Replacing an Ampeg SVT.

[alan_hill]

Hi All,

I recently sold my magnavox era Ampeg SVT and 8x10.
I loved the sound but it was killing me lifting it in and out of the car and for most applications it was too much.
I am looking to replace the amp with something a little lighter but still a tube amp and a 4x10 cab or a 1x15.
To be honest I'm not sure where to start so I guess I'd thought I'd start here and gather suggestions before looking.

Cheers

Alan

 

[arstneio]

all-tube? If you want all tube, it might not get too much lighter than the SVT.

 

[alan_hill]

That was one hell of a heavy head. For example I could almost juggle with my friends Hiwatt in comparison.
Doesn't have to be all tube and can vintage or reissue.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Jefenator]

Rackmount setups were trendy for a while. You can mix and match the tube preamp & SS power amp of your choosing. My rig with Alembic F-1X tube pre and QSC PLX 2402 (700watts per side @ 4 ohms) can really shake the house and the whole setup weighs about 40 pounds. Easy one-hander.

You can get a deal on rack gear these days because everybody seems to be ditching it for the new crop of 5 pound 500 watt heads. I got the Markbass Little Mark II to power my small cab but I found it gives the rack a real run for the money! (Not quite as "deep" but just as loud & more "present".) A lot of longtime Ampeg users seem to be digging the LMII so you might want to give it a listen. Talk about back relief!!

 

[Hoss]

Tb user Jimmy has both a 70s SVT and a Markbass LMII.
He claims that the LMII can sound quite SVTish.
Combined with a Tech 21 VT Pedal it may nail your tone.
The LMII weighs a 1/10 of the SVT.

 

[alan_hill]

Thanks guys that's an interesting option. I was considering using something like a small pre amp or a sans amp to generate the tone then amply it with a head. I will look into Mark Bass gear.

Keep it coming I really appreciate it.

Any thoughts on vintage gear? An Ampeg B15 for example or even a lighter head like a Hiwatt custom 100. I know it's still heavy but it's still lighter than the old Ampeg. I'm a sucker for tubes............

Many thanks


Alan

 

[jarrod cunningham]

it is a different sound , but with a mod or 2 you will get a great sound out of a traynor yba 200 . i sold my svt and kept the traynor for the tone i get at a lower stage volume . also check out the peavey vb2 . the mesa busters are great on a 410 , but not so much on a 810 . i would try to stay around a 200 watter . the traynor is very light for an all tube amp . i think its around 50 lbs .....

 

[bongomania]

There's a couple massive threads dedicated to the B15, so a quick search on "b15" or "b15n" should get you a ton of opinions on that subject. The latest Sansamp device that people like is the "VT Bass" pedal, which gets as close as just about any pedal has gotten to that sound. You can find threads about it both here in "amps" and also a lot more over in the Effects forum. The search engine won't let you look up 2-letter words like 'vt', but the threads are recent enough that it shouldn't take much digging to find them.

 

[anderbass]

Out of the amps I've gigged, I think my old (68 lb.) 70's era Ampeg V4 (or a V4B) has a very similar tone and feel to my SVT's and is my first choice when my SVT's are "too much".

While I dont consider My Mesa tube amps (D-180/400+) to capture the Ampeg vibe, they still sound great and along with the 400 non-plus model, all weigh in around the 45 lb. area. (plus rack case)

I've never gigged this one but the (55 lb.) Orange AD200 might be another option you should consider.

If you dug the way your old fridge worked on stage, you might also consider the 100lb. Bergantino NV610 instead of a 4x10 or 1x15.

 

[BullHorn]

I'm seeing many people covert from SVT to LMII

 

[cripula]

A nice old V4-B through a Berg NV610 is a great sound, and a substantial weight savings over your SVT/810. Anderbass, are you sure they weigh that much? Seems like less - I can handle mine easy, the SVT... not so much.
The Berg sounds amazing and is MUCH easier to deal with than the Ampeg fridge.
I like the Sunn 2000S as well. I think it weighs a little more than the V4-B, but still lots less than the SVT.
When I want lighter than that, I use an old Fender Showman head, it sounds amazing for gigs that 75W is enough.

The Mesa 400 is a good idea as well, though I've never tried one myself. All tube and half the weight of the Ampeg, sounds good to me.

 

[heath_r_91]

While I've never played one myself, a year ago wasn't everyone raving about the Traynor YBA200?

It's just over 40 pounds, all tube, USA made, and 200 watts.

Seems to have very good reviews on musiciansfriend and is only $879, pretty good for a tube head.

 

[iplaybasstexas]

V4BH?

its still an Ampeg Alltube, just not as loud and not as heavy !

or get a Markbass LM2 and then a preamp/pedal or something.

 

[edbass]

59 lbs, only 24" wide, tons of thump. Sounds great with a 410 or a stout 115.

 

[anderbass]

Anderbass, are you sure they weigh that much?

According to my bathroom scale... My early 70's V4 with reverb weighs 68 lbs. I never got an accurate weight on mine but I definitely find it much easier to carry around than either my 72 SVT, SVT-II or the SVT-CL I used to own.

I started this thread awhile back: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394760 about the V4/V4B weighs and got a few varying replies. I've kinda wondered if the mid to late 70's V4/V4B models might have had lighter transformers...

 

[JimmyM]

59 lbs, only 24" wide, tons of thump. Sounds great with a 410 or a stout 115.

Ain't exactly an inexpensive option, though A good option, but not cheap by any means.

Markbass + VT works for me when I don't feel like lifting heavy stuff, but you will miss a little of the airiness of a tube amp when you play it. Still, it's a very good lightweight solution, and about as close as you'll ever come in an 8 lb. rig. The recorded tones, for my money, are almost identical.

I love my B-15's and use them regularly for gigs, but they are a 25w or 30w amp, so a decent PA system is pretty much a prerequisite on all but the quietest gigs.

 

[K-Funk]

+1 for the Mesa tube heads. They sound nothing like an Ampeg, though; they really have their own tonal dimension. Halfway between tubey warmth and hi-fi clarity. However, I can one-hand my Bass 400 non-plus without breaking a sweat.

If you want the Ampeg sound, though, I'd track down a V4B.

 

[alan_hill]

First of all thank you very much for your posts, this is my first time on talkbass and I'm most impressed.

After reading all your posts one thing occured to me; do I really want to replicate my SVT or be bold and try something new.
The MRKII/pedal combo sounds great but will it cut it when I've been so used to the real thing. I will still be checking this out down at the store tomorrow but maybe something new is the order of the day.

I have used an Ampeg V4 before very nice and I like the sound.

I would love a Reeves bass amp but I don't think I can get one here in the UK, unless of course somebody knows who the dealer is.

I have been offered a B15 (and am more than happy to field more offers ) but it's a bit pricey.

What are peoples thoughts on Orange AD200B or Hiwatts?

I know these bad boys will still be heavy BUT it still won't be as heavy as the SVT

Cheers

Alan

 

[sedan_dad]

I find it odd that you'd sell the SVT before you found a replacement for it.
I would think being the UK there aren't too many SVT's around.
I may be wrong.
I've read alot of post here from folks trying to reproduce the sound of a SVT/810 in a lighter box.

 

[alan_hill]

I sold the amp only because the right price was offered. Otherwise it'd still be mine.
I'm not trying to replicate an SVT in a smaller box, I think that's a bad idea and I don't think I'll ever be satisfied. Looking for similar flavours, ideas for shopping basicly.

There are plenty of SVT's around they pop up on e-Bay every now and then and in the for sale wall of Denmark Street.

I have noticed the value dropping quite alot over the years.
Cheers

Alan