Ampeg SVT-3Pro

Ok feature wise.Wish it had an overdrive channel or at least can "crunch" more like an SVT Classic.You would think a hybrid that has five tubes in it would get a good crunchy drive sound but this amp is way too clean.The only way I could it to distort was to turn the "level" all the way up on the graphic EQ section and then it sounded like a bad distortion pedal.However,the clean bass sound is nice and tube-like and has a good presence.

Not bad.Not really good either.SVT III Pros sound great when atop an SVT 8x10 or an SVT 2x15 but when paired with a mediocre cabinet the sound is well,mediocre.In my case I had 2 FENDER/SUNN 4x10s and was quite underwhelmed.I think this maybe just proves that the key to the wonderful classic "SVT" sound is 50% the SVT Classic head and 50% the classic SVT 8x10 cab.I will state though that I have heard SVT classic heads make sub-par cabs sound really good.The SVT III Pro did not do much better than what my ASHDOWN MAG 400(solid-state)did for the same cabinets.Also,not as loud.

I didn't keep this head long enough to come to a conclusion.

I have dealt with AMPEG/SLM and they are great.

I love AMPEG.
The SVT III Pro is just not as good as most of their other amps.
Even with five tubes(4 12ax7s and 1 12au7)this head didn't sound as warm and friendly as the superb AMPEG B100R 100watt(solid-state) combo that I have and adore.I play hard rock and psychadelic blues with USA FENDER basses strung w/ flatwound strings.I now have an ACOUSTIC 220 with a TRAYNOR 1x18 Cerwin Vega semi folded horn and am getting the sounds I want.

SVT-3PRO made in August 2003 (bought in December 2004 as brand new in a factory sealed box from Guitar Center). Lots-o-features! Some highlights are tuner output, footswitchable EQ, mute, XLR and 1/4" balanced and unbalanced line out w/volume control and ground lift, effects loop, speak-on and 1/4" speaker jacks, etc. 450W @ 4 ohms, enough power for my band and recording uses, I may run thru the PA as well for large halls. I bought the ampeg 2 button footswitch for mute and EQ on/off for $46 (ouch!) from Musician's Friend. More features than I will ever use, and none that I need are missing. I use the footswitchable graphic EQ as a solo switch, it works great for those parts that you need to punch up a little. 2 ohm capability would have been nice for two 4 ohm cabs, but I am not complaining. My 4 ohm cab is working great!

Music Man Stingray 4 with stock pickups >> gtr cable >> SVT-3PRO >> speaker cable >> SVT-410HLF

This setup sounds great! I play modern rock music and this nails it! I think the cab has a lot to do with the great sound because I tried others and this cab kills everything except SVT-810E, and who wants to lug that beast around? I think the combination of a tube preamp and a MOSFET power amp is perfect for rock bass guitar. I can get the clangy picked modern rock tones and clean fingered dub sound w/great sustain!) and everything in between. I can get a huge variety of tone with just the Stingray's 3 band EQ, which is great for live performances. This is by no means a one trick pony, but the SVT tone is why you bought it and it is in there.

I am still getting to know this amp. I am looking forward to recording with it. I think the results will be excellent.

Haven't had it long enough to know. The cooling fan is a little noisy at startup and shutdown which makes me a little nervous. I will keep my Sansamp BDDI as a backup (straight into the PA).

5 year warranty (almost unheard of these days). I had a question about a low level on the balanced line out, the Ampeg tech was great! He had me straightened out in 5 minutes. I had the GAIN set too low. As soon as I turned down the MASTER a little and turned the GAIN up...problem solved.

I have been playing about 5 years and this is my first real bass amp. I was playing thru the Sansamp BDDI straight into the PA before and this amp is a huge improvement.

I extensively demoed the SVT3-PRO vs. SVT Classic for a month at GC. I went to Guitar Center fully intending to buy the SVT Classic. I tried them both one more time and decided to go with the SVT-3PRO mainly for the versatilty of sounds, 65 lbs. lighter, less cost, and much less expensive tube maintenance. Don't get me wrong, if I had unlimited funds and roadies to carry my crap, I would have gone with the SVT Classic and the SVT-810E. It sounded incredible (better than the SVT3), it was just too much amp (and not versatile enough) for me. I also tried a SWR rig and I was not impressed.

I have one small complaint - I wish it came with the $46 footswitch. I think a $900 amp should come with the damn footswitch.

Overall great amp! Seems powerful enough and versatile enough for gigging and recording.

it's only a few years old, I've had it for two years and I've submitted a review, but I wanted to update mine!

Preamp gain, Tube gain, Parametric and 9 band EQ, VERY FLEXIBLE!

Tons of juice to spare, I've never needed to crank it and I use it with the Ampeg SVT810E cab!

