Ampeg SVT 2 Pro...... With a Stainless Steel faceplate??? what is this thing???

[Baird6869]

I Recently bought a used SVT 2 Pro and the faceplate is shiny silver/stainless, not the standard black. Also, there are no standard Ampeg identifying marks beyond the recessed oval Ampeg logo (doesn't say Ampeg or SVT-II Pro anywhere on the front.

I have never seen one like this and have searched all over the web to no avail.

It is absolutely an American Made SVT and everything else about this amp is exactly like any other SVT2Pro.

Any ideas? Why the shiny face? When was it made? Etc.

OF COURSE I dont have a Pic! :-p I will take a couple tonight or tomorrow. Just picture a SVT2Pro, but silver and shiny as hell!

P.s. I don't believe this amp is very old. Also has a speakon connector on the back.....

[BassManMike73]

My best guess would be someone either made their own faceplate, or had the paint taken off. thats weird, and sounds badass!

[Baird6869]

Here is a bad pic.

It isn't really scratched up as the pic would lead you to believe..... lots of fingerprints...

Any info would be appreciated..... Super rare limited edition? Idiot with a belt sander?

[packhowitzer]

I have worked at a custom metal fabricator and I own an SVT2pro. My best guess is that somebody used an angle grinder to take off the black finish and then gave it a little bit of a swirl pattern and then polished the steel. I don't think it's a "from scratch" faceplate- they just modded the original in an awesome way! Rock on!!

[Clearwave]

I would guess someone replaced the face with a custom machined one.

It looks cool.

Originally Posted by Baird6869

Here is a bad pic.

It isn't really scratched up as the pic would lead you to believe..... lots of fingerprints...

Any info would be appreciated..... Super rare limited edition? Idiot with a belt sander?

[96tbird]

Looks like they removed it from the wooden case put on a face plate to rack mount it. I betcha the original face is fine underneath.

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by 96tbird

Looks like they removed it from the wooden case put on a face plate to rack mount it. I betcha the original face is fine underneath.

Wooden case?

This is the II-Pro version, not a CL or VR. It was always a rack mount model.

[96tbird]

Awright! Coulda just let it pass that I called the wrong model. So the friggin po put a new face on or stripped the original. Whoopee.

[rodl2005]

Yep, Looks like a Stripped faceplate to me. Looks cool!

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by 96tbird

Awright! Coulda just let it pass that I called the wrong model. So the friggin po put a new face on or stripped the original. Whoopee.

Ok then. Thanks for your input.

Trying to figure out why this amp looks like it does as I dropped good dough.

The CL and VT don't have the EQ sliders. Had no clue what you meant about wood.

[VanillaThundah]

My guess would be the guy sanded it down. I cant imagine why because all the shiny front does is make the controls pop out more and look totally out of place.

But hey, if it sounds good...go for it

[sapienerabass]

Hey Baird, You might want to be more subtle with the eq sliders, you appear to be boosting ALOT of bottom end and you're cutting all your mids!! I have the SVT2 Pro and if you're running the eq like that you ain't getting the most out of that bad boy!! Just saying!!

PS Congrats on the purchase-couple it with an 810e (Vietnam or China) and you're in heaven!! Enjoy!

[stiles72]

Someone just stripped the black finish off. Note that the handles are still black, as well as the recessed areas around the holes where the rack mounting screws go and around the inside of the control area. I think it's cool - but I would strip the rest of the black off and take it to get it chromed if it were me, then mount it in a head case covered with blue diamond tolex .

[someparts]

Looks like an overlay. Probably looks pretty good in a rack.

[Baird6869]

Thanks all for the input.

I paid large for this and the fact it was sanded bugged me. I returned it.... I tend to change gear quite often and an honest guy. This is a $1200 head that I would be lucky to get $900 fir if I dumped it.

Bought a new-ish Mesa M9 Carbine head and got cash back. Louder head and more versatile IMO...

Let the flaming from Ampeg lovers begin. :-p


P.S. sapienerabass... I didn't bother using the EQ section, so I left it in the smily face position! :-)

[grendle]

Originally Posted by packhowitzer

I have worked at a custom metal fabricator and I own an SVT2pro. My best guess is that somebody used an angle grinder to take off the black finish and then gave it a little bit of a swirl pattern and then polished the steel. I don't think it's a "from scratch" faceplate- they just modded the original in an awesome way! Rock on!!

+1
Diamond plate would be sick!!!!

[anderbass]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

I returned it....

Let the flaming from Ampeg lovers begin. :-p

Ok, seems like I heard Ampeg custom-built just one of these shiny-faced models and gave it to Geddy Lee in hopes of an endorsement deal that never worked out. Getty tried it for a short while but just didn't like the way the stage lights reflected off the faceplate, he found this rather distracting so he gave it to one of his road crew who eventually sold it off to someone in Canada...

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by anderbass

Ok, seems like I heard Ampeg custom-built just one of these shiny-faced models and gave it to Geddy Lee in hopes of an endorsement deal that never worked out. Getty tried it for a short while but just didn't like the way the stage lights reflected off the faceplate, he found this rather distracting so he gave it to one of his road crew who eventually sold it off to someone in Canada...

Yeah, that's what I heard, too, and I heard it from someone who would really know.

[rodl2005]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Yeah, that's what I heard, too, and I heard it from someone who would really know.

I heard he & Alex signed it inside the chassis too ;D

[B-string]

Sounds like someone missed a awesome piece of history?