Popular and iconic is best reserved for Justin Bieber not one of the best bass amps ever made. The fact that lemmings like something is not a reason to like it. The B-15 is niche popular to those in the know but isn’t on every stage but unbeknownst to the public is on many to most of their favorite music from a certain time. Let the SVT stand on its own merits.
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Why are Ampeg SVTs so popular?
- Thread starter Whitenoise17
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Popular and iconic is best reserved for Justin Bieber not one of the best bass amps ever made. The fact that lemmings like something is not a reason to like it. The B-15 is niche popular to those in the know but isn’t on every stage but unbeknownst to the public is on many to most of their favorite music from a certain time. Let the SVT stand on its own merits.
Yuck! Mesa Boogie sound awful, that artificial overly enhanced low end, blaaaah. I'm no SVT fanatic (because I don't own one), but I'd play that over any Mesa Boogie any day. I like me some mids and a good tone.
Possible it is not your sound but it is mine, I play on Mesa since this year and I am amazed, best tone I ever had. I previously owned Ampeg, Eden GK, ect. no problem with the mids, super eq, powerful, amazing tone.
Yes, Mesa cuts through the mix very well. However, to me it's hard to describe Mesa's tone as I've owned 3 Mesa amps and they sounded all pretty differently. The best were the M9 and the Titan (I have 2 of these) and the worst to me was the M-Pulse 600.
I agree that they all sound different, we must find the one that suit our style of playing. The one that I am talking about in my previous post that I am amazed is a the Mpulse 600...I wish one day to try them all.
As clarification is important to me, my opinion is only that, and we all know how many folks have opinions. That said, there are many factors I believe made them popular. I don't disagree with you, and to add to the pile, they're freakin 90 lbs. I always thought of that as the sacrifice one must make for that sound. I play the V-4BH, and weighs in at a measly 45 or so lbs. Not so bad. Most players get what they want with effects and so forth. I don't need effects, as the tone I want comes directly from the amp. It practically sings.
I like it because there is a certain tone that many of my favorite bands have, and that's what I want mine to sound like. I agree that the SVT is really big for the studio, and that the stax records folks used the smaller combos. I like those also. I would love one, as I could play into the night and not kill small furry animals with it. It's about tone and versatility for me. 100 watts is just enough for me to play at home or on stage. The glow of the tubes and clean tone is exactly what I like, and one of the few reasons I like anything that "popular" likes. It's got my sound all by itself.
Look inside a Mesa Boogie to have an idea of the craftmanship, I am a technician and I am not afraid to remove the cover and check that.
South and Central America, and a small Mexican tour. If they got them there, there's a chance that everywhere else they have them.
I do look inside mos t of the stuff that I own. Yes, I know Mesa is great quality.
Chiming in on the Fender PS-400 had one of these as well nice amp could not get to all the horsepower
as easy as the SVT but worked well after I added an out board 10 band eq .
I think the reason more people didn't use them is fender only built a very very small number of these .
I had the head the stand and 1 cab a giant fridge with a single 18 .
The head was made to run three of the cabs .
You would need you own van to haul it .
Saw a band on tv 1x that was using 2 of the cabs as a drum riser .
Also know there is a shop out there that rebuilds them and also hotrods them .
Have no interest in ever owning another one as I think they are even heavier than an SVT .
You just don't have to carry that much weight anymore to get the power that you want .
as easy as the SVT but worked well after I added an out board 10 band eq .
I think the reason more people didn't use them is fender only built a very very small number of these .
I had the head the stand and 1 cab a giant fridge with a single 18 .
The head was made to run three of the cabs .
You would need you own van to haul it .
Saw a band on tv 1x that was using 2 of the cabs as a drum riser .
Also know there is a shop out there that rebuilds them and also hotrods them .
Have no interest in ever owning another one as I think they are even heavier than an SVT .
You just don't have to carry that much weight anymore to get the power that you want .
Ha Ha Jimmy, actually had rehearsal last week without ear plugs. No ringing, I'm perfectly fine. My approach for years has been many speakers at a lower volume to still give me coverage and deep tone without blowing my brains out. But my two 1X18" and Two 1x15" cabs still sound better than 8x10". But, those are Electro-voice speakers which are hard to beat in any aspect.
Man, SVTs aren't THAT heavy.
Also, I hated anything Ampeg until I got my V4. Got an SVT a few years later, and it's still my favorite amp to play out of (I've been through most 200w+ tube amps).
Also, I hated anything Ampeg until I got my V4. Got an SVT a few years later, and it's still my favorite amp to play out of (I've been through most 200w+ tube amps).
Lol, my life is filled with a lot of physical exertion, so I'm used to lifting a lot and throwing it on my shoulders.
Indeed they have, and apparently acquired Line 6 as well. I’m very curious to see where this goes
Ya, but that was a few years ago. The head of Line 6 sold to Yamaha and they had him head up a new division called Yamaha Guitar Group. And YGG is the division in charge of Ampeg. But if you're wondering where it'll go, all I can tell you is enthusiasm at YGG for Ampeg is high.
