Choosing an amp.

[MatthewKeys]

Hey i'm going to be getting a new rig soon and I have a budget of 750-800 pounds. I have narrowed it down to three different rigs but I can't decide.

1. SVT 410HLF with the SVT 7 PRO (500W overall)

2. SVT 410HLF with the SVT 3 PRO (450W overall)

3. Trace elliot 1210 combo with an extra 1518c cabinet (600W overall)

I like the svt7 rig because it can go to very high volumes without ruining the clean tone I am after, and ofcourse it's quite versitile and easy to maintain (one tube in the preamp!). However, the fact that it only has 1 tube in the preamp does concern me a bit, if anyone has someothing to say about the preamp of the svt7 then please do!

I like the svt3 rig because it also has a really nice deep clean tone, abit thicker and warmer than the svt7 though. However, I noticed it is not very loud at all, it doesn't really seem 450W to me, and it's even worse with the 15db switch activated (my bass is active).

well, i can't really remember what the trace elliot sounded like because it was a long time ago i tried it, but if i remember correctly i really liked it.

so yeah, i'm torn between them three choices, so please let me know your opinions on each of the amps... if you have any other suggestions of various amps please recommend them.

thanks!


NOTE: i will be purchasing the rig of choice secondhand/used

[basshead56]

The 7 PRO and 410hLF would be my top pick from that list.

This is due to the fact that I really dislike 3PRO´s-you´re right, they are massively underpowered, or at least they seem to fall well short of their suggested ratings.
From the few reviews I´ve read of the 7 PRO, it seems to be great. Very Ampeg sound, loud and lighter than most of the PRO series-what´s not to love?
The 410HLF is a gem of a cab!
One of the best 410´s on the market IMO. Has everything you need power wise and looks class too!

Good luck with your choice man and let us know what you go for,
Cheers

[chris_b]

I don't know the 7 PRO, but I must have owned the only NON underpowered SVT3PRO! I used 1 or 2 Mesa Boogie cabs and was never too quiet, even in very loud bands!

Always use the input that gives you most volume, even if you plug an active bass into the passive input. The SVT3PRO is best played with the Master volume on full and there is also a volume control slider on the EQ if you need more.

[MatthewKeys]

[quote name='basshead56' post='927311' date='Aug 17 2010, 10:42 AM']The 7 PRO and 410hLF would be my top pick from that list.

This is due to the fact that I really dislike 3PRO´s-you´re right, they are massively underpowered, or at least they seem to fall well short of their suggested ratings.
From the few reviews I´ve read of the 7 PRO, it seems to be great. Very Ampeg sound, loud and lighter than most of the PRO series-what´s not to love?
The 410HLF is a gem of a cab!
One of the best 410´s on the market IMO. Has everything you need power wise and looks class too!

Good luck with your choice man and let us know what you go for,
Cheers[/quote]

yeah that's probaly my top pick at the moment but i'm still abit skeptical about the 1 tube in the pre-amp, it just doesn't seem like something ampeg would do.. so i'm going to wait and see what everyone else says about it. Thanks for your advice!


[quote name='chris_b' post='927450' date='Aug 17 2010, 12:19 PM']I don't know the 7 PRO, but I must have owned the only NON underpowered SVT3PRO! I used 1 or 2 Mesa Boogie cabs and was never too quiet, even in very loud bands!

Always use the input that gives you most volume, even if you plug an active bass into the passive input. The SVT3PRO is best played with the Master volume on full and there is also a volume control slider on the EQ if you need more.[/quote]

Yeah when I was trying it out in the shop, it wasn't peaking when i had the passive switch on so i thought 'why not'... until i turned the gain up, thats when t started peaking badly. But yeah, I tried boosting the gain to the full 8db on the eq and it made the tone even less clean! Thanks for your help!

To be honest, i like the both the 3 and the 7 but i would prefer the 7 because it's louder... BUT it's going to be hard to find a good secondhand 7 pro seeing as they only came out early this year! So if there are no 7's available I might have to settle with the svt3 and just wait for a 7 to come up for sale.


If anyone is reading this and has a svt7 for sale please PM me!

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='MatthewKeys' post='927759' date='Aug 17 2010, 05:15 PM']yeah that's probaly my top pick at the moment but i'm still abit skeptical about the 1 tube in the pre-amp, it just doesn't seem like something ampeg would do.. so i'm going to wait and see what everyone else says about it. Thanks for your advice!




Yeah when I was trying it out in the shop, it wasn't peaking when i had the passive switch on so i thought 'why not'... until i turned the gain up, thats when t started peaking badly. But yeah, I tried boosting the gain to the full 8db on the eq and it made the tone even less clean! Thanks for your help!

To be honest, i like the both the 3 and the 7 but i would prefer the 7 because it's louder... BUT it's going to be hard to find a good secondhand 7 pro seeing as they only came out early this year! So if there are no 7's available I might have to settle with the svt3 and just wait for a 7 to come up for sale.


If anyone is reading this and has a svt7 for sale please PM me![/quote]





On my 5 PRO my SD Quarter Pounders kill passive mode so I have to go into active mode and crank it, at the end of the day it doesn't matter how you get there as long as you get the right amount of gain for you.


Anyway back OT, I have read really good things about the 7 and it'd probably be the easiest to sell on if you didn't like it.

