What's so special about the SVT?

[groovaholic]

What's so special about the SVT? Primacy, legacy, and swagger.

Primacy: It was one of the first purpose-built bass amps to compete on big rock and roll stages, right around the same time that rock and roll shows went HUGE.
Legacy: Because of that timing and capability, it got used by a lot of influential bassists on music that many of us grew up with and still consider "the good old days".
Swagger: That big 810 monolith is a pretty clear statement of "THIS bassist isn't going to get buried in the mix..." and the more you turn up the amp, the more attitude it provides. That all adds up to the musical equivalent of the moment in Back to the Future when George McFly knocks out Biff.

Basically, the SVT has made lots of bassists feel like badasses - and that's a very good thing.
It's not my amp of choice, but it has absolutely earned it's place at the pinnacle of big bad bass.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

As long as we're hating on things that have been the staple for ages, don't forget to hate the P bass, too.
If you don't like an SVT, DON'T BUY ONE!.
This crap gets really old.

 

[tvbop]

I go to gigs, small ones, big ones as we all do and I listen to the bass tone. I dont mean to rain on the parade but 80% of the the time it all sounds the same....mushy indestinct. What Im getting at is youve basically got two bass tone families...a mid tone grouping that cuts thru and the rest which form a pillow underneath. The SVT has mid cut for days. Do I want to own one?...no way.

 

[Mark Reccord]

I go to gigs, small ones, big ones as we all do and I listen to the bass tone. I dont mean to rain on the parade but 80% of the the time it all sounds the same....mushy indestinct. What Im getting at is youve basically got two bass tone families...a mid tone grouping that cuts thru and the rest which form a pillow underneath. The SVT has mid cut for days. Do I want to own one?...no way.

This is a persistent myth about all-tube SVTs. And, yes, with the ultra-lo button engaged, the SVT does have quite a large cut centred at around 200Hz, so like many myths there's a kernal of truth. Turn it off and the amp's response is ruler flat (assuming flat EQ of course). I think a lot of the people who don't like them tried one with the ultra-lo in and figured that was the inherent sound of the amp. With an 810 cab (or an NV610) an SVT with the ultra-lo turned off is a snarling midrange monster. You're far better off using the Bass EQ knob than the ultra-lo if the flat sound doesn't have enough low end.

 

[mb94952]

When I first plugged in to an SVT it was powering a pair of JBL D140F speakers in a way too large cabinet , probably 1972 . Up till then I had played mostly a Bassman 100 and then a Sunn Concert head also using a pair of JBL D 140F speakers . I had my Sunn head with me when I tried the SVT head and used it for a few tunes before the Ampeg . When I switched to the SVT it was like nothing else I had tried . The feel and presence was almost unreal compared with what I had been playing and I loved the Concert bass head . I was sold . I didn't buy one till the next year and then played it through a Peavey folded horn cabinet with a Cerwin Vega 18 . Hauled it around to all kinds of gigs for the next seven years .

I don't know how it would stack up to what I play now because it's been so long , but I do know that what I play through now sounds great and weighs almost 200 pounds less than the SVT head and Peavey cab . I would like to play one again though .

What memories !!!! I played all through the late 80's and early 90's with a Trace Elliot AH150 and a Peavey Folded horn Cerwin Vega 1x18" as well. What a killer cab that was. That's when I was able to not even care what size the cab was since I was young and strong. Now, gimme 45 lbs and I might not complain...

 

[tvbop]

This is a persistent myth about all-tube SVTs. And, yes, with the ultra-lo button engaged, the SVT does have quite a large cut centred at around 200Hz, so like many myths there's a kernal of truth. Turn it off and the amp's response is ruler flat (assuming flat EQ of course). I think a lot of the people who don't like them tried one with the ultra-lo in and figured that was the inherent sound of the amp. With an 810 cab (or an NV610) an SVT with the ultra-lo turned off is a snarling midrange monster. You're far better off using the Bass EQ knob than the ultra-lo if the flat sound doesn't have enough low end.

Dang! Sorry folks I meant to say its baked in tone flat is mid boost (not cut, my bad)....thats why I love my lil Ampeg combo...sounds just like a mini SVT, kinda gnarly. Man that's embarrassing.

 

[TonyP-]

Yes, it’s definitely a you love it or don’t type of amplifier.

The only Ampeg equipment I ever owned was an all tube 1975 SVT (Selmer owned them at the time) along with the obligatory 8x10 cab. Hated the cab and got rid of it and used other cabs for the next 20 years I owned it. 4x10s, 2x12s, 1x15 or a combo of two.

But the amp never failed to deliver its magic of full and rich tones to any cab. I never was over powered by anyone onstage onstage either. It was 300 watts of molten lava. What other amp could keep you warm while standing next to it and playing on a crisp autumn outdoor gig?

@TonyP-
When I sadly had to give her up (weight issues) I did use a GK 800 as a replacement amp. It came in peace. It died in ignominy on the first gig. It went out in pieces. . No more GK.

I think I have refound an SVT like tone with my Mesa TT800 (as well as a few others)@Al Kraft

I'm sorry that has happened to You.
It goes without sayin that this can happen to any amp...Those older RB amps are going still strong today.

 

[paulraphael]

Tube amp power is like the torque of a V8. It converts the tone into a visceral experience instead of just hearing it.

Plug a modern class-d amp into that 8x10 fridge and you will have more visceral experience than you probably signed up for.

 

[paulraphael]

I have fond memories of SVTs. Never owned one or performed with one. But two different bands I rehearsed with used the same rental studio in Manhattan—a subterranean snakepit of a space, about the size of an intimate boiler room, with a full SVT / fridge that practically reached the ceiling (it was a low ceiling).

