Some Ampeg refresh?

[JimmyM]

The 3 Pro has two driver tubes for the MOSFET power section. They're preamp tubes by designation, but in that case they're used to drive the power section.

To go along with Jimmy's point, the 6 pro has the same function and does feature a tube voltage pot that reacts somewhat like the 3 pro's tube gain knob.

Another Ampeg innovation

 

[fourstringburn]

I have the awesome SVT8,

I only use it as a power amp patched from a SVP Pro preamp. Played into 2-810e cabs, nothing I ever owned sounds as good.

The preamp on the SVT8 sounds ok and I do like the selectable Ultra Low, but overall it pales in comparison to the SVP preamp.

Maybe if Ampeg made an amp with a 5 tube preamp with drive circuit like the SVP Pro and high power SS amp model versions up to 2 kW, I think it would be a winner!

 

[CaptainWally]

With all due respect to the other brands, THEY compete with Ampeg, not the other way around

I still think the 7 Pro is as good as anything on the market micro-wise, especially now that they've fixed it. Bigger than most micros, but still very manageable. Cabs are probably lacking a bit as they tend to stick to ceramic magnets and their neos aren't their best sellers, but I don't care for the 3-way designs as much as trad bass cabs and would be just as happy if none of them had tweeters or mid drivers. I can tell you, though, that when Ampeg/Yamaha stuff starts to come out, the amps most likely for facelifts will be the micros and combos. Just a hunch, but I think that's where they stand to gain.

I'll grant that the 7 pro (barely) manages to compete in the same space. As you mention, it is a fair amount chunkier than the others listed. I like how it sounds. I wish we had real data on its reliability, because it just can't shake its poor reputation. Even pretty recent Sweetwater reviews are chocked with cited reliability issues.

You seem to be agreeing in terms of cabs. Ampeg don't seem to compete in the same space, even though that might not be your personal preference.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I like Ampeg...and they certainly earned their place in history. I was thinking it would be cool if they offered some updates.

Consider..

Mesa WD-800 and a couple Subway 12s

GK Legacy and a Neo 12s

Bergantino Forte and HDN 112s

Aguilar TH700 and SL112s

Genzler 800 + array 12s

Etc....

It makes sense that Ampeg would want to retain their heritage and classic products...but it would be cool to see their answer to these examples. The 7pro is a huge step in the right direction...now long in the tooth and plagued with a poor reliability reputation. Their Neo stuff doesn't compete.

Will Ampeg join the party of modernity at some point? Late is sometimes great.... or is that just not Ampeg?

I’m going to suggest you are only concerned about weight/ portability, because any comparison of sound might be greeted with much laughter.

 

[Stewie]

I'm old and had to part with my SVT410He because it was so heavy, I can still handle the 15Es, and I have the old ones with the 3/4 plywood cases. I am using a PF350 because I have it, but I'd gladly carry a 40 pound head, I'm kinda saving for a 3Pro. I've used some of the really nice lightweight tiny cabs and have to admit that they are sweet, but each 12 inch cab costs as much as my whole rig, and somehow, a wee cab on a mic stand just doesn't seem right to me.
I guess that's why they make vanilla, and chocolate ice cream

 

[Al Kraft]

Would I mind if Ampeg brought out more "innovative" products under Yamaha? Not at all. Would I mind if they don't sound like what I expect out of Ampeg gear? Absolutely. Innovation doesn't mean diddley to me if the sound isn't there.

I think you hit the nail squarely on the head Jimmy. There is something iconic about the Ampeg brand (and sound) and even many of the new innovative things that come out tend to feature their attributes/characterstics benchmarked against the SVT and an 810 or B-15 or whatever. We see this everyday with amps, pedals, effects, etc. even trying to incorprate a "VT" or something else clever in the product name. Feather weight, postage stamp size, and/or integrated cup holders that keep a beer cold won't carry the day if the sound/tone lets the brand down.

I would expect that Yamaha/Ampeg will try to capitalize on being "the original/real deal" while perhaps offering some new features and qualities that people seem to like (e.g. maybe a USB power port, smaller size and weight, variable HPF, or similar things that seem to be liked). No one can honestly say that Ampeg has not been a leader over the years. IMO they have suffered from poor parent companies who didn't appreciate what they had in Ampeg.

