Ampeg Heritage Series SVT-CL 2011 300W Tube Bass Amp Head

Heavy but the sound makes it worth it!

I had an SVT years ago and loved it, but over the decades my need for a powerful giant amp diminished, and I kept finding reasons to go smaller to avoid carrying an 80 pound amp. But I missed the sound. And there are all sorts of devices to duplicate the sound but it's not the same (and I use a SansAmp when going direct gigging). The non-Heritage version is noticeabley cheaper but I splurged because this will be the last big amp I buy. I haven't played the CL side by side to the heritage to know if there is a real difference. The 50th anniversary has the 2 channels and that's VERY useful, but I went with this model because for me having a separate gain and volume control is more valuable than a second channel. So far I've only played this through my SVT 410. Yeah, I know it's sacrilege not to use an 810 (which I have) but the only way I'm ever gigging with that again is if someone else hauls it so.... I'm pretty old school. All my basses in rotation now are passive, and I primarily play Fender P and Jazz basses, and a specially made Devo Be Stiff bass for a tribute band. I also rarely add effects. This amp really brings out my bass beautifully. As anyone else has probably mentioned, this head is big and this amp is heavy. So very heavy. That's the trade off. But since I sold my prior SVT I've tried everything they was smaller and lighter and it's not the same.

I use this SVT Classic Heritage with SVT 810E (Heritage version) deep powerful tone. Iiked it so much, that I bought a 2nd SVT 810E cabinet. The amp can easily drive two 8 x 10 cabinets - it was originally designed that way. practicing at home, even at low volume you have great tone. Barely at master volume at two and its plenty loud in that environment. you can have clean tone with lower gain and if you want more grit, turn up the gain and you have it. This is the legendary tone I've always heard about - very glad I finally have the genuine article

Deep full tone - even at low volume. Turn up the gain to get more grit in the sound. I use this with '75 Reissue Fender Jazz Bass with passive pickups. Other amps sound more mid-range, the Ampeg has deep bass tone even with higher notes.

This amp is a monster. I play black/death metal and I never realized just how much headroom tubes held over hybrid/solid state. But... wow! The matching 8/10 is equally as awesome.The only downer is that immediately after receiving it, I just knew I had better order road cases for the head and cab. I did. A lot of scratch, but unmistakably worth it. Welcome to tone and uncompromising volume!

i've had this amp now for a few weeks. hooked it up and played it about 20 minutes and then checked the biasing controls as instructed and found an issue with one of the power tubes. i talked to my local repair guy and he said shipping can damage tubes sometimes. i called ampeg and they sent me a complete new set of JJ power tubes for free. now that is what i call customer service. this head sounds like liquid sex coming out of the matching 810 cab. cry about it being heavy but i guarantee there is not a better sounding head on the planet because i have tried them all. get one and be a hero.