Ampeg SVT-3Pro

Mine is a 2004, which I bought barely used from Ebay in 2005. You can find the features and specs on the ampeg site. I find the tube gain control, the XLR line out, and the graphic eq to be EXTREMELY useful. They all work great and make this amp very versatile in tone and also to adjust sound for the room you're in. As far as power goes, I've never had a problem with volume. Even in a loud high-gain guitar rock situation.

I play a stock American Fender P-Bass, no pedals or preamps, just straight in. That's all you need if you ask me. I use this to push a SVT-410HE and a SVT-15E. This thing sounds great without a lot of tweaking. I play in a cover band with everything from classic rock(Journey/Cream) to country/blues(Brad Paisley/SRV) to modern rock(Fuel/Alice In Chains). I need a setup that can give me lots of volume and versatility sound good in any style of music, and this amp is perfect. I love that I can crank up the tube drive for dirtier, more modern sounds (sorta like Beastie Boys Sabotoage). Or I can dial it down to mellow, fat John Paul Jones type classic rock sounds.

I can absolutely rely on this amp every week to perform for me! No backups here! I gig heavily (at least 3 nights a week - 4 hr gigs) on this thing, and I can totally vouch for the reliability. Just get a good rack case for it. I recommend the SKB rolling x-case.

Ampeg is great on service generally, though on this particular amp I've had no trouble. Authorized service centers are everywhere, it's an Ampeg, for GOD's sake!

I've been playing for 10 years or so. This is about my 4th or 5th amp setup. I was trying every brand of amp to find the right sounds, and I found that I kept on coming back to the Ampeg. I just didn't want to dish out the cash for a pro setup. IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING THE B-2 OR B-3, just save up your money for the SVT-IIIPRO. You won't regret it!! That tube preamp and the gain settings are well worth it. One more thing...don't buy anything but Ampeg cabninets for this. Theyr'e specifically tuned to Ampeg heads and I think you'll be disappointed in anything else.

2005 model SVT-III Pro bought at Leitz Music in Tallahassee, FL, the features are well documented so I won't bore people.

I'm giving it an 8 here because while the features are all good for what they are, combined they overcomplicate the amp IMO. For example, the mid contour dial could just as easily been a hi-mid and lo-mid control, instead you have to select what part of your mids to control, and then you can only dial that one section...which is negated by using the 9-band EQ. Personally when I'm on stage I prefer to use the dials over the parametric EQ for speed reasons...it's a lot easier to turn a knob than fiddle with a slider bar that's hard to see/read on stage.

I play a MusicMan Stingray (Ernie Ball model, 2005 made) into an Electro-Harmonix Black Finger Compressor then into the amp. I use an Ampeg SVT410 HLF cabinet with my setup. I like the sound, it's got a taste of the classic ampeg tone with a modern tinge to it...but it's not everything I had hoped it would be. I was hoping to recreate the "Classic" sound on a budget but fell short, and I'm just not ready/sold enough on Ampeg to drop the change on a CL. The amp gets an 8 here as well, but mostly because of personal taste, I prefer GK amps, I'm going to trade in my SVT for a GK.

I haven't had any problems with it. I've had the amp for roughly 7 months and it's been gigged quite frequently. I'm giving it a 9 because it has tubes, and tubes eventually wear out.

I've never dealt with ampeg.

Ampeg does a great job with their amps, but I'm just not an Ampeg guy I guess. If you're looking for classic ampeg sound with quite a bit of versatility and a modern edge, then this is a great amp, but it's not my cup of tea. I think I was mostly in awe of the ampeg name when I bought it, a mistake that I'm not making again as I've demoed the GK line a lot over an extended period of time to make sure I am 100% satisfied before I purchase one.

Addition: this is a fantastic amp that serves me very well for years, the only remark I have is that it is not linear, as tube amps opposite to s/s, I find it better the more I push it, but if you want a tube drive at low volumes, this is difficult to achieve, so you may have to add an EBS multidrive, for example, to your signal path. I find this is really a pro level head (maybe not plug'n play, but very versatile in the end). And it keeps its value...

a bit heavy, but very solid

wish ampeg makes a lightweight rackable 100/150 Watt all tube amp one day, but the svt3 is the best compromise so far in my opinion

Has all the features I wanted and needed: Tube Pre-Amp, 9-band EQ, and lots of great sound.

This amp puts out a huge amount of sound for the rating. There is plenty of definition, in all ranges, and compared to the other amps I have tried this one rocks! Read the amp user-guide; their suggested set-up is a good starting point. Once you set it up, tweak it from there.

I have driven this thing everywhere and play liong, 4-hour sets. This amp has never given me a problem! Not one! If you want an amp that can take a beating, then buy this one!

Never talked with them.

