Ampeg SVT Classic Head

Plenty of features on the rear panel.
2 ways of connecting the speaker 1/4 inch and high-power twist-lock
XLR pre-out, slave out .

Bias adjust with grn/red LEDs

Grounding switch

I'm not sure about sound quality.

A lot of that depends on the speaker cab used.

I could NEVER depend on an amp made like this.

I've been playing bass since 82 and guitar since 74 and repair guitar amps for a living.

Ampeg sold out to the lowest bidder to get these made.

Chassis grounding ; horrible
Component location; amateurish
Cabling; Laughable

RTV directly on power resistors...So they can smoke when you heat them.

Very helpful.

Got documents in a day

Like Fender, Marshall, Ashdown etc, Ampeg has dropped their quality level to mid-grade-made-in-poor-parts-of-china ( even though this one was made in Vietnam ( Yes, Vietnam))

Overpriced,overhyped junk.

The amp is a 2008. It is the all around best sounding bass amp I have every played though. You really cannot compete with a 300 watt tube driven amp.

The amp sounds great and is great period.

I hate to complain about my favorite amp, but it has screwed me on to gigs in the last year. I hardly ever bring it out to gigs unless it is really worth my while, and when I finally did the other week the fault light just went on and crapped out on me before I was just getting ready to start the show. Not cool. So, I call customer service on the phone (after waiting 20 mins on hold) they give me a bunch of crap about I probably need new tubes. I explain I never play the amp, I have not gotten a lot of use out of these ones. Doesn't matter, now, to re-tube this son of a gun nowadays is going to cost around $400-$500 bucks depending on labor and the brand of tubes. It is definitely a rich mans amp. Great amp, but for me not reliable at all. ( This also was not the first time this amp did this to me on a gig) Not even a year old.

Loud technologies (ampeg) is a joke nowadays.

Amp is still my favorite, but I can't count on it anymore.

Made in the USA 2002. I play alt. rock and metal though I dabble in other styles. I play 80% fingers and 20% thumb. I use this amp with a 8-10 ampeg cab. I use it at rehearsal 2x week and play a few show a month. This amp is very basic in it's features. The treb. and bass boost buttons as well as the mid freq. selector give this amp some versatility. The balanced line out is great for live setups. Most sound-men are familiar with dialing in a good sound. The pre in post out is useful also. I'm giving a 9 because there is no effects loop, tuner out, and single channel. This amp is heavy no joke 80#.

when I purchase this amp I had played on most every makers high end amp including ampeg and nothing had that sound like " this is bass guitar is supposed to sound like" other than the Classic. I have (and still love) a trace elliot 350smx that sounds great but compared to the SVT their is no comparison. The tubes I think are the key to the sound. I've played on some of the 70's svts and they are great but the modern usa models can get a really great clean transparent tone that I've yet to hear in any other amp. I play a musicman SR5, warwick fortress masterman, and fender jazz. I keep the guitars tone controls somewhat flat and no boost buttons, bass 2 0'clock, mid select 3, mid tone 11 o'clock, treb. 1 o'clock. These settings very according to the room I'm playing. This amp is loud 120db w/8-10 nuff said. You can dial in gain distortion but I like is pretty clean gain between 12 o'clock and 2 o'clock. I've rarely had the volume passed 12 o'clock. I use a sans amp for boost and any required dirt. Tool Flea claypool VH sheehan metallica inubus zep, modern or classic- I can get any of these tones......

No Problem yet. This amp has been touring since it inspection. The original tubes lasted 3 years of 8 to 15 hours of use per week. They one failed after a brutal road trip uncased in a trailer (I won't do that again)round trip from Detroit to Nashville. Put the new Silvana tubes in did the bias adjustments myself and it's sounds perfect. The amp was never totally out of commission just started to sound a little weak. It's built like a tank.

Never used. It does come with a warranty new. Most any reputable repair shop knows these amps.

My peg had become and integral part of my over all sound and I could not be with out one. I still go and check out the latest and greatest (boogie markbass GK Aguilar etc.) and although some are very nice sounding amps they miss some underlying spectrum. Even order harmonics? Something about them tubes.

I have an 1999 American made SVT-CL head with an American 8x10 bass cabinet. I play southern rock and country and blues. The amp features are pretty basic and that is the beauty of the beast. I use this amp in a small to medium packed bar. I have the house job so I do not have to caryy it around. I would definatly buy a case if I had to move it much.

