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Who's never played through a real SVT ?

#42
I haven't even played thru an all tube amp before. I wouldn't mind, but its not high on my list. I like the sound of my bass thru SS amps, and I doubt that I'd like an all tube amp that much. A little while ago JimmyM did a comparison "guess which is the tube amp" thread, and I found I liked the sound of the SS amp sound a little more than the tube ones. Another thing that puts me off tube amps is that I imagine they color your sound more than a SS one. Being an effects user I'd rather run a "colorless" amp and use my effects to shape/color my sound when I wanted to.
 
#43
BassScum said:
I picked up an SVT classic at GC to see what the fuss was about. I used it for 1 set at practice with a SVT 8X10 that I already own. It sounded great, but not, IMO any better then my svt 4 pro and didn't have all the options/features that the svt 4 pro has. So I returned it. Couldn't justify the $1500 for no improvement in sound. My bandmates agreed that the sound wasn't any better. The weight issue doesn't bother me. If there is great sound coming from a bass rig, I'll hump the extra weight.
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Same here.

My buddy owns an SVT-AV and it's nice, but not any better than my 4-PRO just different.
 
#45
I owned two (not at the same time)

a 4PRO but i wouldnt consider it a real SVT
the real SVT was SVTII, I didnt care for it but if i retubed it, it probably would have been better

I have yet to play through an actual vintage SVT (that isnt a SVTII)
 
#49
I've never owned an SVT, let alone even played through a tube amp, so I would like to experience it sometime. I'm trying to put a new rig together before I start college, but that could be difficult, as I am an unemployed bum who starts school in a week:eek:
 
#50
Nope, but I have eaten McDonald's Big Mac. The Whopper is much better. Pepsi always wins the cola challenge, but does that change buying habits? No, Coke sells best. I'd like to try it with just as much interest as any other, less-hyped, amp. Nothing against this amp, just the hype of it as the one.
 
#51
I have played just one. And I miss the hell out of it.

I acquired an early 70's head from a non player who got it from his uncle, I paid $175 for it. I paid $200 for a retube with some GE6550s and wala I had tone to die for. Every band that I opened for whose bass player played an SVT would ask to use mine as it sounded better than their own.

Like a fool I sold it and all my gear including my Trace Elliot(green tolex) 4x12 along with my black '76 Ripper when the wife left me. I thought I was done playing bass and was going to be a responsible adult and give up the rock(and go to law school).

I miss that head. I now have a Peavey Classic 400 which comes close but no cigar.

All the tunes on my myspace page feature that head.
Link Removed
 
#53
Years and years ago the bassist in one of my band's had an SVT rig. Pretty powerful rig. We used to curse him for having to help him move that damn 8X10 cab. :mad:

I recently tried an old one out in a local shop. It wasn't performing at peak, there were some crackling issues, but the sheer power was kind of impressive. The crunchy, crunchy was impressive, too. Then again, I'm a fan of the crunchy, crunchy on guitar tones from way back. :bassist:
 
#54
fdeck said:
Does a person need a "reason" for not trying an SVT?
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It's kinda like one of those things that has to be tried at least once in your life. You know, guitarists haven't lived till they've rocked a Marshall stack at full volume. Gear like that is legendary for a reason: It's an experience just running your instrument through it.
 
#55
BigMac5 said:
Same here.

My buddy owns an SVT-AV and it's nice, but not any better than my 4-PRO just different.
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OMG, my experience is the exact opposite. I owned an SVT-4 Pro for two years. I played through it exclusively. I really liked it. Then I played an SVT-VR and could not believe how much better my tone was. I sold the SVT 4 Pro the next week and got myself a VR. I am never looking back. Also, the VR was way louder!
 
#58
Back in the '80s, these soundguys in our local band scene had a '70s SVT and a fridge, so I got to play through the rig several times. Keeping in mind that it's been over 20 years, I recall the tone as glorious most of the time. The first time I used it, it was the best any band I've been in had sounded (by a long stretch) in my then-three years of playing bass. And that was clearly due in part to the SVT.

I haven't had a chance since. I've tried the CL and the VR (I liked the latter more) in GC. They sounded good, though they didn't match up to my admittedly ancient memories. I'd love to have a chance to A/B/C the three heads.
 

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