Are Those Skunkworks really all that???

[Sliderbass]

I've been thinking about getting an SVT and was wondering if the skunkworks SVT are really worth any extra $$$ over either a vintage SVT or a new VR or Heritage models.

Jimmy? John??

[david3821]

I played one before and it sounded great going through a berg 610...There are two on the Bay right now and one had to re-list because nobody bought it at $999. I think the SW would be my second choice right behind an old blue line model...but if you could get it cheap enough it would be my 1st choice!

[Sliderbass]

I've been watching them as well and I don't know why the one for $999 didn't sell the last time. It looks like the better one of the two listed. I'll keep watching....

[JimmyM]

to me, tonally, an svt is an svt is an svt, the only difference is with master and non-master models. however, the skunkworks models were made with love, which counts to me

[Sliderbass]

All you need is love... :-)

I kinda felt the same way about them but why are they heavier according to what I've read about them? Different iron? Or is that extra weight the extra "mojo" that was packed in there by hand??

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by Sliderbass

All you need is love... :-)

I kinda felt the same way about them but why are they heavier according to what I've read about them? Different iron? Or is that extra weight the extra "mojo" that was packed in there by hand??

I haven't heard that they're heavier. The reason, IMO, that people like the skunkworks is that they were hand built in the US to original blueline with 6550s specs (and the fact that they followed a few years of japanese production SVTs) and were made in limited number. They're in short supply (only 500 built) so they demand a decent price. Anyone know what the shipping totals were for SVTs in the 70s? Probably more than 500 a year.

[Jerrold Tiers]

The so-called "skunkworks units" * were the last ones made with NOS US tubes.....and parts from most of the original vendors, such as "Lightning metals" for the extrusions, etc, and including the 6C4 in the preamp. transformers were the original vendor (Electrical Windings, in Chicago), but that actually persisted for quite a while, until they were bought out.

Differences include the "12AX7 mod" (the 12DW7 were in short , poor quality supply then) and using a 12AU7 instead of the 12BH7 as drivers. You can plug in a 12BH7, and if you want, you can, I believe, undo the "12AX7 mod", which is some values in the preamp, at which time you should be able to use a 12DW7.

They are about as close to an original SVT as was possible/practical when they were made. But the other versions are not so bad, just ask the numerous hard-core users here.

* Lockheed objects to the use of their trademarked term "Skunkworks" in relation to the units.....

[JimmyM]

Lockheed can eat it. The SVT is a machine to make beautiful music. Lockheed makes killing machines.

[Foz]

Awww... come on, give war a chance.

[johnk_10]

personally, i prefer any silverface SVT over the skunkworks version, however, the skunkworks ones are the real thing. after owning several of the japanese made ones (blackfaced made in te 80's), i think that they were great amps too.
so, i like them in this order, but mostly for appearance reasons:
SVT blueline
SVT blackline
SVT 'white rocker' blacklines (mid-late 70's)
japanese or skunkworks (like them both the same)
SVT-VR

$0.02

[Groover]

I picked one up used (#123) for $975, which had a brown piece of 70's curtain as a front grille, and I could scrape the nicotine off of it with my nails - I totally restored it, and ended up beeing one of the most educationally and fun bass-related projects I've done in recent years. John, Jimmy and many other TB'ers were very helpful along the way.

That said, Jimmy nailed it I think. These were assembled by hand and made with love. They have some interesting Ampeg history associated with them, which gives ‘em that "special-ness" about them. Other than that, I don't think they are better or worse than any of the other Vintage SVTs out there. It really boils down (IMO) to the transformers and tubes you end up putting in there, everything else is just wood and metal (other electronics of course).

Mine has the original 12AX7 configuration, as well as the 12BH7 as drivers (that is what the inside tube-layout sticker shows it should have).

I think it rocks big time, but I can only compare it to an SVT-CL (which rocks too).

Mine was built with love, and restored with even more love - so much love that I can't even post some of the pictures of me and it here cause I'd be banned from TB (no, no…. just kidding... it never got that heated when I stripped it down.. )

Some before and after pics.