I run this amp with an AMPEG SVT 410HLN and need nothing else. I have no backup; I don't need it! This si the most reliable and the best sounding amp I have even played! Perfect for the club setting.

Have this amp for 5 months now and my rig is this head with an Ampeg BXT 410 HL 4 Cabinet. I play Death Metal and this amp is so great, I will never use another brand. I've been searching for a great amp and tested many "loud sounding" amps but the point is, how louders amps can go, the more articulation is getting lost. I've tested SWR, H&K, Peavey, Hartke, Behringer,Yorkville... and these amps are really loud. I admit, they were louder then the Ampeg but their sound are nothing compared with this baby! This Ampeg sounds like a hartbeat pumping like a train through the music and I feel the bass penetrating my body... amazing! The other brands were not bad but for example: Fret one on my B string sounded the same as fret 9 on the B string. So, that's wasn't anything for what I was searching for. This ampeg... Kills all competition.

The sound is brilliant. It has also a lot to do with my cab that I'm using. The BXT 410 cab has a more crystal sounding modern sound that the classic SVT cabs. I also play some bass solo's in a few of our songs and the BXT cab can take it all and I can hear every single note that I'm playing. With the SVT cab, it sounded more like mud and all the notes sounded the same. The Ampeg produces 300 watts output (450 watt's is the Preamp section wattage but the eventually output is 300 watt's) and that's more then enough to cope with my drummer. A gig's, I hook my rig to the P.A. system and it's really amazing to hear such a clear and fantastic sounding bassguitar!

Never had any problems so far. As far as transport, my rig is really roadworthy. This head can take a beating (is builed like a tank) but I always take good care of it. The only problem is that my cab weighs about 122 pounds, so it asks for a two men job to lift it. Further more, no problems.

Nice people to mail with, respond very quick and a very friendly service desk. Compared with H&K, Hartke and Yorkville (They've never heard of customer support) they rule!

This amp is simply brilliant. I don't understand the bad reputation this amp has (check Bgra.net, talkbass.com, ZZounds, music123,...). Many people complain that this amp isn't loud enough... I've never heard such a brutal amp. It's a piece of art and I hope that Ampeg will keep on producing these wonderfull amps in the future to come.

This like many others is a follow up review. I don't think the features need to be gone over because it has been listed. All I know is there is a lot more then I need on this amp. So I don't have a problem with the features. If any thing too much. I don't ever use the 9 band eq anymore.

Over the years I have grown to enjoy a set up that is nice and simple, well kind of. I have also been trying to shrink it a bit. I fell in love with p-basses like everyone else a few years ago and I don't see any turning back from that. When I was playing punk it didn't seem loud enough but now that I am playing more rock I feel like I can't turn it up to my ideal volume because it is too loud. I think it sounds best with the master turned up three quarters of the way. I don't have problems with distortion that is why you have a peak light and a gain. I do run a compressor and a BBE sonic maximizer with this amp, I find that a sonic maximizer is a must for any amp.

I have played this amp with all sorts of combinations. Ampeg svt 410hlf, Svt 810e, swr goliath II, Aguilar 210, and currently I am running an Ashdown ABM 210 and ABM 115. These cabs are small and light. I liked the 810 but they lose their appeal when you have to deal with them yourself. I'll get one if I ever have a roady untill then I am keeping it small. The other advantage with the 210 and 115 is that combined they have a 600 watt rating and the ampeg puts out 450 and so it is the closet I have ever ran to matching the ratings and it sounds real good.

This is really where this amp shines. I have been very hesitant to get rid of it because it has never given me a single problem in six years. I haven't even had to replace the preamp tubes. I just open it up every so often and clean the dust out. It's like a tank.

Don't know, there amps are so good that and reliable that I haven't had any questions.

I got an amazing deal on this amp. It was a demo model that was used for one weekend at a jazz festival. I paid 599 I think which is a great price for it new. I have bought a few different amps over the years to replace this amp with but they just don't stand up to it. This amp isn't for everyone. But you get a lot for a little in my opinion. The only other ampeg that I would buy above this is an SVT CL. I hate the hi fi sound and this amp isn't hi fi although you could probably get a hi fi sounds from it. This amp is so versitile that it will get you where you need to go for the most part. I don't really plan on upgrading unless I get lucky and play in a band that gets lots of money.

Have this amp for three years now. Still very happy with it. To find all features: please go to http://www.ampeg.com

I play death metal and use a SVT 610 HLF cab with this head. No problems whatsoever. My drummer is very fast and hits like a maniac and my guitarplayer uses a brutal Marshall JCM 2000 with a Vintage 1960 cabinet. I can keep up with my bandmates with no problems. My sound is shapeble from ultra low to sharp and crystal clear. Concerning about the volume. This head creates 300 watt's instead of the stated 450 watt's. The pre-amp delivers 450 watt but the outcome is 300 watt. This is the reason why many people find this amp to be so silent. But I'm extremely happy with it. At rehearsels, zero problems and at gigs, we hook our gear up at the P.A. (that's why it's there) and I can blast with no problems.

