Being an ol' timer, I've long been aware of the legendary Ampeg bass tone. Bob Young and other Ampeg devotees here rave about it and it's not hype. I'm familiar with that distinctive tone and know exactly what they're talking about. I've never owned any Ampeg equipment though I gave it strong consideration when I got back into serious bass playing 8-1/2 years ago. I don't remember the particular model name (the resident Ampeg fanatics can help me out on this), but it was the all-tube model that blasts out 300 watts and uses 6 6550 output tubes.
Well, after studying the pros & cons for an extended period of time and soliciting the advice & opinions of many others more knowledgeable than me, I decided to pass on it for 2 reasons. First, I did *NOT* relish the thought of lugging that backbreaking monster around to practice sessions & gigs. The other reason was the high monetary expense of replacing the output tubes. As nice as it would've been to crank out that classic Ampeg tone, the weight and ongoing expense turned out to be the deal killers.
After doing some additional and rather painstaking research, I settled on the Eden WT-500 model amp. It has a tube input stage utilizing a single 7025/12AX7, and a solid state output. It cranks out 250 watts per channel, which is plenty for most gig situations, and a great tone, though it certainly couldn't be compared to what comes out of a classic Ampeg. My decision to buy the Eden WT-500 has withstood the test of time. It is a high quality amp, solidly well built, and reliable. Even though my Walter Woods Ultra Hi-power is now my #1 amp, I've never regretted my decision to get the Eden. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a reasonably priced high-end bass amp.
And did I mention Eden's cabinets? You simply cannot go wrong with those cabs.
Recommendations for a new head unit..
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Ampeg SVT, they have been made off and on for 34 years, are very easy to find parts for them, older techs know them, you can find them in different cities if you are on the road, sound guys know them, they are the industry standard for bass amps. Once you get used to them you will probably never change to another amp especially if you buy a matching cab. I hate to sound like a broken record, (skipping CD) but I have played all kinds of gigs from openers in front of 5000 people to loud sweaty road clubs to weddings, and on and on, I can count on one hand the number of times they have broken down on me in 28 years, and it was almost always because I hadn't changed the tubes soon enough. You can get a good set of (6) 6550's matched from Sovtek for about $150.00. The newer ones use all 12AX7's which are very cheap and common, the older ones use 12DW7's which are not so cheap and not so common, but I like them better.And one 6C4. And 12BH7's (older ones) which are not hard to find. They are heavy though, about 85 Lbs. 37 kilos, but hey when people see you coming with these, they just fall all over themselves trying to help you.... right! There is something to be said for all the amps mentioned here, but what the hell, you might as well buy the best from the begining. I am not narrowminded, just convinced, LOL. I even had one fall from the top of a 4' SVT cab onto concrete, all that happened was a metal corner got dented, I plugged it in and it worked just fine like nothing had ever happened. they are built like tanks, and feel like one when you lift it. But the sound is worth it. They sound good with other cabs, but the total impedence must be between 4 and 2 ohms. One last thing they are very easy to bias, and if you do let the tubes go too long, the have 10 watt plate resistors that open before you melt the windings in your transformer, (the older a tube gets, the more high voltage plate current it draws, that is why they get cherry red when they are bad) One last thing the new solid state SVT's also sound good, but not as good as a tube SVT to me.
Jeffery,
that is the original SVT you are talking about. Don't listen to people scare you about the price of tubes for these things, I replace the power tubes every few years (and I play a lot) and it runs me about $150.00 (less than three sets of Pyramids) for a matched sextet of Sovteks or other Russian tubes, and they are very easy to bias by your self, all you need is a 20 dollar radio shack digital meter, just pop off the front grill and the instructions are printed right there. It pisses me off when I hear techs, salesmen, and other musicians scare customers off from SVT's because of the tubes, chances are they have never owned one themselves other wise they wouldn't be saying that.
that is the original SVT you are talking about. Don't listen to people scare you about the price of tubes for these things, I replace the power tubes every few years (and I play a lot) and it runs me about $150.00 (less than three sets of Pyramids) for a matched sextet of Sovteks or other Russian tubes, and they are very easy to bias by your self, all you need is a 20 dollar radio shack digital meter, just pop off the front grill and the instructions are printed right there. It pisses me off when I hear techs, salesmen, and other musicians scare customers off from SVT's because of the tubes, chances are they have never owned one themselves other wise they wouldn't be saying that.
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ricnvolved
Bob-- I'm still leery of the quality of Sovtek tubes. My personal preference would be for the Svetlanas. But aside from that, when I was considering the Ampeg SVT (a new re-issue model, not an original vintage), I didn't know about Svetlana then and was figuring I would have to go with new old stock GE 6550s that would've run me about $42 per tube in a matched set. That was a bit scary. Plus the fact that (if I remember correctly) the Ampeg SVT was gonna run me about $1,650. But it may not have been quite that much; I really can't recall now. And after looking around and deciding on the Eden I was able to acquire a new one through Dan Lakin for only $920, and this included shipping. Also, I could never convince myself that the overall quality of the newer re-issue Ampeg gear would match up with the classic vintage amps. There seem to be quite a few satisfied owners of the modern Ampeg stuff, so it would appear that my concern was groundless in that area. But I do know that Ampeg produces the Crate line of amps and I've heard that the quality of components and build is erratic; I really don't trust anything with the Crate name on it.
All in all, I still feel like I made the right decision for me. Bob Young, I envy you being at the forefront of that great Ampeg tone, but it just wasn't my fate to share in it.
All in all, I still feel like I made the right decision for me. Bob Young, I envy you being at the forefront of that great Ampeg tone, but it just wasn't my fate to share in it.
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big_g
Since you originally asked about the SUNN 300T, they are currently still being made, but by Fender and are now called the Fender Bassman 300. I have one and it kicks butt all day. And the TONE!!!! Yea it weighs 75ibs (compared to my Fender 400 solid state bass amp which is 40lbs) but it forces you to go to the gym and stay in shape. They are still built in the USA and they are still built like a tank. They have a switch in the back for 2, 4 or 8 ohm cabs, little leds that let you know if a tube is going, easy access and instructions for biasing the tubes, 10 band graphic EQ, high and low compresser, effects loop, deep bass switch, a clean and an overdrive channel and some more stuff. I bought mine at dealer cost for $850 early this year. You should seriously consider one of these - and they weigh 5lbs less than the SVT and use the very same type and number of tubes.
http://www.fender.com/gear/gear.php?partno=0213302010
http://www.fender.com/gear/gear.php?partno=0213302010