...an "SVT" is not an SVT in every case. THE SVT is the first through fourth generation, two-channel, all tube head. Though there are various minor differences between vintages and manufacturers, their basic sound is very clean and very accurate with tons of low end, and a very large amount of gain should you desire it. The preamp only has the low mid bump if you put it there.
See, that's the way I remember them, and recently used this one for a recording session:
It sounded nice and clean.
All the new ones sound like ass, and not good ass.
Later SVT Classic amps are a whole different ball of wax, voiced exactly the way you describe... and that's not even beginning to take into account the various s/s amps that have carried the SVT badge or the various models of SVT cabinets which entail a science unto themselves. Unfortunately age and disrepair have thinned backlines of REAL SVT's and the ubiquitous black stack on so many stages is a poor representation of a great sounding amp and cabinet. Even many of the real deal don't sound good because they're out there limping along held together by hack guitar amp techs.
Now interestingly, there was an article on the SVT in BassGearMag not too long ago, and the designer Bill Hughes said they voiced it that way to work on large stages. So they roll off the lows to not get boomy, and then boost at 250Hz to make up for the missing bass. The Ultra-Lo switch notches the mids. They showed a frequency response graph from a 1974 SVT and showed how you cannot set it flat.
Quote from Bill Hughes:
I had previously developed a style of equalization for bass while working as a freelance recording engineer. Cranking up a lot of low end boost was never a good idea when your target is vinyl. rather, removing the lower odd-order harmonics (as the SVT was set up to do) does way more to give the right illusion. I guess this is why bass amps with graphic EQ have fallen from vogue.
Still, I don't remember the old ones sounding so bad. Maybe they exaggerated the EQ curve?
I have one too, and it IS a great sounding amp, but nowhere near clean enough to suit me in stock form. It's also based on the classic Fender Bassman tone stack: big round lows, scooped mids and present but tame highs. IMO if you want to hear that amp at its best, swap its driver 12AX7 for a 12AU7 and be amazed at the amount of clean power it suddenly becomes capable of putting out. It gets tones no SVT ever could, however it's also much easier to lose in a dense stage mix if you play loud.
The only time mine would break up is if it was really cranked. And then I agree with you. When I bought it, I also had a GK 800RB, and that mopped the floor with the Mesa in terms of sheer volume. I use an 12AU7 in my BlueTube for the same reason, so I'll give it a try in the Mesa. Also, unfortunately when I bought the Mesa it was retubed with Ruby Tube power tubes, and Sovtec preamp tubes. I think the power tubs are too soft sounding, but it's an expensive proposition to retube that amp. It has been sitting unused for the last 10 years since it needs some minor repairs. I was using the GK in the mean time, and then I traded it for the Trace.
I feel the same way to a point, however, what most people think of as "accurate" or "flat" is usually anything but a truly accurate bass sound. I do, however, also love most older Trace Elliot amps, tube and s/s.
My thing is I want to hear the sound of my bass. Then I can take it from there. I like how the bass sounds direct, and the amp adds to that. My s/s Trace is one of the old ones. It's a great sounding head, and really loud for 150Watts. I've been meaning to check out some of the newer Trace gear.
Recently I tried out a couple of the new Hartke amps with the tube preamp. I liked it, but felt it lacked the warmth I get from the BlueTube.
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The size of that route looks like it might have been for one of the big-uns from the mid-60s.
