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svt 3 vs 7

tweety

tweety

May 7, 2013
35
2
fairdale, ky
#1
I currently run a svt 7 pro and love the tone, but im having reliability issues. Do you think the 3 pro would be similar in volume and tone? I know I should just step to the 4 pro, but theres a 3 pro for $300 locally and its got me wondering. Im going for the clean, deep, thick tone that I enjoy now running the 7 pro through the 4 10 hlf.
 
#3
I purchased a 3 Pro second hand and run it with a GK Neo 410. I have no experience with a 7 Pro to compare it to, but I can say its a great head with many tonal possibilities. Having the graphic EQ and the tube gain knob which adjusts the plate voltage to the driver tubes really gets you a world of sounds. Haven't had any issues with it failing and I've played a ton of gigs with it.
 
#5
Pro 3 vs Pro 7
With mesa 1X15 Cab

999369 said:
Ampeg SVT 7 Pro
attachment.jpg
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#7
Im not needing more volume, just hoping the 3 pro would comfortably get me where I am now. I had heard that the 3 pro was pretty growly and not as clean. I was seeing what you guts thought of them. Im sure the pf 800 is a great amp, but I cant mount it in the rack. So $300 is a pretty good deal then from what you guys have said
 
#9
tweety said:
Im not needing more volume, just hoping the 3 pro would comfortably get me where I am now. I had heard that the 3 pro was pretty growly and not as clean. I was seeing what you guts thought of them. Im sure the pf 800 is a great amp, but I cant mount it in the rack. So $300 is a pretty good deal then from what you guys have said
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I can get quite a bit of growl and dirt out of mine setting the gain high. I keep the gain at about 2:30.
 
#10
tweety said:
I currently run a svt 7 pro and love the tone, but im having reliability issues. Do you think the 3 pro would be similar in volume and tone? I know I should just step to the 4 pro, but theres a 3 pro for $300 locally and its got me wondering. Im going for the clean, deep, thick tone that I enjoy now running the 7 pro through the 4 10 hlf.
Click to expand...
Just to touch on this again, I made it to guitar center this evening and they had a SVT 7 Pro and a GK Neo 410 cab. I grabbed a stingray off the wall and had a small jam session. IMHO my set up, which is the exact same except a SVT 3 Pro head, sounds more "tubey" and warm. The 7 seemed a bit sterile to me. The 3 seems to have a bit more character and responds more to my playing.
 
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#11
MoeTown1986 said:
Just to touch on this again, I made it to guitar center this evening and they had a SVT 7 Pro and a GK Neo 410 cab. I grabbed a stingray off the wall and had a small jam session. IMHO my set up, which is the exact same except a SVT 3 Pro head, sounds more "tubey" and warm. The 7 seemed a bit sterile to me. The 3 seems to have a bit more character and responds more to my playing.
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I get it. Some folks do feel that way. I've AB'd a 4 Pro and 7 Pro out of the same cab and there's something to the sound of amps with those bigass transformers, and a smattering of tubes doesn't hurt either. I still dig the lightweighters, though. To me, their differences are like the differences between a tube amp running dead clean and a tube amp being pushed slightly hard and getting into the sag without getting into full distortion. Of course, neither is an exact duplicate for those sounds, but that's how they break down to me. The 3 Pro is pretty adept at doing both, although I'd say it's closer to the 4 Pro in tone and feel than the 7 Pro. Used to have one...when micros first came out I swore I was done with trad SS amps, but I kind of wish I'd have kept the 3 Pro now.
 