[Cat Burrito]

I think all 3 choices are good. The SVT 7 PRO has a great reputation and I personally swear by all the Ampeg SVT stuff I own but I must confess I haven't tried the SVT 7 PRO personally. I'm too scarred to because if I do, I suspect I'd want to buy one!

[MatthewKeys]

Thankyou for all your opinions, I think I have decided on the SVT 7 with the 410hlf! I will probaly be getting this within the next 3 weeks and I will let you all know about the svt 7 (that's if I manage to find a used on for sale!!)

also, is there any harm in buying a USA made svt 410hlf that was made roughly 5 years ago? (assuming it isn't broken etc).. like will there be any loss in tone? the seller has said it's in very good condition.

thanks!

[basshead56]

Why would there be a loss of tone? If anything, it might be slightly better-higher build quality.
buy second cabs to keep the cost down (Ampeg have increased in price again recently)
and buy USA Ampeg everytime! (eventually the USA made stuff will dry up and become more sought after)

[MatthewKeys]

[quote name='basshead56' post='928819' date='Aug 18 2010, 05:16 PM']Why would there be a loss of tone? If anything, it might be slightly better-higher build quality.
buy second cabs to keep the cost down (Ampeg have increased in price again recently)
and buy USA Ampeg everytime! (eventually the USA made stuff will dry up and become more sought after) [/quote]

ah i don't know to be honest, just thought i would check ah good, i've got a 410hlf USA made cab in good condition on hold for £350 pounds at the moment, because i'm currently on holiday! I will be picking it up as soon as I get back... then the search for a cheap svt7 head begins! I've been looking at guitar centers in america and on american bass forums to find a secondhand svt7 but I can't seem to find any within driving distance.

[basshead56]

That seems a fairly decent price for a US-built 410HLF, good job
I haven´t looked into the availability of secondhand 7PRO´s, but I´m guessing there aren´t too many around, seeing as how they are pretty new to market.
Dont give up though, from what I gather, they are well worth it!

[howieee]

Hey dude. Just thought id put my
2p in!.....

I played a heritage svt through a heritage 410svt HLF... (i was just trying a guitar out at the time) i noticed it felt alot quieter than my rig....svt vr head with 2 cabinets. Obviously with the hlf cab its 4 ohms so u get full power from the amp.... But in my opinion having more cabs gives tonnes more presence. So what id sugest is buying a head and an 8ohm cab with the money you have now.... Then get another cab later on down the line.


.....After trying that guitar throught herritage stuff i decided i wanted an 8x10av so i got that instead! Im now running ampeg svt vr with svt410 svt115 and svt810. I barely need much volume anymore. There is sooo much presence having more speakers... The bass gets everywhere but at a nice volume. Not too loud... But definately not too quiet either!

Hope any of that essay will help you in your chioce! Glad you like Ampeg!

[MatthewKeys]

[quote name='howieee' post='931677' date='Aug 21 2010, 09:48 AM']Hey dude. Just thought id put my
2p in!.....

I played a heritage svt through a heritage 410svt HLF... (i was just trying a guitar out at the time) i noticed it felt alot quieter than my rig....svt vr head with 2 cabinets. Obviously with the hlf cab its 4 ohms so u get full power from the amp.... But in my opinion having more cabs gives tonnes more presence. So what id sugest is buying a head and an 8ohm cab with the money you have now.... Then get another cab later on down the line.


.....After trying that guitar throught herritage stuff i decided i wanted an 8x10av so i got that instead! Im now running ampeg svt vr with svt410 svt115 and svt810. I barely need much volume anymore. There is sooo much presence having more speakers... The bass gets everywhere but at a nice volume. Not too loud... But definately not too quiet either!

Hope any of that essay will help you in your chioce! Glad you like Ampeg![/quote]


hey! yeah before all threee of these choices i was going to get the 410HE cab which is the 8ohm version, but then i got some extra cash and thought id get the better cabinet.. i don't know if i need two 8 ohm cabinets yet, i think it will be way too loud for the gigs i will be doing, and not to mention alot more to carry about to gigs! Anyway i'm getting the 410HLF for a cheap price so i will be able to sell it on for the same price if i decide to upgrade to a 410he with a 115.

thanks for your advice!

[ElCapitan]

[quote name='MatthewKeys' post='927130' date='Aug 17 2010, 01:31 AM']However, I noticed it is not very loud at all, it doesn't really seem 450W to me[/quote]


Watts are not a measure of perceived loudness and the correlation between watts/loudness is weaker than you'd think.

[chris_b]

[quote name='MatthewKeys' post='932442' date='Aug 22 2010, 04:34 AM']i don't know if i need two 8 ohm cabinets yet, i think it will be way too loud for the gigs i will be doing, and not to mention alot more to carry....[/quote]
I doubt that 1 410 will handle even half of 1000 watt you're buying, but whatever you're volume is into 2 410 cabs (in my opinion a 115 would muddy up the sound too much and Ampeg 115’s only handle 200 watts) will be very loud and will have a good tone rather than the sound of straining and breaking speaker cones.

I think the point of 2 8 ohm cabs is a good one and it isn't about more volume. 2 cabs can be louder but you will use the volume controls to get the loudness you need. Playing through 2 cabs is about improving your sound, because more speakers means more, and with good cabs, better tone.

It does mean more money and more to carry though!

IMO