I use two G&L basses, both are passive instruments. I play all types of music, and I can get any tone I want. I rarely need to reset the EQ at different venues. I can make it distort, but I keep it clean. The distortion that I can get isn't the best, but it's not the worst, I just prefer to let the amp run clean. I might get a Preamp (Sansamp Bass Driver RBI) for some mixable distortion

NEVER had a problem yet. The fan got noisy once and the tubes have needed changed, but that's normal. I got contact cleaner with lube for the fan and it's been silent since! I might get another head someday just in case, you know... if a tube goes, a tube goes and having another head alreay there is much faster than changing tubes

STILL haven't needed them, but I trust they would be able to take care of me :)

I use the following gear:

Ampeg SVT810E
Samson Bass Airline Wireless
Alesis 3630 Compressor
MA Audio 2 space rack drawer
SKB rack(s)
Juice Goose Power Strip with pullout lights and surge protection
Korg DTR-1000 Tuner
Ernie Ball passive volume pedal
Boss Chorus
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi Distortion
Boss Bass Synthesizer
DOD Envelope Filter
Morley ABY switch (to bypass wah)
Morley Power Wah Boost (you know... the old chrome one)

G&L 1998 SB-2 bass. Lake Placid Blue, alder body, bird's eye maple neck and fretboard, chrome hardware, factory electronics, one volume pot for each pickup and white pearloid pickguard. Strung with DR High Beams (45-105)

G&L 1991 SB-1 bass, black swamp ash body, maple neck and fretboard, black hardware and pickguard, factory pickup and one pot for volume the other for tone. Strung with DR Black Beauties (45-105)

Dunlop 1.0mm blue triangle tortez picks

Comfort Strapp extra long (ordered from Roger Sadowsky http://www.sadowsky.com )

I also use all Sovtek 12AX7 tubes (all 5 of them) I don't use the 12AU7, I replaced it with a 12AX7 tube.

Ampeg SVT III Pro, made in 1994. I play mainly heavy stuff and it simply rocks. Lots of power, handles 5 string bass tuned one step down at high volumes with no clipping. Can't complain, really.I don't play anything else, so can't say if it's versatile or not. Suits me fine, though.

I play Spector Rex2000/5 5 string with EMG HZ pickups. Amp: not noisy, hums a little; warm punchy sound, lots of power. Tried to go for some distortion, couldnt, but on the other hand - there's always pedals, isn't there?

Bought it over eBay. Came from overseas, not working (that's a separate story). Had it fixed, works great since. Previous users kicked it's ass, I guess. I take care of it, but on the other hand it's my main touring amp, so it takes a beating once in a while. I trust it completely though.

Bought used, don't know anything about customer support.

I play for almost 10 years. Played a couple of amps before, this one devours them all with a snap of its bassy jaws :) To make it curt: it's a rock/metal machine, punches, kicks, growls. If somebody stole it from me, I'd find the bastard and get medieval on him :)
One thing - this is one heavy bitch...

This is overall a very good bass amp.Solid and beefy but pretty much no frills.It does have a graphic eq but no bi-amp/crossover.I use this head to power a 1x15 and a 2x10 cabs by Avatar.Also,it doesn't have an overdrive channel like on the Ampeg B5 but if pushed right it can get pretty furry sounding.

Sounds really great.Very warm and punchy like a classic tube amp but with the graphic eq I can get clean and crisp modern tones as well.I play a G&L SB-1 fretless and an 80s Japanese Fender P-Bass.The SVT-III Pro replaces a SWR 4004 I had originally aquired when I got the Avatar cabs and the Ampeg is a giant improvement.I also borrowed a Gallien Krueger 800RB for a short time and though I grew to like the bi-amp feature I must say the SVT-III pro has alot more character and a much deeper textured sound than either the GK or SWR.

I got this head used last year and so far so good.

N/A

I think that this amp is a fantastic value.If the day comes when I get a record contract and a hefty advance then I would play a SVT Classic or maybe even an Aguilar but in the mean time this is about as good an amp as can be had reasonably.I am certain that the Ampeg SVT-III Pro is by far the best bass head for under $1000.

it is quite versatile, I wish it has more power (450W ??? let's say 300 or 350 under 4 ohm)it's enough for me, and I have a 4 ohm cab, but I don't recommend it for those who need a very powerful amp.
Tube drive and vintage tones aren't easy to get, but in the end I've found: get the tube gain control on 0, don't EQ, don't ultra lo, and obviously nor high: bass 3 o'clock, mid 12, treble 10-11 (2/3 on my stingray 4), and it sounds like tubes if you push it a little (push the master to 3'clock mini, that's the way ampeg built it).
wish it came down to 2 ohm, could add a cab or not push it to the limit

cool, needs acknowledgement
not hi-fi, but can sound modern and bright

blew fuses, but it's OK

cool

good amp

Its a late nineties model, basically different colour casing then the new ones but with the same guts. The usual stuff on it, Bass, Treble, Mid (but it has a selectable mid center point for the mid frequency which is nice), Gain, Master. Extra features are Tube Gain (which I love), a 10 band EQ, mute, HI boost, Lo, Boost, -15 dB for active basses, bright switch, balanced and unbalanced DI output, tuner out, and an effects loop.

