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Sold the Ampeg today, mixed feelings...

J

jimmyjammer

Jul 28, 2008
140
3
Australia
#1
Waved goodbye to my Ampeg head and cab today (SVT3 PRO and 410HLF)... I hope the young guy who bought it feels as good as I did when I first plugged in to 'my Ampeg rig' :bassist:

The Ampeg pedigree certainly packs a punch. I won't miss carting the cabinet up three flights of stairs, though... :bawl:

Mark Bass, don't let me down! Black and yellow... it's the new black :D (hey, that ain't bad, Mark Bass should pay me for the use of that). Ah, the miracle of Tech 21...

Anyone else here jump off a long-held sentimental brand? Regrets? None?
 
#2
I'm practically in the same position. Just sent off my SVT 4-Pro in trade for a bass since I got a LM II. If it weren't for the VT Bass, I don't think I would have been able to do it. I'm definitely going to miss the tone and power it pushed out, but I sure won't miss the weight of that amp though. It was friggin heavy. Now I just need to get some better cabs, and save up for a lightweight powerful head like a GB Shuttlemax 12.0 or EA iAmp Pro so that I have more power if I need it.
 
#3
Hi there.

I am practically in the same situation as well, but decided not to sell my Ampegs yet, a SVT-CL, a 810 and a 410HLF.

Bought a TC Electronic RebelHead and RebelStack 210+212 and enjoying those a lot. Relying on a EBS ValveDrive for my sound. And the RebelHead sounds great through the 410HLF btw, which might be a good option for certain occasions.


:hiding:
I have done plenty of stupid things in the past, and with that in perspective; I am not selling my dear Ampegs yet. Will wait and see for a while.

Good luck with your MarkBass gear! I am sure it won't let you down.

Cheers, Henning - Norway
 
#5
wow, im in the exact opposite position. i just sold my f1 yesterday and bought an svt classic head and 410 hlf. damn they are heavy.

the f1 will be missed,it did get pretty close with the VT pedal,but i dont think anything can really take the place of the real deal.IMO

ill replace the MB head down the road at some point though.
 
#6
I've got mixed emotions...

Last year, I traded a mint 2001 or so US SVT CL and an 810 cabinet even for new 2008 MM Stingray HH.

I miss seeing the stack in the music room and playing it every once in awhile. Truth is, I'm getting a lot more use out my Stingray. The Ampeg was everything it's billed to be, but it just wasn't moving out of the house because of the logistics of toting the thing around.

The ironic thing is that I'm still gigging with an SVT3 Pro and a 410 HLF cabinet that are doing great. They're heavy, but nothing like the fridge was....

Randy
 
#7
No regrets here! I have been gradually down sizing over the last couple of years. First to go was the head, 2x10 and 1x15 set up. Then I went to a combo that had 1x15 but still weighed almost 90 pounds. Now I have a Carvin combo with the new BX500 head and it only weighs around 48 pounds. It packs a punch and I get the tone I want thanks to the addition of the VT Bass pedal. I don't miss the extra weight at all.
 
#8
A year ago I retired my SVT 4pro (then eventually sold it) gigged it for 9 years. Replaced it with the LMII and haven't looked back since. The LMII is perfect for my needs. Also retired the SVT810, but will always keep it around to use occasionally if needed. Paired the LMII with a EPI PS410 and a VT bass pedal.
 
#10
mattygbass said:
wow, im in the exact opposite position. i just sold my f1 yesterday and bought an svt classic head and 410 hlf.
Click to expand...

I did the same thing a year or so ago....

I ended up missing the SVT tone and got rid of my F1 for one. Since then I have acquired a GB ShuttleMax 12.0 and a GK 1001RB-II through trades.

I am not selling the SVT any time soon, but it is really hard to go in the basement to grab a head for a gig and reach for that 85lb SVT. I am using the GK and GB a lot more lately just due to the weight.
 
#12
While I can certainly appreciate the new super lightweight heads available these days, I have yet to find one that sounds as big and full as my 6Pro. I do have a 13 lb Walkabout head, which is a stunning little tone machine, but even that won't do what the 6Pro does. So, for the time being, I'm keeping my 50lb monster.
 
#13
No Pain - No Gain.

You guys dumping off your SVT's will realize you can't completely replace the sound. You can synthesize and anesthetize and try and get close, but the real thing is the real thing. Sort of like riding a RICE CLONE instead of a Harley. You might think you're cruising fat, but really? Bwahahahaha

Some convince themselves they are close enough and pretend they are happy, HA. Others realize the error in their ways and eventually become purists in their waining years.

To Quote the California GOV, You'll be back.

OVER
 
#15
jimmyjammer said:
Waved goodbye to my Ampeg head and cab today (SVT3 PRO and 410HLF)... I hope the young guy who bought it feels as good as I did when I first plugged in to 'my Ampeg rig' :bassist:

The Ampeg pedigree certainly packs a punch. I won't miss carting the cabinet up three flights of stairs, though... :bawl:

Mark Bass, don't let me down! Black and yellow... it's the new black :D (hey, that ain't bad, Mark Bass should pay me for the use of that). Ah, the miracle of Tech 21...

Anyone else here jump off a long-held sentimental brand? Regrets? None?
Click to expand...

Bah! You're better off.

Welcome to the 21st Century... :ninja:

:hiding:

MM
 
#16
My SVT-CL and 410HLF have been collecting dust since the Aggie DB750 joined the family. The Ampeg rig is heavier and doesn't sound as good, but yet, I haven't been willing to to part with it...yet. As far as I'm concerned, it's cash in the bank. As soon as the next big GAS hits, the Ampegs will probably be on their way elsewhere.
 
#18
Bah, I got rid of that stuff years ago. Yes, it was great when I was in my 20's and taking that stuff up and down stairs after 10 beers was no problem, still had enough in me to share with the ladies, but nowadays, I sport the Sansamp RBI => QSC PLX 2420 =>Schroeder 412R. less than half the weight of the SVT rig, fits in the back seat of my small car and loud enough to blow the 100 Watt Marshalls I am up against off the stage.
Tone is great, and the whole band can fit into a mini-van for those cross country summer tours. With the price of gas these days, clubs paying less than ever, who can afford to carry that stuff anymore ? Yes, it's great to have for local gigs, but I couldn't justify keepin that stuff around. And when I really want the tone, I borrow my friends' fliptop motown style.

If I was makin the money to tow a trailer across the country with roadies to move that stuff for me, then yes, I would go back to the full ampeg stack, but until that happens....
 
#20
rbonner said:
No Pain - No Gain.

You guys dumping off your SVT's will realize you can't completely replace the sound. You can synthesize and anesthetize and try and get close, but the real thing is the real thing. Sort of like riding a RICE CLONE instead of a Harley. You might think you're cruising fat, but really? Bwahahahaha

Some convince themselves they are close enough and pretend they are happy, HA. Others realize the error in their ways and eventually become purists in their waining years.

To Quote the California GOV, You'll be back.

OVER
Click to expand...

+1

That's why I still have my Ampeg even though I'm using the Markbass head quite a bit. Sometimes it's just worth it to cart the beast! :bassist:
 

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