- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,943
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Those would all be great choices with the NV610, IME/IMHO.
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New Ampeg Venture Series
- Thread starter Jtown690
- Start date
Got a V7. Only used at one gig so far, but did not notice any crazy fan noise.
A further adventure with the V7 Ultra-Lo CUT function. Forgot my pedalboard at last night’s gig (AGAIN i forgot to check for fan turning on!), and I was also experimenting with a (gasp) mix of cabs… SVT112AV on bottom and SVT210AV on top.
I usually use a matching pair of either the 112 or the 210, and I usually run my Broughton HPF always on anywhere from 40hz-80ish, depending on rooms, etc. Having forgotten the pedals, and hearing the different cabs together running full range, it was striking how much the ported 112 just sounds way too subby going full range when paired with the sealed 210. For my taste, at least. However, when I used the Ultra-Lo CUT function, it governed the low end of the 112 cab and made it possible to eq the stack very nicely for a great “best of both worlds” stage sound. The 112 brings unmistakably more depth than a 2nd 210AV does, and the 210 has a certain sweetness to its upper mids that I really love. With P bass with LTF strings it was one of the best stage sounds I’ve had in a long time. Outdoors, no walls behind me, we were under a huge canopy (think industrial sandpile storage). B15 mode, SVT mode, each was killer in its own ways.
I usually use a matching pair of either the 112 or the 210, and I usually run my Broughton HPF always on anywhere from 40hz-80ish, depending on rooms, etc. Having forgotten the pedals, and hearing the different cabs together running full range, it was striking how much the ported 112 just sounds way too subby going full range when paired with the sealed 210. For my taste, at least. However, when I used the Ultra-Lo CUT function, it governed the low end of the 112 cab and made it possible to eq the stack very nicely for a great “best of both worlds” stage sound. The 112 brings unmistakably more depth than a 2nd 210AV does, and the 210 has a certain sweetness to its upper mids that I really love. With P bass with LTF strings it was one of the best stage sounds I’ve had in a long time. Outdoors, no walls behind me, we were under a huge canopy (think industrial sandpile storage). B15 mode, SVT mode, each was killer in its own ways.
Ok so finally remembered to check for fan being on with my V7 on an outdoor gig last night, last song of the night, in the shade all evening but temps in the 80s… no audible fan that I could detect. Didn’t get to peep inside the V7 to fully inspect. For all I know the fan may not have been spinning. But the amp has given me no issues this summer on several outdoor gigs. Will continue to monitor it this summer.
As an update to the SVT112 + SVT210 pairing, I used them again last night on this outdoor patio house party gig. Band set up in a corner with high brick wall on 2 sides, and a low canopy right above us. Also, a substitute guitar player who has a much beefier tone than the regular guy. So, I think I was missing the power of the pair of 112AV cabs. The sweetness of the 210AV gets a little lost if the stage volume or the amount of extraneous low frequencies surrounding us gets too much.
As an update to the SVT112 + SVT210 pairing, I used them again last night on this outdoor patio house party gig. Band set up in a corner with high brick wall on 2 sides, and a low canopy right above us. Also, a substitute guitar player who has a much beefier tone than the regular guy. So, I think I was missing the power of the pair of 112AV cabs. The sweetness of the 210AV gets a little lost if the stage volume or the amount of extraneous low frequencies surrounding us gets too much.
The V12 has been my main amp since December 2023 now, and has done probably ~500 gigs. Everything from clubs to arenas to festival stages.
Here’s my best practises, after much experimenting:
1. Use a 4 ohm cab, unless you’re in a small club. The difference in openness and dynamic response compared to an 8 ohm cab is significant.
2. Run the master on full, and use the gain knob as your volume. Doing it this way makes much better use of the available power to the speakers, sounds much clearer, and this amp doesn’t send weird LFOs through the speakers (unlike the SVT 7 Pro)
3. Keep the compressor off, and make sure it’s fully dialled counter clockwise. Even if the LED is not flashing, it can still significantly reduce dynamic range in a way that works against you being able to hear yourself clearly.
4. The SGT circuit is just a distortion in front of the amp, essentially like have a distortion pedal. If it doesn’t work for you, there is no difference to the circuit to run a different SVT pedal (like a VT Bass, Origin Super Vintage, etc) in front. It’s in front of the compression, the -15dB pad, everything. I personally have had much better results using the HX stomp in front than the baked-in SVT setting of the SGT circuit.
TL;DR:
4 ohm cab
Master on full, use gain for volume
Make sure compressor is wound out
Use a different drive to the SGT circuit
Here’s my best practises, after much experimenting:
1. Use a 4 ohm cab, unless you’re in a small club. The difference in openness and dynamic response compared to an 8 ohm cab is significant.
