Ampeg SVT

[thousandshirts]

Then there is also the solo to 'Reelin' in the Years:'

"That was my ’63 Fender Stratocaster with a PAF humbucker in the neck position, straight into an Ampeg SVT bass amp. The SVT wouldn’t have been my first choice for an amp—or even my fifth choice—but that Strat is still my go-to guitar that I use about 98 percent of the time." -Elliott Randall

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/ell ... l-07/29354

[Abstract]

Then there is also the solo to 'Reelin' in the Years:'

"That was my ’63 Fender Stratocaster with a PAF humbucker in the neck position, straight into an Ampeg SVT bass amp. The SVT wouldn’t have been my first choice for an amp—or even my fifth choice—but that Strat is still my go-to guitar that I use about 98 percent of the time." -Elliott Randall

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/ell ... l-07/29354

Interesting. Legendary solo...I'm iffy on the "tone" though.

Link to song. Solos at 2:32 & 3:59.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxk6j44LBzg

I wonder how he got it to distort. Possibly 100% speaker distortion? That would be painfully loud. Big Muff?

[stratcat62]

Ya, it sounds like the speakers are heavily overdriven. I'm guessing that there was no amplifier distortion, just a ton of volume out of the amp.

[selloutrr]

I just fired one up 70's blue face SVT RCA output tubes threw a matching 8X10. as long as i rolled back the lows the power chords wouldn't jump out and try to knock me over. it took pedals ok chorus/phase/flanger pretty well, but distortion seemed fake and un natural like i was using a pedal ( well i was but, it's not always noticable, on most guitar amps it just over loads and helps break up, on this amp it took alot to put it and you could tell what the pedal was doing) it takes alot to overdrive the amp and it got to where i just didn't want to be in the room. cutting back the power with a dummy load to half power it could be pretty cool but i'm not diggin it enough to risk staining the tubes or the Iron. Personally if your hooked on the Ampeg tone but want to go both ways try a V4 or V4b they aren't 300Watts but they are pure tube love! and with a master volume it's lush harmonic distortion all day long. Not that it matters but to my ear the SVT is worth the weight as a bass amp and just a bitch to move as a guitar amp.

[David Root]

6550s have their place for guitar. I know a metal guitar guy who uses two '70s Marshall 100w with 6550s and two tubes pulled in each amp, with a pair of old slant half stacks.

So not only does he use the clean 6550 but effectively his iron is highly overrated for 50W.

His distortion tone is in the preamps of course, but his definition is good because of the headroom from the iron and clarity from the 6550s and the OT.

Last year I built a two 6550 four stage modern crunch machine with oversized toroidal iron and it sounds really good. Old Sylvania 6550s made a difference too.

[Rich M]

I had an SVT in HS. It was a real old one. Sounded great with guitar but unbelievably loud (REALLY!).

[Jammin'John]

I've played my guitar through my bass rig (2/3 of an SVT) with a Dr. Bss 2x12" ported cab and it sounds sweet.
http://www.talkbass.com/reviews/showpro ... 506/cat/25
http://www.drbasscabs.com/
It takes pedals well.
I can't get any good crunch at sane levels though.

JJ