questions, mesa vs ampeg

[xshawnxearthx]

haha... amen to that

I think if you want clean sound, you should probably go for something SS powered... maybe even a SS preamp. With a pre-power setup, you can really diversify your sound quite a bit without dropping a ton of cash with every exchange.

Still... its going to depend on your personal ear for things. The 400+ and SVT4-Pro are both easy to find at most music stores. Judge for yourself... as they're both quite different. But it really just depends on what gives you that sound your really looking for. My guess is that the 4Pro is really what your looking for.... especially if you liked the tone of the 3Pro.

yeah, i like my svt 3 in the studio, or small shows. big shows, with wide open rooms, it sucks ass.

 

[Frank Martin]

unlike most punk bands, i like clean, stingray sound, no distortion.


i have the tube driver all the way up on my svt 3

whatever amp i get, its going to be cost.

i was looking into the classic style heads, but for a vintage one, ill have to find it used at the full price, if i get something new, itll be at cost. so i dont know.

I think you need SS then.
For example GK - clean, growly tone and versatile - think Flea or Rancid. I loved my GK head but i'm selling it because its just 125Ws... I wanted to get the GK 2001RBP pre, but couldnt find it used here, and it was too expensive (once again, here) to buy new.
Another good SS pre is BBE Bmax - even though I couldnt get it here, I've heard very good reviews of it on TB
But there's a lot more pres around nowadays, look around in this forum

 

[xshawnxearthx]

my guitar player broke it all down for me.


the ampeg is 1200 watts
the mesa is 500

the mesa, is going to be 35% louder, because its tubb watts

when the mesa breaks up, and is overdriven, itll sound good.
when the ampeg does, itll sound like ****.


so, i think im going to go try the 400plus out, and then go from there.

 

[810wmb]

smart move!

 

[TheChariot]

That's true. Then again... you just said you werent looking for distortion.

If you want clean sound that has less chance of breaking up... you need more power (although 1200W is pretty tough to push that far).

Try the 400+... but keep your horizons broad... because a pre-power setup could give a crystal clean tone @ up-to and exceeding 1400W. You should take a look at QSC's PLX series. More power than you'll ever need... but would probably like to have, just in case.

Plus... you could probably get yourself a used car with the money you save. Money is good... very good.

 

[xshawnxearthx]

see, if it is overdriven, i would like to sound good.

 

[xcental34x]

Plus. It'll be kinda hard to overdrive 500 tube watts.

 

[Jerrold Tiers]

my guitar player broke it all down for me.
the ampeg is 1200 watts
the mesa is 500

the mesa, is going to be 35% louder, because its tubb watts

when the mesa breaks up, and is overdriven, itll sound good.
when the ampeg does, itll sound like ****.


so, i think im going to go try the 400plus out, and then go from there.

Not so fast..........

35% louder....? Maybe, maybe not . Percent of what?

The SVT4PRO has tube PRE, and can give you the tube overdrive harmonic structure and loudness there.

The power amp does NOT sound like typical ***** because it is set up to prevent heavy clipping. You'll get the watts, you get the tube pre, you don't have old-time nasty SS power amp clipping.

And its 1200 watts of "federal government resistor watts", that is more like 1500+ in actual behaviour with speakers.

Don't be too fast to turn down choices on the basis of other people's opinions without checking them out. Guitar players may not be looking for the same things as you....

Play both and choose what you like.

 

[TheChariot]

And its 1200 watts of "federal government resistor watts", that is more like 1500+ in actual behaviour with speakers.

I forgot about that... the 4Pro's power amp is actually like 1600Watts. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find more true power than that in any one head... tube or SS.

I honestly cant see you going wrong with either head... whether it be with power or quality. Your personal sound preference really doesnt point towards tubes at all, IMO. If your truly worryied if 1200W is enough for you... than you should seriously be looking for a major SS power amp. 500 Tube watts are immensely loud.... but I think it'd be a far stretch to put that up against a PLX3002.

HeAdRoOm<------------

 

[Frank Martin]

my guitar player broke it all down for me.


the ampeg is 1200 watts
the mesa is 500

the mesa, is going to be 35% louder, because its tubb watts

Now where did he learn that?
I dont think thats true

when the mesa breaks up, and is overdriven, itll sound good.
when the ampeg does, itll sound like ****.


so, i think im going to go try the 400plus out, and then go from there.

You said you keep the gain down on the SVT to avoid that tube OD and you are looking for a clean tone - and now you are going for an all-tube amp?
If you want clean, clear, then its clearly SS that you are asking for.
Tube is for warm and a bit OD-en, fuzzy sound

 

[TheChariot]

werd

 

[xshawnxearthx]

Now where did he learn that?
I dont think thats true





You said you keep the gain down on the SVT to avoid that tube OD and you are looking for a clean tone - and now you are going for an all-tube amp?
If you want clean, clear, then its clearly SS that you are asking for.
Tube is for warm and a bit OD-en, fuzzy sound

he actually said 25%, for the most part, he always seems to know what he is talking about, guess not now.

yeah, i want clean tone, so i should go with the solid state.

 

[Transverz]

I've been using the SVT 4 Pro for about 2 months or so now...

