Ampeg SVT-CL vs. SVT-VR

[@brosiii2558]

The CL 100% for me. The mids are just alien..

[@legoharry100]

I’ve played a CL firsthand and it’s the thickest bass tone I’ve ever heard. The mids are just gorgeous.

[@Speedster27]

It’s crazy you say that I usually turn the mids literally all the way down to like zero

[@alexskibicki2262]

Awesome comparison. Between the two, I like the svt-cl model the most. It sounds warm and beefy.

[@j.juarez9526]

The VR had a crazy mid scoop. The CL brought out more of the character and profile of the instrument.

[@Pepper-cd9yr]

Yes. That’s true. It doesn’t seem to make any sense. No SVT set flat would seem to have that big of a mid scoop. It’s weird. I don’t trust this video.

[@220_hz4]

I'm fairly certain it's due to the microphone that was used to capture the recordings. Kick drum mics usually have a significant mid scoop baked in to their EQ

[@Mr10mile]

The trick is to jump ch1 into ch2 on the VR… it’s absolutely monstrous & I’m shocked most people don’t know about it

[@TheBassChannel]

We did it in our demo video of the VR

[@joemartucci4786]

Did it for years in the early mid eighties when I used those through 2 8x10s

[@JL-mk8pb]

Thank you for this video!!! Again, so well done. Easy to see settings and easy to compare and contrast the amps with different styles and basses

[@mister_syre]

I owned an SVT Classic for years and its the best amp I ever played on. Sold it because its also the loudest and heaviest thing to move around. Still, a beast of an amp.

[@jprosentreter]

What did you end up with?

[@mwanichi]

The SVT CL is literally the best bass tone in the universe.

[@harryprater9014]

Nothing like an old ALL tube SVT !!!! Beast !!!!

[@bassnyc1]

I'll also gladly have either but if I have to choose, it's the VR.

[@kristianzilinec1913]

Great! I love comparison videos where the person comparing amps/presets/cabs/younameit plays the same riff for both and does not change riff when switching between amps,etc.

[@03xx09xx95]

I prefer the CL fuller sound, the VR sounds great too but i didn't like the ultra low on that one, what problably sounds epic is using both amps at the same time VR for the grind and CL the lows and mids

[@abouc]

Came here to say that. VR would be great for distortion and other effects due to the added brightness, and then clean signal through the CL for that massive bass tone underneath.

[@TheBassChannel]

Having both would be incredible! You’d get monster tone and be able to cancel your gym membership.

[@frstassen]

To compare the basic sound, the master of the CL should be full open and the gain should be used as 'master'.That explains the mid scoop of the VR. Just sayin'...

[@Therealchuckbailey]

Idk man that CL was pretty damn epic to me

[@jamescassidy4045]

Any chance you guy’s could do this same head shootout again but through the same cab? Or both through one cab, and then both through the other cab? That would be awesome!

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

would have loved some overdrive examples

[@barackmycat9448]

I bought a new CL and it was a lemon. After returning 3 times for repair they gave me credit. I now use a PF-800. It`s a good amp.

[@DwayneRidgwayOfficial]

If I'm being honest, I'm not a fan of the sound of either. I think the CL at 3:08 is the best tone I heard, though.

[@bassplayer807]

What do you use then? I don’t like solid state stuff but I have an OrangeAD200B

[@kevinsheppard2312]

And while this isn’t shot against the players, or the Bass channel, they are not letting the amp really ‘talk’ metaphorically speaking. Like playing slightly harder and maybe getting a bit more creative with the EQ. Still love the video.

[@MrMann-gt1eh]

@@bassplayer807 how is it?! I’m thinking about getting one.

[@beelikehoney]

i had both for me it's the classic nothing beats it i still miss that amp 20 years later...

[@terrygoss]

When I started gigging professionally ('91) I was using a vintage V4B? I think. (Into a beat up handmade 115 cab.) It was the most massive and punchy sound I had ever heard, and easily as loud the guitarist's JCM800 (before it became mushy). I wonder if I would still think so if I heard it now....

[@エレクトリクス]

これは素晴らしい貴重なだと思います。ありがとうございます。

[@aaldaca]

Can u make a comparison of the micro VR vs micro CL??

[@kaspersgaard4931]

What is the black t-birdy bass at 6.48? sounds amazing.

