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PEAVEY FIREBASS 700 vs. AMPEG SVP/CROWN XTi-2000 results are in ...

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by mb94952, Jul 29, 2009.

What's your favorite bass amp brand ?

  1. Ampeg

    68 vote(s)
    44.7%

  2. Peavey

    30 vote(s)
    19.7%

  3. Trace Elliot

    25 vote(s)
    16.4%

  4. Mesa Boogie

    45 vote(s)
    29.6%
Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. Jul 29, 2009 #1
    mb94952

    mb94952 Endorsing Artist : SFARZO STRINGS Inactive Supporting Member

    Apr 16, 2007
    Petaluma, California 94952
    Hey fellow TB'ers - As some of you know, I am a Peavey super freak. I just LOVE Peavey gear. To me, it's the Lexus of gear. In other words, a good value and super dependable.

    This contest seems almost comical. Unfair at first glance. On the surface, it's no match. It's "bell tone" vs. classic growl.

    Also like ALL of you, I have GAS ! I own many bass rigs, and basses, combos, and cabs. I am addicted to owning gear. So are you. It's ok, I go to my 12 step meetings. So far, no cure for this one ! (good thing !)

    My basses - Peavey Cirrus 4's. My main bass is a '99 CIRRUS walnut/bubinga. Out of the gate , it has a tubey, chug-chug sound. I just love it.

    And in this corner - The "BEAST"

    A Furman PL-Plus power conditioner powers a 1990's Ampeg SVT/SVP PRO tube pre amp. It has FIVE tubes in it. I think all 12ax7's. All are Sovteks, except for the fifth one, which is a Groove tube ( for that hi-fi sound). Powering this rig is a Crown XTi-2000 digital power amp. 17 lbs, stereo power amp. This baby can be calibrated on your laptop to dial in specific desired features. I have never used it because I just use it for the CRYSTAL CLEAR power Crown is famous for. If sound were like water, this crown is fresh mountain geyser water. It's amazing. I am running mono into an SWR Workingman's cab. 400w @ 8 ohms. This amp is capable of a mind blowing 2000 w @ 2 ohms.
    OK, so from "the Beast" I get the Mark King / John Entwistle bell tone. You can hear a fly land on a string. It is the classic bell tone. I have had players get tears in their eyes from my tone. It's angelic.

    In the other corner - "Junior"

    A 21st Century Peavey Firebass 700 solid state head. 700w @ 4 ohms, and 375w @ 8 ohms. Simple knobs - gain, contour, bass/mid/mid/treble, volume. I LOVE simple. The tone of this amp ? Surprisingly warm. LOTS of growl, clarity, and power. Every note is articulate, and harmonics ring true. Simple amp to use. The tone ? Well, my Peavey Cirrus through my Peavey Firebass 700 = 1980's Geddy Lee tone. It says, "I'm here, and I rock."

    I play in BITING THE DOG. We are on myspace. (Hyperlink to my myspace on my signature at the bottom of my thread). We are a five piece. Two Les Pauls, bass, keys, drums. We are RUSH meets Guns 'n' Roses.

    Tonight, I took the test ! My ampeg, by itself or in a three piece, is unmatched. In BITING THE DOG, it just doesn't cut through the way I would like it to. Maybe it's the studio set up we have. Maybe it's my EQ.
    I then used "Junior" and it was night and day. I could hear EVERY note and harmonic. It was Geddy Lee in a bottle. Everyone noticed the difference, especially me. We have a big show next week (Sat Aug 8, 2009) and I have decided to bring Junior. I have used The Beast at every show.

    The winner (for MY purpose) - PEAVEY FIREBASS 700 !

    PeaveyFirebass700andSWR410001.gif

    Ampeg-CrownXTi200rig013.gif

    Ampeg-CrownXTi200rig007.gif
     
  2. Jul 29, 2009 #2
    rockinpop

    rockinpop Gold Supporting Member

    Feb 21, 2008
    Lindenhurst, New York
    Here's my 2 cents..... I had a Ampeg SVT 3 Pro, gigged with it for about 2 years with no problems. I had the 3 Pro powering a Genz Benz neox-212T bottom. The sound was good but was not the sound I was looking for. I also felt is was under powered. Sold the 3 Pro and bought A Genz Benz shuttle 6.0 (which I still have). All the while I had a Peavey Tmax (whitefaced) sitting in my basement just in case I needed a backup..... I deceided about 8 months ago to clean up the Peavey Tmax, replace the 12ax7 tube and see what it sounds like thru the Genx Benz neox212t. All I can say is "holy crap", the amp sounds amazing !!! the tones I get from this set up is unbelieavable. The power is even more astonishing. With the 4 ohm speaker cab I have NOT put the Peavey past 3. Blending tube/solid state gets me the "tone" i've been searching for forever. My band mates couldn't belieave the difference in my sound since switching to the Peavey Tmax. Great, great amp.... Needless to say my Genz Benz shuttle 6.0 is now my backup amp...:bassist:
     
  3. Jul 29, 2009 #3
    bigfatbass

    bigfatbass Inactive

    Jun 30, 2003
    Upstate NY
    Endorsing Artist: Karl Hoyt Basses
    Currently I am a Genz-Benz fanboy.
     
  4. Jul 29, 2009 #4
    RTL

    RTL Gold Supporting Member

    Jul 20, 2008
    Leander, TX
    I won't argue with the dependable part, but since when is a $35,000 Camry considered a good value? :smug:
     
  5. Jul 29, 2009 #5
    wildhorse

    wildhorse

    Mar 15, 2009
    So is the vote for Peavey increased since they own Trace Elliott?
     
