70's Ampeg SVT810?

Texan · #1 08-29-2011, 01:22 PM

I found what may be an Ampeg SVT810 from the 70's. The grill is the silver/bluish-green, the tolex is relatively smooth, not bumpy like the cab from the last few years, and the Ampeg badge is white and black plastic. The depth is the same as the current 810's. This cab has only 1) 1/4" input on the back and simply says "4 ohms" and has the SN which was 155XXX (onnly remember the first 3). The sound is deeper and more throaty than the current 810's which I don't like. It's not mint, but it's far from destroyed. They are asking $300 USD. Good price?

Marton · #2 08-29-2011, 01:31 PM

$300 is a good price for any Ampeg 810. For a 70s one, it sounds like a hell of a good price.

dukeisdog · #3 08-29-2011, 01:54 PM

I bought an 01 that is pretty beat up for $250. Here are some pics. I'd say you should get the cab, that's a steal.

Rockmusician · #4 08-29-2011, 01:55 PM

$300 is a great price. I have seen 1970's era SVT cabs seling for 4 times that amount.

jmpiwonka · #5 08-29-2011, 02:38 PM

i got an early 80s one here for 320
pretty beat
and has the 2 individual handles on the back not the towel bar
drivers replaced wtih some from around 2004 so i think the darker sounding ones
still haven't played it but hoping it makes my 215 i have sound puny

Alex1984 · #6 08-29-2011, 04:29 PM

Snatch it up! Make sure drivers are working though. And if possible, check if they're original.

Fair Warning · #7 08-29-2011, 05:22 PM

So what makes you think it is from the 70's?

So far, it sounds like a common SVT810AV cab. The white on black badge can go all the way to the 90's....not sure when they went to metal badges.

$300 is a good price for any 810. Assuming that all the speakers work. Each speaker repair can set you back $50 or more. On the 810, since it is sealed, you cant tell if the speakers are working or not, except when 2 speakers in the same box are both bad.

The easiest way to tell for sure is to bring a speaker cord, 9v battery, and take the grill cloth off. You should see all 8 speakers flex to the 9 volt DC, touching it to the end of the cord.

Just plugging in a bass and plucking around does not cut it. It will sound like it is working, but as I found out, you can have dead speakers just going along for the ride.

I too have a 91 white badge 810 that sounds darker than my 07.

Texan · #8 08-29-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fair Warning

So what makes you think it is from the 70's?

So far, it sounds like a common SVT810AV cab. The white on black badge can go all the way to the 90's....not sure when they went to metal badges.

$300 is a good price for any 810. Assuming that all the speakers work. Each speaker repair can set you back $50 or more. On the 810, since it is sealed, you cant tell if the speakers are working or not, except when 2 speakers in the same box are both bad.

The easiest way to tell for sure is to bring a speaker cord, 9v battery, and take the grill cloth off. You should see all 8 speakers flex to the 9 volt DC, touching it to the end of the cord.

Just plugging in a bass and plucking around does not cut it. It will sound like it is working, but as I found out, you can have dead speakers just going along for the ride.

I too have a 91 white badge 810 that sounds darker than my 07.

The silver grill cloth was the first clue. I did some digging and found pics of a 76 where the look and input plate matched the one I played today. So I'm sure its mid 70's.

coreyfyfe · #9 08-29-2011, 07:13 PM

Sounds like it could be mid-late 70s. The went to the plastic painted badges around 74, about the same time they went to the tilt-back/towel bar cabs instead of the square back. It would probably have a back plate like this, though that might have been later in the 70s:

runmikeyrun · #10 08-29-2011, 07:17 PM

I had a 76 with the original speakers. It had amazing mids and highs but didn't have the thundering low end of the newer ones. So keep that in mind.

grendle · #11 08-29-2011, 08:51 PM

Mine was the square fridge, and had 3 leather handles originally. It was a 70 something. When did they go to the "oh sh*t" handle and casters?

JimmyM · #12 08-30-2011, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grendle

Mine was the square fridge, and had 3 leather handles originally. It was a 70 something. When did they go to the "oh sh*t" handle and casters?

74.

jelwood · #13 08-30-2011, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texan

...The sound is deeper and more throaty than the current 810's which I don't like...

The early SVT cabs had a roll off at 80HZ. Don't see how that could make the cab deeper? Perhaps it's not a 70s after all.

JimmyM · #14 08-30-2011, 02:10 AM

The old SVT cabs have a lower low freq rolloff than 80hz. Mine's a 73 and I'm positive it goes way lower than that. Doesn't go quite as low as the new ones but definitely in the ballpark.

jelwood · #15 08-30-2011, 02:16 AM

Are you sure? The early Ampegs were designed with the rolloff to reduce stage rumble and consequently get more sound outfront. One reason why the SVT head is notoriously loud. Getting the bass to be as loud as possible in the audience was a huge goal of GK from the start, when the 800RB came out old Gallien designed it to have a low rolloff. The frequency? 80Hz.

JimmyM · #16 08-30-2011, 02:29 AM

No, I'm not entirely sure

And I do know they have a higher rolloff to reduce rumble. I just wouldn't think in a million years that it would be as high as 80hz. I always thought it was closer to 60hz. I could be wrong, though. Wouldn't be the first time. Maybe it's ultra-amazing tone makes me think it goes lower. I'd be interested in seeing a recent measurement of one of those old cabs.

chadds · #17 08-30-2011, 06:48 AM

They had removable dollies with huge rubber bumpers that fit in cups on bottom. Two knurled knob bolts allowed for attachment and removal. Two wheels turned and two were stationary.

They did have a surprisingly high low end roll off. Gave them the punchy thing.

staindbass · #18 08-30-2011, 06:58 AM

sealed cabs lose response more gradually below tuning than ported speakers. ported speakers die off quickly below port tuning. i think thats what gives the effect of the svt sounding lower than its specs imply.

AwkwardLoudness · #19 08-30-2011, 09:39 AM

What speakers are loaded in the cab? It sounds like a good deal regardless.

JimmyM · #20 08-30-2011, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by staindbass

sealed cabs lose response more gradually below tuning than ported speakers. ported speakers die off quickly below port tuning. i think thats what gives the effect of the svt sounding lower than its specs imply.

That could possibly explain it. The current 810e is 58hz at -3db and 40hz at -10db. That's a pretty gradual rolloff.