Those dates look like the 3rd week of 1973. 137 7303 = CTS (19)73, 03 week
I may be wrong, but that is how most CTS pots are dated.
I may be wrong, but that is how most CTS pots are dated.
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1969 SVT restoration project
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
Not to derail a great thread, but I want to say that Psycho Bass Guy is a true asset to our community. He gladly suffered a bunch of PM quesitons asked him when I got my old SVT. Didn't have to help me, but he did. That's what Talkbass should be all about.
Rock on with the restorin', Jimmy.
Rock on with the restorin', Jimmy.
Jazzman, that's the info that I'm seeing on the net, too. Here's a shot of the cab's serial number label. It clearly says "Linden NJ," so I believe the cab is really a 69 but if it's true about the speakers, that is an ever-so-slight bummer, but at least Doug Ingle used the proper speakers when he replaced them. Wish I knew how to get hold of him. He apparently keeps a very low profile these days. I don't think he was with them when I saw them in 1981.
A9X, thanks for the offer but I'm good with tubes with this gigundus NOS store half an hour away
He also buys NOS tubes if you have any you want to unload.
A9X, thanks for the offer but I'm good with tubes with this gigundus NOS store half an hour away
He also buys NOS tubes if you have any you want to unload.
I am not saying it isn't a 1969...but I will note that my B-15N says The Ampeg Co. Inc., Linden, NJ on the back and everything dates to mid 1972. The pots, the caps, the speaker, etc. Every single date in there is within a ~14 week span of early/mid 1972.
From what I read, the changeover of manufacturing under Magnavox wasn't exactly a clean transition. That could explain the Linden markings on my amp.
From what I read, the changeover of manufacturing under Magnavox wasn't exactly a clean transition. That could explain the Linden markings on my amp.
Yep, those speakers date to 73. Give them to me for my 73 and go find some 69's 
I also will not renew my supporting membership if Psycho is gone. (My 3 year mark is approaching) His posts are so informative on this subject. I also bombarded him with questions when I got my SVT a few months ago. He answered every stupid question I had, and he didn't have to. His posts are my favorites, and I admit to reading almost all of his posts from the beginning. The credibility of this site will suffer if he is gone.
I also will not renew my supporting membership if Psycho is gone. (My 3 year mark is approaching) His posts are so informative on this subject. I also bombarded him with questions when I got my SVT a few months ago. He answered every stupid question I had, and he didn't have to. His posts are my favorites, and I admit to reading almost all of his posts from the beginning. The credibility of this site will suffer if he is gone.
I'll trade you straight up if you have any 69's. Of course, I will demand recones firstYep, those speakers date to 73. Give them to me for my 73 and go find some 69's
I have to say that I still can't be disappointed to find out they're 73's. At least they're CTS alnicos in the same style. And I'm pretty sure everything else is dead-on 69. I know for a fact the head is a very very early 69.
Whoops, I forgot to include a shot of the label before. Jazzman, if you could check the label on your cab and see if looks like this when you get a chance, let me know. But everything about the label screams 1969 to me. That would really suck if it isn't, though. Hell, I'd be so mad I'd just throw it out.
BTW, no, the transition was not a clear one at all. Magnavox used up most of the old parts and didn't really account for them. Man, what a travesty Ampeg's record keeping over the years has been. I've heard even St. Louis Music botched it pretty good. You'd think they'd have learned by then.
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Who cares what year the speakers are, the newer 70's SVT speakers sound better anyway, clearer and louder, I've owned both. As far as 6146B's glowing and burning up that was because the guitarists cranked them up to get distortion and the 6146B's couldn't handle the sustained volume, they are fine for bass as long as you don't try to get it to sound like a fuzz box 6293's which I use in my transmitter in place of 6146A's may even be a good choice, they are much stronger than the 6146's. I'm not sure if they are a replacement for the B's though, they are a direct replacement for the A's, but are expensive and hard to find, they last about ten times as long though.
As for me, I don't. I was just clarifying from an earlier post the pair I actually have.
I don't see any labels inside the cabinet...I even removed the baffle. The only label is inside the head, on the side towards the power switch. It has a similar look, yet different information - wired by, tested by, etc.
Sorry I wasn't more help.
Thanks Jazzman. OK, until further notice, I am going to proceed under the assumption that it's really a 69 cab. Then I can sleep peacefully
The only reason that I cared at all that the speakers were 73 and not 69 is because I have always thought this was original from top to bottom. I knew nothing about speaker codes until an hour ago, and assumed that they were original because they looked more or less the same as any others from that timeframe, and at the time I last had them out of the cabs, the internet was just barely starting to happen.
Man, I gotta get my mind off this stuff for a little while. It's making me insane! Ya Bob, you're right. Who cares when they were made? They're the best speakers for the cab that I can get.
