Ampeg SVT Micro Stack

[Matt R.]

I think I'm gonna:



Been playing this thing most of the evening at my house. I have a small gig tomorrow night and if it sounds as good with a band as it does alone, it's a done deal.

[andrew]

I'm with you man, I tried one at a store and thought it sounded great.

[AustinLeftyBass]

Went to GC a couple months back to get one, they were out. I think it would be a fun amp for certain gigs.

[Matt R.]

I brought 2 cabs home to demo and the rig sounds way better with one cab strangely enough. I'm able to get more usable volume running one cab (150 watts @ 8 ohms) than two (200 watts @ 4 ohms). I don't get it. Running 2 cabinets distorts very easily. Engaging the limiter helps, but there's still a short stab of distortion when attacking a note. But I'm doing a gig in a small room tonight and I will try it both ways again and let you guys know what I come up with. The tone of this thing is amazing though. It really does sound like a baby SVT.

[pjmuck]

Not an Ampeg fan (At least when I run my J through one), but that thing is cute.

[AzWhoFan]

I brought 2 cabs home to demo and the rig sounds way better with one cab strangely enough. I'm able to get more usable volume running one cab (150 watts @ 8 ohms) than two (200 watts @ 4 ohms). I don't get it. Running 2 cabinets distorts very easily. Engaging the limiter helps, but there's still a short stab of distortion when attacking a note. But I'm doing a gig in a small room tonight and I will try it both ways again and let you guys know what I come up with. The tone of this thing is amazing though. It really does sound like a baby SVT.

Sounds like an impedance mis-match issue to me. Or maybe the OP tranny is being starved for output.

[Matt R.]

I brought 2 cabs home to demo and the rig sounds way better with one cab strangely enough. I'm able to get more usable volume running one cab (150 watts @ 8 ohms) than two (200 watts @ 4 ohms). I don't get it. Running 2 cabinets distorts very easily. Engaging the limiter helps, but there's still a short stab of distortion when attacking a note. But I'm doing a gig in a small room tonight and I will try it both ways again and let you guys know what I come up with. The tone of this thing is amazing though. It really does sound like a baby SVT.

Sounds like an impedance mis-match issue to me. Or maybe the OP tranny is being starved for output.

But both cabs are 8 ohms and designed to be run as a pair with this head.

[AzWhoFan]

I brought 2 cabs home to demo and the rig sounds way better with one cab strangely enough. I'm able to get more usable volume running one cab (150 watts @ 8 ohms) than two (200 watts @ 4 ohms). I don't get it. Running 2 cabinets distorts very easily. Engaging the limiter helps, but there's still a short stab of distortion when attacking a note. But I'm doing a gig in a small room tonight and I will try it both ways again and let you guys know what I come up with. The tone of this thing is amazing though. It really does sound like a baby SVT.

Sounds like an impedance mis-match issue to me. Or maybe the OP tranny is being starved for output.

But both cabs are 8 ohms and designed to be run as a pair with this head.

I was afraid you'd say something like that!
I know nothing about this model, so all I can suggest is that you take the cabs apart and see if they are wired up properly.
If it's a tube head, more'n likely there's something wrong in the mains output section.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

It's not a tube head;there is NO output transformer. The problem with two cabs is that it is built on the cheap and its power supply cannot deliver enough current to its output devices to sustain a 4 ohm load.

[Matt R.]

Well I gigged with the rig as a duo (just myself and a guitarist) and while the tone of this rig is absolutely killer, it just didn't have the punch for a live situation. I was very disappointed, but at least I got to demo it without spending a bunch of cash. It would make a great (but expensive) home practice amp, but not much else. When I have $$ to burn, I'll get one for that purpose.

[AzWhoFan]

It's not a tube head;there is NO output transformer. The problem with two cabs is that it is built on the cheap and its power supply cannot deliver enough current to its output devices to sustain a 4 ohm load.

Interesting! Like I said, I know nothing about this particular model.

However, I did hear one yeterday at NAMM, and it had both cabs wired up. Souded just fine.
I guess Matt is headed for a trip to repair-land. Hopefully it's still under warranty.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Issues with output current are directly related to volume needs. There's no "repair" to be made; the amp is simply incapable of driving two cabinets to most gig volume levels. NAMM, for as chaotic as it is, is a VERY controlled environment, and it is not unheard of for demo models to be substantially different than the final product and Ampeg under Loud's aegis is one of the best examples of this. Several of their amps have debuted there and were very different when they actually appeared in stores.

[Matt R.]

I haven't bought one yet. That was a floor model that the store here was kind enough to let me demo. I will get one though, it'll just be a couple months. It'll be a nice home rig and the tone is wonderful. I was just disappointed it wasn't really gig-worthy.

[Jeroen]

Is it loud enough to serve just as a personal monitor on stage, with the balanced line out going to the board? I'm considering selling my Ashdown ABM300 rig because I rarely play it since I got my EBS HD350 rig, with the Micro VR for home use and small gigs. Would that work?

[Matt R.]

Is it loud enough to serve just as a personal monitor on stage, with the balanced line out going to the board? I'm considering selling my Ashdown ABM300 rig because I rarely play it since I got my EBS HD350 rig, with the Micro VR for home use and small gigs. Would that work?

I think it would work at a small gig if you have PA support, yeah. I'm definitely getting one for home. The tone is really beautiful on this little rig, I can't stress that enough. I do wish it was more powerful though.

[andrew]

I liked the tone enough that I'd be into having the micro stack at home for practice. The look is cool so I'd be into having it in my living room, but I don't think I'd have use for it gigging.

The Orange Tiny Terror Bass might be worth looking at if you want a small head with a different look and more power under the hood.