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So why ampeg?

#121
I own a couple of Ampeg products. I haven't tried anything new of theirs for a few months, but I'm pretty set with the Ampeg gear I have already.

For the most part none of their heads do it for me, although I currently own 3. I own a pair of SVT-VRs, though one needs a lot of repair work, and the other was stolen and came back needing all new tubes. I also own an SVT-3 Pro which my friend recently gave me for free since I had helped him with some home repairs. Unfortunately, I hate the SVT-3 with a passion and had sold my last one in CA. Right now its sitting on my dining room table covered in news papers. I'll probably sell it in a few months.
The VR's are nice amps, but a little anemic sounding. I plan on sending JimmyM a message when I get a chance (as well as extra money) on advice on how to reconfigure them as he's mentioned it in the past.

I also own a ton of Ampeg cabinets. I own 6. An 810, a 410/115 cabinet, a 2x15, 2 1x15 cabs, and one 1x12 cab.

All of my gear is SLM era as all of its a few years old. I'm not sure how old my 410/115 cabinet is. I like Ampeg's cabinets a lot more than their heads, but I prefer Bergantino. However, I got my last Berg stolen and I haven't been able to replace it. Besides, Ampeg is dirt cheap used.

My favorite sounding head is my Mesa 400+, but it had a catostrophic melt down a week ago. The fuse blew, but instead of blowing like a normal fuse, it didn't. It was a faulty fuse and ending up melting the whole fuse box. :hmm:

Ampeg is famous because they were the first big name in bass amplification and replaced Fender's crappy Bassman amplifier. Just like a lot of people expect the Fender sound from basses, the Ampeg sound is pretty popular as well.
 
#122
GeneralElectric said:
The VR's are nice amps, but a little anemic sounding. I plan on sending JimmyM a message when I get a chance (as well as extra money) on advice on how to reconfigure them as he's mentioned it in the past.
Click to expand...
That was actually JohnK_10 that did it, not me. And I think all he did was replace the original tubes with better ones.
 
#123
JimmyM said:
That was actually JohnK_10 that did it, not me. And I think all he did was replace the original tubes with better ones.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I replaced the tubes in the one with busted tubes with Gold Lion KT88s about a year ago. (I think that was the brand?) but half of them are smashed or cracked at the moment. While the new tubes helped, it didn't change it enough for my needs.

I never win. :hmm:
 
#124
Vetchking said:
Vetchking Here: a quick tube note.

If you really play your amp a lot......... PS. ask any major rock guitar god, Marshall, etc......... or any big name bass player.

You have to re-tube and re -bias your amp.

Cost $300.00............. Do you tube guys really do that?

If not your amp hasn't sounded right in years..........

Also, the greatest designers all agree with the above statements.

Have a great one............... Later
Click to expand...

If I played at that level, the cost of maintenance would be part of the cost of doing business and I wouldn't hesitate to invest it.

I don't play at that level - but I have owned my amp for almost 15 years and I have had all the tubes replaced and biased in the last 5. I don't play all that frequently with this rig and it sounds killer (to me - a non-pro, enthusiast).

While it's true that all tube amps, like muscle cars and motorcycles, may be less economical and require a bit more maintenance - there's a reason people love Mustangs, GTOs, Harleys... Just like there's a reason people love the Japanese sports cars and 'crotch-rocket' bikes. Both have their charm and value - both have their perceived drawbacks when viewed from the other side.

As for my rig 'sounding right' - I, and those I play with, find it's sound to be quite right. Whether it's really right or just right to us - it's right.
 
#125
Vetchking said:
Vetchking Here: a quick tube note.

If you really play your amp a lot......... PS. ask any major rock guitar god, Marshall, etc......... or any big name bass player.

You have to re-tube and re -bias your amp.

Cost $300.00............. Do you tube guys really do that?

If not your amp hasn't sounded right in years..........

Also, the greatest designers all agree with the above statements.

Have a great one............... Later
Click to expand...

Yo Vetchking,

There's going to be a lot of denial on this board.
Do you have any references and measurements to the above?

While I can find it plenty of vintage tube books that explain this, there's nothing published (book or paper) since 1965.
It may be because Music is the only industry that hangs on to tubes for consumer use, so there's just not a lot of practitioners out there who'd want to write books and papers.
 
#127
After going through a few different amp companies like GK and Ashdown, I realized that the sound that I wanted was the Ampeg sound, and regardless of how I tried, I wasn't going to get it anywhere else. So, I sold my 800RB and got an (edit: used blue-and-red label) SVT-3 Pro and I'm right where I want to be. Also they've got tubes, and I love tubes because I get to tinker around with them.

I don't ever see myself buying any other sort of amplifier, although Ampeg doesn't have a cabinet that interests me.
 
#128
I just switched my ampeg 8x10 for the bergantino nv610 and im not looking back. but i dont think anything will ever take place of the 70s svt they hit the nail on the head with that one. as far as newer ampeg heads id take gk all day long over those underpowered hunks of wasted metal.
 
