2006 Ampeg SVT-CL

[Eskimo Spy]

I've found a 2006-ish (he says he's had it for about 4 years) SLM-made Ampeg SVT-CL. It still has the original tubes in it (!) and has been played at about 25 gigs. He is the original owner, and has biased it 2-3 times since he owned it. No cosmetic issues, looks great.

He wants $995 for it, but since it probably needs to be retubed, what would you offer him for it? Or do you think 995 is fair?

[fenderhutz]

Biased 2-3 times in 4 years? That sounds very suspect to me.

[Eskimo Spy]

He just sent me the serial number, it looks like it's a 2007. And since I've never owned a tube amp, why is it suspect that he's adjusted the bias 2 or 3 times in three years?

[fenderhutz]

Unless he changed a bunch of tubes or blew tubes in the amp or it was heavily gigged I have never heard anyone just biasing an amp just because. It won't hurt it by any means but that's like someone telling you they replaced spark plugs in a car 3 times in 4 years. It won't hurt a thing but you start to question why it was done.

[rodl2005]

I've gigged my SVTII about 15 times/year since '06 Had the bias checked once & it was A-OK. 2c.

[Eskimo Spy]

Maybe he's just anal about it.

[fivestringgecko]

Like Fender says, sounds a little fishy to me, but I'm new to tubes and I don't really know all that much about them yet.

Why would you need to get it retubed? I picked up a 1974 Ampeg V4-B, it still has the original tubes in it and sounds STUNNING. A 2006 that's been used as lightly as that guy says shouldn't need to be retubed as far as I know... But I'm no expert.

5sg.

[fenderhutz]

And if I am not mistaken these have the turn dial biasing on the back where the user can bias the amp. Again, why have it professionally done unless there was an issue?

Edit: if the amp needs retubed I would knock 250 off the asking price out of the gate since you can pick up a functional SVT for 1000 bucks in this market.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Unless he changed a bunch of tubes or blew tubes in the amp or it was heavily gigged I have never heard anyone just biasing an amp just because. It won't hurt it by any means but that's like someone telling you they replaced spark plugs in a car 3 times in 4 years. It won't hurt a thing but you start to question why it was done.

he probably meant the guy used those bias lights in the back to bias it a few times. not unheard of. and some do like to get their tube amps biased regularly to keep the tubes humming along. if he did take it in to have it biased professionally, that to me is a selling point. means he kept it in good running condition and the tubes are better for it. and after 25 gigs, it certainly won't need a retube. tubes can last decades, and even the newer tubes can last years and years. only replace tubes when they're broken or have lost so much juice they degrade the sound. if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

i've seen cl's go for cheaper used, but one that's mint and doesn't need any work is probably worth close to that. see if he'll take $900.

[Eskimo Spy]

He did the rebias, he didn't have it done at a shop, sorry if that was confusing. I just asked him if it was red very often.

And I'm just assuming that it needs a retube, that's part of what I'm asking, I guess.

Ah, he just responded, he said he had only done it twice since he owned it.

I've always heard that moderate gigging means retube about every 2-3 years, is that bad info?

[fenderhutz]

Self biasing is ok lol. No worries then. As long as the amp wasn't abused you should be fine. Those tubes should have some good life left.

[Eskimo Spy]

Cool, is $900 a good offer?

[okcrum]

The guy might just be a knob twiddler. The manual mentions that. If the bias turns out to be drifty, you might need driver tubes (12AU7A or 12BH7A).

It won't need new tubes if it's only got about 100 hrs. on the originals, though, because they should last at least several thousand hours of operation. Did he use it at rehearsals too? If so, it'll have more hours on the tubes.

I'd offer $900 and see what he says. $995 isn't an unfair price for an SLM so you can be flexible.

[Eskimo Spy]

Yeah, he used it outside gigs, but he said it was used "in the house." Who knows.

Anyway, I'll offer him $900 and see what he says. Worst thing that happens is he says no.

[Eskimo Spy]

Another question; how hard is it to replace and rebias the tubes? I am an IT guy, and I've done quite a bit of this sort of thing, but is that something that I should leave to a tech given the high voltage?

[okcrum]

Takes just a few min. It's meant to be done in the field. The high voltage is under the chassis, where you can't reach.

Figure an hour for the first time, just so you can savor the experience - that includes warming the new tubes up for 20 min. I'm talking about replacing the output tubes. A full retube would take a little longer 'cause you have to pull the preamp chassis partway out.

[Jonyak]

it won't need new tubes.

[Eskimo Spy]

Cool, thanks a million! Is there a good "how to" out there for changing the tubes? It may not need new tubes now, but it will at some point, and I hate paying people for things I can do myself...

[okcrum]

Like Jonyak says, it's almost certainly not going to need new ones right away.

The user's manual actually has a short how-to on pulling the tubes and putting new ones in.

[JimmyM]

listen, if the tubes are working now, chances are they will work for a good while. this business about retubing every so often is nuts. you change tubes as they break, and if one power tube goes out, the most power tubes you should have to replace is 3 just so they match. it's all a big scam to sell tubes. i've got tubes in some of my gear that have last well over 10 years of regular use, and even have a pair of power tubes in a 73 fender amp that came with the amp and test as strong and matched as they ever did.