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Opinion - Which Class D comes closest to an SVT
- Thread starter Ringhammer
- Start date
Not wrong so much as kind of silly. How could you suspect the mesa comes close without having played that which you think it gets close to?
I haven't yet found a class d head that soothes like an SVT. Some that have a "vintage" setting that turns tone to mud. The closest solid state amp of any kind that I've heard is the SVT 6-PRO but it's a big heavy sled in its own right.
The Mesa part of my post was merely giving a suggestion of a popular Class D head to check out.
The New Vintage head I own is better quality than any recent production SVT-3,5, or 7. Just because it doesn't say Ampeg on the front doesn't mean it's inferior.
Well, you posted it sounds close to an amp you've never used. So that's the funny part.
Not sure why you have chosen to mention quality. Equally puzzling is how you know it is better than an amp you already admitted to not use.
Mine once came within about 3 feet of an SVT. 
I'm no expert on the SVT sound. To be honest I've used one as a practice amp a good while ago. While it is a great amp, I've no reason to own one and find better use it if a pf-500. I will say though, if you're one of those looking for that exact sound, you might as well get your wallet out and maybe do some deadlifts and bicep curls.
If you're okay with a compromise, the pf-500 has a lot of the same (or at least similar) tone shaping options (namely the 5-way mid selector) that may very well get in the ballpark to the same sorts of tones. Note: I'm not saying same, just similar. Solid State just behaves differently from tubes when they get all grindey, when they're perfectly clean some say there's still a difference and I'm not inclined to disagree, but I'll say it's at the very least less pronounced.
If you're okay with a compromise, the pf-500 has a lot of the same (or at least similar) tone shaping options (namely the 5-way mid selector) that may very well get in the ballpark to the same sorts of tones. Note: I'm not saying same, just similar. Solid State just behaves differently from tubes when they get all grindey, when they're perfectly clean some say there's still a difference and I'm not inclined to disagree, but I'll say it's at the very least less pronounced.
My question is... is there any amp that 'feels' like you're playing through a tube amp?
The Quilter BB800 is pretty "tuby" for a class D. It's a very nice little amp, once you get used to it's odd EQ arrangement. Is it an SVT? No. But I'm very happy with mine.
If any class D sounded as good they would be having a free SVT giveaway. I don't think mine sounds 87 pounds better than a class D. But it does sound better. Nobody would haul these if they didn't.
Please re-read my original post I said the new Mesa might get close to that sound not definitely does. I wouldn't imagine a 12 pound head with two tubes sounds the same as an 80 lb all tube.
I've played SVT-3s which sound nice but do have documented issues with the PCB. Didn't feel like gambling when you can get a hand wired tube pre-amp section. Way I see it is the 500D is the best hybrid amp Ampeg never made.
None will sound like an SVT. But the closest would most likely be one of the Ampeg class D heads or Tech 21 VT.
Kind of like a guitar player that wants to emulate a Marshall stack but owns a Fender tube amp....they can buy pedals to get them in the ballpark, but it isn't exactly the same.
With an SVT and 8/10, the specific sound is a combination of tubes and speakers, plus the Ampeg preamp/eq.
The 8 pro by leaps and bounds sounds closest to a all tube SVT.
Ampeg - If your reading this, bring back the 8 pro! Seriously!
Ampeg - If your reading this, bring back the 8 pro! Seriously!
I have an Ampeg SVP CL preamp racked with a Furman power conditioner and a GK MB500 class D micro head (that I use just the power section of) through a Schroeder 210PL cabinet. While it doesn't have the sheer girth and majesty of tone that a real deal all tube monster SVT w/8x10 fridge cabinet has, it does sound pretty darn good and is usable by a decrepit old man like me who is on his last (gigging) legs. Head (in SKB X-Rack): 24 lbs. Cab: 34 lbs.
Several things to consider here.
The SVT head is not a one trick pony. Ironically, the fridge kind of is. The fridge sounds like the fridge no matter where the knobs are and to a large degree no matter what head you connect to it. Play a real SVT through a number of different cabs and you will understand. Don't and you really can't.
What sound do you actually want out of the SVT? Is it clean or the more overdriven? If you want a clean SVT sound, an SVP into any class D power amp can get you about 70% there. Then the next question becomes most important; how much of the sound you want is coming from the power tubes? For me the power tube distortion is most of the sound I wanted out of it, for you maybe you could get away with a class D. The best way I can describe the difference is most all tube amps have a more '3D' sound and feel to them that, to me, class D really can't reproduce.
The SVT head is not a one trick pony. Ironically, the fridge kind of is. The fridge sounds like the fridge no matter where the knobs are and to a large degree no matter what head you connect to it. Play a real SVT through a number of different cabs and you will understand. Don't and you really can't.
What sound do you actually want out of the SVT? Is it clean or the more overdriven? If you want a clean SVT sound, an SVP into any class D power amp can get you about 70% there. Then the next question becomes most important; how much of the sound you want is coming from the power tubes? For me the power tube distortion is most of the sound I wanted out of it, for you maybe you could get away with a class D. The best way I can describe the difference is most all tube amps have a more '3D' sound and feel to them that, to me, class D really can't reproduce.
Yep. I've been gigging my Streamliner for at least 6 years because it has that vibe, sounds great and doesn't weigh squat. As good as it is it still isn't the same.
Here's an additional data point.
I haven't had an 8x10 in a very long time but I have had a SVT-CL head for about 30 years, and it does sound (great) and different than any other head I've had (when played through a GB 2x12 or Bergantino HT322).
It is my reference amp.
I have had 2 amps that came close.
One is the SVP-CL pre amp through a 1500 Watt lead sled
The other was a Walkabout.
When they build a featherweight head that sounds and feels like as SVT, will be the day that my traditionals amps get sold / disposed of.
Hope it happesn tomorrow but doubt it will in my lifetime.
I haven't had an 8x10 in a very long time but I have had a SVT-CL head for about 30 years, and it does sound (great) and different than any other head I've had (when played through a GB 2x12 or Bergantino HT322).
It is my reference amp.
I have had 2 amps that came close.
One is the SVP-CL pre amp through a 1500 Watt lead sled
The other was a Walkabout.
When they build a featherweight head that sounds and feels like as SVT, will be the day that my traditionals amps get sold / disposed of.
Hope it happesn tomorrow but doubt it will in my lifetime.
Until you have, you have no idea.
