After an Ampeg SVT amplifier was left in the South American rainforest and attacked by Shuar, Ampeg was inspired with an idea so crazy that it might actually work. The Ampeg Micro-VR Head is a miniaturized version of their classic SVT amps. Staying consistent with the normal elaborate process for shrinking these heads -- or tsantsa -- the tubes are removed and the shrunken head becomes solid state.

If you're sick of looking like a D-Bag rolling a fridge sized bass amp into intimate venues, the Micro-VR is perfect for you. Aside from being smaller, the Micro-VR Head is classically handsome, like George Clooney, with a silver face, black tolex, chrome corners and silver-blue grille cloth. I won't tell you if those descriptors refer to the Micro-VR, George Clooney or both, but add 200 watts of pure, powerful Ampeg tone to the equation, and this tiny amp is nothing to scoff at -- besides, bassists, what are you overcompensating for anyway?

You can't have a head without a body, though -- not until the future -- so Ampeg pairs the Micro-VR up with the SVT-210AV, which also saves space with two 10-inch Eminence speakers instead of four or eight or something even more excessive. At thirty pounds, this cab is way more portable than the 8 x 10 version. After all, who would you rather take to the dance . . . the before or after picture from the diet pills ads that appear sometimes on the right side of the page.

Amppeg amplifier products manager, Zane Williams, had a little bit to say about this little, feisty amplifier:

“We’re the first to admit that the new Micro-VR rig is cute, but it shouldn’t be lost that this is a real Ampeg and a truly professional amplifier. It’s the result of input from our artists and Ampeg customers who’ve been asking for a modular, portable and usable live / recording system that fits into a lot spaces, is easy to move around and delivers our signature tone.”