• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

77 SVT dropped

#21
Definitely get a case. They add weight, but they're worth it. For an SVT you can get one with wheels on the bottom and just roll it around. I dropped my V4 off of my 4x10 while rolling it into a club (damn uneven boston sidewalks). Opened it up inside and the power tubes had fallen out. Popped them back in, fired it up and it was good to go.
 
#22
JimmyM said:
hey, who hasn't dropped an svt? most of the time they're fine, though. they're actually built like tanks and can take their fair share of abuse. a $12 tube is nothing to fix it in the long run. too bad 6c4's are so problematic.
Click to expand...

I've never dropped my old Blueline but awhile back 3 of my wife's German Shepherds were chasing our cat through the house and ended up knocking my SVT-II/NV610 stack over with the amp slamming into the hard tile floor face first.

The amp still worked fine afterwords, only real damage came from the guitar cord that was plugged into its front input, that ended up countersinking the front faceplate/input jack area inward just a bit.
 
#25
Jerrold Tiers said:
6C4 is definitely a suspect.

However, sounds that are best described as 'chains rattling" are often the output tubes.... And dropping the amp is one way to possibly move things around inside the outputs. They can take quite a bit, usually, but a 3 foot drop is "kinda rough".
Click to expand...

Thanks Jerrold. I always appreciate your posts and your expertise.

The output tubes apparently tested strong, but could they still be the cause of the problem? The 'chain rattling' sound is exactly what I'm hearing, but again, it only happens on certain notes.
 
#26
adbass said:
I've always been hesitant to put the SVT in a case because it would just make a big heavy amp bigger and heavier, but now I'm rethinking that . . .
Click to expand...

I played with some guys, friends of a friend, their bass player had a pat. pend. SVT, real nice amp. He kept it in a custom rolling case, 4 big casters on the bottom, lift off lid, and would just pop it up on the cab for the gig. It would make the load into the car/van/whatever heavier (unless you have a trailer with a ramp...), but could save some effort getting it into the club.
 
#27
coreyfyfe said:
I played with some guys, friends of a friend, their bass player had a pat. pend. SVT, real nice amp. He kept it in a custom rolling case, 4 big casters on the bottom, lift off lid, and would just pop it up on the cab for the gig. It would make the load into the car/van/whatever heavier (unless you have a trailer with a ramp...), but could save some effort getting it into the club.
Click to expand...

Hey Corey

BTW, you'd mentioned the boston sidewalks being uneven; Cambridge is particularly bad. This happened in Inman sq, just outside Punjabi Dhaba on my way to the lillypad.

I've been using a dolly to cart it around, but the night that I dropped it I thought I would make one trip instead of two by just keeping the amp on top of the cab and push the whole thing along.

Bad idea.

If I was standing in front of the cab/amp pulling instead of pushing, the amp may have fallen on my arm, which would still be worse than having to replace all the tubes in the beast.

The advantage of doing something stupid is that you usually learn from it. Yea, I'm wicked smaht. :rollno:
 
#29
adbass said:
The advantage of doing something stupid is that you usually learn from it. Yea, I'm wicked smaht. :rollno:
Click to expand...

We always learn the hard way. Guitarist in my old band dropped his mesa triple rec in front of some club in somerville, can't remember the name of the place, I think it's closed now. After that incident I decided to protect my investment with a road case, but still didn't figure out to watch for bumps in the sidewalk, especially when pushing the amp from behind. :rollno: I dropped mine rolling to copperfields on brookline near fenway. Fortunately for me, now I have an 8x10 which rolls on its side, the only issue now is stopping it from rolling sideways on sloped surfaces. It's like steering a speedboat with an oar. Loads of fun.

You can never win.
 
#30
...op, I happen to stumble on ur comment about chains rattling. Don't know if this will help, but I had that same sound (more like metal soda/beer bottle caps rattling) on my 3-pro awhile back. I didn't worry too much b/c like you say, only on certain notes and only noticablewhen folks dropped out.
Eventually, the amp started distorting so when I took to the shop it was a preamp ax7 and solder joints (I thought it was biasing the Mosfets).

Jimbob
 
#31
Yeah so he's doing a "Chris Henry" with his SVT in hand. Kids. :hmm:

Whats wrong with it? It be broke. Notice the trail of little parts as you walk away from the point of impact? That's usually the first clue... I always wondered about that little strap handle on the top. Notice CL has mondo handles on each end? That's one for you and one for your pet gorilla to move it around.

Up here on the tundra I was always afraid of the ice and snow... Set my bassman down hard into a snow pile once circa 1970 on load in. That could have turned out really bad.

Sorry to hear about your damage.

BOB
 
#32
rbonner said:
Yeah so he's doing a "Chris Henry" with his SVT in hand. Kids. :hmm:

Whats wrong with it? It be broke. Notice the trail of little parts as you walk away from the point of impact? That's usually the first clue... I always wondered about that little strap handle on the top. Notice CL has mondo handles on each end? That's one for you and one for your pet gorilla to move it around.

Up here on the tundra I was always afraid of the ice and snow... Set my bassman down hard into a snow pile once circa 1970 on load in. That could have turned out really bad.

Sorry to hear about your damage.

BOB
Click to expand...


LoL.

Thanks Bob
 
#33
Williamsburgjim said:
...op, I happen to stumble on ur comment about chains rattling. Don't know if this will help, but I had that same sound (more like metal soda/beer bottle caps rattling) on my 3-pro awhile back. I didn't worry too much b/c like you say, only on certain notes and only noticablewhen folks dropped out.
Eventually, the amp started distorting so when I took to the shop it was a preamp ax7 and solder joints (I thought it was biasing the Mosfets).

Jimbob
Click to expand...

this is good information. Thanks Jim.
 
#34
adbass said:
Thanks Jerrold. I always appreciate your posts and your expertise.

The output tubes apparently tested strong, but could they still be the cause of the problem? The 'chain rattling' sound is exactly what I'm hearing, but again, it only happens on certain notes.
Click to expand...

Any tube can test strong and still be microphonic. There are several ways to electronically "test" tubes. None even used together are infallible, and none test for mechanical noise.
 
#36
So I got my baby back today:hyper:

It sounds pretty awesome, as it should.

The fellow who was working on it for me replaced the 12DW7 and the 6c4. He put a rubber band around the 6c4, like the O-ring suggestion made earlier.

When I first turn it on, it makes the noise around G and D, but it goes away after about thirty seconds.

It's good to have the amp back! I love this thing. I actually took it on a boat out to international waters and married it.

THANK YOU guys for reading along and chipping in. I much appreciate it
 
#38
I've been schlepping one for years, and I can't figure how you'd drop one unless you tripped over something. You grip that mother on both sides and get it back its own four feet as quickly as possible.

It may be painful to recount, but how exactly did it happen?
 
#39
adbass said:
Hey Corey

BTW, you'd mentioned the boston sidewalks being uneven; Cambridge is particularly bad. This happened in Inman sq, just outside Punjabi Dhaba on my way to the lillypad.

I've been using a dolly to cart it around, but the night that I dropped it I thought I would make one trip instead of two by just keeping the amp on top of the cab and push the whole thing along.

Bad idea.

If I was standing in front of the cab/amp pulling instead of pushing, the amp may have fallen on my arm, which would still be worse than having to replace all the tubes in the beast.

The advantage of doing something stupid is that you usually learn from it. Yea, I'm wicked smaht. :rollno:
Click to expand...
motorcycle straps are sooooo cheeep......leave them tied to the dolly.....tie the gear down.....
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back