That old Vietnam VR just keeps getting better

[Tim1]

I got to confess to being a bit of an amp whore, but am I glad I made a decision to hang on to my Vietnam SVT VR when I fell for the Orange AD200 earlier this year. I have been gigging the Orange successfully for the last few months and enjoying it through a Berg 215.
Today I dragged out the VR and Berg 610 just for a change and it reminded me just what mids, clarity and punch are all about. This is a Vietnam VR, and it has served me faithfully for three years now without a hitch and just seems to be getting better. I had forgotten how sweet it sounds even at quieter volumes - I guess even in the "dark years" Ampeg got something right.

[JimmyM]

Ya, Johnk loves his Vietnamese VR, too. They're as good an SVT as any IMHO. QC wasn't up to snuff back then, but the ones that worked were quite awesome. For some reason, I think God choose the SVT to be bulletproof. You think of all the design changes it's gone through, and all the different part suppliers over the years, and it seems impossible that a modern VR could sound the same as my first-run 1969, and yet they do. A slight variance from time to time, but that's more about what kind of tubes are in it than the build.

[GBassNorth]

Lovin my VR also. On year 5 now I think (est 2 hrs a day play time) and still using the original tubes, no hiccups or glitches. With my Berg 610 it's just rock solid bass as loud as you can stand it. When I do finally need to tube it I'll see if I can find a wisper quiet fan to install, that's the only nit I can pick on this monster.

[GBassNorth]

Jimmy - just noticed (don't think it was there before) did you just sign with Ampeg as an endorsing artist? If so, fantastic and congrats. You've always been a die hard supporter of a number of their products, which is easy to do when they have so many great ones.
Anyway, congrats man!

[Alex1984]

The VR is awesome, mine's a US model just because there happened to be one available locally, but I wouldn't have minded a Vietnam one. They're all good in my book!

BTW, JimmyM has been a critic of Ampeg on some old threads a few years back in the "dark years", and I think his endorsement speaks volumes as to how Ampeg has improved since.

[JimmyM]

Yeah, Gbass, I became an Ampeg endorser about a week and a half ago. IMHO the turnaround they've done over the last 3 years has been nothing short of a miracle. The guys there now appreciate the legacy and want to contribute positively to it. And I'm totally behind that kind of thinking. So after a year or two of unofficially endorsing them and happy to do so for no other reason than appreciating what they did to get things back on the good foot, they made it official. Quite happy and honored to be an endorser for Ampeg...thanks Ampeg and thank you Gbass and Alex!

[Quickie]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

IMHO the turnaround they've done over the last 3 years has been nothing short of a miracle.

When you hit the bottom, you have nowhere to go but up. I have bought and played Ampeg most of my life. My last amp was an SVT CL USA model. I have read the horror stories ever since Loud Technological took over from St. Louis Music.

I loved the SVT CL and also bought the 810 and 410 cabinets at one point. Never had a problem with the setup other than cheap tubes and a bad fan in the SVT. But I also just did recording and light rehearsals.

I remember a guy named "Dino" who helped me with a few things....sent me a replacement fan free.

Personally, paying the same dollars for a "made in wherever" product as for the original US made (slm), makes no sense to me.

I will always love the look and tone but will pass on the new ownership of a once proud name.

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by Quickie

Personally, paying the same dollars for a "made in wherever" product as for the original US made (slm), makes no sense to me.

Around the same time as the move overseas the makers of the output transformers stopped manufacturing. I can understand holding the price given the need to invest in R&D to qualify new builders for transformers (I believe it was first in mexico then asia) and new manufacturing streams in asia, especially if profit margins were thin on manufacturing in the US.

Originally Posted by Quickie

I will always love the look and tone but will pass on the new ownership of a once proud name.

While they've had their ups and downs over the course of the last 4 or 5 owners, I'd say anyone who can carry the mantle and continue putting out quality product is fine in my book.

