info on ampeg svt 3 not the pro model

[btbraden]

does anyone know anything about the svt 3 not the pro model though, just picked one up can't find any info on it, I'm wondering if I picked up an extinct or endangered species here I'll put up some pics of it

[SBrown]

I used one for about a year. They sound great. I sold it because I became drunk with the quest for power, which was a mistake of course. It has the same pre as the SVT II of that era, which by many is considered to be a great pre-amp. You can get an online manual for the pre-amp by going to Ampeg's website, click support, click discontinued models, click SVT II. This brings up the user's guide for the SVTIIP, which is the rackmount version of your pre-amp. These get a great vintage tone, but their old school power sections are heavy. Don't judge it too harshly until you get it in a band setting and can hear it in the mix. Nice score!

[btbraden]

hmm, maybe I have your old one, I picked it up in sac, thanks for the info, what did you get for it when you sold it?

[vin*tone]

It's 350 watts. I've played through one once with a SWR Goliath 6x10 and it was righteous.

[SBrown]

I sold it for $275 to a gentleman who was taking it to So. America for his son, who really wanted one of these. I looked at yours again and its pretty pristine for a 20 yr old amp. These get as good an "Ampeg" tone as you'll likely to find w/ solid state. I have a feeling the new wave of Ampeg "micro amps" is getting back to sounding as good as these, but they are lighter and more powerful. But, if you like the tone, and it has enough power, there's no reason why you shouldn't play the heck out of that baby. I'm sure it will last for many more years.

[lowfreqgeek]

Aside from being heavy and a little short on power, it's a great amp! My first "professional" amp was an SVT-III just like yours. I foolishly sold it when I wasn't getting enough volume with my little Goliath Jr II cab. Turns out that the gain-stage tube was a low-gain tube, but I only realized that later in life after I learned more about it and about the various kinds of 12a_7 tubes and tube gain. I'd have traded a little noise for more gain, I think... Or maybe not.

I gigged it with a Dietz 2-15 down in Austin a few times about 12 years ago and it was quintessential "rock and roll" with my then-newly-built Warmoth Jazz (which I still own). I had that amp from about 1996 to ~2000 or so.

If I found another for a price I could justify (being that it would more or less sit at home as a practice amp), I might pick it up.

[Jerrold Tiers]

Whatcha want?

it's an old model, long out of production, first made IIRC somewhere in the range of 1992. Lasted about 4 or 5 years until the 3PRO overtook it in 1997 or so.

Tube pre, SS power, similar to 3PRO.

I have data and manual in PDF if that is needed.

[btbraden]

so the next question I have is what do these typically go for here, or on ebay?

[Alex1984]

Around $300~$400 from what I've seen on eBay.