also seems to have a bit more grit/grind at the same Gain/Master settings (at least at the lower settings on both).

guys, how does it compare in tone the svt7pro, with the SVT3pro and the SVT4pro?

 

[BullHorn]

So I just got back from the store where I played the SVT-CL, SVT3PRO, SVT4PRO and SVT7PRO.

Obviously the CL and 7PRO sounded amazing. I didn't explore the 3 and 4 deeply, a parametric EQ is nice but flat out they both sounded bad - I didn't feel like twisting and turning all those knobs.

I love the way the 7PRO sounded, I played it through a SVT410HLF cab just to get the taste of how it sounds through a medium-sized cab (610 and 810 are way too heavy for me).

It blew me away.

Now only time will tell if I got a broken one or a good one. It's Rev C00, fingers crossed...

Obligatory pic or no amp pic:

Yeah, now I have to find a buyer for my 210 MarkBass combo...