Why are Ampeg SVTs so popular?

[BlackDog Music]

I’ve owned Fenders, Peaveys, SWR’s, Edens, GK’s, Hartkes- bottom line is that Ampeg is the only amp I’ve played that gives me “THE TONE.”
SVT’s are, however, in MY experience, pretty ridiculous for most gigs. I play 4-5 times a month, and as someone who really HAS had a mesh hernia repair, hauling that poopie around is really, really lame when you have to bring it in and out of your car, into a club, and god forbid, stairs.
Solution?
Get the V-4B. It’s 100W and weighs A LOT less than an SVT. Sounds amazing and I pair it with two of their 2x10 cabs which weigh about 25lbs a piece. I now play with my P, a cable and my amp. That’s it. No Sansamp, no rackmount, just pure tone. If you need a lot of processing to get the sound you want, again, in my opinion, you need to rethink your rig.

 

[JimmyM]

I’ve owned Fenders, Peaveys, SWR’s, Edens, GK’s, Hartkes- bottom line is that Ampeg is the only amp I’ve played that gives me “THE TONE.”
SVT’s are, however, in MY experience, pretty ridiculous for most gigs. I play 4-5 times a month, and as someone who really HAS had a mesh hernia repair, hauling that poopie around is really, really lame when you have to bring it in and out of your car, into a club, and god forbid, stairs.
Solution?
Get the V-4B. It’s 100W and weighs A LOT less than an SVT. Sounds amazing and I pair it with two of their 2x10 cabs which weigh about 25lbs a piece. I now play with my P, a cable and my amp. That’s it. No Sansamp, no rackmount, just pure tone. If you need a lot of processing to get the sound you want, again, in my opinion, you need to rethink your rig.

I don't need it to get the clean sound I want...I need it to get dirt, fuzz, and octave sounds

 

[Polka1]

I suspect that few could tell the difference between an SVT and other high quality modern amps with emulation software or tube preamp sections in a true blind sound test.

Years ago the power amp section of my SVT went down right before a show. My tech rigged it up so I could play the SVT preamp through a modern power amp then into the 8x10 like normal. I was kind of digging the tone for a change of pace - it had hints of GK in it - but tons of my friends at the gig were asking what was up with the sound. This is even after trying to compensate via eq and gain on the front end.

Point being even non bass playing others in the audience noticed.

All tube is really something special and while there may be something that can replicate it ok - I'd wager the full SVT and fridge combo requires more than just front end replication.

 

[Ty Wiggins]

I bought serial number 17 in 1969 for $900. The head weighed 90 lbs. the 8-10 cabs weighed about 150 each; luckily, we had roadies. What a f'ing sound, though- I had it for years.

 

[BlackDog Music]

I bought serial number 17 in 1969 for $900. The head weighed 90 lbs. the 8-10 cabs weighed about 150 each; luckily, we had roadies. What a f'ing sound, though- I had it for years.

HAHAHA! Roadies! That’s kind like having a savings account. I’ve heard they exist, but never actually seen one in real life...

 

[7615]

I initially replaced my SVT with a 400 watt Fender bass head - tubes - and a 3 foot cube - 1 15” Altec - voice of the theatre cabinet.

Sounded superior in every way to the SVT.

It also weighed a lot so I got rid of it as well.

 

[2BitHack]

In no particular order:
Nostalgia
Availability
Group Think
Sound

 

[Mastermold]

Years ago the power amp section of my SVT went down right before a show. My tech rigged it up so I could play the SVT preamp through a modern power amp then into the 8x10 like normal. I was kind of digging the tone for a change of pace - it had hints of GK in it - but tons of my friends at the gig were asking what was up with the sound. This is even after trying to compensate via eq and gain on the front end.

Point being even non bass playing others in the audience noticed.

All tube is really something special and while there may be something that can replicate it ok - I'd wager the full SVT and fridge combo requires more than just front end replication.

Yep. I resisted for a long time. Then I played a full Heritage SVT-CL with 810 at NAMM and promptly went out and got my own.

 

[BlackDog Music]

I initially replaced my SVT with a 400 watt Fender bass head - tubes - and a 3 foot cube - 1 15” Altec - voice of the theatre cabinet.

Sounded superior in every way to the SVT.

It also weighed a lot so I got rid of it as well.

I’ve heard about those Fenders - like to try one someday. I think it’s still the most powerful all-tube bass head made (production)...

 

[FenixBloodstone]

Nearly every rock/metal bassist I see uses an SVT live. Whether it's Mike Inez, Jason Newsted, Rex Brown, or Dave Farrell, so many of my favorite bassists play Ampegs.
Why is this? Are they just that good that almost everyone uses them? I've never played one, so I wouldn't know. Am I missing out? Is the SVT the holy grail of bass amps?

I have been playing bass for coming up on 40 years, so i have played a lot of gear in my career. I have to say that it's Ampeg or nothing* (I will take a 1969 Fender Bassman 100.) But i own the pro 3 @ 450watts and it is sure terror, and Thunder! I have a few cab rigs I play through but the core is that Ampeg. When you turn it up you know you are playing something truly amazing. The Pro4 is even better but that is way to heavy for touring at my level. But you get a chance you will understand why Ampeg or go home!