I play a Musicman Stingray 5 and an American 5 string jazz. I have played Eden, Markbass (loud but no tone), Trace, Mesa, GK, Hartke. I do not care for ampeg solid state amps as I think they sound weak. NOT THE CLASSIC !!!! It is hands down the best sounding bass amp I have ever played. I set down in guitar center and went back and for between Markbass and the classic with differnt basses and the SVT-CL won easily. My second chose would be an Eden. I plugged in on stage live and about fell over !!! SWEET, SWEET bass tone. I played loud and against Marshal stacks and I have'nt turned up past 4, the whole club is shakeing. I noticed people tapping there feet more than usual and jumping around. It just brings a lets party cut through the mix sound. Just awesome !!!

I bought mine (USA) used as I did not want a vietnam made one. Although that is what I compared in Guitar Center and it sounded great. The vietnam ones are made of partical board and arenoticeably thinner side by side. I know I will eventually have to retube, its worth it. If you let your tubes warm up and cool down they last alot longer. I would definatly not worry about a backup. Might take a DI box if a disater or somthing happened.

The new ones have a five year warrenty. I would rather take my chances with an American made used one !!!

Best investment I ever made !!! Have played on the Straight tour and many large collesium gigs. If it were lost I would cry like a little girl on my bankers doorstep for weeks untill he loaned me the money for another. I would even work a day job just long enough to save the money for one. This amp will outlast some of my marriages !! As the life of a musian is hard on that. Really, though, if you can save the money buy it, you wont regret it. It is a sweet sound and cut through the mix like a knife. Just killer sounding!!!!!

Mine was made in Nov. 2004 by SLM. It's a freaking SVT; it's got one slightly modifiable sound, but what a fantastic sound it is. It's powered by six 6550's (I reccommend JJ's) with two 12AX7s and one 12AU7 in the preamp (for those, get Electro-Harmonix). Unfortunately, this amp is completely devoid of some necessary features, like an effects loop and a tuner out. I have this in a shock-mounted, custom-built rack with a few processors, and I usually run the tuner from the Slave Out and the effects in the Preamp Out/Poweramp In. However, one really nice thing about it is that it's got a user-adjustable bias, which is fantastic because you can use any tube you want with ease, unlike Mesa tube heads (which have a preset, fixed bias).

I use a vintage, pre-EB Stingray, a newer American P-bass with a Lindy Fralin pickup, and a Mexican-made Jazz bass with EMGs. I play metal, alternative rock, and jazz with equal ease on this unit. Running it to my early-90's Ampeg 8x10, I'm able to pull some big, warm, fat, punchy tones out of the SVT. However, because it tends to blur up the low-end when I push it hard, I run it with a BBE Sonic Maximizer as well as a DBX 266XL Comp/Gate. People need to realize how well BBE's and Ampeg heads mate; they really complement each other. It's not really a noisy head, as long as you run it with a Furman. DO NOT run this thing off of dirty power, it will shut down into standby every time.

This thing is built like a brick. As long as I keep feeding the beast a steady supply of small children and animals, it delivers like a dream every night.

But seriously, it's never let me down on gigs and even though I bring an 800RB as a backup, I've never had to use it.

The cost of tubes is a little steep (with my taste in tubes, it usually runs me about $350, and I do the job myself). I haven't owned it very long, but I retubed it when I got it, and from what I hear, when you treat it correctly the tubes should last you a good 2 years.

I've only dealt with Ampeg once, and they were very courteous and helpful. I did something kind of dumb when changing the tubes, and as I was describing the problem, the tech on the phone treated me with respect as opposed to looking down on me for making a simple error.

I've been playing for nearly five years now, but I've got more out-front experience than a lot of ten-year veterans I know. I also own a GK 800RB head, which is great, but it really doesn't hold a candle to the fatness, volume, and grunt of the SVT-CL. When searching for a tube head I intially dove at the Mesa 400+, but the SVT just had so much more life to it! It's like a living, breathing organism as opposed to a big, sterile chunk of rackmounted steel. The SVT is heavy, and I wish it had a tuner out and effects loop, but these are but minor shortcomings for such a musical and powerful bass amp. It really is the standard.

