What's so special about the SVT?

[FirewalZ]

I never jumped on the Ampeg bandwagon….in the early days, they were pretty much one of the few options available. I’ll admit I’ve never really sat down with one and really tried it, but the size, weight and expense of replacing tubes had removed Ampeg from my list a while back. However, I did have an svp pro preamp when they came out, it was super noisy and I never bonded with it.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I briefly owned an SVT and (gasp!) traded it away, and it wasnt that it didnt sound good, it's that it didnt sound Enough better than amps 1/3 the cost and 1/4 the weight to put up with the hassle of lugging it around. It may be the ideal backline amp, a stationary boat mooring that never moves, but schlepping it around sucks. Time marches on, there are lots of amps that sound as good or better now at a fraction of the weight. We are living in a bass gear renaissance, no need to rupture a disc to get a great bass tone.

 

[BarfanyShart]

I always had trouble when an SVT was on the backline. It was my nightmare. I don't know why some people sounded good and I didn't, but that's just what it was. I probably should have hunted one down in a music shop or something and acquainted myself with it better, but I didn't.

 

[lizardking837]

The question you are asking is some serious navel gazing IMHO . It's sort of like asking, why do I like a specific color. Why we like or dislike the SVT and/or 810 tends to be more subjective. I personally can't stand playing through the 810, even though I do agree it's a significant part of the sound. However, IMHO objectively the SVT and 810 are both fabulous designs...it's just not really "my" sound.

The SVT has some subjectively nice qualities. Overall it was originally designed as a high powered and essentially HiFi amp. Keep in mind the amp came out in 1969. The frequency response can be dialed in fairly close to flat, but there is a very gentle and wide band hump centered at about 400hz. I think this hump is part of the SVT sound, and something I call a low mid push. I also hear a certain grindy quality in the mids when and SVT is pushed a little bit. Selecting the 800hz mid control with a bit of mid boost seems to really bring this quality out.

Many SVT inspired pedals seem to produce a tone that is similar to engaging the Deep switch and cranking the amp way beyond it's 300W power rating. Not a sound I would tend to use. If you don't know, engaging the Deep switch actually creates a huge/deep mid cut. IMHO this notch is way to extreme for my taste.

Agreed, I think the Sansamp solved this a bit. IIRC it has a hump around 400 hz and then a dip right around 500ish to mimic the 8 x 10. Running mine as a stompbox, with the bass cut slightly (and some slight EQing on my amp) is THE bass sound I have in my head when I comes to one of my bands. It makes us sound bigger than just 3 people.

 

[johnpbass]

As others have said, it's not for everyone. As Wasnex mentioned, it was actually designed to produce a powerful clean tone. That aspect of the tone is greatly overlooked, IMO, and my favorite tone from the amp.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

OBLIGATORY I AM NOT TROLLING MESSAGE

I don't have strong opinions about amps. I think all moderately priced amps do a fine job doing what they were built for: amplifying your signal. Sure, I prefer some over others, but I'll be happy with whatever (I'll be giving the Aguilar Tone Hammer another chance this weekend now that I understand its drive and gain controls better, if you've been following that thread).

Except for the SVT.

Whenever I plug into an SVT I feel like I'm plugging directly into a shrieking panel of stainless steel. Every other year I buy yet another SVT-flavoured preamp pedal -- SV-Pre, Bass Driver DI, VT Bass DI, SCR-DI -- hoping I'd finally get it and end up absolutely hating it (I must be the only one who's ever returned a perfectly working Broughton pedal).

I know I'm not the first one to hold a grudge against the SVT, but whenever these feelings are brought up, people are quick to point out the magic comes from the 810. Maybe that's part of the story, and but then, why is the preamp market flooded with SVT-flavoured pedals? Why is the 810 always paired with the SVT? Why the SVT/810 combo and not the Fender Bassman/810 combo?

And yet, here's Sean Hurley sounding like what I assume warm butter on freshly-taken-out-of-the-oven bread sounds like plugged into an SVT (whether or the SVT is what we actually hear here is another story).

So, what's so special about the SVT?

Because the bassman + Fender 810 doesn't sound half as good.

The bassman has always been a better guitar amp.


