Vintage Ampeg Head and Cab , 197?

Bongokid · #1 10-21-2011, 04:38 PM

Hey guys. Just purchased this rig from a gentlemen in Escondido CA. He said it was a '72 but wanted to see if you guys could see anything that might say different. Plays real nice other than one or two speakers might need to be serviced.
Let me know if you guys can tell me anything. Just from some lookin around, all the 6550's say GE on them, i see a couple GT's..

coreyfyfe · #2 10-21-2011, 05:18 PM

Probably a 74-75. Mine is a later 74 and the serial number is just a bit lower than yours. The graphics (square black lines) put it in the 72-75 range. If you've got GE 6550s in there you've got some of the best power tubes available for this amp. Congrats on the purchase.

bassfreakah · #3 10-21-2011, 05:21 PM

YOU WIN!!!!!!! You have the best bass amp in the world.

Josh Pelican · #4 10-21-2011, 05:23 PM

I think it's fake and you should send it to me for proper disposal.

redhed · #5 10-21-2011, 05:28 PM

SWEET AMP! Fix that baby up and it will rock for another 36 years!

AwkwardLoudness · #6 10-21-2011, 05:31 PM

Post pictures of the potentiometers if you can. There should be date codes on them.

Looks like a late '72 through '74 era SVT. The later ones did not have metal power and standby switches, and the earlier ones were blue line models.

coreyfyfe · #7 10-21-2011, 05:41 PM

The pots are a pain to get to as you have to pull out the preamp chasis and take off the panel and all that jazz. Even easier is to take off the cover over the PI/drive tubes on the power amp chasis and look at the codes on the large rectangular resistors. I think the code starts with 242 or 245 but it will be a 7 digit code the first three being the EIA code for the manufacturer (like I said I think these should be 242) the next two the year and the last two the week.

anonymous02282011 · #8 10-21-2011, 05:56 PM

Looks like a good one.

I'd hold onto it.

Bongokid · #9 10-21-2011, 06:51 PM

Thanks guys. Im not all that savy with pulling things off or sticking my hand in there/ nor knowing what a potentiometer is. But, ill learn quick. Ima take the head to amphole for a good once over and see what BOB says about her.
But I'll most likely need to get the cab to a place to repair the speaker(s) that crackle when the volume is increased to 9 o clock on the head and the bass is turned pretty much all the way. The crackle isnt BAD BAD to where all I have to do is turn down the bass a bit,but its gotta be 100%, you know! Anyone know a good spot?

One Drop · #10 10-21-2011, 06:52 PM

Looks like '72 or '73 to me. Earlier style switches like my blue line 72, but black lettering.

anonymous02282011 · #11 10-21-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongokid

Anyone know a good spot?

where are you located?

Bongokid · #12 10-21-2011, 07:05 PM

Lol sorry. Los Angeles.

johnk_10 · #13 10-21-2011, 07:32 PM

looks like a '72 or '73 to me. if it has its original filter caps (probably does), there's date codes on them.

MechEngr · #14 10-21-2011, 07:46 PM

Ditto on the best amp in the world. But pitch the GT tubes. Horrid tubes - worst on the market.

johnk_10 · #15 10-21-2011, 07:49 PM

i'm not a fan of groove tubes either, but i'd be willing to bet that they are just re-labeled GE or Sylvania 12BH7's so they should be fine in there. IMO, it's mostly the relabeled chinese (and some of the russian) groove tubes that are really poor.

**B-string** · #16 10-21-2011, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongokid

Lol sorry. Los Angeles.

Johnk_10 is your man! He is in T.O. He will get her in full song for you and won't tell you those GE 6550s are junk so he can put them on FleaBay. He has responded on your thead, PM him!

And CONGRATS on a Magnavox era REAL SVT!!!!!!!!

Bongokid · #17 10-21-2011, 08:25 PM

Ill give him a ring, thanks for the compliments guys. Im eager to get it together w/ the band and rock. So, im gonna fix her up to 100% and hold on to her like a security blanket.

bigbottomend · #18 10-22-2011, 01:40 AM

Congrats dude, exactly same as mine

I'm taking my SVT to the grave along with my P

johnk_10 · #19 10-22-2011, 01:45 AM

congrats. once it's up to factory specs, it should run another 30 years.

One Drop · #20 10-22-2011, 03:19 AM

FWIW I spent about $250 a few years ago for a matched set of GE 6550s. A few of them drifted so much the tech at TAD couldn't bias the amp properly. He replaced them with their own set of matched and tested Chinese tubes and it's been going great since. He marked the old ones' values and gave them back to me.

I can't imagine what whack price a matched set of 6 GEs would cost now.