Five tubes, one blew on me a couple of months ago. Had to wait 4 days and a new tube was present at the musicstore where I go. Further more, no problems.

Haven't got in tough with them. I always go to my dealer.

This head is really great. When I read the other reviews (especially the negative ones) I wunderd what could be wrong with this great head. The sometimes farting sounds, which the SVT III Pro creates at very high volumes, I never dealth with it. I never turn my amp pass 5 or 6 because then my rig is getting to loud at the rehearsel space. I bury the drums and the guitars. If you want a great tube amp, go ampeg and get the SVT III Pro. If you use the 610 HLF, you have a very extreme setup at which only the loudest guitaramps can compete with. Think twice before buying it because the complaint can be from your bandmates that your amp is just to loud! You're warned! The price is extremely economic. Bought my complete rig for 2500 euro. 1350 for the head, 1150 for my cab!!!!!!

Bought it a few days ago. Is the tube verion of the solid state B2R but has more features and more power (louder!). For all the information, go to www.ampeg.com and check the products section. I'm very happy with this amp. Sold my hughes and Kettner Bassforce XXL combo to buy the ampeg SVT III PRo head with an Ampeg BXT 410HL4 cabinet (see other review). Wow! What a difference. The HK sounded like a toy compared with this monster of a rig.

The sound is simply brilliant. I've heard many people complain about the SVT III Pro that it isn't loud enough. I don't agree at all with them. With my rig, I can stand loud and proud against two marshall JCM 2000 halfstacks and a trigger loving drummer. The head can produce 450 watts, the cab is 600 watts. If that isn't loud enough... whatever! The sound is really thick, fat and you can shape it into a sharp sounding mayhem. Thanks to all the features of the amp, you can shape your sound into almost anything you want. Thanks to the BXT cab (which is one of best cabs around) the sound is crystal clear and it has a wunderfull articulation. The SVT cab's have tons of low end but the sounds were often very muddy. The BXT cab's are in my opionion way better then the SVT cabs (and are also a little bit more expensive). This is how a bassguitar should sound like. My Yamaha basses (BB5IIL and TRB1005L) love the ampeg rig. It's just a fantastic head.

The tube's (3 if I'm correct) sound like they mean buisiness. Haven't got any problems so far but I've got a really great dealer who is really devoted and he can get replacement tube's from Ampeg without any problems and for a really good price (not like mesa. They use russian tubes, which are worth 25 euro's and the put their logo on it and sell it for 110 euro's. Way to go mesa).

Well, haven't dealth with them yet.

Extremely great head. A think I will never have to buy a new amp for the next 20 or 30 years. This amp is without any doubt the best of the best. Loud, fat, punshy, clear, brutal, growling,... you name it. It can do it all for you!!! The price is a little bit high but the amp makes it really worth it. If it would be stolen... I would get the person who stole it and let him pay the total amount to me so that I can buy the same amp again.

Just an addition to previous: Use the low mid! (mid control 1st position) boost it 3 o'clock with the tubegain on O, bass 3, treble 10 o'clock (w/horn) all the rest off (except the eq for boosted parts, or the low/hi boosts when you slap) and then you will hear that tubes you are looking for (if you push the gain and master a little of course, because tube amps are not linear): I've got this head for 2years and a half (no probs), and found it too clean (trying to get a vintage sound with a "smiley curve" eq makes no sense) until I had the key: now I know I have a true Ampeg, with added versatility. It is a great improvement in heard power too (I used to find it weak for the 450w, I don't anymore). You have to know such an amp well before judging it (ahem)

Bought new. 4 tube pre-amp; 2 driver tubes; MOSFET power section; graphic eq.

I can't believe guys are saying that this amp won't distort, it won't saturate, but it won't clean up either, at least not with an active bass. It has one sound and one sound only, boomy, with little definition between notes, and an underlying distortion. I ran an SWR Interstellar Overdrive in front of it and it sounded much better. As for volume, for a 450 watt rating, it is not all that loud.

Ampeg has a good rep.

I called them and they seemed nice.

It's going back in exchange for an SWR 550x. It is good to get a distorted sound sometimes, but I want to be able to get a clean sound as well. This amp sounds dark without much definition and is probably perfect for metal. It sucked the high end right out of my Pedulla basses. It would appear to me that Ampeg is trying to "model" a classic SVT tone in a modern package. It unfortunately comes off sounding flat and one dimensional. Don't get me wrong, this is a nice well built amp, but for $800, the tone should be there and it isn't.