  6. Jul 29, 2009 #6
    i_got_a_mohawk

    i_got_a_mohawk

    Feb 9, 2005
    Edinburgh & Dundee, Scotland
    I do love the firebass, they are great and very dependable amp heads. Doubt I'll ever sell mine, wouldnt get much for it and it just isnt worth the loss!

    Tho I have to say, in a band situation, my SVT-II hands the firebass it's ass on a plate :p

    Congrats on picking a winner for your cause tho :)
     
  7. Jul 29, 2009 #7
    Eric Swaim

    Eric Swaim GOD, U.S. MIlitary, Country Supporting Member

    Sep 21, 2004
    Murfreesboro, TN
    I have owned Peavey, Ampeg, Trace Elliot, Mesa Boogie amps, as well as many other brands over the last 30 years. However, my Favorite is an SWR Bass rig like the SM400s, or Bass 350 with the tube preamp and any cabnet with a horn like SWR Golliath III 4x10, or Golliath Jr. III 2x10, or even the SWR Triad cab. But for this debate, my opinion is as follows:

    Peavey is less expensive in price and presently I have a Peavey Nitro bass head (450 watts @ 2 ohms so I can add another cab if I need to). I use it with a Peavey TXF 2x10 at Church. It works great, Peavey stuff could be dragged behind the car on the way to a gig and it always fires up and works, tough as a US Tank.

    Trace Elliot cost a lot for what you get, it's like Peavey of England. I owned a AH1200SM head back in 1994-95. But it weighed a tone, more than any Peavey I ever owned. The "black light" in it helped when I needed to reset the amp. If I had it to do over I would have bought or used something else.

    Ampeg is very good equipment, but these days any of there combo's are made in China, I really do not want my bass head made in China. That's why I prefer anything that is or was made in America. I owned the BA115T combo with a 15" speaker and a Tube preamp. It was OK but nothing to brang on. I also owned an SVT and it was heavy and I did not like carrying it around. Nice tone, but I did not lik ethe weight or replacing the power and preamp tubes $$$.

    Mesa Boogie is good equipment as well but way over priced in my humble opinion. I owned a Mesa Boogie 400, or 400B bass head about 10-15 years ago and It stayed in the shop more than at the gig. I do like their bass cabs, well made and rugged.

    Long story Short, If you do not have much money, buy a Peavey, if you do have money and want to spend it, take your bass to the music place and try amps out before you buy, and when you buy, research the equipment and see if it's got good reviews and who reviewed it.

    Good Luck:bassist:
     
  8. Jul 29, 2009 #8
    Lammchop93

    Lammchop93 Supporting Member

    Feb 4, 2007
    Louisville, KY
    Gallien-Krueger is my favorite hands-down, but if I had to pick one of the 4, I would go with Mesa. I just love the 400+ head.
     
  9. Jul 29, 2009 #9
    RexNFX79

    RexNFX79

    Jan 12, 2009
    TENNESSEE
    None of the above.
     
  10. Jul 29, 2009 #10
    UncleBalsamic

    UncleBalsamic

    Jul 8, 2007
    UK
    Is the poll serious? If so, it's somewhat lacking.

    Not meaning to cause offence though.
     
  11. Jul 29, 2009 #11
    TrevorOfDoom

    TrevorOfDoom

    Jun 17, 2007
    Austin, TX
    Carrots!!
     
  12. Jul 29, 2009 #12
    CaptainWampum

    CaptainWampum

    Dec 15, 2008
    Whidbey Island, WA
    /thread
     
  13. Jul 29, 2009 #13
    JPhoenix19

    JPhoenix19

    Mar 5, 2009
    Tampa, FL
    i voted peavey, but if there were a GK option I'd pick it as well
     
  14. Jul 29, 2009 #14
    wildhorse

    wildhorse

    Mar 15, 2009
    I saw some comments in this thread to not buy bass heads made in China. Sure great idea. Cut off all trade with China and the U.S. can file bankruptcy on all it's debt to China. Then watch what happens. We won't just be buying Chinese, we will be Chinese.

    But I'd still vote for Peavey products made in China myself. Although my Peavey guitar amps are still made in Meridian MS.
     
  15. Jul 29, 2009 #15
    CrashClint

    CrashClint I Play Bass therefore I Am

    Nov 15, 2005
    Wake Forest, NC
    DR Strings Dealer (local only)
    None of these are my favorites, but if I had to choose one from the list it would probably be the Mesa.

    Mesa
    Ampeg
    Trace
    Peavey - I would quit playing bass before I bought a Peavey. Hey, I have a tainted view of them. I am one of the old guys that suffered through college with a Mark III and Mark IV head. I will give them props on the construction of their cabs back then, we pushed one off of a 4' stage while playing at Disney in 1982 hoping it would destroy it... all it did was dent the cabinet. :(
     
  16. Jul 29, 2009 #16
    neatobassman

    neatobassman

    Jul 16, 2005
    Antelope CA
    I bought a Firebass from GC and it died 10 minutes into playing it at band practice the day I bought it.
     
  17. Jul 29, 2009 #17
    aproud1

    aproud1 Don't surround yourself with yourself. Supporting Member

    Aug 13, 2007
    Cincy, OH
    +1
     
  18. Jul 29, 2009 #18
    Pilgrim

    Pilgrim Supporting Member

    Jul 8, 2004
    Fort Collins, Colorado
    Sunn!
     
  19. Jul 29, 2009 #19
    h60

    h60

    Nov 30, 2007
    KFMH
    ASHDOWN
     
  20. Jul 29, 2009 #20
    nubs

    nubs

    Mar 1, 2005
    Wisconsin
    Ampeg SVT Classic. its stood the test test of time, the most recognizable name in bass amplification. does any more really need to be said??
     
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