Thinking of buying SVT-VR. Advice?

skeevy · #1 01-26-2013, 03:02 PM

Hi

I'm considering buying a used VR. Have been communicating with seller, and today he informed me that he has a few different options for tubes he could stick in there if I wanted. I've never owned an all tube bass head, so a little shaky on making this decision (I did use the search engine and read some threads, which helped some).

Here's what he said:

Quote:

"I've attach two pix of the front. The left side shows a slight tolex tear, the the right side shows a small portion of the wood show. Other than that, no other cosmetic damages. Works perfectly. I currently have Sovtek KT88s (clear bass, round treble) in the amp, but I also have JJ 6550 (heavier/darker bass, round treble), or the stocked Sovtek 6550WE (grindy mids, sharper treble), so I can bias it to whichever power tube you prefer.

Serial # is EFVDU30030. It's made in 2007 according to:

Ampeg Serial Number Date Code
and
http://www.ampegv4.com/dating.php"

Not sure if he's a TBer or just found that thread via google

My questions are(sorry so many):
Which of these tubes will break up the earliest? Any personal opinions/preferences from VR users on these options? As a broader VR question, if I want something that can get nice tube breakup without being super loud, is this just the wrong head for me? I saw a guy with a vintage v4b and loved his tone, haven't heard a VR live. Would a Darkglass B3k (for example, I have one of these and a few other quality grit options) run before this be a good sound and give me a more overdriven, yet still tubey sound at more reasonable volumes? Anything to worry about with units made in 2007?

Finally, is ~$1300 after shipping reasonable for a good condition VR? I'm seeing some completed listings on ebay for less than that, but I also can't seem to find a cheaper one anywhere.

Any thoughts/opinions/advice appreciated here... thanks much for helping a tube noob

Nighttrain1127 · #2 01-26-2013, 03:20 PM

You won't get power tube breakup out of an All Tube SVT without it being very loud. SVT 300 watts, V4B 100 watts. The V4B will overdrive the power tubes at useable levels . KT-88's generally have more clean headroom than 6550's so the 6550's would break up earlier but it would still be incredibly loud when this happened. the SVT is a great amp and the darkglass B3K might get you the sound you are looking for and it should be a smoother sound with an all tube amp. I would think

RickenBoogie · #3 01-26-2013, 04:40 PM

Agreed. Power tube distortion on a VR means cranking the crap out of it. It will be beyond too loud at that point. That's why many like the CL, as it has seperate gain and volume knobs, so you can get the grind at reasonable levels. You'd be better served with a distortion pedal, and choose the cleanest tube set, with the highest headroom.

rodl2005 · #4 01-26-2013, 04:56 PM

Run it into a 4 ohm single 15" or 210 & you ain't in loud land really, imo at least. I mean ur loud, but I needed more clean outta it using a 410 meself. So, a larger cab did the trick.

prd004 · #5 01-26-2013, 05:13 PM

Less speakers = less volume before breakup, but an SVT-VR is pretty loud regardless. The price is good, I've seen them go as high as $1500 (shipping included).

I hear a rumor that an all tube 100 watt amp from Ampeg is a possibility.
Perhaps it will be unveiled this weekend at namm???!

skeevy · #6 01-26-2013, 07:14 PM

Thanks for the replies

I would be running it through an 810e. I've done some further reading and many people seem to have success running an od/distortion unit into the VR for nice grit at lower volumes. I just wish there was a place locally that I could try this out, and compare it to an SVT-CL. Any other thoughts or suggestions are appreciated

skeevy · #7 01-26-2013, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prd004

I hear a rumor that an all tube 100 watt amp from Ampeg is a possibility.
Perhaps it will be unveiled this weekend at namm???!

We can always hope! I will need to wait until my paycheck comes to make a move on the VR anyway, so we shall see...

SactoBass · #8 01-26-2013, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skeevy

Thanks for the replies

I would be running it through an 810e. I've done some further reading and many people seem to have success running an od/distortion unit into the VR for nice grit at lower volumes. I just wish there was a place locally that I could try this out, and compare it to an SVT-CL. Any other thoughts or suggestions are appreciated

This is, of course, purely opinion on my part, but I have owned an SVT-VR and an SVT-CL, and IMO, the CL sounded "just okay" and the VR sounded absolutely FANTASTIC.

SactoBass · #9 01-26-2013, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prd004

I hear a rumor that an all tube 100 watt amp from Ampeg is a possibility.
Perhaps it will be unveiled this weekend at namm???!

I know alot of TB'ers are waiting for this!

I will speak candidly and say that if it sounds like the V4BH, I will not be the least bit interested, but if it sounds like an early 70's V4B, then Ampeg is going to have a very successful amp on their hands.

It will all be in the tone (IMO of course).

jastacey · #10 01-26-2013, 08:25 PM

If your going to re-tube the power tubes, a little bit of history, if memory serves me right ... the VR for most of the production run came stock with Sovtek 6550's then I believe when the heritage came out they used Winged "C", then they went to the JJ 6550, but the VR always had Sovtek 6550's ... the last SVT II Pro I re-tubed, I used the Sovtek 6550 and liked the sound when pushed hard ........ some time ago someone suggested the ValveArt 6550, as being a very close likeness to the GE 6550 .... so whether it's the SVT CL or VR or Pro II the power sections are very similar ... it's the preamp sections that's very different between the models, either way a properly set-up SVT when driven to power tube break-up is going to very very loud ... and my suggestion is get it set-up with the Sovtek 6550's

prd004 · #11 01-26-2013, 09:25 PM

The guy that builds the Heritage CL's is a talkbass member. His name is Hodgy, and he's as nice of a guy as you'll ever meet. If I had a question about tubes, he would be the first person I would ask.

JimmyM · #12 01-27-2013, 12:22 AM

The new 100w Ampeg tuber is coming later this year. $1300 is an excellent price for a VR IMHO.

SactoBass · #13 01-27-2013, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

$1300 is an excellent price for a VR IMHO.

It sure the heck is!

Myth_103 · #14 01-27-2013, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SactoBass

This is, of course, purely opinion on my part, but I have owned an SVT-VR and an SVT-CL, and IMO, the CL sounded "just okay" and the VR sounded absolutely FANTASTIC.

I agree completely.

Darkglass · #15 01-27-2013, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nighttrain1127

You won't get power tube breakup out of an All Tube SVT without it being very loud. SVT 300 watts, V4B 100 watts. The V4B will overdrive the power tubes at useable levels . KT-88's generally have more clean headroom than 6550's so the 6550's would break up earlier but it would still be incredibly loud when this happened. the SVT is a great amp and the darkglass B3K might get you the sound you are looking for and it should be a smoother sound with an all tube amp. I would think

Actually a very good friend of mine who got one of the first B3Ks I built uses just for that; to get his cranked Ampeg tone without waking up the whole neighborhood!