[Tim1]

Wasn't trying to start a contentious thread - I guess another point I was making was that despite all the issues there were still plenty of good amps produced in those years and, as Jimmy says, "the ones that worked were quite awesome". The ones that didn't will no doubt not be around anymore as Ampeg were quick to replace them - I would comfortably buy a working tube SVT from any year.
On further reflection, when I stated "that old Vietnam VR just keeps getting better" I think I meant it literally as well as subjectively. I don't know whether electronics get a nice worn in feel like a vintage Fender or mature with age like a fine wine, but I would darn well swear that it is improving in tone. When it first arrived it was great but I was a little unsure as to whether it had quite the tone of my old '89 SVT2 nonpro. A subjective judgement I know, but I am sure it is there now.
I do not live in America, so don't have quite the same issue supporting local production, as far as I am concerned if it is Ampeg and working properly that is enough for me. On the other hand, just got back from a wonderful few days in San Francisco - thank you America! That fresh, clean sun is to die for.

[Quickie]

I am glad that you have a good VR. As I stated, I have owned and liked Ampeg, but given the countless threads on many boards on the poor quality since Loud took over, it is disappointing.

I did not intend on being contentious. My apologies if I came off that way.

[WhoDidTheElf]

Originally Posted by Quickie

I am glad that you have a good VR. As I stated, I have owned and liked Ampeg, but given the countless threads on many boards on the poor quality since Loud took over, it is disappointing.

I did not intend on being contentious. My apologies if I came off that way.

Maybe when they initially took over the quality was questionable, but I haven't read much about quality issues now.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Quickie

When you hit the bottom, you have nowhere to go but up. I have bought and played Ampeg most of my life. My last amp was an SVT CL USA model. I have read the horror stories ever since Loud Technological took over from St. Louis Music.

I loved the SVT CL and also bought the 810 and 410 cabinets at one point. Never had a problem with the setup other than cheap tubes and a bad fan in the SVT. But I also just did recording and light rehearsals.

I remember a guy named "Dino" who helped me with a few things....sent me a replacement fan free.

Personally, paying the same dollars for a "made in wherever" product as for the original US made (slm), makes no sense to me.

I will always love the look and tone but will pass on the new ownership of a once proud name.

Dino's a great guy. People call me the Ampeg guy, but he's really the Ampeg guy.

As Corey said, the transformer company Ampeg used wanted to bail on making them, so they jacked up the prices sky high, and they couldn't find a tramsformer company in America to make them at a price where they could keep the amp prices the same. Yeah, they didn't lower the prices, but they also didn't raise them, and they sound exactly the same to me. $1600 is a darn good price for a 300w tube amp, no matter where it's made, and especially when it's an SVT, which no other amp company seems to be able to match. Plenty of good tube amps out there, but none of them sound like SVT's but SVT's. Yeah, they had some problems for the first couple years, but those were solved by firing the former head idiot, hiring people who put engineering first and money second, and innovating new products that are really inexpensive but with extremely high quality sound and build quality. I just recorded my B-15 and new Portaflex rig and posted the results on here, and the PF rig totally hangs as far as I'm concerned. Won't say it's better than the B-15 of course, but it's about as close as you'll ever get for $700. And if an American SVT means a lot to you, there is the Heritage series.

I always tell people to vote with their dollars if they don't like something, and I'll say that to you, too. But I use rented Ampegs all over the country, and the ones made by LOUD are as good as any ever made, and in some ways even better such as with the cabs, and if they weren't, I'd use something else and would never accept an endorsement deal. I have to play this stuff and depend on it, too. Take it as a shill post if you want, but if I don't believe in a product, I don't use it...end of story.

[rodl2005]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I always tell people to vote with their dollars if they don't like something, and I'll say that to you, too. But I use rented Ampegs all over the country, and the ones made by LOUD are as good as any ever made, and in some ways even better such as with the cabs, and if they weren't, I'd use something else and would never accept an endorsement deal. I have to play this stuff and depend on it, too. Take it as a shill post if you want, but if I don't believe in a product, I don't use it...end of story.