That amp was living, breathing, and angry. It spewed noise. It spat feedback in my face. It distorted if I even looked at my strings. It let the speaker cones run rogue all over the music. And it shook the drum kit as hard as the drummer could.

It was definitely not my sound, or something I wanted in my house. But I enjoyed visiting. It felt dangerous. I probably shouldn't have plugged in without offering it a piece of meat.

 

[seamonkey]

It's "familiarity"
And the Diodes

 

[Analogeezer]

I have fond memories of SVTs. Never owned one or performed with one. But two different bands I rehearsed with used the same rental studio in Manhattan—a subterranean snakepit of a space, about the size of an intimate boiler room, with a full SVT / fridge that practically reached the ceiling (it was a low ceiling). That amp was living, breathing, and angry. It was spewed noise. It spat feedback in my face. It distorted if I even looked at my strings. It let the speaker cones run rogue all over the music. And it shook the drum kit as hard as the drummer could.

It was definitely not my sound, or something I wanted in my house. But I enjoyed visiting. It felt dangerous. I probably shouldn't have plugged in without offering it a piece of meat.

To me the SVT is like an original big block Cobra only way more affordable LOL.

It ruled in the day, it's still got more performance than any reasonable human can use, it's a bit of an antique but holds it's own with modern versions of what it does.

It's also hard to live with (compared to modern stuff), not easy to own (unless you just look at it in your house/garage) and a total throwback machine.

Yes both are "dangerous"

Analogeezer

p.s. In the history of playing bass, has anyone ever said "well my SVT is kinda loud but I wish it were louder"?

A big block Cobra is out accelerated by most modern supercars/high end sports cars and has way less top end but both the SVT and the Cobra are very good at making you crap your pants LOL

 

[JazzyJacuzzi]

Hi Al,
Agreed, that is why I posted it here, because it really is the 'other' classic tone so to speak.
If don't like one, then there is a good chance you like the other.

I do miss my 700RB. Still waiting to see what they’ll come up with it to replace it… it’s been a while though. COVID, I guess?

 

[baxter_x]

Plug a modern class-d amp into that 8x10 fridge and you will have more visceral experience than you probably signed up for.

Very true!

 

[sunbeast]

I often love the sounds other people get with SVT rigs, but having owned and played through them I know they aren't my flavor of choice. Still I am never bummed to see one in a backline (as long as it has been taken care of!). The cab is definitely a big part of the visceral experience that I still enjoy, and I still lug around the modern take on it (Bergantino NV610) after years of lugging around the larger/heavier Ampeg fridge.

 

[baddarryl]

For years and years I would see bassists (you know mortals that play in clubs) and some would always have this creamy, squishy, slightly over driven tone to die for. Every single time it was an SVT. Rock and Roll boys!

Now I have a Heritage 810, SVT VR and a 1972 V4B. I actually prefer the V4B but either does it for me. Honestly I think it's the cab more than anything. I've plugged Quilter, Mesa Walkabout and Eden WT 500. All different amps that all sounded glorious through that cab. Fortunately my band mates think it's worth the weight too.

 

[JimmyM]

Dang! Sorry folks I meant to say its baked in tone flat is mid boost (not cut, my bad)....thats why I love my lil Ampeg combo...sounds just like a mini SVT, kinda gnarly. Man that's embarrassing.

There's a baked-in tone? I thought that's why amps had knobs.



You really don't have to get it, and not everyone feels the need to use one. It would be ridiculous to bring an SVT to a gig where a smaller amp would be more appropriate, like a jazz casual or dinner music. Have I done it? Well hey, there were times I only had the one amp. Even at very low volumes, the bigness and the sound of 11-14 tubes doing their thing into a big cab is unrivaled. To me. YMMV.

And the reason it's the only bass amp in the world that's been continuously produced since 1969 and so many pedals are designed to emulate them is because so many players of different types love them, and feel it's worth it to them to have one, or a half dozen for the more extreme types. Do I need one to gig and go over with crowds? Of course not. I'll play anything you got and make it sound good eventually if it works. Anyone worth a crap should be able to do it, to be honest. But while there's no one amp that satisfies everyone, a lot of us feel owning an SVT/810 is totally worth it.

 

[Al Kraft]

But while there's no one amp that satisfies everyone, a lot of us feel owning an SVT/810 is totally worth it.

Even if it's not your daily driver, there is something fun about the experience of just tooling along in big boulevard cruiser every now and then. While it may not be everyone's perfect match for their tone goals, playing a big, classic rig like the SVT/810 is a memorable experience IMO.

 

[sid sonic]

been playin' the 6 6550 version 1972 model since 1975...the 8x10 is from 1999, fresh speakers... i dragged that thing everywhere, and i still have the beat muscles to prove it...love that thing but, it stays in the studio now and have been SO HAPPY with the carvin bx 500 and the HENRY THE 8th cab...that swr is CRAZY GOOD...just say'in but ill go 100% for the 6550 svt...oh those overdriven even harmonics mmmmmm...ss

 

[LetItGrowTone]

I apologize for my earlier gratuitous negative aside about the P bass; when I said the SVT (and I meant to include the P bass) "sounds like albums I loved", it was Edgar Winter's White Trash Roadwork (at least 3/4 of it) that I had in mind - the highest praise!

When I wrote "that's my only use for it", I should have said "that's my use for it that ranks above all its other possible uses"; I have other basses for other types of tone. That's what I meant.

Love my SVT and my P bass.

 

[Searay]

I just always felt if I wanted it to sound like a Marshall, I'd get a Marshall. If I wanted it to sound like an SVT, or a Ludwig, get it and use it. I can say I have tried to replace the "originals" with more modern products but in my case I end up keeping the original. I can get by perfectly well with an old Eden WT but that thing is from early 2000 and probably considered ancient too. I do like the Sansamp products and I do think they nailed it with their product line.