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06-16-2011, 04:35 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sicily | | | The best Tubes for Ampeg SVT 1969
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guys, I want to know what are the best tubes pre-amp to put in an head Ampeg SVT Blue Line 1969? |
06-16-2011, 05:00 PM
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Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | | I have NOS Amperexes, RCA's and Sylvanias in mine. I can't tell the difference between any of them. But I can't recommend against new JJ 12DW7/ECC832's strongly enough. Yeah, they'll work if you get a good one, but the ones I've seen are poorly built and the only thing attractive about them is the price. They make a good 12AX7/ECC83, but the 12DW7's suck. Stick with NOS for 12DW7's.
What kind of power tubes are in it? 6146B's or 6550's?
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06-16-2011, 05:06 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sicily | | | 6550 |
06-16-2011, 05:19 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mudsock,Ohio | | | Just how many heads did they make in 1969. As far as I can tell, all of the blue lines and half the others.
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06-16-2011, 06:28 PM
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Designer, 3Leaf Audio | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle / NYC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by sedan_dad  Just how many heads did they make in 1969. As far as I can tell, all of the blue lines and half the others. | As it turns out, every used SVT on the market is a '69 model. 
It seems that the tube relay socket separates the men from the boys. Side note: I took my SVT in for service today, and it's getting converted back to the 6146 tubes! |
06-16-2011, 06:50 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ottawa, Ont | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Spencer! As it turns out, every used SVT on the market is a '69 model. | Lol.
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06-16-2011, 09:00 PM
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Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Spencer! As it turns out, every used SVT on the market is a '69 model.
It seems that the tube relay socket separates the men from the boys. Side note: I took my SVT in for service today, and it's getting converted back to the 6146 tubes! | No kidding? What made you go for that un-mod, Spencer? Are you putting the relay back in? My tech refused to do it since there was already a shorting plug installed. He said that if the relay goes, the entire amp shuts down too, so I agreed and passed. I imagine that's why they bagged it on the next run.
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06-16-2011, 09:24 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Tube guys, I want to know what are the best tubes pre-amp to put in an head Ampeg SVT Blue Line 1969? | Since you are in Sicily, I would say any European new old stock tubes that you can find are worth trying. I have a combination of Telefunken, Mullard and US made tubes in my '71 and am pleased with the sound.
The key is to not pay crazy prices. Look for amateur radio swap meets (hamfests) or places that sell old radios in your area. You can often buy used tubes for very little money. Buy a bunch and try them.
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06-17-2011, 01:32 AM
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Designer, 3Leaf Audio | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle / NYC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyM No kidding? What made you go for that un-mod, Spencer? Are you putting the relay back in? My tech refused to do it since there was already a shorting plug installed. He said that if the relay goes, the entire amp shuts down too, so I agreed and passed. I imagine that's why they bagged it on the next run. | No, I see no reason to put the tube relay back in. It's jumpered right now and the amp is working fine. I think the NOS Phillips 6146w's add enough to the nostalgia factor as it is. The amp needed a bunch of work (cap job, cleaning, etc.), so I figured why not go all the way and get it un-converted? |
06-17-2011, 01:49 AM
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Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | | Well, as a Blue Line purist, I salute you for restoring it to the way it was intended. They aren't making any more SVT's with 6146B's and there are a million 6550 SVT's. My tech originally wanted to do the 6550 mod too, but I told him that, and he understood and put it back together the right way. Then once he got it going again and heard it, he was glad he didn't do the mod.
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06-17-2011, 04:10 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bristol, UK | | My mate bought his 6146s from these guys Home, Langrex I've used them bunches for other valves and they are pretty good, being NOS, occasionally some ie, they've been alright about sorting that out.
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06-17-2011, 05:13 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ottawa, Ontario | | | I agree with Jimmy, the JJ 12DW7 is not great, especially for use as the cathode follower in channel 1. The JJ in that position seem to die after a while and I start to lose volume so I keep several on hand as spares. Have not had issues with the JJ 12DW7 in other positions in my SVT though. |
06-17-2011, 05:37 AM
|  | bassist for staind | | | | | i wonder what the original brand was ? mine had mullards. you cant go wrong with vintage rca. |
06-17-2011, 06:08 AM
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Originally Posted by staindbass i wonder what the original brand was ? mine had mullards. you cant go wrong with vintage rca. | I'm not sure about the 6146B based amps but at the time, quality control by all manufacturers on these tubes was very high because they were commercial duty tubes used in transmitters. I too think that you can never go wrong with RCA's.
The tube manufacturers changed. I've seen Magnavox rebranded original tubes that were Tung Sol 6550's, Mullard 12DW7's and the rest were made by GE. Other versions came with GE 6550A's.
A good price on a matched sextet of GE6550A's runs about $680 today.
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Last edited by beans-on-toast : 06-17-2011 at 06:17 AM.
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06-17-2011, 06:30 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Herefordshire, UK | | Quote:
Originally Posted by beans-on-toast I'm not sure about the 6146B based amps but at the time, quality control by all manufacturers on these tubes was very high because they were commercial duty tubes used in transmitters. I too think that you can never go wrong with RCA's.
The tube manufacturers changed. I've seen Magnavox rebranded original tubes that were Tung Sol 6550's, Mullard 12DW7's and the rest were made by GE. Other versions came with GE 6550A's.
A good price on a matched sextet of GE6550A's runs about $680 today. | Yep, mine were these too. I think all coke bottle 6550's were made by Tungsol and just labeled for others, same with the 12DW7's most were made by Mullard and relabeled EICO, Hammond etc.
To buy one of these in the day and have a fresh set of this quality of valve fitted, no wonder they got the respect they did, not counting the other fantastic aspects of design and build etc. |
06-17-2011, 08:08 AM
| | | | The thing is, amps are often designed around a particular set of tubes. I assume that when the SVT went into production, the sound was optimized for the tubes that came with the amp. If you stick with those makes, you are going to get the sound that designers intended.
I think that other tubes from the era will provide subtle sonic differences. When you start cranking the volume, those differences can get lost in the mix of grit.
Given all that, I would still rather go with the original brands whenever possible. Especially when recording and tone is paramount. When touring with a vintage SVT, if money was an issue, I'd be inclined to go with whatever works and is most cost effective.
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Last edited by beans-on-toast : 06-17-2011 at 08:11 AM.
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06-17-2011, 08:24 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Cincinnati OH | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Spencer! As it turns out, every used SVT on the market is a '69 model. | At least every last blue line one seems to be....
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06-17-2011, 09:23 AM
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Designer, 3Leaf Audio | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle / NYC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by beans-on-toast A good price on a matched sextet of GE6550A's runs about $680 today. | Another reason to switch back to the original tubes....a matched set of Phillips 6146w's ran me $200, and a matched set of GE's are even less. |
06-17-2011, 09:36 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada | | Just remember Spencer, That the top caps on the 6146 are the plates. They'll be floating at around 650V. I worry about people I does! 
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06-17-2011, 09:59 AM
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Designer, 3Leaf Audio | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Seattle / NYC | | Quote:
Originally Posted by BassmanPaul Just remember Spencer, That the top caps on the 6146 are the plates. They'll be floating at around 650V. I worry about people I does! | That reminds me....does anyone know where to get a replacement rear grill for a blueline SVT? | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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