playing bass 2years playing brass and reed for years

classic country gospel and SRV if needed

The SVT has something that a SS bass amp will never have. The true sound of big tube power. That means great warm fat tone, rich with even order harmonics. When pushed the all tube front end will give you the sound that you have heard over and over again on recordings and live performances. A big sound with bite thats never sounds harsh and gets just the right amount of grit when you dig in with the pick or your fingers and the guitar volume full on. Back off your attack or roll back the volume and it cleans right up.

You don't get a lot of fancy stuff like compressors or limiters. What you do get is the famous Ampeg bass tone stack that other makers have tried to copy. Two inputs (one padded) bass, mids (selectable freq), treble with ultra high and low boost switches. An effects loop would be nice but I think once you play through one of these SVT heads you won't want or need effects. The sound is just that good.

The SVT will fight you every step of the way at first while you fuss with the gain and master volume. Forget the useless (for me) ultra low and hi switches. I set it pretty much flat and get the gain where where I like it, tweak the tone settings and fiddle with the gain again and then I set it where it breaks up a little and roll up the master. It will take some time to dial it in.... but when you do, it's a great sound that never overpowers and sits in the mix just right. You get the sense that its there and you don't have to worry about it. You just have fun and play.

It's an Ampeg! This ones still made in the USA. Built like a tank and weighs almost as much (85 lbs). Every part of the amp looks like it's made from the best that could be had for what it needs to do. The STV over the years has a proven track record on the road and on stages all over the world. Provided parts are available, the thing could be used forever. No backup amp need although keep a backup set of tubes. Just in case.

The SVT is at the top end of the price scale for a 300 watt amp. However we are talking about a tube amp here.

Unsure never had to call. Ampeg is now owned by Loud Tech. so support still remains to be seen as far as Loud goes.

Excuse Me! This is an SVT! Who doesn't want one.

musician

rock blues

This is the thing that has defined my playing. the sonic quality is unbelievible. I have played many other rigs in my time but nothing has compaired to the SVT. things have come close but they always end up leaving a little to be desired. the only thing I can think might be better is the aquilar 680 and you still need a power amp with that and it costs just as much.

everything a tube head should have and more.

This thing is reliable. hasnt failed me in the 5 years I have owned it.

for the money you cant get a better deal. as I said before aguilar might be better but you have to pay %250 more to get what this amp does.

Havent had a problem yet but with other things ampeg has been great.

come on its ampeg and its a classic.

active musician

Rock Alternative Experimental

If you want classic Ampeg tone, you found it. I received mine on Friday, and did an outdoor gig on Sat. The sound and tone was awesome. I previously played through a Markbass 2x10 combo, with a hartke 115 on bottom. It sounded great, but I wanted to get that classic tone. After searching every stomp box I could find, I realized you can't imitate true tube tone, without tubes. I paired the SVT Classic head with the SVT 410HLF cab. I play country and rock, and needed both bottom end and punchy tone. The sound is so even, you really dont need a comp. I did run a BBE sonic stomp on Saturday, although you prob. don't even need it. My Tech 21 VT Bass Deluxe sounds great with it too. Adds just enough grit for the rock tone I like.

Not a lot of extra's, but I don't really think you'll miss them. It sounds that good. There is a couple of pretty good videos on youtube that will give you some important info before you get yours, and will give you some pretty good sound clips. Search for SVT Heritage. It is the same head, just looks different.

The Frequency knob confuses people. With Mid range set at 5 (or the 12 o'clock) position, you are neither boosting nor cutting the mids, so the Freq. selector knob doesn't do anything. You must boost or cut mids in order to hear what the Freqs. sound like. You will find YOUR sound. This thing is heavy. You will have to decide if heavy is worth your tone. For me, it was. It is also expensive, but again, sounds awesome !

Only had a couple of days, but it seems to be built well.

zZounds sells it for the same price as everyone else, except zZounds offers the payment plan.

Hope I don't need them.

Classic look...Nice. Looks nice sitting on stage !

Active Musician

Country and Rock

The sound of this head is extemely classic. other solid state heads cant touch this one. The only thing that comes close to being "good" in comparison is a vintage accoustic head.

Rock

pretty average sound the tone controls are unresponsive and when eq is set flat it sounds terrible....takes some work to set up and actually get a usable tone out of...even then it just doesnt have the best sound. it is loud at 300 watts but honestly at any thing above half volume the lower end begins to break down and really fall apart

its a tube head...thats about it none of the qualitys that the old svt2 used to have. very unrelible until i switched mine out for an aguilar db 750 playing live shows was a nightmare and i was just waiting for it to blow...no cool compression or eq features

its easy to turn on...awesome i jump for joy......not impressed

id use most other cheaper heads over this if you want a real usa made amp buy aguilar or much older ampeg...the newer ampeg is not at all what it used to be

over priced and a waste of money

i was soooo diapointed with this thing i just gave up and didnt contact them.....not there fault

looks cool but looks aint everything

musician

dub ska and jazz..also some old fashioned rock