Pow_22 Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 Ive pretty much always played an SVT head. Been through a few cabs from the 410hlf to my current 212AV and always loved that guttsy low mid thump with a hint of growl. However, as the gigs are now starting to come in i find myself once again hating the weight! I think it might finally be time to downsize. Ive never gotten on with class D - to use a well coined Basschat phrase, to me they lack heft. The best non SVT heads ive played were the Mesa BB750 or the older version on the SVT III non pro which are now seemingly rare. Barring in mind the slow market id need to shift the SVT first and would expect maybe £800-£900, possibly enough for a mesa BB750 and certainly more than enough for an SVT III non-pro but was wondering if theres anything else out there similar- valve pre perhaps with a solid state/fet power amp. Suitably old school and with a low mid growl. I play mainly with flats loaded P’s and J’s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 I enjoyed my Mesa M-Pulse 600 very much. Great sounding amp. The eq is very versatile (with a parametric section too). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thodrik Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 The Mesa BB 750 is my 'big' amp of choice and I generally use that over a Trace Elliot V6 or EBS Fafner. However, once you put the amp in a rack case (in particular the Mesa branded wooden case which weighs a lot) you are not really saving that much weight over an all valve amp. It is a bit lighter, but it is still a lump to move around. The Mesa Walkabout however is much lighter, has a more flexible EQ than the Big Block and can deliver a great tone. The Walkabout has been my main 'day to day' rehearsal or gigging amp for the last decade. It is 'only' 300 watts but through a 4 ohm 2x12 it should have plenty enough headroom for gigging. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 (edited) Something sans* valves perhaps… https://www.tech21nyc.com/products/amplifiers/vtbass-1969/ There is always the smaller and cheaper https://www.tech21nyc.com/products/amplifiers/vtbass-500/ *See what I did there Edited August 19, 2021 by ezbass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 Try the Bugera Veyron BV1001T. Ignore the name. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, and they're so cheap you wouldn't even need to sell the SVT first. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 In my old band I did a lot of gigs with shared/provided rigs. The two that made me smile the most were Ampeg SVT and Ashdown ABM. Check out the ABM600, it’s an amazing amp, loud, versatile, at 13kg easily carried, and of course you benefit from Ashdowns fantastic customer service in the unlikely event of any issues. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbasspecial Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 Ashdown ABM600 definitely worth considering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbasspecial Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 Just now, Lozz196 said: In my old band I did a lot of gigs with shared/provided rigs. The two that made me smile the most were Ampeg SVT and Ashdown ABM. Check out the ABM600, it’s an amazing amp, loud, versatile, at 13kg easily carried, and of course you benefit from Ashdowns fantastic customer service in the unlikely event of any issues. Snap. Both Lozz and I posted at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbasspecial Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 Or the Handbox WB100. 120w all valve but quite light. 16-18k? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bam Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 The best valve sound without the valve out section imo is the gallien krueger fusion 550 (the big 3u amp, not the class d ones). Lovely clean sound and growly distorted sound. Big eq section, and easy to carry. It also auto saves your channel settings. Saying that, I had a svt7 and it sounded nothing like an svt to me. Then I got chance this week to play through a pf800 and svt cab, and it sounded wonderful - very ampeg like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAdder60 Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 Personally I would suggest the ABM600 or maybe the Orange Heads as alternative I had the SVT classic and 610 cab but don’t miss them and use the RM800 Ashdown head and Orange Little Bass Thing Both very powerful and light heads that sound as good as the old SVT in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 Why not go for an SVT IIP preamp or the SVP Pro and a light weight power amp the Sumo is tiny and kicks out 600 watts. the Ampeg preamps can still be picked up at reasonable prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 Bass Terror. Hybrid valve/Class D, but no lack of 'heft', honest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 (edited) There's an SVT 4 ini the For Sale section. Though to be fair, it doesn't look much lighter than an all valve SVT. EBS Fafner? EBS HD350? EBS TD650? Handbox R400? Edited August 19, 2021 by Skybone 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 My EBS Fafner is also in the For Sale section at the moment. An awesome amp that I think is also know as the TD 600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Bunion said: Why not go for an SVT IIP preamp or the SVP Pro and a light weight power amp the Sumo is tiny and kicks out 600 watts. the Ampeg preamps can still be picked up at reasonable prices. I did this, albeit with a heavier QSC PLX1202. Delivers a taste of the Ampeg sound with buckets of power (1200w into 4 Ohms Bridged Mono) Worked a treat, even with smaller cabs at smaller gigs- you just turn it down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 Steroids 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubbybloke68 Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 I’d say a genz benz streamliner 900 has a fair amount of heft for a lightweight job , with a barefaced big twin cab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pow_22 Posted August 20, 2021 Author Share Posted August 20, 2021 Cheers for all the answers so far, certainly plenty of food for thought. I did have an old UK made ABM 300 head for a while, i did like the sound (i like most ashdown heads to be fair, just never got on with their cabs). I see theres a bargain Spyder head on the classifieds too that is tempting. Orange bass terror - used the Mk I once and really liked it but bought another years after selling it and through an orange 1x15 i just didnt get any thump out of it for some reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2elliot Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 The latest Ashdown ABM 600 is a significant move forward when compared to the previous models. I'd definitely try a MK IV first before making a decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpup Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 (edited) 12 hours ago, 2elliot said: The latest Ashdown ABM 600 is a significant move forward when compared to the previous models. I'd definitely try a MK IV first before making a decision. This........... A fantastically versatile head and a bargain if you grab a used one. You need to spend some time with one to get the best out of it. The scoop button effect needs to be tamed in a live situation though - either disengage the scoop button and get all your eq via the knobs or use the scoop and whack a load of mids back in to it. One of the few amps I've had, sold and would happily buy again. Edited August 21, 2021 by Mudpup 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy67 Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 (edited) As an Ampeg player and ex SVT Classic owner, +1 on the Bugera Veyron BV1001t. It is the perfect solution to your weight issues. 3 x preamp valves, 600w, lots of tone and for me specifically, it’s an Ampeg in all but name! I really must get a job for Bugera! Lol 😂 Andy Edited August 21, 2021 by andy67 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fitzmaurice Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 Modern speakers have rendered both the 300w valve amp and 8x10 configuration unnecessary. If you want to keep the Ampeg tone I'd look around for a V-4B. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 10 minutes ago, Bill Fitzmaurice said: Modern speakers have rendered both the 300w valve amp and 8x10 configuration unnecessary. If you want to keep the Ampeg tone I'd look around for a V-4B. BAMM! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted August 23, 2021 Share Posted August 23, 2021 On 19/08/2021 at 23:26, pbasspecial said: Or the Handbox WB100. 120w all valve but quite light. 16-18k? There's a YouTube of their 400w SS. I don't know that the tube one could sound any better. Have at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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