 

[Fuzzbass]

I had an early 70s SVT with coffin cab. Definitely the greatest bass amp I've owned -- when I could play it loud. Sadly, that wasn't often. Don't get me wrong, it sounded fine at lower volume, but the real magic happened when the power tubes got hot.

Today, I'm much happier using pedals to get tube-style overdrive because I get that magic at any volume. Okay, it's a slightly different kind of magic, but every bit as good IMO. Also, my current rig is less than 1/3 the weight of the SVT stack.

 

[Bad azz tone]

Yep. I resisted for a long time. Then I played a full Heritage SVT-CL with 810 at NAMM and promptly went out and got my own.

I'm 65, been using an SVT since 1970. I now use it most often with a 4x10 HLF ported cab. I really don't complain about the weigh,gotta stay in shape somehow. Only use the 8x10 for large venues or outdoors. They are truly Badd Azz!

 

[eracerx]

I 'only' have an SVT4pro. played it through the refrigerator, scaled down to a 4x10 HLF, now playing through 2 cabs - a Hatke 15 and a 2x15 reclaimed Earth Sound Research cab that I put Peavey Black Widows in. I'm usually at 4 ohms.
OK, Why? because it does everything I want. I keep trying pedals liek teh Sans Amp and the Eden WTDI, but I just don't need them.
One day I'm going D class tiny with a 2x10 cab. I just don't need the LARGE sound of the Ampeg.

 

[5thsand4ths]

You can get your deadlifts in every gig.

 

[Martin Risso]

My guess is you put lots of 10" speakers in a massive cabinet and you get the best of both worlds. Really deep bass because of the massive cabinet but also good definition and mids because they are 10" speakers and good efficiency because it is big. I got a cabinet slightly smaller but deep with 6 10" speakers that just fits in the trunk of a Crown Vic. I call it my "almost SVT" and I don't need to rent a truck to move it.

 

[Fat Otto]

Yes, they are just that good. If you get a chance to play through one, you'll see for yourself.

 

[nick verbic]

They're the best bass back-line I've ever used. The Holy Grail of Bass amps !
You've got to play through one to really understand....

 

[Alexander]

For me, the SVT/810 gives amazing tone/feel and requires very little effort to get there. I hear people on TB all the time saying "I can't cut through the mix", "my rig doesn't go deep enough", "my guitar player is drowning me out", "I can't hear myself" and people pile on saying they should try EQ, compressors, HPF/LPF (whatever those are!), pedals, etc. All I need to do is turn my rig on and set volume for the gig. I might (MIGHT) touch the EQ once every 3-4 gigs if I hear something I don't like - but not usually. PBass - cable - SVT - 810 - that's it.

I've also found that the typical "objections" to an SVT not to be concerns for me:

1. Too Heavy - Yep, schlepping gear sucks - especially at 1 in the morning in the rain after a Friday night gig. I play in a rock band, so we have drums, guitars/amps and PA too. We all pitch in to help and never once did I think hauling that SVT wasn't worth it. I find the 810 to be particularly misunderstood. I'd rather move that 810 than my 65lb 212. (yes, I know there are a lot of folks that use public transit to get to gigs, have real physical issues prohibiting them, etc)

2. Not reliable - I had one SVT2Pro that literally NEVER worked. But I also own an SVT-VR, original Blueline SVT and V4B (and a Fender Super Bassman before that!) - none of these amps had one single issue. Not a bad tube, not a scratchy pot - nada. Not one issue with any of Ampeg's cabinets either - and boy do they get punished sometimes!

3. Too loud - well, I think mine might be a prototype but it has this one knob that says "volume". Funny thing is if you turn it one way it gets louder and the other way makes it softer. I actually believe playing through my 810 allows me to use less stage volume than a 212 or 410 shooting past my knees - with the speakers closer to my head, I don't have to be as loud to hear it. And yes, where we put bass through the PA, I agree it should do the work. The reality for us (and many others like us) is that many gigs we play only use the PA for vocals - all instruments are turned up to match the volume of the drummer. Nice to have the SVT/810 for those gigs.

4. Not loud enough - Yes, the SVT is only 300W. There's all these arguments on TB about tube watts vs. SS and they always get too emotional and too technical for me to stick with for long. All I know is that I can outrun a heavy handed drummer and a guitarist playing a cranked Super Reverb quite easily. Did the same once doing a sub gig where two guitarists were playing half stacks. Any gig the SVT/810 won't cover frankly is one I don't want to have any part of.

My .02 only FWIW

 

[edro]

Ampeg had it right with multiple 10"s for bass...
Also think a 15" (JBL) for a guitar is better too...

Some guitarists think I'm bass ackwards...

 

[bassistlaw]

Nearly every rock/metal bassist I see uses an SVT live. Whether it's Mike Inez, Jason Newsted, Rex Brown, or Dave Farrell, so many of my favorite bassists play Ampegs.
Why is this? Are they just that good that almost everyone uses them? I've never played one, so I wouldn't know. Am I missing out? Is the SVT the holy grail of bass amps?

KaBoom! If you need thunder without any help from the house system you need power and speaker surface area. Especially if your drummer is a basher.