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

#42
And John...gonna need clips with a tapewound Pbass, a Stingray, a Dingwall, something good for metal, some Arp 2600 in a Rock Steady style, a modern Jazz with a Sadowsky pre, all controls cranked, and could you make it sound like Geddy? Please hurry, I have a gig in a few hours :)
 
#43
dukeorock said:
And John...gonna need clips with a tapewound Pbass, a Stingray, a Dingwall, something good for metal, some Arp 2600 in a Rock Steady style, a modern Jazz with a Sadowsky pre, all controls cranked, and could you make it sound like Geddy? Please hurry, I have a gig in a few hours :)
Click to expand...

:eek::eek::eek:.....................:D
 
#44
i just did a little tube rolling comparing the stock JJ ECC83S to some of my NOS brit, holland and USA tubes, and i can tell you right now that the JJ is coming out of there. it's not that it's a bad sounding tube, but the others just open up the amp's clarity, tonal spectrum (soundstage) and dynamic response quite a bit more. to me, the JJ sounds a bit cloudy and lifeless by comparison.

below are the clips. the bass is my 7 3/4lb '59 RI P bass (alder body, maple neck, '62 AVRI pickup, daddario stainless rounds (well broken in), with the V/T up full. the 7Pro's tone control settings are all at 12:00 without the ultra hi or ultra lo switches engaged, recorded with a Zoom H4n about 8" off of the speaker (15PR400).

Stock JJ ECC83S

Amperex Bugle Boy

Mullard ECC83

JAN Philips 7025

RCA 7025


to me, the differences with the NOS tubes might be subtle to some of you, but they are definitely there, and i'll tell you which one that i like best but first i'd like to hear some of your opinions.
 
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#47
It is nice to hear this lineup of tubes John.

The NOS tubes all offer something different, each having different strengths, but I like the RCA the best, followed by the Bugle Boy, the Mullard, then the Philips.

I think that the RCA and Bugle Boy both have a nice tone but the RCA has a slightly better low end. I wonder if some EQ tweaking would put them closer. The Mullard is very clear and articulate but seemed less musical. The Philips seemed kind of one dimensional, more clinical.


David
 
#50
I'm very interested in this since I love my 7 pro and have tossed around the idea of changing the tube. I like the Mullard and the RCA, I'm not sure which one I like better though and I listened on a few different sets of headphones.

On a side note, were the strings the jazz stainless or nickel rounds?
 
#52
sincity said:
I like the Amperex & RCA the best with the RCA the winner.

Thank you very much for putting these clips together.
Click to expand...

you're welcome. out of all of them, i really like the mids in the Mullard, but th RCA is my overall favorite so that's what's staying in there.

NWB said:
John, just a bit OT, but I always figured you for a P-bass guy.
Click to expand...

yep, i really am more of a p bass type of guy, but i have nothing against using my jazz basses. ;)

NWB said:
Those earlier clips really showcase the jazz bass tone that I love so much. Sounds like both amps play quite well with a JB.
Click to expand...

i agree. and they sound great with all of my other basses too.


beans-on-toast said:
It is nice to hear this lineup of tubes John.

The NOS tubes all offer something different, each having different strengths, but I like the RCA the best, followed by the Bugle Boy, the Mullard, then the Philips.

I think that the RCA and Bugle Boy both have a nice tone but the RCA has a slightly better low end. I wonder if some EQ tweaking would put them closer. The Mullard is very clear and articulate but seemed less musical. The Philips seemed kind of one dimensional, more clinical.
David
Click to expand...

that's EXACTLY my take on them too, except for the mullard being less musical. i think that it's very musical, but just has stronger mids than the others, and it sounds almost more 3D than the others to me when playing it sitting in front of the amp



JxBass said:
Could be brain fixation but I hear that wooliness on the Streamliner that resulted in me selling it. The Ampeg sounds like the same vibe but cleaner - nice!
Click to expand...

nope. it's not a brain fixation. the 900 does have a bit of that 'wooliness' that you're talking about. playing alone at home it used to bug me a litle bit, but on the last gig it sounded awesome so i'm willing to overlook it, ;) and i still love the amp.