2. Run the master on full, and use the gain knob as your volume. Doing it this way makes much better use of the available power to the speakers, sounds much clearer, and this amp doesn’t send weird LFOs through the speakers (unlike the SVT 7 Pro)
3. Keep the compressor off, and make sure it’s fully dialled counter clockwise. Even if the LED is not flashing, it can still significantly reduce dynamic range in a way that works against you being able to hear yourself clearly.
4. The SGT circuit is just a distortion in front of the amp, essentially like have a distortion pedal. If it doesn’t work for you, there is no difference to the circuit to run a different SVT pedal (like a VT Bass, Origin Super Vintage, etc) in front. It’s in front of the compression, the -15dB pad, everything. I personally have had much better results using the HX stomp in front than the baked-in SVT setting of the SGT circuit.
TL;DR:
4 ohm cab
Master on full, use gain for volume
Make sure compressor is wound out
Use a different drive to the SGT circuit
Interesting review, especially after 500 shows!
I find the SGT modes to be more than just a distortion, I hear them as simultaneously a variable distortion and also EQ presets, giving the amp various distinct characters to choose from as starting points. Even with the Grit (distortion) down low (low enough to sound “clean”) SVT mode gives you a low mid and upper mid boost, the B15 mode attenuates the top end some to warm up the sound. I find both tasteful and useful starting points in different situations.
I find the SGT modes to be more than just a distortion, I hear them as simultaneously a variable distortion and also EQ presets, giving the amp various distinct characters to choose from as starting points. Even with the Grit (distortion) down low (low enough to sound “clean”) SVT mode gives you a low mid and upper mid boost, the B15 mode attenuates the top end some to warm up the sound. I find both tasteful and useful starting points in different situations.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 60,977
- 5
- 220,732
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Yeah, that’s a gig a day with no days off!!!Respect!
I guess I would be dead thereafter.
Hope they were well paying gigs…
I agree, this is my experience as well.
It's not just a distortion pedal circuit. It's more of a voicing switch with EQ presets and the ability to add distortion.
Last edited:
To clarify, what I meant by “a distortion” was where it sits in the circuit: the first thing after the input jack, before the input level switch, the compressor, and the gain pot. I was trying to say that it would be the same as having an “SGT pedal” in front of the amp.
Some are, some aren’t… but I get by
And yes… My maths are off. It would have done an average of 4-5 gigs / week… so not 500. Will edit.
Soooo... Since 99% of all reviews are on the V7 or V12, how do they compare in tone to the V3? I have zero use for more than 300 Watts (or even a third of that), and many seem to think the compressor of the top models is kind of crap anyway.
Is it the exact same preamp on all three with different power amps (and compressor)?
Is it the exact same preamp on all three with different power amps (and compressor)?
Soooo... Since 99% of all reviews are on the V7 or V12, how do they compare in tone to the V3? I have zero use for more than 300 Watts (or even a third of that), and many seem to think the compressor of the top models is kind of crap anyway.
Is it the exact same preamp on all three with different power amps (and compressor)?
The V3 has the same tone as the V7 and V12. As far as I can tell, the preamp is the same. The primary difference is the power amp and the compressor.
One nice thing the V3 has is the speaker combo jack, so you can use a NL2 speakON or 1/4 inch cable. The V7 and V12 have NL2 speakON connections only.
I am super intrigued by the V3. I too have no need for a high power amp, and I LOVE my SGT-DI, which currently lives on my "in-the-office" headphone rig. A Venture V3 would make an awesome rig for when I want to play out loud at home. I was planning to buy myself a MicroCL stack for the holidays as I love the looks and the sound, but the Venture V3 keeps calling.
You won’t be happy with the Micro CL, I don’t think. Venture series blows it away.
The head doesn’t allow for an extension cab with its 8 ohm limit, plus it’s always got a slight distortion. It’s decent enough for the money but the V amps are pro level gear and not very expensive.
That's my thinking too; an amp for home but that still has enough power for a smaller gig. I ordered a V3 yesterday, because my very recent aquisition of an Ampeg SVT-15E cabinet (15" cab for PJB Briefcase) made me realize that, a): I will never use the internal speakers of my PJB combo again, and b): the PJB amp still has a character that could be improved.
Not sure why everyone think they need 700 Watts or even more when 300 was considered "a lot" in the recent past, and if anything, gigging is more and more reliant on DI -> PA.
When I was in a band 20 years ago, my Marshall JCM800 Bass series (100 Watts) through an old 15" PA cab was "waaaay too loud" for the engineers anyway.
Sounded absolutely fantastic though. Especially when pushed. 
