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All Tube Ampeg Heads

#41
Ampeg SVT-VR
Why? Because it's an Ampeg LOL
I've wanted a SVT for my entire bass playing life (18 years so far) and I've had alternatives (Fender Bassman 300-looks like the Sunn amp and a Traynor YBA-200) I finally found a good deal up here in Ontario on SVT-VR for $1250 CAD. Couldn't pass it up. Regret nothing.

The only downside is it shakes my whole house at 1 and a half.
 
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#42
coreyfyfe said:
$550 is a good price but keep in mind a few things with the vintage V4 amps. If the amp hasn't had a cap job it will need one, and if you plan to use drop in replacement cans (fliptops has a kit) it's a bit more expensive of a repair than most amps of similar wattage. The 7027A tubes in these can be a pain, I have all NOS/old glass in mine, mainly because I haven't found the JJ 7027A or Sovtek 7027A reissues to be reliable enough. The JJ's aren't rated for the voltages in these amps. The sovteks I can't find a data sheet and most stores I see selling them now only list 7027, not 7027A though I know I've bought a set of sovtek 7027As in the past so who knows what these are. I know our own B-o-T has had good luck with the tung sol RI 7581A in his V4 so maybe there's some hope for new production. Aside from the 7027A issue there's also the 6K11 compactron, these are long out of production and they're used to drive the midrange circuit. They're 3 triodes in one so they were replaced by one and a half 12A_7 tubes in the reissues.
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Thanks, I appreciate the info... all stuff I didn't know.
 
#45
Korladis said:
What was confusing about the Baxandall tone stack?
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When you have only ever used FMV tonestacks you just naturally assume any amp you plug into will operate in a similar matter. I played out of a 60's B15 when I was a teenager and couldn't figure out why I wasn't getting the tone I wanted. Once I figured out how they work it became easy to dial in what I wanted.
 
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#47
If I may add a question - I am looking to go all tube amp also, SVT, Traynor, Mesa, (Meatsmoke maybe) are on the radar. Ive played some old SVTs and they were THE sound. Issue I have (with new) is I believe all but the Heritage are made in China? If this is the case then seems to me the prices are a little exorbitant?
 
#48
thirtyhz said:
If I may add a question - I am looking to go all tube amp also, SVT, Traynor, Mesa, (Meatsmoke maybe) are on the radar. Ive played some old SVTs and they were THE sound. Issue I have (with new) is I believe all but the Heritage are made in China? If this is the case then seems to me the prices are a little exorbitant?
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So get a used one. There are plenty.
 
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#50
thirtyhz said:
Ok I'll bite. So I guess that would be pre 2007 when LOUD Tech. sh1tcanned US manufacturing and sent it overseas. I haven't seen any reference too but I wonder if a St. Louis Music or Magnavox version is preferable?
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The Magnavox version is from the 70s. It's two channel, with no master volume (like the modern SVT-VR). I think the VR was introduced under the tenure of St. Louis Music, but I'm not sure. There are tons of SLM era SVT-CLs around (one channel and has a master volume). Personally I prefer the CL for being able to get a bit of preamp overdrive.

The Magnavox ones, like any vintage amp, would likely need a trip to a tech to check the caps and replace them if they haven't been already, as well as changing the power cable to a 3-prong grounded one if that hasn't been done (and disconnecting the polarity switch, if that hasn't been done yet).
 
#51
Korladis said:
The Magnavox version is from the 70s. It's two channel, with no master volume (like the modern SVT-VR). I think the VR was introduced under the tenure of St. Louis Music, but I'm not sure. There are tons of SLM era SVT-CLs around (one channel and has a master volume). Personally I prefer the CL for being able to get a bit of preamp overdrive.

The Magnavox ones, like any vintage amp, would likely need a trip to a tech to check the caps and replace them if they haven't been already, as well as changing the power cable to a 3-prong grounded one if that hasn't been done (and disconnecting the polarity switch, if that hasn't been done yet).
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Thanks. Wikipedia also has an interesting but incomplete entry on the SVT

Ampeg SVT - Wikipedia
 
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#53
garmenteros said:
I play an svt classic into a mesa powerhouse 1000 or svt 15 classic cab. Sound has something sweet and full about it I can't get with solid state amps. It sounds fuller than my mesa400+ that I sold a while back too.
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That's why, despite all the advances in micro heads and some really good product, gigging bassists still play those heavy all tube SVTs when they can. They've got the tone.
 
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#57
IMG_1390.JPG


Late 70s V4B and a newer SVT 2 pro. Both amps sound awesome but I disagreee with the notion that the V4B is just a smaller SVT they sound different to my ears. My band mates really like both and I'm happy as could be.
 
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#58
CRich0205 said:
Late 70s V4B and a newer SVT 2 pro. Both amps sound awesome but I disagreee with the notion that the V4B is just a smaller SVT they sound different to my ears. My band mates really like both and I'm happy as could be.
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You are absolutely right that the V4B is not just a smaller SVT. I can get the same sounds out of both, but the V4B is flat with knobs at noon and the SVT's aren't. Now the V4BH of the 90's and early 2000's, I'm told, IS a smaller SVT, but I haven't heard one for myself so I'm going by what others have said.
 
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#59
JimmyM said:
You are absolutely right that the V4B is not just a smaller SVT. I can get the same sounds out of both, but the V4B is flat with knobs at noon and the SVT's aren't. Now the V4BH of the 90's and early 2000's, I'm told, IS a smaller SVT, but I haven't heard one for myself so I'm going by what others have said.
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Yep. Just different flavors of awesome sauce.
 
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