Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

All the 70's ampeg stuff is good, I've owned both. You can usually pick up a nice late 70's SVT head for under a grand and they sound just as good as an early 70's, better maybe. With old ones you're just paying for coolness factor. I've seen 70's V4-B's going somewhere in the $300-500 range usually. SVT's $800-1200. I wouldn't buy a head unless it was tested and the seller guaranteed that it worked, you're screwed otherwise. Ask LOTS of questions before you bid. If you need any help getiing an old Ampeg Charlie, e-mail me I'll help you by asking questions and giving you recommendations etc. I've owned SVT's, V4-B's B-15's etc. and can usually spot the good ones and know the right questions to ask, especially for SVT's. I would spend 800 bucks for an SVT before I spent 500 for a V4-B, you're getting a lot more head for the money. No wiseapple remarks please for all you young whippersnappers out there.

I found a better pic of the Bassman 4x12" cab:

http://www.falk-schuch.de/fender/bassman.htm

That's a very interesting cab design. I just bought 2 Ampeg 4x12HE bass cabs and they're amazing!! So long 10's.

Pekke, that was a 1980.
I used two SVT heads and cabs tonight at an outside gig. Bass player's heaven (until loadout time).

OK BOB, this is from 1971-72 Fender catalog:

http://www.ampwares.com/ffg/cat/72_cat-bassman_100.jpg

that's a are cab at least here in the states Pekka, I've never seen one, I have seen the heads before though, I think the Peter has one. I used one of those heads years ago with a 15" JBL, and it sounded good.

I started out with a B-15. That was a wonderful sounding amp. I agree with Bob about the V4-B, I wouldn't spend the money on them. I've used them in the past and found them to be under powered... unless you like full on fuzz!

I wanted an SVT badly a few years back, but everyone I tried sounded way too mushy and soft. I ended up getting a Mesa 400+, which is still a bit soft for my taste. As soon as I fix a few small issues with it (broken pot shafts) I'm going to sell it.

Currently I'm using a Trace Elliot BLX-SMC combo.

I really want one of these new SS amps, like a Euphoric Audio, or Epiphany. Hartke amps actually sound great, as much as I didn't want to like them!

You must have tried out some really badly kept up SVT's or new ones, mine are brutally loud if I want it, I'll compare them with any 1000 watt SS amp. They IMO sound much better and louder than a Mesa 400+ which sounds like a big Fender to me. A good SVT roars and bites with the 8 x 10 cabs.

Ahh, Bob, the Ampegs do sound aggressive, but have you ever heard any early Tool?(think "Sober" from undertow)

That CS4001 through a Mesa Bass 400 is the most brutal sound I have ever heard on a bass guitar.

What am I talking about? I know Tool is probably not even in your CD collection, haha!

To me, the Ampegs sound slightly muddier, but not in a bad way!

I've heard Tool believe or not but you're right they're not in my CD collection, Mesas are very clean to me, maybe like fenders in that they have a point where they really suddenly get distorted as I've played through them before, just didn't like them at all didn't have the balls I'm used to. Ampegs are very gradual to distort which is why I like them better, they are easier to control. I think the difference is in the power tubes used, 6550's are much stronger tubes than 6L6's, 6L6's are very clean and all of a sudden they get very distorted, 6550's have a very gradual distortion and are a much more muscular sounding tube. 6L6's are more pretty sounding when clean.

I KNEW there was a reason I liked Mesa!

Hey Bob, the Mesa Bass 400's use either 6550's or 6l6's(they were actually made for the 6550's, I asked the company before switching).

I think you are thinking of the Bass 400+, which uses 12 tubes instead of 6(there weren't many 400's made)

I just changed the 6l6's that guitar center put in mine to Svetlana 6550's, and they sound soo much better!

I'm pretty sure Paul D' Amour used the older one in his Tool days, but you are right, the Mesa's sound much harsher when they distort, and can do so very quickly.
BTW, I also love Ampeg, they are a close second with me, Bob!
After playing solid state amps all my life, and hearing the tube guys preach, I have seen the light, and will never go back, haha!

Btw, 6l6's distort a lot smoother and gradual than 6550's, it's just that they need to be pushed way harder, but when they do, it is much harsher!(that's why metal-heads like loud 6550's in their guitar amps!

My 6l6's sounded too mushy to me at higher volumes(only half the wattage with them), but people who like Ampeg tones would probably like them better like that, because it is easier to control once they get distorted, and sound warmer, too.

I currently have an SVT-3 Pro head that I may ditch. It died on me at a jam Saturday and then somehow started working again the next day. I'll run it into the shop this weekend to see what's happening.

For some reason, it doesn't seem to be quite loud for a 450-watt head. I had to turn it up quite a bit to get a usable volume. I may look into an Aguilar AG500 or one of the new Edens this weekend.

Ron get a tube Ampeg especially 70's SVT heads, they are much louder for their ratings than SS heads are.
Christopher yu are right, I had it backwards, that's why 6550's also are good bass amp tubes, and also I never even heard of a 400. How many watts is the 400? It can't be 400 with only 6 6L6's as their top power output is I believe 35 watts each.
I had an SVT with 6L6's in it believe it or not (took them out quick, they were running at 650 volts plate voltage, some hack in Lima Peru out them in)) it sounded like a Fender, I was amazed at the difference in tone from 6550's in the same amp) I don't think people that use SVT's would like 6L6 amps. I know I don't and have always thought of SVT's as being amps that were clean but not hifi clean which I hate, but clean, loud and brutally aggressive when they are pushed unlike the Mesa 400+'s which are hifi clean to me.