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1969 Ampeg SVT

#42
I would absolutely love to have an original SVT. Almost snagged a late 70's one in GREAT shape for $1150 about two months ago but couldn't scrape the cash.

If I even need to record I can use my '73 V2 - very similar bass sound in a 60w package. Can even keep up with a band through the right cabs as long as it's not crazy loud.
 
#43
IIRC, mine's a '69. i've owned and worked on alot of them, but i think i dated the pots, trannys & caps in mine to that year anyway. the next time i go in there i'll make sure. it has the chrome chassis, no driver tube plate (and yes it came stock that way) ,relay socket and 6146 tubes (but later converted to the 6550A's that it has in it now. IME, i don't think that they only made 5 of them in '69.
 
#44
BTW Jimmy, i was talking to one of my keyboardists that took Doug Ingle's place in IB when Doug left the band, and he told me that Ingle always had two or three of them, and it was a prerequisite to use them when my buddy joined, so he had to go out and buy two for himself. it kinda cracks me up, keyboardists buying them.
 
#45
i'm surprised more keyboard players don't use tube amps, quite honestly, especially guys who play organ with digital keyboards or electric piano/clavinet lovers. they always say the sounds are already built in, but they always sound so cold and digital to me.
 
#47
Destructobot said:
Think Rhodes through a fender twin.
Click to expand...

This match-up was fender's intention from the getgo.

I'm on keyboard duty from time to time. I find that my hammond clone > ss keyboard amps....meh. But hammond simulator > tube pre > leslie 147 (2x 6550) = paroxysms of delight. Although I have to admit the Traynor (really Yorkville) keyboard series of amps...(i.e. Traynor K4) are off the hook. Tube pre, full range stereo amp with a host of features and I/O options. I rented one, fell in love with it, but couldn't justify paying the asking price.

I should try my SVT with a sweet 412 cab next time haha. glad you guys brought this up!!!
 
#49
check this out...this is a video of doug using my svt with iron butterfly in germany. it looked a hell of a lot better back then. whoever bought it before me abused the crap out of it.

 
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#50
A real treasure you've got there Jimmy. Enjoyed the video. I saw Iron Butterfly in the real early 70s in Myrtle Beach,SC, although I remember almost nothing about it. :hmm: You know how it is when a group of 20 year olds go to the beach. Just a tad too much alcohol. :D
 
#51
Awesome video!!
Too bad you can't hear the keys through the amp in this instance, he seems to only use the hammond w/leslie (which I assume did not use the svt? unless modified, stock leslie drivers and woofers are rated at only 40w). Incidentally, my bass rig is similar to this vid - natural body/white pickguard p-bass and 74 svt.

When did the SVT cease having the output cable fixed to the chassis, utilizing the 4pin din style plug? Did this only apply to 6146 equipped models?
 
#53
Ok, I know of an SVT, bare chassis, 6146 tubes, but no relay, with a chassis number around 005000 but the pots date to 35 70.

Mine is chassis 102000 6550's black chassis and pots dated 48 70.

So if this is correct they only made 5000 until week 35 ish and in the next two months they made another 90,000 or so??.
 
#54
JimmyM said:
after this thread, i'm not sure anymore ;)

actually, according to the ampeg book, the 6146's were dropped in 71.
Click to expand...

i pick this thing up for 800 dollars needs work i just found the original knobs. it has the 6146 power tubes in it. it is a bare chassis

005.jpg

001-1.jpg
 
#56
a certified 1969 head was at the Vintage Guitar Show in Alsip, Illinois last February. It was clean and had the original tubes. The dealers was taking offers ... but $2500 was way too low he told me. He also had one of those Versa-Tone bass heads that someone was will to pay a lot more than I could afford.

G
 
#60
here's a shot of it in mine pulled out of the box. never did replace it with a relay tube, though. the tech said if they go dead the amp goes dead and there's nothing you can do. so he left the shorting plug in there. i wanted it back but i think it was the right thing to do since i gig it. btw, this was before it got restored, and yes, i realize there's one 6550 and 5 6146's. there's a really lousy amp tech here who used to be the only game in town.

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