When I was on tour last year, I saw this guy in his mid-50's hauling an early 70's SVT. When he put it down, I looked on the back and in big white letters along the side it said "SVT- F**k the Rest". That statement couldn't be further from the truth; 30 years ago or today!

2007 Ampeg SVT Classic. OK everybody. Here's the deal. This amp has one sound. However, it is thee best bass sound out there. If you do slap, tapping, popping, etc. you can "get by with an amp with a solid state power section. There are some nice amps out there for that. If you do rock, country, blues, r&b, electric jazz, and some funk; this is the "real deal!" It is 300 "all tube" watts @ 4 or 2 ohms. It gives a fat, meaty, harmonically rich tone, that NO OTHER BASS AMP CAN TOUCH! It's heavier than heck, so get a dolly, or ask someone to help you carry it. But, if you are not willing to make any compromises on your tone, an SVT is the only way to go!

I have been playing professionally for thirty years. I run a Fender Jazz Bass (active) directly into the SVT. I also use the Ampeg HLF410 cab. The sound is truly magical. On every other bass amp that I've played through (and I've played through most of the best ones), I've had to use the active electronics on my bass. I always got a nice bass sound, but this is in a class of it's own. On this amp, I run my active bass flat. I don't need to mess with the active electronics, because I can get the sound that I've always wanted, using the amp knob EQ's alone. If you play this baby side by side with any other bass amp, you will hear the difference, because it's not even close. It is truly in a class by itself!

Back in the seventies, I played through an Ampeg V4B, which was a great amp (but only 100 tube watts). I've played through all Fender's, Hartke's, GK's, Carvin, Peavey, Aguilar and Ampeg's. I've heard Eden's, Marshall Major's, and several other makes. They were all reliable if you didn't run them on 10, and you didn't bounce them around in the van. I'll say it again, if you didn't get it the first time: This amp is in a class by itself! If you run it on 6, or 7 (which is plenty loud), the tubes will last a long time. When you do have to replace them, it will cost $250.-$300. Don't compromise this baby with crap tubes. When you replace them, get the JJ's, or Electro-Harmonix 6550's. You will hear yourself well in the mix, and everyone will be jealous of your tone. If you can sound good on this, you need to go back to the "woodshed." The direct out is nice for the studio, and a large room where you need some in the PA. Just make sure that your input gain knob is up around 3 o'clock, or else you won't send a strong enough signal. Use the volume knob to set your master volume. No reliability issues with mine! But always bring a "back up" amp, or direct box just in case. "The show must go on."

Never had to use customer support. Have only had the amp six months, but have rehearsed, and gigged with it on a regular basis. Don't expect any issues either.

I hate to belabor the point, but some of you just don't get it. This is thee amp, for "thee" sound. If it was stolen, I would absolutely have to go get another one. After hearing this, I could never go back to anything else! It is so easy to get a fantastic sound with this amp. The knobs are effective, but the tubes are the key to the sound. Even with the EQ set "flat," a good bass will sound very good through this. With the knobs, you can "customize" your sound for more "rumble," or more harmonically rich treble, if you like to pop and slap. I recently played on an all day, nine band bill. My set up was the "house bass rig." All the bass player's raved about the sound. By the end of the day, they all said that they wanted one. Two or three guys said that it's just too heavy for them to haul around, or that they just couldn't afford it. But they all agreed that the sound was thee best. And these were all veteran, bass player's with top brand rigs. The sound engineer said that unlike most rigs, the sound was so rich, and punchy, that it created it's own space in the mix. He said that he didn't have to "jack it up" like he usually has to do, and couldn't believe how little he had to do on the board, because the sound coming in was so "perfect."

Mine is an older 90s model the face plate and knobs do not look as good as the new ones. I gave it an 8 because it has all the features it needs but not a ton of bells and whistles like effects loop and graphic EQ. But if you buy this head your looking for that awesome no nonsense ampeg tone anyway so you probably don't care about all that. The selectanle midrange frequency is all you need. You can change your sound pretty quick just using that not to mention the bass and high buttons. Really if you just want an amp that sounds great and doesn't have a bunch of complicated features then it would be a 10. But I know some people expect a bass amp to have all kinds of goodies and the SVT2 does have a lot more features. Also the thing is pretty heavy, not as heavy as my SVT 2pro but still pretty dang heavy. The easy bias on back of the unit is a great feature!