[@CC-hg9un]

You guys had the Ultra High and Ultra Low engaged on the VR, and you had the Mid rocker centered, which is 800khz. That's why it sounded so glassy when compared to the CL, especially with the MusicMan. Turn off Ultra Hi and Low and set the Mid rocker to the left position (220khz) and give the Mids dial a slight boost and it will sound just like the CL. Also, bridge channel 1 & 2 with a patch cable.

[@franco.cordini]

the SVT-VR sounds a bit thinner for me, but i guess it's a matter of taste. I loved the SVT-CL

[@AnthonyNewson-x3b]

Because dude selected the lower output input on the VR which makes me question if he even knows what he is doing he should be using the top left input of the VR which will show how vastly superior the VR is to the classic no wonder people watching this video are thinking the classic sounds better

[@jprosentreter]

Would be fun to see the V4B Reissue in here too...would love to see how it comps to the big boys...

[@davep.5662]

I owned V4B in the past. Hands down the best sounding amp I ever played through including the SVT CL and VR. But at 100 watts it wasn't practical.

[@brentheathersimons7042]

Hmmm...I'm not sure on this one...but I would be PSYCHED if the Bass Channel sent me both? :)- Stay healthy y'all- Brent

[@wellsca86]

One of each please lol

[@subramaniamchandrasekar1397]

Wow.. You are a metronome yourself. Great playing and demo.

[@grisbain]

I like both. But the CL seems more versatile simply for having a gain and master. Also, I have the CL cabs so I want the head on top to be matchy matchy.

[@bassplayer807]

How’s the heritage 50th anniversary?

[@jasonlhoag]

I'll take both, please.

[@Andyanddiana467]

I'm more of a CL guy, but the VR ain't bad at all.

[@JL-mk8pb]

Now, after these two monsters having their videos, I'd suggest the V4-B next.

[@thecappy]

Yes we need the v4-b. I have it and a vr and love them both.

[@lagrimaderisa]

Please, a comparison of the micro VR vs micro CL! There is none in youtube

[@guylikesguitar]

VR hands down. Much more articulate and less muddy.

[@Cheeseboiga]

The VR sounds a bit too thin for me, but it's pretty great at 2:15 and 3:33

[@couvretthierry6816]

Look at this test. The VR is not so thin ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ6uiHmajbd6pNk

[@Cheeseboiga]

@@couvretthierry6816 well that was pretty great, thanks for the link

[@jimmychristensen7112]

CL for sure

[@Lucyandresen5582]

I’d love to see you guus demo the ampeg 610 HLF cab. I can’t find any demos of this can online anywhere and I think it’s a very underrated cab

[@nicccandussi865]

CL-Front unite!! Haha

[@srirachaseahawk]

CL, all the way.

[@ATotalDork]

V-4B comparison when? 👀

[@TheBassChannel]

Honestly, probably sooner than later. As soon as I can get one…

[@cbvinyard8778]

Dear Santa: What we need is an Ampeg preamp shootout. There are no good ones on youtube and you would be doing Ampeg and bass fandom a community service. SVP-CL, SVP Pro, SVT IIp, and bonus kudos if you can also find an SVP BS. My hopes are high and expectations are low but if anyone's got the bassballs to do it, it's you guys! Ik it's not current catalog lineup and it doesn't help Ampeg sell their product but you'd have mad respect from the boiz and gurlz of bassland. PS - #CL4LYFE

[@mojito6629]

The CL more 'muffle' than the VR? The VR basically brighter?

[@gpasc]

What is this background noise when playing the VR ?

[@JesseJamesGill]

CL all the way!

[@alexthebeast5014]

VR sounds good but the CL just sounds thicker and more bass heavy.. Ive been using a Orange OB500 through an Ampeg 4120 HLF and Im thinking the CL just has the perfect growl and boom that Ive heard and just not been able to replicate.

[@AnthonyNewson-x3b]

For one right off the bat he has the wrong input selected on the VR, Having owned both of these amplifiers the VR is definitely the better amp and its not really even close

[@darwinsaye]

Sweet zombie jeezus - the Gibson Thunderbird was the only bass that wasn't in *desperate* need of a setup. I couldn't focus on the amp tones at all, with the racket of all that godam string buzzing and fret clacking going on.

[@57precision]

This is a demo of a rock and metal amp, and with lines largely played in that style. And a part of aggressive rock sound is fret buzz to help the bass cut through. Examples on YT abound...you can hear John Entwistle, Geddy Lee, Roger Glover, Rex Brown, David Ellefson isolated tracks all with tons of fret noise. You may not like it, but it's what peak performance looks like.

