Whoa! New appreciation for Ampeg SVT-CL

[JimmyM]

It is if I say it is

That's the funny thing...there is no SVT sound. I see a heck of a lot of bassists who use SVT's, they all call it the SVT sound (me included), but the fact is what defines the SVT sound for two different people is often wildly different.

 

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

That's funny, Jimmy...I had originally typed "but that's not why we love them"!

 

[JimmyM]

Well whatever reason you have for loving it, it's all good.

 

[rodl2005]

I dunno about an "SVT" signature sound either, unless solid, thick & lush is it I s'pose. I've never understood ppl who say you can't get em to give a good slap sound etc as you say- the eq knobs do work. :thumbup:
The only thing an SVT or any 300w tube amp won't do, ime, is go really loud & really clean into a fairly small amount of speakers. But if course give em enough speaker area .....
So sometimes, if I know stage real estate is tight or load in access is up stairs etc. I'll take a 500w -900w micro & 2 x 112"cabs. This will get as loud as 2x 112s will allow & stay as clean as needed. Where the tube amp in this situation will get beautifully crunchy (which I love too, but sometimes ain't needed)

 

[3armdave]

Gigged with my CL last night for the first time in a while. I have played this thing a lot in the past, at one point, 5 nights a week. I had it dialed in, mostly by accident, in a wonderful way. Without touching the amp or my bass, I was able to go from clean, smooth tone to all-out Ampeg growl with just finger technique. Changed my world. Of course, this probably speaks to my laziness in knob-twisting and/or poor musicianship more than anything else.

Anyone else had a similar revelation or experience?

I have this revelation every time I plug into the yba300 (traynor). It sounds so damn sweet to me, I hate to stop playing it. It is great to have found gear you really love, isn't it? to me it is worth so much more than the money spent.

 

[coreyfyfe]

I dunno about an "SVT" signature sound either, unless solid, thick & lush is it I s'pose.

Thick and lush is a great way to describe it. I just got my SVT back after some technical tribulations (not much wrong in the end, long story) and it was amazing to hear that thundering low again.