BassBob1 said:
I'm very interested in this since I love my 7 pro and have tossed around the idea of changing the tube. I like the Mullard and the RCA, I'm not sure which one I like better though and I listened on a few different sets of headphones.

On a side note, were the strings the jazz stainless or nickel rounds?
Click to expand...

for me it's the RCA, but the Mullard is definitely nice, especially if you want a little more mid clarity. the strings on the j bass are stainless but they're over a year old so they're well broken in and have lost some of their 'zing' (which i prefer).
 
#54
Have you tried the ampeg svt pro 7 in to the streamliner 900 power section or vice versa ? These amps are so light compared to and 85 lb svt .It be easier carrying both these heads with a/b switch if some one had to :bassist: . Have you had a chance to compare the 7 pro to the svt ? Kudos on the sound clips and tube swaps
 
#55
Jazzbass2010 said:
Have you tried the ampeg svt pro 7 in to the streamliner 900 power section or vice versa ?
Click to expand...

nope. not yet, but i almost don't see a reason too. i did try using my UA 6176 into the power amp in on the ST900 and it sounded great using the 900's poweramp

Jazzbass2010 said:
Have you had a chance to compare the 7 pro to the svt ? Kudos on the sound clips and tube swaps
Click to expand...

thanks. nope, not yet, but i will soon.

on my last gig, i used the ST900 with my custom made 215 Faital cab (the one that i used in the recent clips) and it sounded great, so on my next gig, since it's at the same club & stage, i'm taking the ST900 and the SVT7pro with my 215 3015 cab, partially to see which cab works better with the full band, and partially to see which head 'fits' me and the band better.
 
#58
Those clips have me wanting to play a 7 pro and I have a 70's svt plugged in right now! For being a simplified version of the svt-4 pro, which I've owned several, I think the 7 sounds better. Im still having a long love affair with my genz shuttlemax 9.2 and 9.0 backup but, this ampeg would be high on my list if I was shopping. You know what, Im going to say it. I don't think the old svt's are the best amps out there. Here's why. They sound great plugged into a sealed 8x10 but, after that, it's hit or miss with different cabs. My genz and I'll bet this 7 pro sounds great through every cab and weighs a fraction. I really do love my svt but given the choice, I'd gig the genz every time. And as far as overdrive, most people who own an actual 70's svt have never had it loud enough to hear the awsome overdrive. The guy who I bought mine from didn't know it was possible and the other two older players I know who have them never did either until I showed them. The loved it but, way too much volume for any club gig around here. Anyway, loving the clips John!
 
#59
This is certainly an intriguing thread. Other than the V-4B, the SVT7 Pro is the first Ampeg that's caught my attention since my very first amp...a 1977 B-15N. It's great to read (and hear) about the differences with the Streamliner. That fortunately gives me a frame of reference. But what about fan noise? And the quality of the fit and finish? Do the knobs have a good feel? Is access to the tube easy? You know...the practical stuff. ;)

M. M.
 
#60
IMO, the fit and finish and overall quality of build is excellent. all of the knobs turn smoothly and precisely. the fan noise is louder than the almost silent Streamliner's, but it's not very loud at all. if you're going for a dirty tone, i'd recommend using your favorite distortion/overdrive pedal. the amp will do it but not have all that much distortion. i also dig the compressor in it. it's pretty unobtrusive unless you want it to be, and i have to say that it's my favorite built-in compressor of all time (with the exception of my UA 6176's 1176LN, of course ;) )

tube access is easy as pie. you just remove the top panel and the tube is mounted in a high quality white ceramic tube socket.

believe it or not, i can actually see some players favoring the SVT7-Pro over an all tube vintage SVT or VR and i already much prefer it over an SVT CL. i say this because some people might want the clean tone of an SVT, only much louder, and this amp is more than capable of that. this amp is SUPER punchy and IMO, has 90% of the tone of my all tube SVT VR, if not more.

every once in a while a manufacturer gets every aspect of an amplifier just right (tone, response, power, feel, build quality, size, weight, etc), and IMO, ampeg hit it out of the park with this one. to me, it's the best amp that they've offered since the SVT-VR (and i own one of those too ;) ), i actually prefer it over the SVP-CL and SVP II Pro preamps with my crown xti2000's.

BTW, here's a pic of it's innards:

SVT7Pro-circuit-01.jpg
 

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