This amp is sweet, within two days of getting it I found the sound I was looking for. I play an Ibanez bass ( not that good of one) into it with a ampeg 8x8 cab, and it sounds incredible. It has that signature Ampeg tone that everyone that owns an Ampeg loves. I brought it in the studio and recorded with it and it sounded great.

This thing is heavy for such a small unit, seems strong though. I m prolly gonna buy a rack case for it, the more gigging I do, the more abuse its gonna take, but so far so good.

Never had to deal with them, all the info i needed was easliy accessable on theyre website and the Bboards there.

I've been playing for 4 years, and play rock music. This amp suites my style to the T. Its loud enough for small to medium gigs. Could use a bit more power, but its fine for right now, no trouble running my cab with it. If you do get, one make sure you get a 4 ohm cab cause the power just isnt there at 8ohms. But all in all, I love it, and wouldnt give it up, unless it was for a better Ampeg.

My SVT-3Pro was made in 1999 and has been on the road for the last 4 years. I like the mute button, but would like 2 inputs for active or passive basses.

I can get great tone from this amp with my Fender Jazz, G&L ASAT and my upright bass.
My G&L is the bomb when I run thru my 2 15" Bagend cabinets.I get tons of tone when I play funk/slap bass.
I get great tone with my upright bass, I just adjust down the bass tone knob.

I've never had to have it repaired, not even tube replacement in 4 years. I did play in a crappy club a couple of weeks ago and I blew my first fuse. I've played an average of 250 dates a year and never used a back up!

They have been very good in the past.

I replaced my Hartke 3500 head with the SVT-3Pro head. What a difference! The Ampeg makes the Hartke sound like a toy.
I would probably go for the Ashdown 500 when I decide to trade.
The Ampeg is a great value and a good road amp!

i've already reviewed here but then I discovered the amp, with an IBZ ATK405: now I know it better and I also play with a stingray 4
the features hasn't change: not the multiple options/effects of new (fashion) amps but a wicked tube preamp that cannot be find somewhere else. I would have appreciated a 2 ohm load with, hum... 600 watts... but that's all. I have a bse 410 hlf cab

well many people compare different brands such as swr to ampeg: I think there's a bit of nonsense except if you want to bi-amp with a swr for crystal highs (wich may be a good idea): it's like comparing a shovel with a tea spoon: maybe (sure) ampeg is less subtle, but I love feeling like my basses has an engine now. it took me a little time to find the sound with the stingray (bass 12'and boost middle 0 treble 12'clock with boost only for slapping tube gain max eq on "hollow mid"/ bass everything to max). BIG GROWL you can feel the pressure and yet have tubey clarity!

If it was stolen (it won't)maybe I would try a svt 4 or svt 2, but this is a bestseller for good reasons, even if I don't find it's "plug and play" at all (with all flat I hate the sound). I think you have everything you really need with that. about power, It's not the loudest amp you can get but I think that if you ain't absolutely mad of watts you can go with it and rock hard (there's a line out anyway)

Mine is the 2002 made version. I play mostly hard rock through it, but I've found that it's good for other styles as well. the pre-amp is tube and has 4x12ax7 and 1x12au7. the power amp is 450watt at 4ohm or 275 at 8 ohm. that's more than loub enough for my uses. if you have a two button switch for it, you can turn the mute on and off and the eq on and off. it has a tube driver control to give more of a tube sound which doesnt make much difference to me. for a better look at the specs go to www.ampeg.com

the bass i preimarily run through it is an ibanez srx-700. it sounds great. a couple of my friends have played their basses through it, a fender a warwick and an ernie ball and they all sounded great as well. i play with it pretty much cranked all the way and it doesnt distort at all (it is a solid state power amp). depending on what kind of cabinet you play it through you can get anything from punchy sounds to very low end bass. love it

i havent has it that long but it hasnt given me the slightest bit of trouble. i suppose ill have to replace the tubes eventually but other that i keep in a nice rack case so it doesnt get banged around. i feel confident playing anything ampeg at a gig without a backup

havent dealt with them yet

it has everything i was looking for. if it got stolen or lost (God forbid i lose it) id just go out and buy another one. ive played all ampeg heads and probably the only other amp i may consider is the svt-5pro only because it has a distortion channel which sounds better than pedal distortion.