I'm the same, albeit without any endorsement But, yeah, I do many gigs, many corporate one's, where the clients expect total professionalism. So I have to depend on my gear.
I, too, would have no probs using an SVT from any 'era' -as long as it's been looked after-as mine were/are- I've had zero issues with any all tube SVT at any gig or rehearsal.
In fact, out of all the all tube amps I've used all my gigging life, of about 34yrs, the ONLY issues I've ever had were
1.user caused, well, not actual user, the sax player spilled her drink into the open back of my ol' Aus made Vase Bassman 120. I switched it off immediately, & the repair bill was surprisingly low-this was back in the '80's!
2. Bad power at a venue, & fuse blew. I had spares. Swapped it & was good to go for another yr until regular service time.
Pretty cool results for supposed 'delicate/temperamental' tube amps eh?
Svt Probs - nil.
Glad the VR is still kicking it for ya Tim! Must be SUCH a dilemma eh?
Hmmmmmm, SVT II, SVT VR????
Dang, just take the Squier 15w & mic it ;p

[walterw]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

...if an American SVT means a lot to you, there is the Heritage series.

slightly OT, why on earth is the heritage SVT a classic, rather than a VR?

the classics are cool and all, but don't sound anything like the real things, while the VRs do. i remember first playing a USA VR and having the hairs on my arm stand up because there it was, the sound of my old long-lost magnavox SVT.

i was saddened when, after years of trying and failing in my book, SLM finally got it right, just in time to lose the business to Loud.

[JimmyM]

Couldn't tell you, Walter. I imagine money had something to do with it It would be a few hundy more for a Heritage VR, and maybe they thought it would be an easier sell. Seems to be going well for them. They sold out of the heads last year and had to do another batch. But I prefer the non-master SVT's too. Not by much, though. Just a little. The CL's still a very close #2 beihind the VR in my book, and if I hadn't lucked into a Blue Line 20 years ago, I'd probably play a CL because it's less money

[rodl2005]

I suppose I was 'spoiled' with my '91 SVT II, coz the times I tried a SVT-CL when I had the II 'non-pro'
I always thought the CL wasn't as nice. But since using more CL's, I really can't fault 'em, & am very impressed with everyone I've used.

[nitram]

Does anybody posting here know if the VR's still have the stupid "automatic standby" switching when the AC power supply variates too much ?

Nitram

[Alex1984]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Couldn't tell you, Walter. I imagine money had something to do with it It would be a few hundy more for a Heritage VR, and maybe they thought it would be an easier sell. Seems to be going well for them. They sold out of the heads last year and had to do another batch. But I prefer the non-master SVT's too. Not by much, though. Just a little. The CL's still a very close #2 beihind the VR in my book, and if I hadn't lucked into a Blue Line 20 years ago, I'd probably play a CL because it's less money

How does the II non-pro sit against the CL?

I personally found the II to be more defined and character than the VR, but the VR just had such a huge sound. It's kinda like a Jazz vs. Precision thing.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Alex1984

How does the II non-pro sit against the CL?

I personally found the II to be more defined and character than the VR, but the VR just had such a huge sound. It's kinda like a Jazz vs. Precision thing.

It's been years and years since I played a 2 non pro, but I don't remember it being much different from what I hear now out of my 69 SVT or a VR. So you could take my feelings about the CL vs my head and extrapolate them to the 2 non pro as well. And yes, it's very much a Jazz vs Precision thing to me. I'm always happy to play any of them.

[Tim1]

I thought the 2nonpro dirtied up earlier than the VR, which could result in what you refer to as character, Alex??? The VR stays clean to stupid volme levels IMO.
Don't know whether the VR still has the "stupid automatic standby" you refer to, Nitram, but it is such a simple mod to remove it that you wonder why dealers are not required to remove it themselves if it is still in there. If you are in a country on 240 volts you don't even have to make a splitter lead, just move a lead across from one connector to another (thanks Jerrold and JohnK).