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SVTII-Pro Modern Equivalent: HSVT-CL? Other brand?

BowserGriff

BowserGriff

Aug 30, 2024
143
292
#1
Hi all!

20 years ago, my socks were blown off by an SVTII (maybe pro, maybe not) through an 810, and ever since then I've been chasing that sound. An SVTII-Pro has popped up for a REALLY good price pretty close to me; I went and tried it, and omg, it was BLISS!

The problem: It's an older model, the one with the blue writing on the top-right side. I am worried about the maintenance, especially as I don't have a car.

The solution: Find a modern-day equivalent!

I have looked through TB and it seems like the SVT-CL is what I'm looking for. Which is absolute aggression, attack and punch (not fuzz) when I push the gain and dig in, then mellow and soft when I pull my fingers back a bit. Some amps and pedals I've tried just turn to sloppy fuzz when pushing the gain, but these ampegs really hold it together and punch. It feels like even the ampeg is flexing it's muscles to contain the note, and I think it's that feeling of resistance that creates such a powerful punch. Rather than just letting it slide through like other amps and pedals.

After much searching, I have found that tubes are my thing. And after much playing I've loved the Super Bassman and was sure I was going to buy one, but it didn't have that gnarly bite when I dug in. I fancied the AD200 because it's British-made, but I'd struggle to play one before buying it, and because it apparently breaks up quite easily, I'm worried about going into too much fluffy fuzz territory. That's not what I want; I want it to rip my head!

My question: Will the Ampeg HSVT-CL quench my thirst and give me similar to the SVTII? Is there another brand or model that will take my head off? Weight and size don't matter, since I won't be moving it around much. I haven't decided on a cab yet either, so recommendations are greatly appreciated here too. But I can't do an 810, I wish I could, but it is just too big for me.

I appreciate all your replies. Thank you, TB, for giving me awesome stuff to read on my long, boring journeys to work on the Tokyo trains!
 
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#2
Having owned all of these and in that i love a powerful, grinds tone, ii non pro all day and tomorrow.

Now, because of the tube issue and such, I use an svp cl preamp into a svp 1600 poweramp. With a sansamp bass driver in front for some grit. Sounds just as good to me. No more crazy issues to fix (i hope). Alternatively, a tech 21 vt or an ampeg sgt into a poweramp will also get you in the neighborhood.

Imo, and alot of others, the II non pro and after that, the ii pro are at the top of the heap.
 
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#3
wolfkeller said:
Having owned all of these and in that i love a powerful, grinds tone, ii non pro all day and tomorrow.

Now, because of the tube issue and such, I use an svp cl preamp into a svp 1600 poweramp. With a sansamp bass driver in front for some grit. Sounds just as good to me. No more crazy issues to fix (i hope). Alternatively, a tech 21 vt or an ampeg sgt into a poweramp will also get you in the neighborhood.

Imo, and alot of others, the II non pro and after that, the ii pro are at the top of the heap.
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This is why I'm stuck. I love the sound of the pro2, but it's just too old for me to lug around to techs to maintain. It is of course second hand, in a flight case that is falling apart and an extra attachable fan clipped on to the back. It is in need of love, but I need to find a modern alternative.

In your experience, will the heritage SVT-CL give me that muscular grit and punch that I can get by pushing the gain stage of the pro2?
 
#4
I love the CL preamp however it is a very clean sounding preamp so it's very much like a two non-pro. This is why I use a Sands amp in front of it for Grit I don't really think you're going to get grit out of that preamp by itself. I would highly recommend the SVP Pro which is the preamp section of the two pro. Run that into a power amp and you'll be good to go
 
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#6
BowserGriff said:
This is why I'm stuck. I love the sound of the pro2, but it's just too old for me to lug around to techs to maintain. It is of course second hand, in a flight case that is falling apart and an extra attachable fan clipped on to the back. It is in need of love, but I need to find a modern alternative.

In your experience, will the heritage SVT-CL give me that muscular grit and punch that I can get by pushing the gain stage of the pro2?
Click to expand...
Specially for the svt cl, your not going to get it to sound like a 2 pro. You can probably run a pedal, like a sansamp in front for more grit.
 
#7
I've read that the pro2 is like an cl in a rack mount. If the gain and master work in the same way (soundwise), then that's really where I found the sound I like. I wont need anymore grit out of the gain stage.
 
