School me on the Ampeg SVT-III Pro

[Warpeg]

Long time SVT-CL/810e player here. While I love my CL, of course, it's heavy and it would be nice to have something lighter sometimes. These SVT-III Pro amps are all over the place used where I live; they're a dime-a-dozen. It's got me thinking that maybe it would be a good experience to pick one of these up to play around with. There are a few of them for sale locally in the $200-300 range in good shape.

I only got to play through one of these once and it was very briefly. My first impression was that they were a bit low on the output and bland sounding. On the other hand, there have been several famous bassists that have used/endorsed this model throughout the years and they can get them to sound okay. So, what do you think of them and what do you consider to be a good price range for one used?

 

[Jazz Ad]

I think the 3-Pro is an awesome amp, one of the most versatile Ampeg ever released.
It has connections and features for every possible need and configuration.
However it isn't a straight plug and play amp like a Classic SVT. It takes tweaking and a bit of exploration to discover all it can do.
Many users don't understand what the tube drive is and what it does.
It has comfy reserves of power but you can only access it by tweaking the various gain levels along the signal path.

 

[rickdog]

#1 thing to know about the SVT-3Pro: turn up the gain knob all the way; if that's too overdriven for your taste, back off a little. (Ignore the PEAK light.)

I've had one since I bought it new 20 years ago, it's a keeper.

 

[chris_b]

This is how I used mine. . . .

All the buttons were out and the faders were not used. It was as loud as any 500 watt amp I've used and had a great tone.

 

[StringslamDan]

I had a 3 pro for a while and was pretty underwhelmed with it. I have a GK 400RB now and couldn't be happier. I had a Genz Benz GBE 600 before that and it was also a great amp!

 

[feterpatch]

For the prices they go for it's worth it to pick one up and give it a try. It won't be as "robust" as your CL but if you dig the Ampeg sound, they have no problem getting there. Assuming of course that you use a sealed cab. Try it with your 810. I think you'll like it.

 

[Jeff Scott]

The two or three I have used over the years were rather underwhelming in the volume department.

 

[paskisti]

Is there anybody who could check how 3 Pro and CL are compared in terms of SPL. I understood that 3 Pro gain must be high enough so that peak led illuminates continuously to use amps full power reserve. This have been debated many times here and would like to hear side by side tests results. Even better if tested with Ampeg 810 cab.

Correctly designed and specked 450W solid state amp should be as loud as 300W tube amp.

 

[Wasnex]

Is there anybody who could check how 3 Pro and CL are compared in terms of SPL. I understood that 3 Pro gain must be high enough so that peak led illuminates continuously to use amps full power reserve. This have been debated many times here and would like to hear side by side tests results. Even better if tested with Ampeg 810 cab.

Correctly designed and specked 450W solid state amp should be as loud as 300W tube amp.

You're not going to get a definitive answer IMHO. Some swear an all-tube SVT is way louder. Some say an all-tube SVT is slightly louder. Others say the 3-Pro is louder.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Nah, I don't think anyone would claim that a SVT-3-Pro gets as loud as an all tube SVT. The SVT will at least always FEEL louder, except if you play a lot in the lower range.

 

[paskisti]

That's why I was thinking if someone could test them side by side with same cab. That gives pretty good estimation.

I have seen also some opinions that correctly adjusted 3 Pro supposed to be pretty close. And we must remember that if you drive SVT into power tube distortion it is not the same sound wise. At least I hate that farting destroying my sound.

 

[ultra60]

Setup correctly, there is no volume issue with a 3pro. They "might" require some kind of flux capacitor biasing that I am not qualified to comment on. Mine sounds very similar to my CL. I engage the "Lo" switch, adjust gain and master, then run everything else straight up. I don't use the graphic EQ.

Very thick Ampeg tone through a couple of 15's. Mine is one of the USA models if that makes any difference. Played many gigs with it, and it has never let me down.

I've never seen one in the $200-$300 range. If I ever do, and it works, I will buy it. I would think $450 - $500 would still be a bit on the low side.

 

[InhumanResource]

Long time SVT-CL/810e player here. While I love my CL, of course, it's heavy and it would be nice to have something lighter sometimes. These SVT-III Pro amps are all over the place used where I live; they're a dime-a-dozen. It's got me thinking that maybe it would be a good experience to pick one of these up to play around with. There are a few of them for sale locally in the $200-300 range in good shape.

I only got to play through one of these once and it was very briefly. My first impression was that they were a bit low on the output and bland sounding. On the other hand, there have been several famous bassists that have used/endorsed this model throughout the years and they can get them to sound okay. So, what do you think of them and what do you consider to be a good price range for one used?

