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SVT... Dislike?

#81
JimmyM said:
SVT-350 is not my favorite amp ever. That series of amps is more geared toward those who don't like the usual Ampeg stuff. They're just OK for me. I've used them and gotten good tones out of them, but it's certainly not typical of what you usually get with Ampegs.
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Interesting. I should amend my reaction to say that my experience with that rig was initially positive when I was playing with a poppy, psychedelic indie band, but as I moved onto harder, heavier material, it simply could not compete with multiple guitars. It had a compressed flavor that was easily swallowed up by a Marshall stack. Volume-wise, I also found myself cranking the volume to be heard in circumstances that my Hartke rig would handle on '3'.

Hopefully I will get to experience a more classic Ampeg setup... I assumed that the SVT was going to give me THE Ampeg sound. It was a nice amp, the guy who bought it from me sounded great through it.
 
#82
DiabolusInMusic said:
I do have some dislike for the SVT because it isn't your basses tone it is the SVT's tone.
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This is true for every amp but people tend to forget it when they talk about 'boutique' amps. I've listened to all the TB hype of 2009-2010 about MarkBass being 'transparent' when in-fact it has terribly boosted mids around the 350-400hz, making it honky and just bad for anything other than honky jazz.
 
#83
Trying out different tube-powered SVT's is kinda like test-driving several cars all the same model and year.
(or even like comparing hamburgers from different restaurants)

Some will sound, drive and taste better (or worse) than the others...

So if anyone judges their SVT experience from just briefly trying one out, (many times before its even fully warmed up...) or with just one particular cab, or playing with just one band, or even in just one room/stage, they dont really know what they're talking about... And that includes those that loved them or hated them.
 
#84
anderbass said:
Trying out different tube-powered SVT's is kinda like test-driving several cars all the same model and year.
(or even like comparing hamburgers from different restaurants)

Some will sound, drive and taste better (or worse) than the others...

So if anyone judges their SVT experience from just briefly trying one out, (many times before its even fully warmed up...) with just one particular cab, playing with just one band, or even in just one room/stage, they dont really know what they're talking about...
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Hopefully it's seen a tech recently!!!
 
#88
JimmyM said:
SVT-350 is not my favorite amp ever. That series of amps is more geared toward those who don't like the usual Ampeg stuff. They're just OK for me. I've used them and gotten good tones out of them, but it's certainly not typical of what you usually get with Ampegs.
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There really ought to be a legal injunction to prevent Ampeg from putting "SVT" on any of its all solidstate heads.
I had one of those back when I didn't know any better. Terrible amp. It would sound muddy and indistinct with the limiter engaged. And the EQ was awful!
 
#89
BullHorn said:
This is true for every amp but people tend to forget it when they talk about 'boutique' amps. I've listened to all the TB hype of 2009-2010 about MarkBass being 'transparent' when in-fact it has terribly boosted mids around the 350-400hz, making it honky and just bad for anything other than honky jazz.
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We've seen the LMII on a scope and it's nearly flat all the way up the spectrum with knobs at noon. It's the cabs with the honk built in. Also, the SVT stuff is not true. I can clearly hear the difference between different basses with an SVT, more so than any other amp I own.
 
#93
Like Jimmy said, the Markbass heads are flat, their cabs are voiced low mid heavy. I find I have to change my EQ when at home through my Epifani than when I am at practice through my Markbass cabinet.

I also will admit that every head adds a little colour, but I find the "modern" sounding heads offer a more accurate representation of a bass.

I also agree that SVT should only be on actual SVT's... ever used an SVT-1000? Ugh. On first sight, I saw SVT and thought, sweet this should cut the mix well... then I got close and saw a graphic EQ... :confused: and then I played a muddy set... major disappointment.
 
#94
anderbass said:
So if anyone judges their SVT experience from just briefly trying one out, (many times before its even fully warmed up...) or with just one particular cab, or playing with just one band, or even in just one room/stage, they dont really know what they're talking about... And that includes those that loved them or hated them.
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Well said. And this rings true for other brands as well
 
#97
RaginRog said:
I wasn't a fan either...used someone's at a gig and just told them it was great- but it just wasn't for me. I haven't needed days to determine whether or not I liked my tone playing other manufacturer/brand amps.
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I'm sort of like that as well. I give stuff about 30 seconds to impress me. If they get past it, I may give it a couple more minutes. Why should I give it any more than that? I know what I like. My first Ampeg rig took about 5 seconds to impress me (73 V4b/810). That's all I needed ;)
 

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