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#12
JimmyM said:
I get it. Some folks do feel that way. I've AB'd a 4 Pro and 7 Pro out of the same cab and there's something to the sound of amps with those bigass transformers, and a smattering of tubes doesn't hurt either. I still dig the lightweighters, though. To me, their differences are like the differences between a tube amp running dead clean and a tube amp being pushed slightly hard and getting into the sag without getting into full distortion. Of course, neither is an exact duplicate for those sounds, but that's how they break down to me. The 3 Pro is pretty adept at doing both, although I'd say it's closer to the 4 Pro in tone and feel than the 7 Pro. Used to have one...when micros first came out I swore I was done with trad SS amps, but I kind of wish I'd have kept the 3 Pro now.
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Trust me, I'm not knocking the 7. It's still a killer amp with great Ampeg tone. I pushed it for a minute or two while in GC and it's definitely a beast. A lightweight one at that.
 
#13
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I've owned an SVT3 Pro, and it was one of the worst amps I've ever owned...just a gutless, horrible amp. The 7Pro is much better sounding, but I can't comment on reliability as I've not gigged one much...I've had many SVT3 Pro's in backline situations and do NOT recommend them at all. The 7Pro, 4Pro and a few others sound awfully good to me :)
 
#14
dukeorock said:
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I've owned an SVT3 Pro, and it was one of the worst amps I've ever owned...just a gutless, horrible amp. The 7Pro is much better sounding, but I can't comment on reliability as I've not gigged one much...I've had many SVT3 Pro's in backline situations and do NOT recommend them at all. The 7Pro, 4Pro and a few others sound awfully good to me :)
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Well it depends on the tubes inside, many (or most) of them have Sovtek 12AX7WA / GT 12AX7R inside and those tubes ARE PURE HORRIBLE!
3PRO with good tubes is my "to go" amp, tho currently I use PF-350 / SVP-PRO setup I WILL have 3PRO and it will be the last amp I'll ever need.
7PRO is amazing but I don't need that much power and I prefer good old and simple construnction - easy and cheap to repair with anyone with toy solder machine.
Stock 7PRO have JJ ECC83S (AKA Ruby) - they are fair, but I think the amp sounds WAY better with EHX tube.
 
#15
dukeorock said:
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I've owned an SVT3 Pro, and it was one of the worst amps I've ever owned...just a gutless, horrible amp. The 7Pro is much better sounding, but I can't comment on reliability as I've not gigged one much...I've had many SVT3 Pro's in backline situations and do NOT recommend them at all. The 7Pro, 4Pro and a few others sound awfully good to me :)
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Say whaaaaaaaaaaaat?!
 
#16
dukeorock said:
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I've owned an SVT3 Pro, and it was one of the worst amps I've ever owned...just a gutless, horrible amp. The 7Pro is much better sounding, but I can't comment on reliability as I've not gigged one much...I've had many SVT3 Pro's in backline situations and do NOT recommend them at all. The 7Pro, 4Pro and a few others sound awfully good to me :)
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I didn't think it was one of the worst. But I sure didn't bond with it. Owned one for 6 months. .. It was THE amp that made me go back to a full tube St up again :woot::woot::woot::woot:
 
#17
mazdah said:
Well it depends on the tubes inside, many (or most) of them have Sovtek 12AX7WA / GT 12AX7R inside and those tubes ARE PURE HORRIBLE!
3PRO with good tubes is my "to go" amp, tho currently I use PF-350 / SVP-PRO setup I WILL have 3PRO and it will be the last amp I'll ever need.
7PRO is amazing but I don't need that much power and I prefer good old and simple construnction - easy and cheap to repair with anyone with toy solder machine.
Stock 7PRO have JJ ECC83S (AKA Ruby) - they are fair, but I think the amp sounds WAY better with EHX tube.
Click to expand...
My 3 pro came with JJ's in it and it's pure bliss to my ears. I believe it to be the last amp I'll need. I'm afraid to try different tubes because I'm so pleased with what's in it.
 
#18
It really is a matter of personal taste...I've played through a handful of. 3Pros and disliked them all, so I must be looking for something different. That's why they make different colored shirts :)

For electric, I'm currently running a JGR 6SL7 pre and a power amp. Very pleased!
 

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