Also, playing an svt alone, isn't wonderful. It's stated, by ampeg, over and over again. Its not a pretty sounding amplifier. It's when you play it with others, that the "magic" happens.

 

[Acoop]

The weight?

 

[blacktocomm]

I always had the same opinion of GK amps. Every time I’ve plugged into one I was severely underwhelmed. Others will sing their praises for days. Doesn’t make me right or them wrong. Different ears, different tone goals, different strokes...
I like the SVT, but it’s not the amp for me.

 

[micguy]

The SVT got its reputation because, back when it came out, it was the only thing that a bass player could use to keep up with a Marshall (or Hiwatt, etc) stack. The 810 was an integral part of that, as it was the only cabinet that could handle that kind of power - indeed, it took 2 of them to do that.

Its reputation today is based on all that, plus the fact that a lot of players have become comfortable with working with them for decades. A well maintained SVT is a known quantity. But don’t rent one from a half ass rental house - they need to be well maintained to work well.

 

[fdeck]

One thing I like doing is reading amp schematics. My impression is that the SVT was designed as a high fidelity amplifier. With the knobs centered, it's relatively flat. It also has a single volume control, that kind of "forces" you to play it clean, unless you push it to its limits.

Of course it can do a lot of things not described above. But it's worth considering: Do you like your sound when playing through a flat, clean amp?

I like that sound, but just don't have a use for so much of it. When my band was using a rehearsal studio for a little while, they had an SVT and 8x10, and sounded fine.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

An svt pedal in your bedroom is not the same as playing an svt with an 810 on stage with a band. You criticize something you have never truly experienced.

 

[Benj-jammin]

The best big rig I ever played through was an Acoustic 370 head through the SVT 8-10 cab. All used, because back when I was a young punk, I couldn't afford the new stuff! Why that combination? Well, I really didn't want to mess around with an 85 lb. head full of tubes, compared to the 25-30 lb. Acoustic, something in that range. I've always loved the cool looking, beastly 301 cab with the 18" - but for some reason, the 8-10" was a better fit for me at the time, fuller, ballsier, etc. It was a monster sound. Wish I had a pic from the day, but you all know what this looks like. Spin forward to today, I'm 64, with a Rumble 500. How things change!

 

[dbsfgyd1]

OBLIGATORY I AM NOT TROLLING MESSAGE

I don't have strong opinions about amps. I think all moderately priced amps do a fine job doing what they were built for: amplifying your signal. Sure, I prefer some over others, but I'll be happy with whatever (I'll be giving the Aguilar Tone Hammer another chance this weekend now that I understand its drive and gain controls better, if you've been following that thread).

Except for the SVT.

Whenever I plug into an SVT I feel like I'm plugging directly into a shrieking panel of stainless steel. Every other year I buy yet another SVT-flavoured preamp pedal -- SV-Pre, Bass Driver DI, VT Bass DI, SCR-DI -- hoping I'd finally get it and end up absolutely hating it (I must be the only one who's ever returned a perfectly working Broughton pedal).

I know I'm not the first one to hold a grudge against the SVT, but whenever these feelings are brought up, people are quick to point out the magic comes from the 810. Maybe that's part of the story, and but then, why is the preamp market flooded with SVT-flavoured pedals? Why is the 810 always paired with the SVT? Why the SVT/810 combo and not the Fender Bassman/810 combo?

And yet, here's Sean Hurley sounding like what I assume warm butter on freshly-taken-out-of-the-oven bread sounds like plugged into an SVT (whether or the SVT is what we actually hear here is another story).

So, what's so special about the SVT?

For me, the SVR magic is in the 8-10 speaker cab. For most, you have 2-10 speakers closer to ear level and the other six off axis. You have clarity and ”punch” at ear level, combined with the soft low end of the bottom speakers.

As far as the head itself, having owned one, as well as a Hiwatt and Eden. I’ve played through Traynors and Sunn tube amps. Out of the 3 that I owned, Hiwatt was the pick of the litter with the Eden not far off the mark.

