SVT4-Pro vs. Mesa 400+

I dont think you would be "downgrading" if you went from SVT4Pro to Mesa 400+

Tube amps have a habit of sounding 3 or 4 times louder than an SS amp of the same wattage

 

I use a mesa 400+ into a 1516be cab and love it. I find the tone just incredible, twinned with a graphite necked bass there is a really great mix of modern and old going on. Never tried that ampeg but you may get more volume by decreasing the input vol. and using more power amp vol. I found the mesa much louder this way - with the input on about 8 it bottomed out when slapping low D and D#. Now the input is on 5, I get more total volume, and have never had it past 3.5 so far. The sound is just beautifully detailed and complex.

Good luck
Chris

 

+1

 

Mesa-man here....

 

I used an SVT-4 for a few years. Use Mesa 400 (with KT-88's)now, never looked back. It isnt quite as bottomless power as the SVT, but probably equivalent in sonic output to a 1000 watt ss amp.

 

In a fair fight, the Mesa has a longer reach, it can get to the SVT quicker, and those guns...they pack a powerful hook. Now on the other side of things, that SVT had a great lightning jab and knows how to protect the important parts...They've both had great fight training, and are in top shape for their weight class.

I say the fight would go maybe 8 rounds, they'll both get bloody and bruised...and then the SVT will get disqualified for not being a 'real' SVT nor sounding quite like the old ones, and the 400+ will take the belt.



ps. The 400+ is louder than you think.

 

It is in no way a downgrade going to the 400+. At best it's an even trade. IMO, the Mesa is an SVT killer.

 

But what about that 1516 cab? It can be a tough one to get a focused tone out of. Lots of drivers. Lots of crossover points. If its on the floor (which it about would have to be due to the weight), and near a wall or worse yet a corner.......whew, comb filtering for days.

But man it looks cool. One (or more) of each driver........Like a Whitman's Sampler chocolate box.

http://www.bancroftcyberfair.com/foods/Images/holdingcandy.jpg

 

I own an SVT-4Pro, and I love it. It's a mack truck. The Mesa is like a sleek sports car, a blast to drive! What I'm saying is, apples and oranges. The two amps do what they do very well, IMHO they just don't do the same thing. I would be happy with either one, and I am!

 

I think that the 400+ is a step above the 4-Pro, more equivilant to a SVT 2-Pro in the Ampeg line. I have played through a 4-Pro live, didn't like it. My 400+ has got more headroom, and sounds better. Although, when I tried the 4-Pro, it was through a crappy Ampeg 810 with no low end, and I use my Mesa with a Bergantino 610.

 

Here is mine!

 

Nice!!!

 

Shame about the carpet

 

Hey, leave the guy alone about his carpet! I think it's fine!

[Edit: Wait, you are giving yourself heck over the carpet! Ooops. Maybe that means I should look "inside myself", too... ]

Tom.

P.S.
I've caught heck for my basement carpet in several threads.

 

Its MY carpet!

 

Yeah, I missed that the first time, sorry. But still, it is better than this carpet!





Tom.

 

I agree about the carpet! But that bass makes it all worth looking at!

 

Yes that is nasty carpet. The main disadvantage of mine however is that you can drop ANYTHING on it. a CD, a lead, spare valves, and it gets lost in the array of colour. I am convinved bad carpet = better fundimental tone however. In the lounge my rig loses some of the high end definition too.