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So why ampeg?

#41
funkyebk said:
Thinking about the disconnect between the "classic" Ampeg sound and what people hear when they plug into one may be that the sound they think they are going to get (from hearing John Entwistle, Chris Squire etc) is actually the Ampeg SVT and an overdriven guitar amp grinding out the high-end...

My recipe for duplicating that without buying an SVT and a 2nd overdrive amp? Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive and what ever modern head and 4x10 is laying around :hyper:
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People shouldn't ever expect to plug in and get any tone they've heard on an album. Didn't know about the guitar amp part, I always figured they had multiple amps, cabinets like guys do today to get a great tone. To me classic Ampeg sound was just distorted power tubes. For that matter, there's nothing wrong with clean SVT tone. Clean tubes have a nice creamy sound.
 
#42
This post has nothing to do with whether or not I like ampeg. It's about why, what I would say, the majority of bassists on the board do. Was wondering if I missed something. Like there's a secret setting achieved by punching in an exact eq setting and then unlocking the thunder.
 
#43
At one time any brand of our instrument was call a "Fender" bass. A hell of a lot of music that became "Classics" were recorded using a P bass with flats through an Ampeg B15. Ampeg produced the first really usable bass amp that could actually keep up with amplified guitars. But THAT was then. Ampeg today has gone the way of so many once premier names. Selling virtually anything that will make money and capitalizing on brand recognition. There are still some good products being put out but I am seeing more and more complaints on this forum.

Bottom line is if you like that Ampeg sound use one otherwise buy something else. Your ears will tell you.

Paul
 
#44
(b)Assman said:
This post has nothing to do with whether or not I like ampeg. It's about why, what I would say, the majority of bassists on the board do. Was wondering if I missed something. Like there's a secret setting achieved by punching in an exact eq setting and then unlocking the thunder.
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Ok maybe, just maybe, the answer to your question (but probably not); is that many on this board love P-basses, some even have 8 or more. A P-bass has nice mids as does an SVT. A P-bass plugged into an SVT is a "matched" combo to me, beautiful to many ears.
 
#45
....ditto what everyone else said. I'll only add two things:

1. Since I generally prefer single coil pups to cut thru live mixes, I find that the SVT gives me the roundness needed for the thinner sounding pups (on stage or otherwise) v. say humbuckers (though depending on what you're after, that can be good too!).

2. To that end, we've got to remember the 'combination effect' when putting together tonal goals. From strings to PA equipment, and everything else in between. So yes, if all you want is a one dimentional sound, plug and play SVT sound, then use the other tools to vary your tone. That's my approach.

I won't mention the creamjeans from the experience of an SVT/810/ jazz bass with fresh SS roundwounds playin your fav. slap groove. Like buttah :bassist:

It can't be overstated enough that you must go with what feels right and to your own ears.... .

Jimbob
 
#46
Surly said:
Ok maybe, just maybe, the answer to your question (but probably not); is that many on this board love P-basses, some even have 8 or more. A P-bass has nice mids as does an SVT. A P-bass plugged into an SVT is a "matched" combo to me, beautiful to many ears.
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Better yet, for everyone that loves ampegs I bet the majority own a stingray. I guess they compliment eachother nicely eh? I would define a stingray as a p-bass on roids, so same concept.
 
#47
Ampeg is what many believe is the standard, sort of like how the Fender P-bass is generally the standard for many people.

An SVT and a P-bass together sound very good, I am not a big Ampeg fan though but their SVT-VR sounds pretty nice.
 
#48
(b)Assman said:
Better yet, for everyone that loves ampegs I bet the majority own a stingray. I guess they compliment eachother nicely eh? I would define a stingray as a p-bass on roids, so same concept.
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Heh?

I never heard a stringray that sounded anything like a P does. Two totally different sounding basses, IMO.

Also, alot of folks in this thread seem to think that people love the "Ampeg sound" JUST because it's what they are used to hearing or it set the "standard" for bass tone. I kinda dissagree on that point.

Even if Ampeg just came out last year, for the very first time, (with their good stuff anyway) I would still define that "sound" to be right up my alley. Warm, dark, and punchy as hell. I am talking mostly about the clean Ampeg tone, not so much the overdriven sound (which is cool also).

Like I said, I didn't used to be into Ampeg. I still think there's alot of overpriced turds in their amp lineup, especially now, but even before the Loud dissaster. Their stuff has always been overpriced, but at least when it was made in the USA you felt like it was worth it.