The only reason that I cared at all that the speakers were 73 and not 69 is because I have always thought this was original from top to bottom. I knew nothing about speaker codes until an hour ago, and assumed that they were original because they looked more or less the same as any others from that timeframe, and at the time I last had them out of the cabs, the internet was just barely starting to happen.
Man, I gotta get my mind off this stuff for a little while. It's making me insane! Ya Bob, you're right. Who cares when they were made? They're the best speakers for the cab that I can get.
If anyone knows Doug Ingle from Iron Butterfly or knows his whereabouts, please let me know because I'd like to ask him a couple questions about this amp and see if he's got any stories about it. Of course, if he tells you that it was stolen from him and he wants it back, quickly drop the subject and move on.
No, I'm sure it wasn't stolen. I bought it from a very reputable music store. But I would like to speak with the guy if possible and send him a few pics.
No, I'm sure it wasn't stolen. I bought it from a very reputable music store. But I would like to speak with the guy if possible and send him a few pics.
So seeing as how we all love the financials, here's a running tally of what I've spent so far. I have a feeling that when I get done, I will have spent on this rig about what its current value is worth
I'm very close to being over-budget (thought $1000 would get it...I'd say add another $700 to that before it's all said and done, $1000 if I really want to do it up and get a dolly and amp covers, but those can wait because I have old blankets and a hand truck ).
Anyway...in US dollars:
TUBES:
Six 6146B's........................168.00
Matching............................12.00
Two 12DW7/7247's...............37.00
Plate cap for one 6146B..........2.00
Tax....................................14.23
Total tubes........................233.23
SPEAKERS:
8 recones, total..................696.08
Grand total so far...............$929.31
Damn recones! That was the big fly in the ointment, although having to buy all new power tubes sucked a big one as well. Why oh why didn't I get the whole set reconed in the 90's when it was $35 and not $80 a cone? I can get $60 off the speakers if I pay in cash, but that's still about $870. And I haven't paid for the amp repair which will be close to $300 I'm guessing, and I have about $400 worth of stuff I have to order from Fliptops.
So when it's all said and done, I estimate this resto at $1700. Add that to the $700 with tax I paid for it, and I'll have $2400 into it. Currently, I could probably sell it for around $3000, maybe a little more because it's the very first edition of a quickly-changed design. Even other 69's I've seen don't have a tube relay socket (oh shoot, add another $150 for that!). So I'm coming out ahead but just barely. But wait till the realities of Vietnampeg finally take hold in another year or two. Till then, I'll be quite happy to trot it out for very very special gigs and have a great time annoying my neighbors and watching this puppy appreciate! And even though it's a lot, it's still less than buying a new Vietnampeg.
I probably won't have any work updates for a couple days. I'm more than likely taking the weekend off to try recording with a couple new toys and I have a gig on Monday. But everything is well under way and moving right on schedule, so I consider it a good week's work and I think I'm having fun. I hate handing over the cash, though.
I'm very close to being over-budget (thought $1000 would get it...I'd say add another $700 to that before it's all said and done, $1000 if I really want to do it up and get a dolly and amp covers, but those can wait because I have old blankets and a hand truck
).Anyway...in US dollars:
TUBES:
Six 6146B's........................168.00
Matching............................12.00
Two 12DW7/7247's...............37.00
Plate cap for one 6146B..........2.00
Tax....................................14.23
Total tubes........................233.23
SPEAKERS:
8 recones, total..................696.08
Grand total so far...............$929.31
Damn recones! That was the big fly in the ointment, although having to buy all new power tubes sucked a big one as well. Why oh why didn't I get the whole set reconed in the 90's when it was $35 and not $80 a cone? I can get $60 off the speakers if I pay in cash, but that's still about $870. And I haven't paid for the amp repair which will be close to $300 I'm guessing, and I have about $400 worth of stuff I have to order from Fliptops.
So when it's all said and done, I estimate this resto at $1700. Add that to the $700 with tax I paid for it, and I'll have $2400 into it. Currently, I could probably sell it for around $3000, maybe a little more because it's the very first edition of a quickly-changed design. Even other 69's I've seen don't have a tube relay socket (oh shoot, add another $150 for that!). So I'm coming out ahead but just barely. But wait till the realities of Vietnampeg finally take hold in another year or two. Till then, I'll be quite happy to trot it out for very very special gigs and have a great time annoying my neighbors and watching this puppy appreciate! And even though it's a lot, it's still less than buying a new Vietnampeg.
I probably won't have any work updates for a couple days. I'm more than likely taking the weekend off to try recording with a couple new toys and I have a gig on Monday. But everything is well under way and moving right on schedule, so I consider it a good week's work and I think I'm having fun. I hate handing over the cash, though.
Psycho, given that you live in east Tennessee, and that you know SVTs in such detail, I'm wondering if you worked for Ampeg at one time.
Jimmy- good luck with this restoration! I hope the money required won't preclude doing it up right.
Jimmy- good luck with this restoration! I hope the money required won't preclude doing it up right.
