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thoughts on ampeg svt3 pro?

Christian Waiau

Christian Waiau

Jun 16, 2005
3,584
31
las vegas/maui, nevada/hawaii
Disclosures
Endorsing Artist: Spector, Aguilar, Darkglass
#1
ive been debating this issue over and over.. Im going to be joining a band in the next month to come and replacing their current bass player. i currently have a Kustom Groove Bass 1200 and run a Mxr M80 into it.

Im joining a metal band and one thing i dislike about most metal bands is that the bass is lost in the mix... id like to change that with the band im joining..

the current bassist has a ampeg svt3 pro and ampeg 810(dont know what model or anything..) which i was offered to buy from him.

ive heard them play before..and he either doesnt cut through/or the rig isnt loud enough to be heard over the guitarist..

im currently not in the same state so i cant mess with the EQ right now.. but if anyone has expierence with this rig... and comments on it.. they would be much appreciated..

...also.. if i needed more power... would i be able to use the svt3 as a preamp.. and connect a poweramp to it?

i dont have much money.. and originally was going to just buy a power amp like a stewarts world 1.2 and run my m80 straight in to it.
 
#3
the svt 3 pro is a great amp (i have 2 of um), but from what i hear chances are the guy was scooping the eq cutting out all the mids. i play with my mids almost maxed out and a fender jazz bass. it is the most cutting through sound i have heard of any band i have played with. Fyi, i play in a hardcore/screamoish band, but we usually play with metalcore and old school hardcore acts. and yes you can run the 3 pro as a pre and have it work with your other power amp.
 
#7
RAT TAT TAT said:
the svt 3 pro is a great amp (i have 2 of um), but from what i hear chances are the guy was scooping the eq cutting out all the mids. i play with my mids almost maxed out and a fender jazz bass. it is the most cutting through sound i have heard of any band i have played with. Fyi, i play in a hardcore/screamoish band, but we usually play with metalcore and old school hardcore acts. and yes you can run the 3 pro as a pre and have it work with your other power amp.
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i guess i should just give it a try when i get there. the ampeg tone has been growing on me.. so i guesss if all else fails i can slap on a poweramp.
 
#8
Plain Old Me said:
Actually I had it set about flat, going through an Ampeg 810. It was backline at a club, and I have played through it on a few occasions. It just doesn't have the oomph that I can get out of other heads.
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i was typing that message to what "diechris" said about hearing that band use that amp and not having it cut through. to me mids cut through and are rather delicious.. then again, i think the 410 and 115 i have my 3pro going through sounds a bit different than a 810. also, i have played an ampeg classic through an 810 that was backline at a club and it was a horrible sound that gave a bad name to all ampeg products.. for some reason club bass rigs sound like trash regardless of what they are because of the abuse they take.
 
#10
yup, headroom simply put is the amount of power you arent using haha. example: you push a 300 watt amp to 300 watts its gonna get muddy and fart on ya.. but if you have a 1200 watt amp pushing that same 300, your amp isnt working as hard as the 300 watt amp at 100%. the extra 900 watts you arent using on the 1200 watt amp is the headroom..
 
#11
RAT TAT TAT said:
yup, headroom simply put is the amount of power you arent using haha. example: you push a 300 watt amp to 300 watts its gonna get muddy and fart on ya.. but if you have a 1200 watt amp pushing that same 300, your amp isnt working as hard as the 300 watt amp at 100%. the extra 900 watts you arent using on the 1200 watt amp is the headroom..
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k... that was just one of the words i sorta knew what it was... but i wasnt SURE.. thanks!
 
#12
I love Ampeg amps, been using them for years. But I prefer the Classic Line to the Pro Line...

My main head is the all tube power SVT Classic, still the best bass head I've ever played through IMO and I've either tried or owned almost everything. I had a III-PRO for about 5 years as my backup head. Not as loud as the SVT Classic, but it was an adequate backup. Our band at the time played festivals and clubs to 300-6000 people, so I run my amp pretty loud.

I'm not familiar with the Kustom amp. But if you're gonna be fighting a couple LOUD ass guitar players in a death metal band or something the III-PRO might be a little weak.

:hmm:
 
#14
rayzak said:
What is it that you don't like about the Kustom?
IMHO, you'd probably be better off adding a 410 cabinet to the 210 you already have.
I love Ampeg. However, I think the Kustom would get much louder.
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i love my Kustom. the thing is that im making a move to nevada from hawaii. once im there i'll be using the svt3 and i was wondering if that could be a better choice then the kustom. if it is... then i would sell the kustom before i left to have money for the move. the svt3 i could pay over over time

i think ive decided the 210 is definately staying here..

i guess the plan now.. is keep the Kustom... use the svt3 while im there.. then save money and ship the Kustom later.. maybe keep the 810.. but id like a 410 212 ideally..
 
#15
daveonbass said:
I love Ampeg amps, been using them for years. But I prefer the Classic Line to the Pro Line...

My main head is the all tube power SVT Classic, still the best bass head I've ever played through IMO and I've either tried or owned almost everything. I had a III-PRO for about 5 years as my backup head. Not as loud as the SVT Classic, but it was an adequate backup. Our band at the time played festivals and clubs to 300-6000 people, so I run my amp pretty loud.

I'm not familiar with the Kustom amp. But if you're gonna be fighting a couple LOUD ass guitar players in a death metal band or something the III-PRO might be a little weak.

:hmm:
Click to expand...

i think i might just keep the kustom for now. if i had the money.. having that classic would be awesome.
 
#16
just a little note
playing live with a metal band can be hard to sound right

the sound when you are by yourself will likely be nearly hideous to your ears but when the band is cranking you will need it to cut through. its tough to find the balance. Ive not heard to many metal bands that have a bass player that cuts through at all.
remember mids cut though
 
#20
I play metal. I had the SVT-3, its good only for playing home, or add it in a bigger rig. Mine was burned out after a week! I ve took it back and replaced it with SWR head.
Stick with the Kustom, you can gett better and louder sounds that the SVT, if you need more power then you will just need new/more speaker cabinets. Its simple as that :)
 

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