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what head is the better deal?

D

dersali

Guest
Apr 25, 2011
15
10
#1
I have a hydrive 410 and am selling my LH1000 for 1 of these 2:
Ampeg SVT4 Pro (my head and $400) used and its from 2005
Genz Benz GBE1200 ($600) used from 2011

I'm liking what i've read on here about the GB but just wanted to make sure which might be best for longevity. I play heavy rock and metal and keep having tube issues with my Harkte.
 
#2
dersali said:
I have a hydrive 410 and am selling my LH1000 for 1 of these 2:
Ampeg SVT4 Pro (my head and $400) used and its from 2005
Genz Benz GBE1200 ($600) used from 2011

I'm liking what i've read on here about the GB but just wanted to make sure which might be best for longevity. I play heavy rock and metal and keep having tube issues with my Harkte.
Click to expand...

Google each amp and "problem" or "problems" After reading related threads on about each amps problems...if they are about equal, base the decision on which amp you think sounds best (best to play both amps if you can).

The GBE1200 is my favorite amp out of a fairly large collection. I am pretty sure it is a very robust and reliable design. The only drawback is it is heavy by today's standards, and also its natural voice is pretty HiFi. You can dirty it up by wanking hard on the tube channel gain and EQ controls and blending the tube and FET channel. Rather than channel switching, I prefer running the amp with the channels blended like this. I find it pretty easy to get a big thick low end with a bit of grind and bloom that remains articulate and focused. I love the way this amp sounds and feels, but you may not. The amp has a lot of power.

Never played an SVT4-Pro. But I own vintage SVTs and an SVT8-Pro...awesome amps! With sufficient knob twiddling you can get the GBE1200 in the ballpark.
 
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#3
Wasnex said:
Google each amp and "problem" or "problems" After reading related threads on about each amps problems...if they are about equal, base the decision on which amp you think sounds best (best to play both amps if you can).

The GBE1200 is my favorite amp out of a fairly large collection. I am pretty sure it is a very robust and reliable design. The only drawback is it is heavy by today's standards, and also its natural voice is pretty HiFi. You can dirty it up by wanking hard on the tube channel gain and EQ controls and blending the tube and FET channel. Rather than channel switching, I prefer running the amp with the channels blended like this. I find it pretty easy to get a big thick low end with a bit of grind and bloom that remains articulate and focused. I love the way this amp sounds and feels, but you may not. The amp has a lot of power.

Never played an SVT4-Pro. But I own vintage SVTs and an SVT8-Pro...awesome amps! With sufficient knob twiddling you can get the GBE1200 in the ballpark.
Click to expand...

The SVT 4 is sugnifigantly heavier than the GB.

@agedhorse might be able to shed some light on the 1200.
 
#6
Ya I've done tons of research and sadly can't play em...the GB is in another province and just wanted to see which was a better deal...sadly to the GB was a trade in last January so sitting @ long and mcquaid for almost a year. It would be shipped to me and the ampeg is in another city.
 
#11
How much is your amp worth. Seems like you could get a svt 4 for not much more than what you have to give in cash.
Here's one with 2 cabs and a warwick bass,
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#18
The ampeg SVT4 PRO has a whole ton of options on it. I would call it more along the lines of a professional touring amp than some other models. It is an absolute tank.

GB amps are great too but I couldn't get their tone into ampeg territory. I ended up going back to Ampeg, but that's a personal taste thing.
 
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