Great amp. Can go from super clean to just enough overdriveness/distortion for me. If I need to overdrive the mofo from a bit more to MADNESS, I "KICK IN THE BASS!" with my Sansamp BDDI.

Anyway, I agree that the SVT 4 Pro might just be the amp for you. And believe me, that amp is LOUD LOUD LOUD. Especially through some efficient cabs...oh boy. (review of my efficient new cab soon to come ) Plus versatility and connectivity for DAYS. Speakons galore, the usual 1/4"s, bi-amping, great graphic and parametric EQ, ultra low/high buttons, bright button, line level control (this is super valuable for them big PA gigs), and of course, the awesome tube preamp. Takes a bit of experimenting and basic understanding of what settings gets the best personal results from the preamp and the amp overall...but when you get there, you get there.

One quick note / question though:

I hear what xshawnxearthx is saying about not being able to turn up the gain because the preamp light is clipping already. Same with my SVT 4 Pro. The max I can put my gain at with my passive bass is halfway. Any more than that, the preamp clip light gets to be more than just occasional. Any medium pluck anywhere on the low "E" on my 4-string will cause it to heavily light.

I know this is just the preamp clipping and not the limiter kicking in, but it is really troubling. So am I never to use the post-halfway point on my gain knob? That would be horrible! I want more of that tube warmth, overdriving fun! Plus, though I believe all of you that say not to worry about the preamp light coming on, the sound results that happen to my cab is definitely not pleasing.

Any advice would be appreciated...thanks for reading!

-T

 

[xshawnxearthx]

yeah, it sounds like **** when you are ten feet from it, but right in front, it sounds good.


i usually have the eq set at 2 1/2


but, you can get the gain up to half way, thats a lot more then i get now, so this may be good. i dont know though.

im gonna go buy the ampeg, try it out, if i dont lik eit, i can bring it back, noquestions and then try the mesa if its not good.

 

[Transverz]

Good plan. You may want to also consider going the "used" route. Plenty of savings abound, and you could use the extra money to tame other GAS adventures.

In regards to Mesa, I've actually been very, VERY tempted to try an M-pulse 600. I would also think that is a worthy candidate next to the SVT 4 Pro. Solid state power, tube preamp. And I heard that badboy is LOUD! I can halfway vouch for it as I heard a Mesa Walkabout (300watts) and that thing was pretty loud. I could only imagine what the Mpulse 600 would be like. Plus it has great EQing possibilities. I would imagine the headroom on that amp would be pretty good. I have yet to actually play one though.

If the M-pulse is even close to what I imagine it sounds like, I may even let go of the SVT 4 Pro for it! Not because I don't like the 4pro, but maybe just to try something different. And I could always go back to it. I'd keep both around, but who am I, Donald Gates?

-T

 

[xshawnxearthx]

if im going ss, its going to be the svt 4 pro. i know the sound is going to be good.


if i go tubes, itll be the 400+

used, eh, im hesitant. plus, im going to try them out first, and bring them both back one at a time, cause my boy said if i want to order one, he can get it for me at cost. so

 

[TheChariot]

Transverz,

I kinda have a similar issue with my B2R, even though I'm running it through an RMX1450. But limiter obviously isnt doing anything, since I dont use the power section... but the preamp hits a peak from time to time... and the gain is probably at about 10:30.

honestly... I'm unaffected tone-wise. I really dont think its much to be worried about. I've seen the 4Pro in action live... and that damn red light comes on like... all the friggon time. With every pluck, pretty much. Sounds pretty fine to me.

Maybe our reliable and faithful Ampeg Insider can enlighten us to the true facts of this situation.

 

[Transverz]

haha, well, in that case, cost IS pretty hard to turn down...

if im going ss, its going to be the svt 4 pro. i know the sound is going to be good.

I agree that the SVT4pro sounds great to me, but you might be surprised with that MB M-Pulse 600. I think they have different sounds and ways of getting to tone. But I'm sure both are first rate, as a lot of TBers could attest to. If you are your friend's store and there is one there anyway, I suggest giving it a try.

-T

 

[Transverz]

TheChariot: Yeah, at first I thought that it was just the volume I was at or that maybe the cab I was playing was causing the preamp to prematurely clip. But from all the new-found knowledge I've gained, I know that none of this affects the preamp itself clipping. I'm beginning to think, correct me if I'm wrong, that every amp and bass to play through it has a predetermined gain level ceiling unless you want to clip constantly? Meaning, it's seeming as though no matter what, with the bass I am using plugged straight into the amp, there is only so much gain I can dial in until the red light takes over. Can anything change this? Like I mentioned before, so if I stick with this bass (and it's only a regular ol' Jazz bass passive!), I can't have it more than halfway unless I want solid preamp clip? With my active Ibanez, I can't turn it past 10-11 oclock without running into red lights. Darn.

But regarding cabs, I have noticed that a higher power rated cab handles the sound of a more clipped preamp much better (more unaffected) than one of a lower power rating. I don't think that's a monumental revelation or anything, just that maybe the ones that don't mind all the red-light clip just don't notice it because the cab handles it more "musically".

I dunno. Kick me.

-T

 

[reasonbass]

Actually the 400+ is more about 300 watts RMS. It's 500 Peak watts.
But Its just as loud as the SVT 4. To me its probably a matter of which sound suits you best. Both are great amps tho,