Fjord Fiesta
Norway is a perfect example of what God can do when he really tries. So much hyperbole has been written over the years to describe its scenery but to see it pass through your own eyes is a very different experience. A 4 hour van journey from Bergen to Sandane went by with not a single complaint from anyone; just gasps of awe as we rounded every corner, phones in hand, only to be greeted to an even better sight than the one that preceded it. It’s spectacular, and the Norwegians know it.
Speaking to several Norwegians over the course of 4 days there’s a sense that they all understand how pretty their homeland is. They know that the natural beauty and wonder is there to be cherished, not bulldozed and garnished haphazardly with great slabs of concrete. They work with what they’ve been given, and tradition is extremely important in maintaining the beauty they’ve harvested. I was told that in Bergen, you aren’t allowed to use power tools when working on the outside of a building. Some of these buildings date back to the 13th Century and they’ll be damned if you get up to repair the facias with a Black & Decker. Rather, they’ll employ tradesmen, craftsmen, to do any repairs at an outrageous cost. It’s highly impractical and inefficient; accountants twitch when faced with the costs but the Norwegians just suck it up and enjoy the results. It’s a wondrous moment when tradition beats efficiency.
This, in turn, reminds me of the humble Ampeg SVT. Admittedly, this is a segue that I’m not proud of, but it does illustrate the tradition-over-efficiency argument. I was lucky enough to have a hired bass rig for both shows (a private show in Bergen and a Blues Festival in Sandane). On both occasions an Ampeg SVT CL was waiting for me, a carbon copy of the one I’ve got at home, sat atop a matching Ampeg 8x10 cabinet. The Ampeg SVT is by no means a modern amenity - its design dates back to the late 1960s - but there’s a deep-rooted relationship between the bass guitar and the Ampeg SVT. Designed to compete with walls of Marshall, Vox and Fender guitar amps that were appearing in these new-fangled stadium tours of the 1960s, the SVT was billed as a revelation in sonic reinforcement for bassists who, up to then, were drowned out by their guitar-wielding brethren. It was considered state of the art in 1969, but 54 years later the Ampeg SVT is not exactly the pinnacle of cutting edge innovation. In fact, there are several alternatives that would do the job with less weight, less required maintenance and more ease of use - yet the backline hire company still keeps a small fleet of SVTs handy. Why? Well for the same reasons the Norwegians won’t let you use power tools when working on their buildings: it’s better the old fashioned way.
The SVT is an extravagant purchase by any means, but it’s an heirloom to be passed on to younger generations. It should, in theory, last a lifetime. It’s also extremely flattering to players, giving them a wonderful foundation to put their art into the world. It’s powerful and imperfect - qualities that musicians seem to like. There’s definitely a reason why manufacturers fall over themselves to mimic the SVT in their own products. Over the past 20 years, there has been a distinct trend in the bass amplifier market to downsize and become lighter. The SVT has bucked this trend. In fact, I’m not sure the SVT is even aware that this trend exists. It’s certainly not worried, as hundreds get rolled out to stages across the world every night. The design is flawed and the cost is inefficient, but the result is just better. Much like the craftsmen repairing Bergen’s buildings.
Will anyone notice that the ornate bird detailing in a fascia board 5 storeys above Bergen’s streets was carved by an electric saw and not by hand? No, of course not. Will anyone care that I’m using an Ampeg SVT and not a small, efficient Class D amp? Apart from myself, absolutely not, but there’s something better about doing it the old fashioned way. There’s a certain magic to using an outdated technique for the sake of art. The Norwegians have it right and I’ll try my best to keep the outdated and outmoded valve amps of a bygone era in full operation for as long as I can. You know, because it’s better.