Solid State vs Ampeg SVT

#103
Tugboat said:
And if I may ask an opinion question. ..I'm still "fairly" new bass player, actually a drummer by trade. I've tried all the bass gear you can imagine. I've flirted with the idea of saying shag it while I'm still big enough and strong enough, and getting an SVT and an 8x10, or even a 410. QUESTION IS; Do I find a vintage rig and hope for the best or just go brand new, or new/used?
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Having toured playing a variety of amps of the years, the SVT CL + 810e was my fave by far, until I tried the Traynor YBA300 with their 10s (810,410 or 210s) last year. Maybe I'm biased because I'm Canadian, but for me it beats the SVT in terms of clean headroom, weight and price. I like a cleaner tone (prefer V4B/PF50 over SVT) which may contribute to my choice. It's crazy to have a full 300 tube watts (including 12 power amp tubes) at 2/3s the weight.

I also have some mark bass amps (500 watts each), and although the SS amps go loud, my all tube amp sounds BIGGER.

On time I played SS fri night, all tube the next, and the feedback from the sound guy (and others who saw us both nights) went out of their way to comment on the sound. It was generally described to me as a warm tone that could be felt throughout the room.

I find when playing all tube that I don't have to turn up as loud, the sound is full at any volume. It's as if tube apps add a physical presence or size to the sound, something tangible.

+1 ampeg if that's your thing, but give the Traynor a try as an option if you are open to the alternative :)

(I do not work for, or have any affiliation with traynor)
 
#104
It is really what you get use to. Tubes and SS respond differently to your touch. I personally have developed my style around SS amps starting with a Kustom 200 back in the 70's. I have however, owned my share of tube amps. They have a sound they produce when they approach clipping called Soft Clipping. I love this sound especially with a P bass and I've never been able to reproduce it with SS gear. But, I've had bad luck with their dependability. Nothing worse than having your amp go down in the middle of a gig and I've had it happen more than once with tube gear. I have just found SS amps to be much more dependable for me.
 
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#105
Not enough photos in this thread!

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#106
JimmyM said:
Believe it or not, there is no invisible wall between your amp and the front of the stage. People who think the audience can't hear the it amp just because they're going through the PA are wrong.
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This is so true.

Played a very large outdoor venue a few weeks ago and many people recorded it. From about 20 yards in front of the stage and in you could still hear the rig mixed with the FOH subs.

The recording taken from about 40 yards out was mainly subs. So yes, the rig does make a difference. In this case the difference was drastic.
 
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#107
DD Gunz said:
This is so true.

Played a very large outdoor venue a few weeks ago and many people recorded it. From about 20 yards in front of the stage and in you could still hear the rig mixed with the FOH subs.

The recording taken from about 40 yards out was mainly subs. So yes, the rig does make a difference. In this case the difference was drastic.
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And even if people aren't hearing it directly, they're hearing it from other mics on the stage picking it up. Which is not always a bad thing, either.
 
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