#8
SVT-II, SVT-2 Pro, and SVT-CL are different beasts, at least as far as SVTs can be different.

The 80s SVT-II was basically a single channel from the vintage SVT, add a graphic eq, put it in rackmount format.

The 2 pro adds additional circuits, separate gain and master, the drive control, etc.

The CL is much more simplified circuit. The power amps are basically the same, but the preamps different. Some find the CL more stripped down and polite, for lack of a better term. The 2 pro keeps more of the edge of the older SVTs. I honestly haven’t spent much time with a II or 2 pro, but have owned a CL and currently a vintage model.

A properly maintained SVT from any era would be fine if that’s the amp you want to use. I wouldn’t let age scare me off.

Not sure how good you are at following schematics but the II, 2 Pro, and CL are all available for comparison.

II

2 pro preamp

CL preamp
 
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#9
I dont use the parametric EQ and I found the drive pretty tame because I roll the treble all off (when I added it back, the drive came to life). So really, the sound i like came from the gain almost on full, boosting some mids and tinkering with the mid frequency knob.

Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and buy the amp I actually like 😆

I was hoping there may be an alternative to prevent some maintenance.
 
#10
Fender Super Bassman 300.
It uses the same 6 6550 power tubes.

 

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#11
Yeah, i love the super bassman. Played it loads in the tokyo flagship store and I was set on buying it, until I played the svt and felt ballsy punch. It may be the same inside, but it sounds different. Amazing, but spending that amount of money, it turns out i really like that tight, muscly, snarly sound from the pushed gain stage of the ampeg.
 
#12
BowserGriff said:
Yeah, i love the super bassman. Played it loads in the tokyo flagship store and I was set on buying it, until I played the svt and felt ballsy punch. It may be the same inside, but it sounds different. Amazing, but spending that amount of money, it turns out i really like that tight, muscly, snarly sound from the pushed gain stage of the ampeg.
Click to expand...
Ok, in re-reading you initial posting, you did mention the Fender. Yes, the difference is in the preamp tubes and design. I think, however, that since the cabinet is such an integral part of the overall sound, you are going to have to deal with that and sort it out.
BTW, Tokyo is as amazing as everyone says it is. The jazz CD stores are truly fantastic (at least they were 15 yrs ago).

BTW- you live in Tokyo? And you’re worried about getting an Ampeg tube amp serviced? Really? You live in one of the most highly technologically advanced cities in the world. The EE students at Tokyo Institute of Technology could take one apart and re-assemble it blindfolded. And tell you the function of every electron in the circuit. The schematics have been widely available. There is a huge music scene, and undoubtedly there are service shops. None of the Ampeg heads are high tech; in my opinion, that shouldn’t stop you from what you want.
 
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#16
bass player 53 said:
BTW- you live in Tokyo? And you’re worried about getting an Ampeg tube amp serviced? Really? You live in one of the most highly technologically advanced cities in the world. The EE students at Tokyo Institute of Technology could take one apart and re-assemble it blindfolded. And tell you the function of every electron in the circuit. The schematics have been widely available. There is a huge music scene, and undoubtedly there are service shops. None of the Ampeg heads are high tech; in my opinion, that shouldn’t stop you from what you wawant.
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You'd be surprised. Its not that technologically advanced here. Its all gimmicky stuff. Been here 15 years. It is advanced in ways that you dont see and are specific to manufacturing, not everyday life. Its not that anyway, it's transporting the thing to get it serviced that's the problem. 😆

Mastermold said:
I have two SVT-CL heads that I regularly use and really like, but my tone and goals are likely not yours. They overdrive if you want but if you want “fuzz” I’d use a pedal.
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That's one of the points of the post. Fuzz is definitely not what I want.

FSGrind said:
Just buy the amplifier you want. You’ll spend another 20 years thinking about the amp. Just get it if you love it.
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It had been a long 20 years finding the sound. But the point of the post is to ask the good people of TB if they know how to get it with a beast that I can buy new so that I can possibly mitigate maintenence for a while because the parts and technology are newer. If the amp were new I'd buy it today! You should see it though, broken flight case, detachable fan, it is in need of some love. . . . And I do have a lot to give . . . . Must resist!
 
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