Trading my SVT-CL for a Mesa 400+

Having owned a Mesa 400+ And Now owning a 75 SVT I can tell you you won't get that fat ampeg sound with the Mesa . Much cleaner and leaner the lows are there but not as fat and classic rock sounding as with the Ampeg. just My opinion. Not bashing either amp Just stating what differences I heard between the two amps. YMMV

 

I would keep the Ampeg. The only thing i would rather have other than the CL is the original VR or maybe a Sunn 300T bass.

 

I listened... I prefer my SVT with my bands, but I'd trully expect my 400+ to work better If I was playing in yours.

 

I like your band.

 

What cabinets do you use?

 

I've had 'em both and I spent my entire time with the 400+ trying to make it sound like the Ampeg. I wouldn't recommend it given "The SVT is the nicest head I've played through".

I favor the plug and play tone simplicity of the CL over all the tone options of the Mesa; 2 different pre sections, push/pull this and that tone controls, etc. And, the tone stack of the 400+ is much different then that of the Ampeg.

Plus, re-tubing the power section is 1/2 the cost.

 

Try your SVT wih another Cab (a Mesa Boogie cab)
The typical ampeg sound is created by the ampeg-cab
More than by the head
Just Try!!

 

The best sounding tube setup I have ever heard to date is a Mesa 400+ played through (2) Mesa 115 cabs. To my ears that setup just slammed and did everything well.
That same head through other cabs...............not so much

I think your problem you are having with your current Ampeg setup is your cab selection, too me, the best cab to use with a Ampeg SVT-CL is a Ampeg 810.
See if there is a store that will let you use/rent a 810 for a live show and see if it does the trick for you, playing one in a store probably will not give you the results you are looking for but live is where it is at.

 

Try a Bergie cab...maybe?

 

Yer welcome, (I liked your band and playing) The fact that your constantly tweaking your amp tells me your definitely uncomfortable with at least one item of your gear...

I can tell you I also felt the need to constantly tweak away at my old SVT-Classics's knobs and now almost always leave my 70's (and my II non-pro's) tone knobs centered and not even think about it.

For me its not so much a tone preference, but I still almost always prefer my Mesa's for the busy quick playing styles usualy necessary with faster tempo bands (like yours) and my Ampegs for slower to mid tempo music when my notes have time to sustain longer and my playing style can be more grove oriented.

 

Don't sweat it. You've got a chance to hear it first. Nice move on your part.
Those heads are two of my favorites i've ever played through(I own the 400+). But sound very different. I think you'll love it as well. But more than the SVT? Only your ears can tell.
And IMO, don't get into the cab-switching game. To expensive. Try it through your cabs and go home with whichever one you prefer. Either way, you're doing pretty damned well for yourself

 

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-303609.html


I love my 400+ much better than the svt's I've played, but its all relative to your style and taste...re-tubing a 400+ is not that much more expensive than re-tubing a svt some cases might be a little cheaper.

 

I've owned both the SVT-CL and the Bass 400+, and actually got the 400+ by trading the SVT for it. After lots of messing around with both amps through my old '91 Ampeg 8x10, I'd probably say I prefer the tone of the SVT. The 400+ was incredibly flexible, but had this ridiculous high-mid presence that kind of hurt my ears. The SVT was simple and straightforward, but the tone was very warm and full. Volume-wise, I'd say they're about the same. Some folks will say the 400+ seems louder, but that's because of the in-your-face high-mids it pushes out. Also, while they cost the same to retube, the SVT is easier because of the adjustable bias. With the Mesa, you'd need to get bias pots installed.

The one functional advantage the Bass 400+ has over the SVT is that it can run 8-ohm loads. However, if you don't need that function, it doesn't matter.

Also, Mesa has a history of poor solder joints in tube amps. Ask PBG about this, he knows way more about it.

I loved the SVT-CL, but I think I would have been happier with an SVT-II or 2Pro due to the graphic equalizers and rackmountability. Same basic tone idea, though.

 

The Mesa does not have to have Bias Pots installed to be retubed it is set bias and does not need to be adjusted according to mesa.

 

Having gone from the SVT2nonpro to a 400+ to save weight (the Mesa is considerably lighter) I can relate to this discussion - I spent the first six months trying to make the 400+ sound like the SVT. It won't do it, but eventually you do master the Mesa's tone controls and then it is pretty much plain sailing. There are heaps of threads on this, but for me the answer was the 12AU7 driver tube swap, using both inputs and understanding that flat is 2-10-2 (bass-mid-treble) and using that as my main setting. The bass control is almost sub bass and it is easy to overuse it IME. Oh, and getting a Bergantino NV610.

 

Mesa's also pretty full of it. You don't need bias pots installed, but in that case you are forced to buy their not-so-good-sounding tubes. Also, it's pretty common knowledge that you need to rebias when you change tubes, and even every once in a while with the same tubes.

Without bias pots, you need to keep buying tubes from them every couple of years or so. They keep raking money in this way. Search for some of Psycho Bass Guy's posts on this issue. When you keep your amp properly biased, tubes can last for decades.