I feel that the vision and passion that made Ampeg such a classic is still alive, and I think a sophisticated tech-savvy, financially well-off comapany like Yamaha as an owner is what Ampeg has been needing for a long time.
All the Ampeg products I have owned treated me well and had "that sound" people buy Ampeg for...well maybe not the B-2 so much, but even that had a little Ampeg DNA and delivered gig after gig for many years.

I would not want to be working in an industry with Yamaha/Ampeg as a competitor. I think all the brands are wondering what they will have to compete against in the near future.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

The 3 Pro has two driver tubes for the MOSFET power section. They're preamp tubes by designation, but in that case they're used to drive the power section.

Awesome. I did not know that. Why doesnt everyone do that?

 

[Joecooch]

I'm on my second PF-800. I sold my first 3 years ago and bought a Markbass Little Mark 800. I kept it for less than a month, traded it in and bought another PF-800. The Markbass was ok. It had plenty of power. It just didn't have the low end balls of the Ampeg. Ampeg cabs sound great, they're just to heavy to move around so I've switched to Fender Bassman Neo cabs. I have a 1x15 and a 2x10. I use the 1x15 alone most of the time. Plenty loud and great bottom.

 

[Raw N Low]

I have the awesome SVT8,

I only use it as a power amp patched from a SVP Pro preamp. Played into 2-810e cabs, nothing I ever owned sounds as good.

The preamp on the SVT8 sounds ok and I do like the selectable Ultra Low, but overall it pales in comparison to the SVP preamp.

Maybe if Ampeg made an amp with a 5 tube preamp with drive circuit like the SVP Pro and high power SS amp model versions up to 2 kW, I think it would be a winner!

Hey Fourstringburn - FYI the front of the 8 pro is the SVP-CL preamp minus one tube (3 instead of 4), and is known for being warm and clean, especially for studio recording.
I do agree that the SVP-Pro sounds great. It's probably my favorite of the Ampeg rack mounted pre's.

 

[Jazz Ad]

I don't understand op's point.
Pf series are fine micro heads, the svtdi covers the pedal preamp di thing and the pf50 is an interesting new, 21st century compliant approach to tube amps.

 

[logdrum]

They are executioner amps that can keep an adult corpse submerged and stay there if used as anchor. Don't look at me that way. I just watch all these cop and nacro shows on Netflix.

 

[mmbongo]

Really? That matters? Honestly, it matters to me a lot more that they have a cool look and great sound vs saving 3 lbs by sticking them in project boxes.

It's not the faceplate and cover that weighs so much.

Mesa makes an amp that looks just as cool, is just as solid, sounds just as good, and weighs SIX pounds less. That's very important if you haul your amp in you gigbag or shared space with other gear. Others weigh a good bit less still, I picked out the Mesa because the D800+ is roughly the same size as the PF-800.

 

[40Hz]

I find most of the arguments I’ve heard for innovation and change at Ampeg come largely from non Ampeg owners. It’s almost like they’re saying “I’d happily buy an Ampeg amp if you could just make one that’s more like some other brand of amp.” Wait, what?

Ampeg owners bought their amp to get the Ampeg sound and feel. Changing any of that is only going to alienate Ampeg’s established customer base - and likely not get them many new customers.

I’m all for innovation if it’s to a purpose. But innovation purely for the sake of innovation is largely pointless when it comes to pro and consumer electronics. Because seriously, just what does an instrument amp really need to accomplish? Be reliable, make you louder, and sound good is pretty much it. Anything else that tags along for the ride is almost entirely optional.

 

[bobyoung53]

It's not the faceplate and cover that weighs so much.

Mesa makes an amp that looks just as cool, is just as solid, sounds just as good, and weighs SIX pounds less. That's very important if you haul your amp in you gigbag or shared space with other gear. Others weigh a good bit less still, I picked out the Mesa because the D800+ is roughly the same size as the PF-800.

Are you REALLY complaining about a micro class D head that weighs 6 POUNDS more than another micro head? I'm 66 and still lug 70's SVT heads around and sometimes 810 cabs.

 

[scuzzy]

I don't understand op's point.
Pf series are fine micro heads, the svtdi covers the pedal preamp di thing and the pf50 is an interesting new, 21st century compliant approach to tube amps.

