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Blue line svt ampeg

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by vicgirth, May 19, 2012.

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  1. vicgirth

    vicgirth Guest

    May 19, 2012
    Hello. I've had this ampeg blue line svt for awhile now but put it away several years ago when I got a mesa boogie m-pulse. I pulled it out storage and have plans of getting it worked on. It does have 6550 tubes, still works but definitely in need of some maintenance. I am trying to figure out how old it is and I've read through some threads but have been unable to figure out how to find this info. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

    thank you,

    Vic
     
    vicgirth, May 19, 2012
    #1
  2. johnk_10

    johnk_10 vintage bass nut Supporting Member Commercial User

    Feb 16, 2008
    Washington, Utah
    John K Custom Basses
    IMO, it's probably a '69 or '70, but you can get the date codes off of the caps and pots to be more accurate.
     
    johnk_10, May 19, 2012
    #2
  3. B-string

    B-string

    Nov 21, 2008
    Lake Havasu City, Az USA
    Pics? Serial number? Place of manufacture? Who owned the name (Ampeg) when it was built? You are not giving much to go on. ;)
     
    B-string, May 19, 2012
    #3
  4. Mr. Foxen

    Mr. Foxen Commercial User

    Jul 24, 2009
    Bristol, UK
    Amp tinkerer at Ampstack
    Did it start off as a 6550, or was it converted?
     
    Mr. Foxen, May 19, 2012
    #4
  5. vicgirth

    vicgirth Guest

    May 19, 2012
    Very true :). I'm working on uploading some pics. I see wheaton music, wheaton md 1491 on the back. I dont know about who owned the name or how to figure that out. It say Ampeg co Inc, linden nj usa, us patent pend.
     
    vicgirth, May 19, 2012
    #5
  6. vicgirth

    vicgirth Guest

    May 19, 2012
    Mr. Foxen, i'm not sure if it was converted or not.


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    vicgirth, May 19, 2012
    #6
  7. vicgirth

    vicgirth Guest

    May 19, 2012
    vicgirth, May 19, 2012
    #7
  8. B-string

    B-string

    Nov 21, 2008
    Lake Havasu City, Az USA
    Looks like Johnk_10 is close with 1970. Man she needs a good cleaning! From the pics it does not look to have been a 6550 conversion, which would leave 1969 out. The amp was made by the original design and manufacture team! VERY nice.
     
    B-string, May 19, 2012
    #8
  9. vicgirth

    vicgirth Guest

    May 19, 2012
    Thanks for all the info Johnk_10 and B-string. She definitely needs a cleaning at a minimum. Guess I'll get the firm date once I figure out what these caps and pots are.
     
    vicgirth, May 19, 2012
    #9
  10. beans-on-toast

    beans-on-toast

    Aug 7, 2008
    Very nice amp!

    Your serial number is stamped onto the power amp chassis, located in the window below the stick-on tag from the music store.

    It is difficult to see but it looks like the serial number starts with 108XXX. If this is correct, that would make the amp a 1971.

    There are two big aluminum capacitors on the power amp. Date codes are stamped onto these cans. You might be able to see something without pulling the power amp chassis out.
     
    beans-on-toast, May 19, 2012
    #10
  11. JMacBass65

    JMacBass65

    Jan 31, 2009
    Northern Virginia
    Interesting, are you in the DC Metro area?
     
    JMacBass65, May 19, 2012
    #11
  12. vicgirth

    vicgirth Guest

    May 19, 2012

    Actually that number is 103185 and I was unable to see anything on those aluminum capacitors. Thanks for the info!
     
    vicgirth, May 19, 2012
    #12
  13. vicgirth

    vicgirth Guest

    May 19, 2012
    I'm in texas and bought it from someone in texas over 10 yrs with an 8x10 ampeg cab.
     
    vicgirth, May 19, 2012
    #13
  14. beans-on-toast

    beans-on-toast

    Aug 7, 2008
    beans-on-toast, May 19, 2012
    #14
  15. JimmyM

    JimmyM

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    Wow, full of RCA 6550's, too. Hope you don't have to replace any of them. RCA's are kickass. Hang onto them as long as you can!
     
    JimmyM, May 20, 2012
    #15
  16. Mr. Foxen

    Mr. Foxen Commercial User

    Jul 24, 2009
    Bristol, UK
    Amp tinkerer at Ampstack
    Or pull them and sell them while they are still good and put in something you can replace easily, avoids forming an expensive NOS valve habit. The Shuguang GEKT88 are really good so I'd guess the 6550 will be too, ahead of the pack.
     
    Mr. Foxen, May 20, 2012
    #16
  17. JimmyM

    JimmyM

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    The price on NOS 6550's is pretty offensive, but if my SVT had a set, there'd be no way in hell I'd replace them with something else. Fortunately, mine's loaded with 6146b's, which are dirt cheap by comparison ;)
     
    JimmyM, May 20, 2012
    #17
  18. Mr. Foxen

    Mr. Foxen Commercial User

    Jul 24, 2009
    Bristol, UK
    Amp tinkerer at Ampstack
    That is the scenario to be avoided. Often the valves that came in my amps were worth more than the amp complete in the state I got it. Don't like putting wear on disposable stuff I can't replace.
     
    Mr. Foxen, May 20, 2012
    #18
  19. JimmyM

    JimmyM

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    Good thing not everyone thinks like that. Who would you sell them to? ;)
     
    JimmyM, May 20, 2012
    #19
  20. Mr. Foxen

    Mr. Foxen Commercial User

    Jul 24, 2009
    Bristol, UK
    Amp tinkerer at Ampstack
    Hifi people. They have more money than musicians.
     
    Mr. Foxen, May 20, 2012
    #20
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