#129
Off topic a little:

For those of you who are fans of some or all of the Ampeg products you've tried, do you get the same feeling when playing an Ampeg head thru a non-Ampeg cabinet.

There seems, to me, a consistent quality of tone from Ampeg's cabinets and I was wondering what percentage of the Ampeg tone (head vs cabinet) is generated from their cabinets?

I think the percentage is higher for Ampeg's cabinets, but I also think there is something to be said for matching Ampeg heads to Ampeg cabinets.

I haven't always been able to match Ampeg to Ampeg, and I've had better success / tone playing non-Ampeg heads through Ampeg cabinets than vice versa.
 
#130
sincity said:
Off topic a little:

For those of you who are fans of some or all of the Ampeg products you've tried, do you get the same feeling when playing an Ampeg head thru a non-Ampeg cabinet.

There seems, to me, a consistent quality of tone from Ampeg's cabinets and I was wondering what percentage of the Ampeg tone (head vs cabinet) is generated from their cabinets?

I think the percentage is higher for Ampeg's cabinets, but I also think there is something to be said for matching Ampeg heads to Ampeg cabinets.

I haven't always been able to match Ampeg to Ampeg, and I've had better success / tone playing non-Ampeg heads through Ampeg cabinets than vice versa.
Click to expand...
My Ampegs have only been played through non-Ampeg cabs. I have yet to buy an Ampeg cab. Someday, but not today.
 
#132
Maybe the reason that you see more Non-peg heads on Ampeg cabs is because of the legendary status of their 610 (aka "Fridge") cabinet. I've seen more of those on stage than Ampeg's heads and it seems like everyone and their mom's got one, but not everyone can afford the $1,200 Ampeg sound they want.

Personally I can't wait to get another Avatar 2x12 to put under my SVT-3 Pro :smug: I'll just re-wire the one I have now to 8 ohms (maybe I should check that out first).
 
#133
notforrobots said:
I just switched my ampeg 8x10 for the bergantino nv610 and im not looking back. but i dont think anything will ever take place of the 70s svt they hit the nail on the head with that one. as far as newer ampeg heads id take gk all day long over those underpowered hunks of wasted metal.
Click to expand...

+1

I used to own the NV610 and it blows my Ampeg 810 with the towel bar out of the water. The other cabinets I own have a different sound (15 inch speakers, and the 410/115 cab) but I like the Berg sound. It sounds like the flatback 810 I had (got destroyed in a stage collapse) but richer, thicker, and warmer.

I'll own another one once I can justify the expense since, aside from my 810, I'm satisfied with my other cabs.

I'm also looking into getting either a 2000RB or 2001RB from GK as my next solid state amp purchase. I haven't been having fun with my tube amps lately. :(
 
#134
sincity said:
Off topic a little:

For those of you who are fans of some or all of the Ampeg products you've tried, do you get the same feeling when playing an Ampeg head thru a non-Ampeg cabinet.

There seems, to me, a consistent quality of tone from Ampeg's cabinets and I was wondering what percentage of the Ampeg tone (head vs cabinet) is generated from their cabinets?

I think the percentage is higher for Ampeg's cabinets, but I also think there is something to be said for matching Ampeg heads to Ampeg cabinets.

I haven't always been able to match Ampeg to Ampeg, and I've had better success / tone playing non-Ampeg heads through Ampeg cabinets than vice versa.
Click to expand...


That's some interesting stuff right there.
 
#135
There are lots of great amps produced these days, but one thing still sets many of them apart.

ALL TUBE

Very few companies produce all tube models still. There really is NO substitute for the sound of tubes. In particular with bass, you will never get the same transparency with a solid punch from any solid state amp.
 
#136
seamonkey said:
Yo Vetchking,

There's going to be a lot of denial on this board.
Do you have any references and measurements to the above?

While I can find it plenty of vintage tube books that explain this, there's nothing published (book or paper) since 1965.
It may be because Music is the only industry that hangs on to tubes for consumer use, so there's just not a lot of practitioners out there who'd want to write books and papers.
Click to expand...

Interesting, you are right of course. Those of us "in the trenches" are not inclined to write papers/articles. Why? Very simple; Even with degrees under my belt the results often contradict accepted engineering theorem and are dismissed by accepted experts.

I started a case study related to four SVT's that visited me yearly, one 1970, two 1971's one converted 1969. To many varibles in the real world to draw definite conclusions from such a small sample. From actual repair tickets:
Common to three units;
Very little bias drift first year. Unit four stable.
Fourth unit reqired bias adjustment second year. Other three stable.
All four units stable years 3 and four.
One unit in year five required adjustment to bias.
Years six and seven required bias adjustments to remaining three.
All four units had strong and excellent sounding output tubes at the end of eight years.
These four units had no other failures that would affect output tube life. I was only tracking output tube bias drift and dissipation (and the subjective sound to myself and customer).

This is as close to public "publishing" as it will come. I know there is at least one engineer here I do respect that disagrees that resistors can cause a precived hiss. While carbon comp. do for the most part, just pop and crackle, metal film are a different story (in practice).
 

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