They’re great but you need to run them with the gain pretty hot to get a lot of volume (if that’s what you need). A lot of people fault them for not being loud enough but they weren’t using them properly.

The real secret weapon is the tube voltage control. If you dial it ask the way down the voltage “sags” and gives you a lot of natural compression. Sounds as close to a tube amp as you’re going to get for a hybrid. Dial the other way and it gets more snappy and modern sounding.

If you really need more power, the 6-PRO is the exact same thing with a giant power section. I used one for years and it was just a great sounding amp.

 

[crguti]

^ and if you really need way more power, get the 8-PRO

 

[Lo-E]

Mine is old - early 90s - and it’s been extremely robust.

Like everyone says, I run the gain very hot with the LED almost always on; more like a signal indicator than a clip indicator. I usually ignore the graphic EQ and only adjust the semi-parametric for the room or any house backline cabinet I’m using. I tend to run the tube gain near the center, a little closer to the left (tube) side.

I’ve never had issues with volume and, no, I don’t think it sounds or feels like a CL. The baked in sound is definitely Ampeg but it’s not an SVT.

Some time ago (maybe 10 years) I read a detailed procedure on properly biasing the output and, having a strong electronics background, I went ahead and did it, not really expecting to hear a difference. It turns out mine was not terribly far out, but I did hear an increase in clean headroom - or, at least, I convinced myself I did.

I’ve had mine almost 30 years now and have no complaints. Other heads have come and gone but that one isn’t going anywhere.

 

[BassVibes]

I had one and it served me well. I highly recommend it and never had a problem with volume for small/medium gigs. Replaced it with a Ampeg SVT Pro 7 only for portability, but to be honest its just as easy to move the 3 Pro around. Sounds are quite similar to Pro 7 too.

 

[Brich]

I've had similar experiences as well. Mine has always been reliable, played it hard for 7 years and never had an issue with power. I ran the gain pretty hot, and only recently stopped playing it for a Aguilar DB750. $200-300 is a steal imho, as I think $350-$500 is reasonable

 

[mdogs]

I had one that I used for about 10 years, sold it about a year ago. When the guy who bought it plugged it in using the Eden cabinets he bought too, I was like WTH am I doing selling this, it sounded so good. I never had any problems with the amount of power it had, but I wouldn't say it was loud for the power rating. As with anything that has been around as long as this amp, there are quite a few versions. I would want to stay with the older made in the US models.

 

[FLStudiobassist]

I love my Ampeg SVT-7 Pro with the new Rev board. It's a powerhouse of an amplifier with gobs and gobs of tone. Absolutely love the mid-range sweep on these; I sweep it around all the time.

 

[pbassnut]

Long time SVT-CL/810e player here. While I love my CL, of course, it's heavy and it would be nice to have something lighter sometimes. These SVT-III Pro amps are all over the place used where I live; they're a dime-a-dozen. It's got me thinking that maybe it would be a good experience to pick one of these up to play around with. There are a few of them for sale locally in the $200-300 range in good shape.

I only got to play through one of these once and it was very briefly. My first impression was that they were a bit low on the output and bland sounding. On the other hand, there have been several famous bassists that have used/endorsed this model throughout the years and they can get them to sound okay. So, what do you think of them and what do you consider to be a good price range for one used?

I've had one of the early black faceplate USA made SVT III Pros for many years and it has served me well. I have never A/B'd it against a monster all tube SVT head so I can't say whether it can get as loud or not ... my guess is not. However, I think it's got plenty of juice and it EASILY cuts anything that I do. I've heard lots of complaints about its available power and I consider them to be "old wive's tales". You really have to know how to work the gain/master setup and I think the pots are calibrated so you have to approach diming them in order to make the amp scream. Some amp company's volume pots are calibrated so that 3/4 of the action happens in the first 1/4 turn which gives the illusion of WAY more headroom than there actually is. As far as an authentic SVT tone ... let me say this right off the bat ... there's simply nothing like the real deal ... six 6550 output tubes, heavy transformers and a giant cabinet with a gaggle of 10" speakers all contribute to that classic sound. One thing I learned in the last coupla years is how much those 8x10 refrigerator cabinets contribute to the signature SVT sound. I FINALLY got myself an Ampeg SVT-210AV cabinet (which is 1/4 of an 8x10 refrigerator) a coupla years ago that I pair with a small Carvin 15MBE Micro Bass sealed 1x15. My SVT III Pro matches up very nicely with those two cabinets and yields the best tone I've ever gotten out of it with them.