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Why AMPEG?... Are they that Good?

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#21
:cool: I really don't think the recent production move has anything to do with Ampegs loss of their premier position in the bass amp world. They've been steadily going downhill for years. Nothing really sudden. Just a slow, steady decline into mediocracy for their amps. Yes, they've had some really good ones all along, but overall, they've lost it. The name no longer has the "magic" that it used to. And, that's a shame. Their cabs seem to have not declined as much. They've still got some great sounding cabs, even if they do weigh a ton.:bassist:
 
#27
ninerfan said:
My SVT-II is that good!
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So's mine... and my VR. For many of us, we've played much of the other gear out there and prefir that SVT sound... It's not 'cause Fieldy or Mark Hoppus or (insert current popular guy here) plays 'em. It's not 'cause of where there corporate office is or where any part of their product line is or isn't made. It's not 'cause there's almost always a whole wall of Ampeg product at Guitard Center. And while I might one day try out the SVX plug in for home studio projects, it will in no way replace using the all tube moster when I play with people.
 
#28
I dont like most ampegs but i do love the SVT-6PRO (COULD IT BE CHEAPER PLEASE??!!) and the SVT (i can have the gain at 4 and volume at 1 and still be too loud). they are great amps but can be pricey and underpowered (SVT-3PRO)
 
#30
brothernewt said:
For many of us, we've played much of the other gear out there and prefir that SVT sound... It's not 'cause Fieldy or Mark Hoppus or (insert current popular guy here) plays 'em. It's not 'cause of where there corporate office is or where any part of their product line is or isn't made. It's not 'cause there's almost always a whole wall of Ampeg product at Guitard Center. And while I might one day try out the SVX plug in for home studio projects, it will in no way replace using the all tube monster when I play with people.
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Another +1 from me . . .

except for that part about the SVX plug-in. It COULDN'T even come close to replacing my Ampeg gear, mic'd up and DI'd, even for "home studio projects"!
 
#32
seamonkey said:
Ampeg has preserved all their classic sound rigs in Ampeg SVX along with IK.
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No they haven't. Personal attack removed.
guiness.gif
 
#33
Zakk007 said:
I dont think most big bands still use Ampeg these days in all honesty I dont know how an Ampeg endorsement works but I know Ashdown artists pay(something) for their gear and a hell of a lot of big name players have left Ampeg and moved over to Ashdown, maybe the Ampeg illusion is starting to wear thin?
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+1

I love my Ashdown stuff....... I just wish the Classic Series wasnt so damn ugly
 
#35
:cool: To those of you Ampeg "devotees" that haven't tried Genz-Benz, I highly recommend that you do. I was an Ampeg devotee, fanatic for years. When I played my first Genz-Benz I couldn't believe it. These things are so far ahead of what Ampeg is currently building that it's really amazing. Don't take my word for it. Get your hands on one and GIG with the damn thing. Store playing doesn't cut it. You've got to put it in the real world and then you'll see what a lot of other players have found. Genz-Benz is some of the best stuff around now. And, when you factor in the cost, I must say that it probably IS the best stuff around.:bassist:
 
#36
Sammy Camden said:
:cool: To those of you Ampeg "devotees" that haven't tried Genz-Benz, I highly recommend that you do. I was an Ampeg devotee, fanatic for years. When I played my first Genz-Benz I couldn't believe it. These things are so far ahead of what Ampeg is currently building that it's really amazing. Don't take my word for it. Get your hands on one and GIG with the damn thing. Store playing doesn't cut it. You've got to put it in the real world and then you'll see what a lot of other players have found. Genz-Benz is some of the best stuff around now. And, when you factor in the cost, I must say that it probably IS the best stuff around.:bassist:
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Thats a straight forward ,honest sounding endorsement.
You've piqued my interest.
 
#38
I like the GB stuff, but not as much as my Ampeg rig. I am running an SVT6 Pro racked up with a BBE and a few other pieces of gear paired up with an 810 cab, and man does it sound great. My primary gig is ith a Nu Metal band, but I play alot of funk and fusion stuff too. I can get super driving tones for the metal and great slap tones for the funk and fusion stuff. Plus, I beat the crap out of this stuff and it holds up like a dream.
 
#39
I've played many Ampeg backlines, or hired out Ampeg gear and NONE of it has ever done good for me. I always found myself getting lost in the mix or having a muddy sound (and no, if I had a graphic EQ, it'd be a frown), but the strange thing is, a few of my favourite tones have come from Ampeg gear (whether all ampeg, or mixed rigs).

So come time for cab purchase, I got a Bergie NV610. Would have cost around the same as an Ampeg fridge over here (maybe a little more) but my god, the sound of it blows the fridge away. I've played a couple gigs already and had other bassists swap out their ampeg fridge or 15+410 for my Bergie to try it out. It's got that vintage sound (similar to the old Ampegs) but doesn't get lost in the mix, and still has enough of a modern edge to it if you want it.
 
#40
I had an SVT-III for a few years. Once I heard the Ashdown ABM 500 though, it was over - no contest. If I could pick up an old SVT or SVT-II, that would be great, or the VR - I think the Ampeg hybrid stuff, while well-built and solid-sounding, is just not for me. The Ashdown stuff however compares favorably with the all-tube stuff, and I actually liked it as much as the new Hiwatt stuff I tried it against. Plus it costs about a 5th as much as the 400 watt Hiwatt, and is about a fifth as heavy!
 
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