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Played through a VR yesterday....

#22
Psycho Bass Guy said:
To the best of my knowledge, the SVT VR uses the power section of the SVT CL, and is NOT as close a copy of the original as possible in that respect, unlike its preamp. There's a big difference between the original SVT and the CL's power section which I've discussed in depth here before.
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I usually read all the VR threads and PSG's posts in particular but I've missed this one. I've done a quick search and didn't come up with it... can someone point me towards it please?:help:

...not that it will change my opinion, I like my VR, and hopefully it was bought before LOUD took over.
 
#23
Psycho Bass Guy said:
There are some very real issues with the SVT VR versus its vintage counterparts aside from where it may be being made. To the best of my knowledge, the SVT VR uses the power section of the SVT CL, and is NOT as close a copy of the original as possible in that respect, unlike its preamp. There's a big difference between the original SVT and the CL's power section which I've discussed in depth here before. While the SVT VR may have the preamp tone, it's not EXACTLY like the old hoss and that's important to remember.

Another issue is the cabinet. I cannot STAND modern SVT810E's (which include the "AV" line as well). Even with my gigging old SVT, playing through a new 810E I was NOT a happy camper. The tone was wooly, underfined, and very bandwidth limited, ALL low mid honk with little of the girth, depth, and growl my old SVT (and Nemesis 810, BTW) cabs provide.

I'm glad to see another fair review of the amp here rather than the cheerleader pieces you see elsewhere. Also, given Loud's decision to manufacture overseas, you also have to look into the worth of any warranty and the roadworthiness of the amp. Personally, I recommend anyone interested in the way an SVT is SUPPOSED to sound to seek out a vintage head AND cab and spend your money on something that has proven itself rather than put money in the pockets of Loud. I renew my call for a boycott of all Ampeg/Loud products.
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Indeed, to each their own. I love the 810e with other heads actually....even my ex cheapo ashdown mag head. The VR sounded vintage, just not my cup of tea I guess. I dug it, but not enough to go dumping my other gear and spending that kind of scratch on it.

Then again, we weren't exactly using vintage pieces to test the amp either....we used an active Sadowsky, and a Modulus Flea with the lane poor. Believe it or not, the Sadowsky was 1000x brighter than the Mod....which is saying a lot. Not sure I have ever heard a brighter bass actually. Personally, I don't think we had ideal instruments for testing such an amp/cab.
 
#24
Tim Cole said:
Indeed, to each their own. I love the 810e with other heads actually....even my ex cheapo ashdown mag head. The VR sounded vintage, just not my cup of tea I guess. I dug it, but not enough to go dumping my other gear and spending that kind of scratch on it.

Then again, we weren't exactly using vintage pieces to test the amp either....we used an active Sadowsky, and a Modulus Flea with the lane poor. Believe it or not, the Sadowsky was 1000x brighter than the Mod....which is saying a lot. Not sure I have ever heard a brighter bass actually. Personally, I don't think we had ideal instruments for testing such an amp/cab.
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Tim...before you got there, I played the Jag with flats. Same result.
 
#29
Tim Cole said:
I tried talking them into letting me take it to the gig friday, but no-go lol. It's in findlay, and I am positive I could get someone a scortching good deal on it if someone local were want it.
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Based upon yours, Pat's and Psycho's comments, I may just hold out for a nice vintage SVT (which I have tried and really like). Still, it would be nice to hear the VR sometime. Oh, and you and Pat still suck. :p
 
#30
tombowlus said:
Based upon yours, Pat's and Psycho's comments, I may just hold out for a nice vintage SVT (which I have tried and really like). Still, it would be nice to hear the VR sometime. Oh, and you and Pat still suck. :p
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Tom.. it was a last minute idea to run over to Findlay Friday.
I'll definitely call ya next time we go!
 
#33
Opas said:
PBG, if a vintage SVT and cab are out of the question, what would be the best and closest modern equivalent?
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It depends on what you're looking for. There are a few big modern tube heads, but none of them really cop the old SVT tone. Aguilar's old offerings came close, but they were rare even when in production. The Mesa 400+ is another option, but it sounds very little like the SVT. I strongly recommend against the Fender Bassman 300/Sunn 300T for reasons of reliability as I have since it was introduced. Peavey's Classic 400 comes pretty close, but it's hard to find.(Although there have been hints here that it may resume production?????) Traynor's YBA200 is a completely different animal, but given its price, a pair of them would be a sweet substitute. Cabwise, the Ashdown Mag 810 and Nemesis 810 with the horn disabled come clsoest to my ears to the old SVT coffin.

It's too bad. All Loud would have to do is keep its US plant open. They could even use that to justify a price increase, which is probably inevitable anyway. But they seem intent on outsourcing, so I feel we comsumers should likewise outsource our money to other companies.
 
#34
PBG, thanks for the reply. For me, the best tone I've ever had was a 70's V4B with 6550's pushed hard. I like overdrive. Like an idiot, I sold it. I have never had the pleasure of personally playing a vintage SVT so I can't compare. I don't think the V4B could have cut it in a loud rock environment. I thought about the traynor but haven't heard one.

I like to run the dual amp setup and right now I use an SVP-Pro and a BSP. I think all I am really doing is trying to cop my old V4B tone at any given volume.

One reason I'm disappointed is that I think we won't see the Ampeg prices go down even though the labor costs will reduce. The stories on here about warranty service don't help either.
 
#35
Question. Is there any difference in sound if you compare SVT-VR and SVT-AV? Someone told me that VR just looks like the old SVT but, the sound is the same as in SVT-AV :confused: and yet it costs like 400 euros more around here :hmm:
 
#39
Jona-s said:
Question. Is there any difference in sound if you compare SVT-VR and SVT-AV? Someone told me that VR just looks like the old SVT but, the sound is the same as in SVT-AV :confused: and yet it costs like 400 euros more around here :hmm:
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I'll let you folks decide on the sound.....

But, it IS more than a "looks like" unit......

Preamp is same structure, circuit, etc, using 12AU7 and 12AX7 to reproduce the 12DW7. Power amp is also.

The one tube difference is the 12AU7 vs the 12BH7 in the power amp. Much has been made of that difference..... asserting huge differences in drive capability, drastic sound differences, etc..... And there IS a slight difference in the max current spec....

Fact is, however, that since the grids of the power tubes are driven through 47K resistors, the drive capability in the case of the SVT is fine for either tube.... you couldn't get more than a few milliamps of grid current if you tried..... so that is fairly irrelevant.

Bottom line is the intent was to duplicate, and no bean counters or anyone else put limits on that.

So like it, hate it, complain about it, tell lies about it, whatever. There is always something somebody claims is true, or not true, etc... internet rumours.

Whoever told you it was just a cosmetic reproduction obviously has never seen or played one.

It is what it is, which is a reproduction SVT.

And, BTW, production of the VR started before any units got moved offshore. So there are US made SVT-VR units around.
 

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