Time to step it up - ALL TUBE

the SVT is the warm vintage sound, the Fender is the Clean and the 400+ can do both, but not as well as the other two... Or thats what I've heard anyways.

From experience, the Ampeg overdrives easily, for nice grit, but is very big and warm. The 400+ is also supposed to be able to get a good overdriven tone, while the Fender has a separate distortion channel, which is more harsh than the other two...

 

Alot of guys say they can keep their SVT CL clean at high volumes, but I haven't been able to. The 400+ is sorta the middle ground between the Fender and the Ampeg. I've heard the Fender is supposed to be one of the closer all tube heads to a Solid state clean tone...

 

Well it depends on your definition of high volume but if you use a sensitive speaker cab and keep the master on ten, using the gain to set the volume, an svtcl is quite loud before it starts to break up.

 

Yeah, the Mesa'a are "Dirty Clean", more highs than an SVT, but not clean when pushed...think Paul D' Amour on early TOOL..kinda like a leaner, meaner Ampeg...

Oops...I just read this: "Im going for just a very warm very clean big "vintagish" type sound"

...Vintage? Get the Ampeg, man.....and this is coming from a Mesa fan..

 

Im just wondering why you are looking at the SVT CL ? I would suggest the SVT-II non-pro model, this can be gotten for cheaper second hand on ebay, is rackmountable, and IMO sounds better than the current SVT all tube heads

Altho, if you want to go all the way, get a vintage SVT, blueline if possible ('69 and early 70's)

 

I use a SVT Classic but I also like the SVT II, both are very good specially for Rock. Also try to check out the Traynor all tube head (yb200?).

 

The amps are ED'ed differently. The SVT has more mid character while the 400+ doesn't. I don't think any of your 3 choices are better or worse, just tonally different. I personally think that the SVT can get honky sounding easily and tends to get some crunch easily...while the 400+ is harder to get crunch and likes to stay cleaner louder.

 

hey im also in the same situation, looking to buy an all tube head, but i am also looking at the marshall VBA 400...any thoughts?... ATM the sound that is most me is the SVT, ie dirty and middy with balls. BUT, i cbf waiting for one to come along second hand so will just buy new and an svt new in australia is 5000...after haggling thats like 3700 or something...still a bit much for me. SO should i work the extra time for the svt or mesa or buy the fender or the marshall...btw if you can make another suggestion i would like it.

Ohh, i played the new svt today...the svt-cl. I liked it but i think it lacks something, thats another reason im turned off the svt. great tone i mean, it has what i'm looking for...but not.

and when it comes to dirt, i must say i dont really enjoy the overdrive channel on tube heads. My v8 had one and i didn't like it and the fender has one and i dont like it, if i went with the fender i would only use the first channel

anyway...I'll stop for now

 

Yorkville YBA200...'nuff said

 

Just sold my svt cl....to "dirty" for me. If you turn it up, it distorts....no other way to say it.....now I played with lots of bottom, so if your style is more "mids"...then it would distort less...remember BASS takes power.......

 

I know what you mean about the CL seeming to lack something, i thought that about the 2-Pro aswell, if the SVT is more your sound maybe you'd be best in the long run waiting for one to pop up second hand?

Altho, ive heard good things about the marshall VBA400's

I meant to ask you about this last time i saw you posting it, just wondering, could it have been cheapy stock tubes?

 

Well then of those three, I would suggest the 400+. I have been able to get some really good clean tones out of my 400.

Other amps to consider would be any old all-tube Trace Elliot head (Valve series, V4/V6/V8, VA series), which really excel at good clean tone, or if you have the dough to drop, the Sadowsky SA200 is the finest sounding "clean" tube amp I have heard (only Trace gets close, IMHO).

Tom.

 

Bah, you took all of my suggestions . Maybe that Jackson Ampworks amp will be ready soon too, that sounds awesome, you gonna buy one Tom?

 

It is looking that way!

 

The 400+ is mighty. Mighty. It's huge sounding and built like a tank. It stays clean well into the ears-bleeding range.

 

The Fender is the same as the Sunn 300T which I used to own. Also used to own the 400+ (and the SVTII Pro). Liked them all. I'd say the Fender is able to keep a clean, clear tone the loudest, but it is also the most versatile of the 3 if you like to mess around with EQ settings and distortion. The SV CLs I have played in music stores had sort of a vintage sound I guess, but it was a ho-hum boomy vintage sound, not remarkable. Of the 3 you list I'd say Boogie for a clean vintage sound that IS remarkable, but I liked my SVT II and many say the older non-pro is even better.