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TylerDeadPine wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2023 10:46 am

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2023 10:32 am

TylerDeadPine wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2023 10:18 am In 2023, post Ukraine war, post good class D amps... there's no reason to buy a 70s Ampeg SVT right? They're still worth a grip, but between my back and future tube costs...

... yet still

I struggle to answer if it was *ever* worth it for me. They sound good, but that's more power than I think I have ever needed. Certainly not worth the two repaired SVT-induced hernias I have.

Nowadays most of my playing out has a backline, and I generally make do with whatever is available (its usually pretty okay). In the practice space I play bass out of a head I built which is 2xKT88 for something near 100W and I find it to be just fine volume wise. In the rare occasion where I need to bring it out to play a show its good for stage volume and anything else can go through the PA.

Thank you, that's what I needed to hear - I'm playing normally out of a 2xKT88 head as well, and it sounds amazing. It's anything I would need, and I still have to turn down at practice. It's heavy but manageable Myself from 10 years ago, feels crazy I would pass up a deal on an old SVT. But I will. I must!

If the SVT sound was what you were craving one could always make or have made an amp with a SVT preamp going into a much more reasonable power section. Or even make a solid state preamp version of the SVT a la the Rusty Box and run that into a separate power amp.

Also on the topic of head weight, I got a review from a customer on a 20W Plexi type head I built him and said if anything the head is too light. He said it dances around on his cab, which must be a wildly resonant cab. Its light at 22lbs but not THAT light.

I spent a lot of time playing drums adjacent to an SVT head, both with the 8x10 cab and in 2x TL606 setups and it sounded perfect all the time. It’s also the only piece of gear I’ve played where it’s like “hey I sound like I know what I’m doing!” because of it. I’ve also tried a V4 with the same cab setup and it’s not the same with the low frequency stuff.

The SVT III non-pro version is the original SVT preamp into a solid state power section. I have an SVT II non-pro, which is just a rack mounted SVT, and I can't really tell the difference between the II and III until I get to ear-splitting power amp distortion levels. The IIIs don't really come up for sale that often though. There's a ton of 3 Pros out there though, but they're not quite the same.

Nate Dort wrote: Mon Jul 03, 2023 3:57 pm The SVT III non-pro version is the original SVT preamp into a solid state power section. I have an SVT II non-pro, which is just a rack mounted SVT, and I can't really tell the difference between the II and III until I get to ear-splitting power amp distortion levels. The IIIs don't really come up for sale that often though. There's a ton of 3 Pros out there though, but they're not quite the same.

ah! I never knew that, very cool thanks!

So what’s the word on tuners these days? I’m in the market for 1) a compact pedal board tuner and 2) a low profile clip-on tuner (as in it doesn’t have some goofy head hanging off the end of some fragile stem). Accuracy is nice, but I’m not tuning to NASA standards.

VaticanShotglass wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2023 5:05 pm So what’s the word on tuners these days? I’m in the market for 1) a compact pedal board tuner and 2) a low profile clip-on tuner (as in it doesn’t have some goofy head hanging off the end of some fragile stem). Accuracy is nice, but I’m not tuning to NASA standards.

I like the small korg pitchblack tuner - which feels weird because I hated the regular sized korg pitchblack tuner

VaticanShotglass wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2023 5:05 pm So what’s the word on tuners these days? I’m in the market for 1) a compact pedal board tuner and 2) a low profile clip-on tuner (as in it doesn’t have some goofy head hanging off the end of some fragile stem). Accuracy is nice, but I’m not tuning to NASA standards.

I have a regular old TU-2 in my gig bag that I use for shows. At home I have a Sonic Research tuner and love it. If either broke I'd promptly replace with another Sonic Research one as it nails accuracy in a small-ish package.

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2023 5:33 pm At home I have a Sonic Research tuner and love it. If either broke I'd promptly replace with another Sonic Research one as it nails accuracy in a small-ish package.

2x. I've been using an ST-200 as my main tuner for probably 12 years and it's been flawless. They have a ST-300 mini now that looks great.

The tuner that gets the most use for me recently is the TC Polytune clip on. I don't think I'd buy another due to the Behringer aquisition, but it sure is quick and easy in the home studio.
I dig the Korg Pitchblack tuner and have had one for years. The side benefit is that it draws zero power when bypassed, so batteries last forever if you're using them. For my loud rock bands I tend to practice with power supplies, but play shows with batteries. Easier for setup/teardown, and less chance of weird power supply noise.
I also still have my TU-2 that I got when I joined Replicator in 2001. It's fine as well. Sometimes, it's better as a mute switch or active splitter.

I've used and passed on the Peterson strobostomp tuners. The real strobe ones are great. the LCD screen simulation... I can't vibe with it.

Nate Dort wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2023 5:50 pm

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Wed Jul 05, 2023 5:33 pm At home I have a Sonic Research tuner and love it. If either broke I'd promptly replace with another Sonic Research one as it nails accuracy in a small-ish package.

2x. I've been using an ST-200 as my main tuner for probably 12 years and it's been flawless. They have a ST-300 mini now that looks great.

Yep, love the ST-200!

I've had two Korg Pitchblacks that have broken, which is a bummer because it's dead simple and has a nice display, but I'm probably done with those as a result. I also have a few TU-2s around just because it's always handy to have one somewhere, but the ST-200 is my go-to.