This is where its at. I am writing this review because I have heard some people dogging this amp on internet forums. That is just a complete joke. This amp is incredible. I have heard comments of it sounding sterile and some other crap like that. Well let me tell you I can sort of understand because stock the tubes that are in there are not the best. But even with those original tubes this thing sounds great not sure maybe other people have a different sound in their head but an SVT is THE classic bass sound. The pre amp tubes that were in mine were completely unlabeled tubes from china probably. The power amp tubes were replaced by previous owner and did not even all match. The amp was having some problems and like a dummy I never looked at the bias light on back. Even with power tubes that didn't match mine was running for a while like that. I just replaced all the power tubes and preamp tubes with electro harmonix tubes and wow it was like putting on a new set of strings. Before the tube change I would have given it a 9 but now with the new tubes it a 10 for sure. The lows and highs just sing now and I can get a wider range of tones. When you have a really good bass sound you can cover a lot of ground and the SVT together with a good bass can cover all sorts of styles. It???s bright enough to slap and great for funk. Can get really bassy for those really classic sounds. Really great for rock and metal. That is probably where it excels. When you push this baby that tube distortion just rips. I play a few basses through mine but my Rickenbacker 4003 and this head are a match made in heaven. Of course depends how you set it you can get a warm punch that does not distort also. But my favorite sound is pushing the amp hard with the Rick using a pick. Its an awesome sound. I have played a lot of newer heads in the store and they don't really compare. I am kind of a tube whore though to me solid states just sound a little harsh when pushed. I used to own a hartke and they are good amps for the money and very transparent but this head just blows it away. It blows most other amps away IMO but I guess it depends on your taste.

Well as I said before I had some bad tubes that were not even matched the previous owner put in. I had been operating the amp like this for over a year and it always turned on and worked for the most part. I think that shows the reliability even with bad unmatched tubes this baby was still going for the most part. Well things started getting real bad as my highs were cutting out when I pushed her. Swapped out the tubes and did the easy bias on back and now the amp is better then ever. The electro harmonix tubes sound way better then the unlabeled tubes that were in the unit. I can't give it a ten as I have only had the new tubes in like 2 weeks so we will see if any new problems pop up but she has always turned on and ripped for me even with the bad tubes. I never really have a backup as I don't have a cheaper amp that weighs less but the head has never just quit on me.

Have not had to call them (knock on wood) so not sure about thier customer support.

For me this amp is a 10. The sound is just incredible. The sound is just huge punchy and mean. If you have some decent cabs and a good bass this thing just owns. I hear people complain this head is not as good as the old SVTs. I am not sure I have never played an old one but the old ones use some rare tubes that are a little harder to find and expensive. But this amp just sounds great anyway and gets that awesome sound you hear on records. It is really loud, I jam through a SWR 1x15 and with that cab alone I can keep up with a band. Playing it through bigger cabs just puts that great sound right in your face. One thing that sucks is having to replace tubes every few years as tubes are not cheap. But for the most part if you get properly matched tubes they should last quite a while. And if you have ever heard a tube head you know that sound is worth it. The weight is the other real negative but hey for the sound you gotta sacrifice. I also have an SVT2 and while that amp has way more features and an overdrive knob I still go back to this one for the most part. The weight and simplicity is great. I have the SVT2 as a backup but never had to bust it out. The other thing is when I bought mine you could get a decent deal back then (only a few years ago) now you can't seem to find one under a grand. But hey thats because they rock!

This amplifier is exactly what you need if all you want to do is simply plug in and play.
It has all the bits you need and none you don't. If you're a rock bassist, then this amp is for you.
Look at the other reviews for the features. I don't feel like repeating what everyone else has said!

Perfect quality for rock and punk rock.

