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The Cars - Ampeg Maniacs

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Basslice, Apr 20, 2012.

  1. Apr 20, 2012 #1
    Basslice

    Basslice Supporting Member

    May 11, 2008
    Western Massachusetts
    I was watching some YouTube videos from 1978 and see that the Cars used Ampeg amps. From what I can see, the whole band used them, bassist, guitarnerds, keyboards, everyone. VT22s, VT44s, SVTs. Yowza!

    The Ampeg Wall of Sound!

     
  2. Apr 20, 2012 #2
    swsmusic

    swsmusic

    Sep 23, 2010
    Newnan, GA
    Now that's some awesomeness x2!!
     
  3. Apr 20, 2012 #3
    rodl2005

    rodl2005

    Jun 1, 2005
    Tasmania, Australia
    They did have good taste
     
  4. Apr 20, 2012 #4
    Edword

    Edword

    Jun 23, 2005
    Detroitish
    If you like that, check out the movie "Gimme Shelter". Wyman, Richards and Taylor all used SVTs on that tour.
     
  5. Apr 21, 2012 #5
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    Ampeg guitar amps were pretty popular in the 70's, but the guy who owned Ampeg in the 80's couldn't seem to make anything decent but SVT's, and they lost the guitar market and never could quite get it back. I'm seeing them more often these days, though. Not a lot, but I think they get more appreciation for having a unique non-Fender/non-Marshall sound these days.
     
  6. Apr 21, 2012 #6
    rodl2005

    rodl2005

    Jun 1, 2005
    Tasmania, Australia
    Kings of Leon guitarist uses a heap of Ampeg gtr amps. Gets a fine sound.
     
  7. Apr 21, 2012 #7
    lowend1

    lowend1

    Feb 15, 2005
  8. Apr 22, 2012 #8
    Basslice

    Basslice Supporting Member

    May 11, 2008
    Western Massachusetts
    I recall reading that guitarists in the 70's were impressed by the power of Ampegs, but they were too clean. Loud and not as prone to overdriving as say some Marshalls and Fenders. Also, the video that this came from was a gig they had in England, I believe, and perhaps the amps were supplied by a touring company and not amps they brought with them? I don't know, but it is still pretty cool!
     
  9. Apr 22, 2012 #9
    Basslice

    Basslice Supporting Member

    May 11, 2008
    Western Massachusetts
  10. Apr 22, 2012 #10
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    This is very true. Marshall was here in the 70's but it wasn't all over the place like it is now. They had some crap distribution deal from an English company that wanted a ridiculous price for Marshall gear over here. And yet, plenty of folks paid it, just not nearly at the level of what happened in the 80's when Jim Marshall got out of his contract with the other company.

    And yeah, Ampegs are harder to get to break up than Marshalls and Fenders. But they do break up and sound great, so instead of a V4 and two 412's, just back down to a Reverberocket or Jet and you're set.
     
  11. Apr 22, 2012 #11
    RickenBoogie

    RickenBoogie

    Jul 22, 2007
    Dallas, TX
    I even liked the re-issue Jets from a few years back. They get pretty loud before they break up, and it's a different kind of grind than say a Fender or Vox. Cool amps.
     
  12. Apr 22, 2012 #12
    nukes_da_bass

    nukes_da_bass Inactive

    Feb 19, 2006
    west suburban boston
    I owned a LAB amp that Elliot Eason (sic) owned complete with a flight case. Thing was heavy as hell! Flight case had "the cars" logo on it- that was the last guitar amp I owned before dedicating myself to bass.
    No Ampeg content but, thread was about The Cars amps so I thought I'd throw down.