[@cjbrewer3843]

Right...I'm sure Geezer and Steve Harris wish they had their basses setup before recording legendary bass lines. All that damn fret clack 🤦‍♂️

[@cubedomatic]

On the vr with mic and di it sounds like they are out of phase or is it just me? Otherwise awesome video. I wish more demos and comparisons are done in this manner

[@couvretthierry6816]

A better, the best test, test of the VR : kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ6uiHmajbd6pNk

[@raffaelecrupi9347]

I ❤ svt cl !!!

[@howler9171]

The CL sounds a lot fuller than the VR. The VR has nice clean tone but the CL sounds a lot better when it's pushed hard though, it has more midrange growl where the VR has an annoying clicky high end bite when it's cranked

[@bobbyblair6862]

VR, but I'm still leaning towards my AD200 ans Meatsmoke

[@nunoharris]

Hi. Is the SVT-VR more easy to overdriven ? Thanks

[@aligueri3563]

The svt-vr doesn't have a gain/drive circuit, only if you use a drive pedal.

[@steffenpainted]

I d love to see V4B vs SVT Cl.

[@01left]

What speaker and what mics did you use?

[@dgmwitz]

W trivium for the guy with the PJ

[@kevinbernard1696]

Man i wish i could sound like the guy at 7:20 with my svt3 pro any tip would be greatly appreciated to get me close to that sound

[@rollcats1290]

Ignore the clip light, turn up the gain really high, to where the clip light comes on every note. Ultra low, boost mids a good bit at 3k, maybe ultra high. Set tube gain at 10-12 o clock. This should be an approximate starting point.

[@rollcats1290]

The cab also has a big part of the tone. This is one of the ‘darker sounding’ 810e. A mid 2000s 610HLF would be similar I think.

[@S.K.166]

Dudes, sorry but they are both barely on and sound completely different turned up. Except the last player only the CL is turned up? Crank them and eq to get the best tone out of each amps and forget matching eq because that doesn't work for a comparison of differently voiced amps. Just do a.. this is 6 different tones of each amp turned up to 6 or 7 at least .. Both sounded pamby .. If its too loud .. get a VB-4 maybe.. Rock on🤙

[@daviddaniels6473]

The CL sounded nicer in this demo. And it sounds Great in person. But. The SVT is an absolute beast when playing out. Something about tube transients.. or something like that. With a P-bass the SVT has sounds that make other musicians go WTF? (In a good way)

[@danielmcconnell5441]

Classic

[@R_von_B]

In a passive mode i would choose definitely the cl. But i am playing a sandberg 5 string with a 3 band glockenklang-active-eq. That sound is with combination of the Chanel 1 and 2 ob the svt-vr is for me actuallay nearly by a holy grail of Sound. I also play a dingwall ng 2 with 5 strings. This is a combination with the ampeh, thatjust doesn't work. Sorry, but no way, just pain in my ears. On the other hand the fingwall mit the AO900, also a dream but 180° to svt and sandberg. Modern and crystalckearn. The svt with the sandberg Sound just great.... live a bad ass, but gratis in the Band.

[@riffwizardsupreme]

CL sounds nicer but VR could be useful for a YES cover band.

[@couvretthierry6816]

A better (the best) test of the VR : kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ6uiHmajbd6pNk

[@marcionobrega5117]

Muito bom mesmo 👊

[@brandonmalone1893]

What's with that VR? It just kinda sounds like crap lol. Really thin compared to the classic

[@paxeckoinvein]

Great video, thanks! PS: God, that 6 string Dingwall sounds awful

[@scarabass3924]

VR all day

[@LSapio]

You haven't tried the VR at its best, that's not a fair comparison. Try to bridge the 2 channels of the vr, that's how shit gets real

[@couvretthierry6816]

You are right. You will find below a very good test of the VR (a comparison of the two amps would have been perfect with this guy): kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ6uiHmajbd6pNk

[@cattleprods911]

CL sounds better in each one...to me anyway

[@JaySellers]

Team CL

[@sethblack5309]

Blue amp sounded better

[@anthonyman8008]

😮

[@shaunmaclean3735]

Had an amppeg years ago, was never happy with the sound, same as the sound of these amps...they sound like something is missing, you want a real tube bass amp go for old school tube traynor heads

[@lavaxtris]

The VR sounds like clanky poop. Idk why anyone would use one.

[@TheBassChannel]

I guess if they were after that famous “clanky poop” sound?

[@daltondimick7473]

I love me some clank, I'll take all the clanky poop sounds please and thank you

[@nicccandussi865]

CL-Front unite!! Haha