Thanks Michael. It won't, although I will be re-tolexing the cab myself instead of sending it out. Just as well, though. I need something to do, too.
So seeing as how we all love the financials, here's a running tally of what I've spent so far. I have a feeling that when I get done, I will have spent on this rig about what its current value is worth
I'm very close to being over-budget (thought $1000 would get it...I'd say add another $700 to that before it's all said and done, $1000 if I really want to do it up and get a dolly and amp covers, but those can wait because I have old blankets and a hand truck
Anyway...in US dollars:
TUBES:
Six 6146B's........................168.00
Matching............................12.00
Two 12DW7/7247's...............37.00
Plate cap for one 6146B..........2.00
Tax....................................14.23
Total tubes........................233.23
SPEAKERS:
8 recones, total..................696.08
Grand total so far...............$929.31
Damn recones! That was the big fly in the ointment, although having to buy all new power tubes sucked a big one as well. Why oh why didn't I get the whole set reconed in the 90's when it was $35 and not $80 a cone? I can get $60 off the speakers if I pay in cash, but that's still about $870. And I haven't paid for the amp repair which will be close to $300 I'm guessing, and I have about $400 worth of stuff I have to order from Fliptops.
So when it's all said and done, I estimate this resto at $1700. Add that to the $700 with tax I paid for it, and I'll have $2400 into it. Currently, I could probably sell it for around $3000, maybe a little more because it's the very first edition of a quickly-changed design. Even other 69's I've seen don't have a tube relay socket (oh shoot, add another $150 for that!). So I'm coming out ahead but just barely. But wait till the realities of Vietnampeg finally take hold in another year or two. Till then, I'll be quite happy to trot it out for very very special gigs and have a great time annoying my neighbors and watching this puppy appreciate! And even though it's a lot, it's still less than buying a new Vietnampeg.
I probably won't have any work updates for a couple days. I'm more than likely taking the weekend off to try recording with a couple new toys and I have a gig on Monday. But everything is well under way and moving right on schedule, so I consider it a good week's work and I think I'm having fun. I hate handing over the cash, though.
I wouldn't worry what you're spending on it because it will go up and up although I'm sure you'll never sell it. I've been using them since 1976 and haven't found any amps that sound anywhere near as good in 31 years and I'm not holding my breath either.
Is Psycho here?
He was here yesterday. He's probably chilling a little and he'll be back soon. I hope.
Yeah, I probably will keep it for quite a while, but my live needs these days are more than satisfied by my Markbass head. I will trot it out now and again, and I might even make it available for rental if I can get enough for it, but at this point, it's more or less a museum piece. Sorry. I know that disappoints a lot of people, but take heart, folks...one day I'll be dead and you can buy it from my widow.
Yeah, I probably will keep it for quite a while, but my live needs these days are more than satisfied by my Markbass head. I will trot it out now and again, and I might even make it available for rental if I can get enough for it, but at this point, it's more or less a museum piece. Sorry. I know that disappoints a lot of people, but take heart, folks...one day I'll be dead and you can buy it from my widow.
I don't know about that, when that big Ampeg sound hits you, you might just go, oh yeah, there's that sound I miss so much! 
Try the normal channel though, sounds much fuller.
Try the normal channel though, sounds much fuller.I just want to applaud you for putting the time and effort (and cash) into restoring this rig. Even if you decide to sell it, somebody someday will get to enjoy it on gigs. It will be one more vintage SVT out there, which is a great thing. It's kinda like a classic car that has been in grandpas barn that sat for years wasting away before someone rescued it and put it back on the road. 
Sorry, im beginning to tear up. LOL! Anyway, way to go! Hope you make money on it!
Sorry, im beginning to tear up. LOL! Anyway, way to go! Hope you make money on it! I'm pulling a Freddy Mercury and just waiting for the hammer to fall. I'll keep posting as long as I can, but I would like to say that for those who value my input, you might reconsider financial support for the forum until the rules are fairly applied across the board.
Thanks Denton. I totally agree. All this time I never truly understood what I had. I knew it used odd tubes and was more than likely an early model, but I had no idea it was THE earliest model. Thanks to finally spending a little time in this forum after two years, it hit me that I have to do something about getting it shipshape and do it now while I have the chance. I'm currently separated but we're buying a new house and getting back together soon, so it won't be much longer before my wife sees where my money goes, so I have to get it while the gettin's good...I just want to applaud you for putting the time and effort (and cash) into restoring this rig. Even if you decide to sell it, somebody someday will get to enjoy it on gigs. It will be one more vintage SVT out there, which is a great thing. It's kinda like a classic car that has been in grandpas barn that sat for years wasting away before someone rescued it and put it back on the road.
Psycho, I will be happy to copy the contents of this thread for you and email them to you if you get booted. Unless you're good at recovering speakers, you might get pretty bored with the next phase because the technical end is pretty much done now. But I don't think they'll boot you. You're what David Letterman would call "gruff but lovable." Like Ed Asner.