That is not saying SVTs are not good all tube heads, but without that speaker cab, Others can do the same job or better weighing a lot less.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

The best big rig I ever played through was an Acoustic 370 head through the SVT 8-10 cab. All used, because back when I was a young punk, I couldn't afford the new stuff! Why that combination? Well, I really didn't want to mess around with an 85 lb. head full of tubes, compared to the 25-30 lb. Acoustic, something in that range. I've always loved the cool looking, beastly 301 cab with the 18" - but for some reason, the 8-10" was a better fit for me at the time, fuller, ballsier, etc. It was a monster sound. Wish I had a pic from the day, but you all know what this looks like. Spin forward to today, I'm 64, with a Rumble 500. How things change!

+1 on the 8-10 cab. I had the 301 cab with the 370 head. I was told it was the new and improved version of the 360 series with the powered cabs. For me was a mistake. That said, they sure sold a boatload of them.

 

[groooooove]

1. they sound great to most people
2. they were used by a lot of great players on a lot of great records

thats about it.

 

[landrybass]

There’s an ampeg at my rehearsal space and I still don’t know where to set the gain knob lol

I wish there was a clipping indicator

 

[LetItGrowTone]

It sounds like old records I loved, which is also the *only* use I have for a P bass.

 

[thumblypeg]

Hmm. There is something familiar about this thread topic. Cant quite put my finger on it.. oh well, maybe Im just CRAZY!

I love and own an SVT Head and 810 cab.

I also like pineapple on a pizza.

 

[Mike Marshall]

OBLIGATORY I AM NOT TROLLING MESSAGE

I don't have strong opinions about amps. I think all moderately priced amps do a fine job doing what they were built for: amplifying your signal. Sure, I prefer some over others, but I'll be happy with whatever (I'll be giving the Aguilar Tone Hammer another chance this weekend now that I understand its drive and gain controls better, if you've been following that thread).

Except for the SVT.

Whenever I plug into an SVT I feel like I'm plugging directly into a shrieking panel of stainless steel. Every other year I buy yet another SVT-flavoured preamp pedal -- SV-Pre, Bass Driver DI, VT Bass DI, SCR-DI -- hoping I'd finally get it and end up absolutely hating it (I must be the only one who's ever returned a perfectly working Broughton pedal).

I know I'm not the first one to hold a grudge against the SVT, but whenever these feelings are brought up, people are quick to point out the magic comes from the 810. Maybe that's part of the story, and but then, why is the preamp market flooded with SVT-flavoured pedals? Why is the 810 always paired with the SVT? Why the SVT/810 combo and not the Fender Bassman/810 combo?

And yet, here's Sean Hurley sounding like what I assume warm butter on freshly-taken-out-of-the-oven bread sounds like plugged into an SVT (whether or the SVT is what we actually hear here is another story).

So, what's so special about the SVT?

I owned one of the Late 60's SVT's in the the early 70's and I liked it. I must admit all the SVT classics and and things they made in the 90's and early 2000's did not have the same tone I remember from years ago. It could be me every time I try to go back and revisit gear out of the past I am disappointed

 

[chadds]

It's spe

The SVT got its reputation because, back when it came out, it was the only thing that a bass player could use to keep up with a Marshall (or Hiwatt, etc) stack. The 810 was an integral part of that, as it was the only cabinet that could handle that kind of power - indeed, it took 2 of them to do that.

Its reputation today is based on all that, plus the fact that a lot of players have become comfortable with working with them for decades. A well maintained SVT is a known quantity. But don’t rent one from a half ass rental house - they need to be well maintained to work well.

The Sunn 2000s was already available. It could keep up with those guitar stacks. I was there. Soon the Acoustic 360/361 won the performance war. What has happened is we musicians figured out what we like for us. How would all of those distinct amp companies (Acoustic, Traynor, Marshall, Hiwatt, Hartke, Mesa, Trace, SWR etc.) sell all those great rigs if the SVT was the ultimate answer? They all have distinct sound.

Ampeg had other flavors even at the time. The SBT. The 2x15 Fliptops while not 300w were a different tone choice. Bottom line is I'm not buying what other people think is good. What sound does each of us make with our own touch? I loved my Marshall Major on a flatback in 1971. It was a purchase choice after having a 360/361. Could it give me clear 2x15" JBL tone? No. Did it give the warm full tone of an Ampeg B-15? No.

See it's choice. We get to choose what we want. We get to have unique opinions except if we are talking Tort.