I'm joining the ranks of Ampeg owners tomorrow.

drummer5359 · December 18, 2013, 11:21:33 PM

It looks like I'm going to be picking up my first Ampeg head tomorrow, an older SVT 3 Pro.

I'm upgrading from a Fender Bassman 400, which has been a pretty good amp.

I'll post some photos once it is in my hands.

Next? I'm saving for an SVT cabinet.

gearHed289 · December 19, 2013, 09:03:01 AM

Good choice! I've had one for going on 17 years and it's been solid as a rock. The tone is really close to a vintage SVT. The tone controls don't have the extreme range of the original, but the low end is a little tighter overall. I don't use the graphic at all.

drummer5359 · December 19, 2013, 04:36:40 PM

I saw an Ampeg SVT 3 Pro on my local craigslist a few weeks ago that was exactly what I was looking for.

I put my MIJ Fender P-bass up for on CL. I decided that if the Ampeg sold before my bass, it wasn't to be and I'd just hang onto the bass.

Neither my bass or the amp head had sold. The other day I received an email asking if I'd be interested in trading my bass for...

You guessed it, the exact amp that I was selling my bass to buy. How cool is that?

Nocturnal · December 19, 2013, 10:19:57 PM

Sounds like it all worked out perfectly

drummer5359 · December 22, 2013, 12:19:43 AM

I've been woodshedding for a gig subbing on drums, so I didn't get a chance to really mess with the Ampeg until a little bit ago. It sounds pretty good through my Fender Bassman 115. I can't wait to hear it through a better cabinet. I'll keep screwing with it, I'm already watching a couple of cabinets on CL while I save my nickels and dimes.

OldManC · December 23, 2013, 12:04:23 PM

Quote from: drummer5359 on December 19, 2013, 04:36:40 PM
The other day I received an email asking if I'd be interested in trading my bass for...

You guessed it, the exact amp that I was selling my bass to buy. How cool is that?

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? Congrats! I messed with other cabinets throughout the 90's and into the 2000s, but a few years ago I went back to a sealed Ampeg (albeit a 4X10) and I'm very happy. If I had a gigging need I'd buy another fridge in a heartbeat. My ears just like hearing that sound.

stiles72 · December 27, 2013, 12:00:27 PM

One thing to know about the 3-Pros also is to ignore the red input light. A lot of folks set the input gain so that it doesn't light up red, and then they wonder why the amp isn't as loud as they would like. Be sure to use your ears, not your eyes to set that input. Also - play around with the Tube Gain (Plate Voltage) knob. All the way to the left will give you a softer tubey sound, all the way to the right will give you a slight boost in volume and will sound a bit more defined.

gearHed289 · December 28, 2013, 10:01:07 AM

+1 on the input gain. I've got that thing in constant flashing mode.

I keep my tube gain at three o'clock. I was told by a tech to avoid cranking it all the way up as it can create square waves or something.

drummer5359 · December 31, 2013, 09:04:33 PM

Thanks for the tips guys.

I've been experimenting with the tube gain knob. I like the softer, tubey sound most of the time, I crank it to the right when we rock a little harder. I love the sound. I play blues with a drummer who isn't a hard hitter and a guitarist who runs through a Blue Junior. The amp is plenty loud enough for me so far. We don't run a ton of stage volume. (We are all old.) The red light does come on, I ignore it.

bobyoung · January 09, 2014, 08:17:06 PM

I been using 70's SVT's for years, I like the loud

tubey sound.

drummer5359 · January 11, 2014, 06:22:51 AM

Someone won an Ampeg SVT V4B head and two of the new SVT 212 AV cabinets. Apparently the winner traded it all in at a Guitar Center in Napierville Illinois. One of the cabinets already sold, I was interested in the remaining one to go with my newly acquired SVT 3 Pro.

I saw it on the GC used site and had a (drummer) buddy who lives in that area check it out. It is for all intents and purposes in as new condition. New they sell for $799, with tax and shipping I got it for $584.

I paid for it yesterday and it's being shipped to me in it's original box.

Basvarken · January 11, 2014, 06:39:19 AM

Sweet deal! Congrats.

drummer5359 · January 20, 2014, 09:54:24 PM

I'm laid up with the flu, I have not been out of the house since last Thursday afternoon.

Tonight I went down to the music room and put the new amp through it's paces. I was pretty impressed.

SVT 3 Pro/SVT 212 AV

Psycho Bass Guy · January 20, 2014, 10:31:07 PM

I want to try one of those new 2x12's. From all the reports I can find, Ampeg actually made them RIGHT.

Pilgrim · January 21, 2014, 09:22:12 AM

That's a very nice looking and reasonably compact setup.