Not owning any, I tend to agree. Wish I had a pf50. It's impossible to predict what all of us will drool over next. I feel they are doing fine, and will continue to do fine.

 

[CaptainWally]

I don't understand op's point.
Pf series are fine micro heads, the svtdi covers the pedal preamp di thing and the pf50 is an interesting new, 21st century compliant approach to tube amps.

Quite right. Later in the thread I acknowledge I forgot about the PF stuff.

I had forgotten about it because it isn't my bag. I like the svt7 pro sound more.

20 years ago I bought my first real amp. The SVT3 pro...which was already an older product when I bought it. 30 lbs. and not much volume. I cant believe they still sell that thing.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Ampeg has stuck to its vision. It makes kick@$$ bass amps. They're heavier and bulkier but most importantly, they have that Ampeg sound. We don't know what they have planned for the future, but in the meantime, I don't think they need our help for marketing new products. They seem to have that under control. Rock on Ampeg!

 

[Raw N Low]

I think you hit the nail squarely on the head Jimmy. There is something iconic about the Ampeg brand (and sound) and even many of the new innovative things that come out tend to feature their attributes/characterstics benchmarked against the SVT and an 810 or B-15 or whatever. We see this everyday with amps, pedals, effects, etc. even trying to incorprate a "VT" or something else clever in the product name. Feather weight, postage stamp size, and/or integrated cup holders that keep a beer cold won't carry the day if the sound/tone lets the brand down.

I would expect that Yamaha/Ampeg will try to capitalize on being "the original/real deal" while perhaps offering some new features and qualities that people seem to like (e.g. maybe a USB power port, smaller size and weight, variable HPF, or similar things that seem to be liked). No one can honestly say that Ampeg has not been a leader over the years. IMO they have suffered from poor parent companies who didn't appreciate what they had in Ampeg.

I feel that the vision and passion that made Ampeg such a classic is still alive, and I think a sophisticated tech-savvy, financially well-off comapany like Yamaha as an owner is what Ampeg has been needing for a long time.
All the Ampeg products I have owned treated me well and had "that sound" people buy Ampeg for...well maybe not the B-2 so much, but even that had a little Ampeg DNA and delivered gig after gig for many years.

I would not want to be working in an industry with Yamaha/Ampeg as a competitor. I think all the brands are wondering what they will have to compete against in the near future.

Very solid points. I do think that Ampeg has done a great job of keeping up and staying relevant. The new PF series amps sound great, and it is good to see pedals making a comeback.

However, IMO - I feel like these product aren't "complete". I feel like Ampeg says, "Here is a class D amp" and they stick an ultra low and ultra high button with a three mid and call it a day. Compared to its predecessors (2Pro, 3pro, 4pro and short lived 5, 6, and 6 variants) the amps are lacking in character. They do feel and look very utilitarian in design. Yes, they are an established name in bass amplification but, I don't wanna see them phone it in either.

Bringing back the PF series was a great move and huge but, it would have done wonders if they could have included a tube pre section, DI level pot, and programmable USB software to fine tune the voicing. In other words make your products stand out.

Ampeg has been known for making very robust and full hybrid amps, however, the 7 pro is the only hybrid that features a single tube in the front end. They basically yanked the front end off the PF series and stuck it on the 7 pro. The headphone input on the PF series makes sense for studio desk project but, IMO not so much on what was supposed to be a tour grade amp (7pro). Besides and extra 200 watts, I can't find a discernible difference between the PF-800 and 7pro.

Ampeg has been known to recycle parts and models into new shells with slight tweaks. I love the company to death but, I'd like to see them go for the kill instead of milking the clock.

 

[Raw N Low]

20 years ago I bought my first real amp. The SVT3 pro...which was already an older product when I bought it. 30 lbs. and not much volume. I cant believe they still sell that thing.

Assuming you had an HLF or any other inefficient cab from that time - probably not. The 3 pro can be moderately loud if your not afraid to crank up the gain. I honestly forgot it was in production still but, that's gotta tell you something.

Try it with a modern cab and you might be surprised.

 

[CaptainWally]

I used it with an EDEN XLT210 and an SWR210. Both were pretty sensitive cabs.

I didn't sound bad, but I quickly moved to the Eden WT after I got it...which, IMO, was a better amp.