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All Tube Ampeg Heads

Well, I have a Heritage SVT. I like the sound and uumph factor of tubes. I am a devout GK 800rb guy BUT I wanted the real ampeg tone. I say real cuz I tried to get it using several different thing. I tried a sansamp BDDI,an RBI, tech 21 VT pedal and rackmount, ampeg SVP pro preamp into power amps and also ampeg SVP 1500 poweamp. They all sounded good but without the tube power section it just wasn't "it". I also run 2 8x10s so having one headpush both was a big deal for me. I also used an SVT pro same deal.

I bought the heritage as it came with better tubes and other improvements over a CL whick is what I wanted. I would have bought a used USA CL but Sweetwater has a deal on it for 1700 which was less than a CL. These go for about $2400 otherwise. I commented the blasphemy of swapping the front grill and preamp box from a dead CL simply cuz it looks better to me.

Love my GKs but right now I'm about this amp and tone. Alot of guys shy away due to the weight. It is not an issue to me so size/weight is irrelevant to me. I look at micros as toys. I'm sure they're good, just not for me.
 
I literally walked into this vintage V4B w/410 when i joined the band! Drummer kinda collects good stuff, and he originally picked this up for his teen daughters band years. I'm in the process of buying it off him cuz it's F'n amazing :)

Edit: Cab is 90's, but the head is early-mid 70's

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When he offered to sell it to me last week, i told him "Ehh, it's got a lot of use on 'er, I'm going to need to test it out." (I've been in this band & using it for over 2 years now :roflmao:)
 
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Is there some sort of chart or list or something like that that explains SVT - Herritage, Classic, V 4B, V 2, CL, and all the others??
I have owned B2, SVT7 Pro, Portoflex's and a couple others, but I am thinking that the all tube might be the way I want to go. I have never played a full tube amp. 37 years..
 
perfectly simple actually. What kind of all tube Ampeg head do you have and why do you have it.. Um.. Why is that such a difficult question?

If you just said that from the get go it wouldn't have been difficult ;)

I have an SVT II non pro and a V4B Reissue. The SVT is because it's an SVT and the V4B is because it's a lighter and smaller "SVT" type of tone.

Is there some sort of chart or list or something like that that explains SVT - Herritage, Classic, V 4B, V 2, CL, and all the others?

SVT: 300 watt non master volume amp head
CL: 300 watt master volume amp head
Heritage: 300 watt same thing as a CL with Winged C tubes, tube retainers, different trannys (IIRC), and thicker PCB's
V4B Reissue: 100 watt master volume amp head. I'm not sure what's different between these and the originals.
SVT II: Rack mount 300 watt non master volume amp with 6 band graphic EQ
SVT II-Pro: Rack mount 300 watt master volume amp with 9 band graphic EQ and drive control
 
Tell me what kind and why?? Fact finding please...

What kind of all tube Ampeg head do you have and why do you have it..

The second question is much more specific than the first.

That aside, I have a few. A 1956 bassamp, 1961 R12R, 1965 B15N, 1970 V4, 1972 B25B, 1973 V4, and a 1974 SVT. I like the ampeg bax/mid EQ. I like having options of tube amps at a variety of wattages and output configurations to match to the gig. The bassamp has been my main practice amp at home lately, I had planned to sell it once I finished fixing it but I haven't quite finished with it yet so I still have it. The B15N is a classic, use it mainly at home and in the studio. The two V4s - one is being restored, one I frequently used until recently, love the flexibility. The SVT is the king. Great amp. Only being able to pair it with 4 ohm cabs makes it a little less versatile than the others.
 
I presenty own a V4-BH of SLM years, bought second hand. I used to have an original V4-B bought new in 1975 (as far as I remember) with a V6-B cabinet (2 x 15) that I sold to buy a small size solid state amp. Thenafter, I've been playing various solid state or hybrid amps (Acoustic 126, Marshall) searching for the sound I used to have. When I've tried the "new" V4-BH, the magic was back. I won't change my amp, unless I can hire 2 roadies to carry an SVT, which remains some kind of a dream.
 
perfectly simple actually. What kind of all tube Ampeg head do you have and why do you have it.. Um.. Why is that such a difficult question?
Ahhh.... NOW I see. What Ampeg tube amp do WE have & why. .. ? Gotcha. Right. ..
Have owned:- SVT-CL, SVTII (or SVT2 or SVTII NP {non pro}), V4BH & 70's V4
Have played SVT-VR, SVT2 PRO, All great.
Only reason I sold the 70s V4 was that the new reissue had recently come out ("been dropped". ...is the trend setter way of saying that methinks )
& the new one has 6L6 power tubes rather than the 7025s, is way lighter and has a nice DI built in. Both very similar but I DID like the 70s one a touch more. ..tonally. ..not to carry etc. .
I was gonna buy a SVT-VR as it was my fave of the bunch and still had a DI built in, but a reliable source on here recommended that I try the (then new) Fender Super Bassman (300w and all tube ) and from the 1st note I played I knew I'd made the right choice. Not that I wouldn't've been happy with a VR, but the Fender Super Bassman has 8/4/2 ohm switch- which suits me as I'll often use a single 8 ohm 115 with it- drive the amp harder and get those 6 sweet 6550 power tubes into their "sweet spot" without being terribly loud. .. and. ..it's 20lbs lighter than the VR.
SO. ...imo/ime etc etc. .. ALL the Ampeg all tube amps are simply superb and I'd be VERY happy with any of em.
But I'm glad I was pointed toward the Super Bassman as it ticks my boxes just a fraction more.
 
Is the master volume for 2 channels kind of thing or some other reason?? Like I said, I have never used or owned a full tube amp so they are completely unfamiliar to me..
Oh, and is the SVT II the same as the SVT 2?

No, the master volume allows you to turn the preamp gain up higher to get some preamp distortion at a lower volume if that's your thing. Very similar to your 7 Pro.

II and 2 are interchangeable. It's the pro vs non pro part that matters.

They made the SVT II, SVT II-Pro, and SVT 2-Pro. Both of the Pros were the same amp. The II non pro is different and more sought after.
 
I literally walked into this vintage V4B w/410 when i joined the band! Drummer kinda collects good stuff, and he originally picked this up for his teen daughters band years. I'm in the process of buying it off him cuz it's F'n amazing :)

Edit: Cab is 90's, but the head is early-mid 70's

View attachment 1032160

When he offered to sell it to me last week, i told him "Ehh, it's got a lot of use on 'er, I'm going to need to test it out." (I've been in this band & using it for over 2 years now :roflmao:)

Next time there's a Seattle GTG,please bring this........
 
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