The more I have heard and played thru Ampeg stuff, the more it has grown on me. It could possibly run along musical styles and tastes also. To me, Ampeg defines a more "old-school" or vintage tone I suppose.

I will always miss my old 8x10 (but I don't miss moving it :D).
 
#49
I don't have any experience with their products but I will restate what others have already said, which is also the answer to your question (well IMO anyway...)...

The brand name...ampeg has been the name in bass amplification for years (and years...and years...and years...). It's what all the greats used... Just like someone said about Marshall guitar amps...You go to a concert to see your favorite bands and thats what you see, the guitarist playing through a wall of Marshalls and the bassist playing through 2 Ampeg 810s with SVT heads (well im talking classic bands and newer bands...I know there are exceptions but you all know what I'm saying).

People want to play what the "pros" play... Same with everything else. Golfers play Titleist clubs because its what the pros use (Just about 85% or so, play Titleist balls...oh and did I mention quality?). Drummers play Pearl sets with Sabian or Ziljdian symbols (Neal Peart anyone? Did I mention quality again?).

Its marketing and clientel. That's how you develope a following. Find someone famous who swears by your product and then next thing you know...a large percentage of the people who have the same interest as that person, will be using your product too...
 
#50
It's no where near that simple, Goose. I am sure there's some doofusses that just go along with whatever is cool and buy into the marketing to make their choices, but the real Ampeg fans aren't like that.

Your statement could be made about anyone who buys any brand of amp. "they just bought into the hype"
 
#51
(b)Assman said:
Better yet, for everyone that loves ampegs I bet the majority own a stingray. I guess they compliment eachother nicely eh? I would define a stingray as a p-bass on roids, so same concept.
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I bet not! :D Stingray tone is quite far from the P bass.

Every bass I have plugged through my old Ampeg SVT sounds good to me. Really good. As good or better than any other amp I have owned. For me, that is the answer to your question "Why Ampeg?"

And I feel it should be stated that "the Ampeg sound" is defined by an old B-15, V-4(B), or SVT/V9. If you have not heard any of these then you have not experienced Ampeg. ;) Ok maybe the new VRs are in the ballpark.
 
#56
Stingray to me is more scooped I suppose, so they can sound a bit more bassy and "thick" ...at least in my recordings. I also get the same vibe from flats, again this is in my recordings, and things can easily change in a mix. I always prefer the Fender into the SVT though for tone, live I can get it thick with lots of mids when cranked.

Tonight I actually jammed and noticed that at lower volumes I could almost not tell the difference between my SVT and solid state Hartke using the same cabinet. I simply didn't need or feel like carrying a heavy tube amp tonight. There is a big difference, however, when the SVT is cranked up and it always seem to sound better in the mix. I can easily see someone in their bedroom playing an SVT in my situation tonight and think it was nothing special. Change rooms, crank it up and it's a different amp completely. almost weird!
 
#58
::::BASSIST:::: said:
Ampeg is mainly popular now because of two things:

1. It built its rep on it great gear 'in the past' - ampeg's current offerings are low on the list of anything I'd want to own... their stuff from the 70s on the other hand was excellent.

2. Tradition - some people can't past this one. IMO there are many amp companies doing it better. Check out MarkBass product line or Mesa Boogie. Great gear... why settle for yesterday's news?
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Couldn't agree more.
 
#59
Its in the sound.. ...........Man!.....ya there are some bad ones outu there. but there are other Brands with poor ones as well.....its all a matter of taste,style of music you prefer to play,size of gear and whats making you happy coming out of your amp on stage or in the recording studio.
I prefer Ampeg for all my Bass needs..others do not....thats cool!;):hmm:




Ampeg clubmember # 436
Spector club member # 109
 
#60
Tone.

You could fill a room without cranking it up, and they had a way of cutting through the mix (live or recorded) and standing out without simply drowning out everything else.
From 1969 until about 1982 the only competition was Acoustic, and they were so far from SVT's in tone that the two had different followings. There was also West Laboratories, but they seemed to be a regional thing. I had one, and I liked it. After about 1983, Ampeg started going downhill, and you could tell it when you picked one up. They were lighter. I don't know about the new ones. Mine range from '69 to '82. I'm getting old and I don't like picking up 105 pound amplifier heads, so I use a Sansamp and a power amp now, but nothing has that old SVT sound.

Regards,
Rotorbar
 

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