I use a USA Fender Jazz with Seymour Duncan quarter pounder SJ3 pickups in both the neck and bridge position. I also installed a Badass II bridge - GET one!!! You will not believe the difference a bigger bridge makes.
I'm currently using two Mesa 4x10 powerhouse cabs, but will be getting Ampeg 410HLF soon, simply because I don't want a mongrel setup (there's nothing wrong with Mesa cabs by the way).
The sound is very deep and edible. Everything that a bass should be is reproduced faithfully by the SVT's circuitry and it's valves. The amp is everything a bass valve amp should be - warm, creamy, loud and punchy.
This amp reacts to how you play and to be honest, makes bass playing an absolute pleasure. I used to worry about how my old Mesa 400+ would behave in a gig. Since I've now got an Ampeg SVT, i can relax and get on with playing and enjoying it.
People have already commented on the luxurious bass tone that comes from my speakers.
I can't help thinking why I didn't buy Ampeg all those years ago.......
Also, this amp takes a lot to make it distort. You CAN make it distort by cranking the pre-amp up and backing off the master volume, but i don't go for that.
You can easily dial in punky growls, which again, this amp is very good at too. I don't like full on distortion when I dig in with my pick - I just want the amp to get louder when I do, and it does - it really does.
Don't underestimate it's volume either. Sure, it's ony 300 watts, but it's 300 watts of VALVE. Compare it side by side with a 300 watt transistor amp and you'll see what I mean. I'm a loud bassist, and I played an outdoor festival the other day and never had both volumes up beyond 5.
This thing is dominant and loud without being harsh. In other words - perfect - and better still it won't annoy your drummer and guitarist too much, because it sits in the mix perfectly.

So far so good. I've had it for a few monts now and always behaves and sounds the same.
The self biasing capability will come in handy when i have to get some new SOVTEKS and re-valve it.
It's quiet running and efficient fan give it even more thumbs up! Bizarrely, I love the warm, woody smell this thing produces when played hard - you can "smell" that vintage tone.

Only once met with the UK Ampeg rep. Seems helpful, but hopefully i'll never have to deal with him.

This is the best bass sound i have ever heard. I can also tell if an Ampeg SVT is being played elsewhere before I see the amp. Once you hear that "Ampeg Matrix" it makes a blueprint in your mind that stays with you forever.
I would definately get another one if - heaven forbid - anything happened to this one. You simply can't go wrong when playing rock styles. I'd love an 8x10 to play through, I think i'd get the ULTIMATE sound through one of those, but currently, i'm very pleased with my sound.
It is heavy, but manageable and it a small price to pay for the tone you're getting. Also, the weight is comfort to me that the damn thing is built like a tank. You have to ask yourself; do you want something light but fragile or heavy but strong?

Players who are serious about their instrument constantly strive for their ultimate tone, the holy grail of tone. I've found mine, and it's an AMPEG SVT Classic.

I bought this amp from ebay. It was made in June 2004 according to Ampeg although it was first retailed in 2006. The amp is just outstanding. Obviously if you are looking for something with a million controls effects and lights this isn't for you, but there again you probably wouldn't even be reading reviews of these amps.

I use a 91 Thunderbird. It sounds awesome. It's loud and the sound is almost edible.

Everyone seems to say that Ampeg offer great customer service. I haven't got a back up amp at the moment having spent all my money on the amp and an SVT410HLF. I will be getting a cheap tranny head as a backup and I will be getting this head serviced when we have a large enough space in between gigs.

I've used an independent electronics guy for years now and he will service and repair where necessary.

The only time I contacted Ampeg I emailed them to find out the age of the amp and they replied by the following day. I have no doubt that their customer service is spot on.

I've been playing bass for 25 years. I've owned all manner of amps in that time and played all sorts of basses. I'd always wanted an SVT but never got round to buying one. This time it was the only thing I was going to buy. I also bought an SVT410HLF. I'd have bought the 810 but it just wasn't practical given the size of my car! The setup sounds fabulous, and I'm not one to gush with praise. The amp is really well put together and the tone is just incredible. If it were stolen I'd definitely get another... after I'd hunted the person responsible down.

In summary; it's heavy, but a relatively easy one man lift as long as you park near the venue. It's well made, I'm pretty sure it will last a lifetime, it looks ace, and it makes you sound as good as you always dreamt you would sound. Chicks will dig it, so get one.

Not really any, but then again, what features does a bass amp really need?

It's a 10! Sounds really good really loud, though I don't get to play it very loud most of the time, yet still sounds awesome.

I blew a tube, but that was my fault because I didn't know what I was doing. Other than my own faults, it works awesome.

Never dealt with them; no problems.

Probably the most bass amp you will ever be able to find ever. Buy it, even though they're pretty spendy, you get what you pay for ... plus, there's always ebay.