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Ampeg Serial Number Date Code

#64
Just picked up an old v-2 4x12 guitar cab, that a friend of mine (unfortunately) gutted when the speakers blew. He replaced all the speakers with whatever he could cram in the space which was 3X10's and a 15" Celestion truvox's. I plan to "fix the mess" and see what I can do about re-converting it to something respectable for bass like 2x15 or 6x10 maybe.

But anyway the Serial of the Cab is 131868, 1/4 jack(I think the second was added later), towel bar, Plastic Logo, Blue mesh. Any date help would be cool, so I can tell him what a tool he was for Jacking up a cool 19XX year Ampeg cab ;)

70's early 80's?
 
#68
Some questions:

Locally there's this cabinet: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] which is apparently from 1992. It has the nasty Rhino lining on it which appears to be professionally done but lost the cups to secure the head (not that a 50-100lb tube head should slide around on the Rhino). But all of the drivers appear matched and original. Any comments?

Also there's this older 410 cabinet. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] I'm still trying to get the serial number from the seller, but I've met him in the past and he's an honest guy. I don't recall seeing a 410HE rated at only 200W in the past. But I'm looking for a 410HE to sit in my house while the 810 sits in the practice room and gets hauled to gigs.

Cabs will be driven from either/or a vintage Ampeg V4 (purchased, en route), MESA 400+ (own), or Ampeg CL (may own).
 
#69
Evening,
I just got this and don't no much about it. It reminded my of my old friends amp he had back in the 90s. Any help would be much appreciated. Here are a couple of pics. Thank you!
2012-10-17_22-15-53_245.jpg

2012-10-17_22-15-33_721.gif

2012-10-17_22-16-03_510.gif
 
#70
MTI head, made in Japan circa 1980-85. Can't tell you the exact year, though. Japanese parts don't have the EIC date codes on the pots, and you can't tell by just the serial. An excellent and very underrated head.
 
#72
Bad tube maybe? Try pulling out all the tubes and turn it on. If it pops a fuse, it's not the tubes. If it doesn't pop a fuse, put in the power tubes and try it. If it doesn't pop a tube, put in the rest and try it.
 
#73
JimmyM said:
Bad tube maybe? Try pulling out all the tubes and turn it on. If it pops a fuse, it's not the tubes. If it doesn't pop a fuse, put in the power tubes and try it. If it doesn't pop a tube, put in the rest and try it.
Click to expand...
With the tubes out, should it still be plugged into a cab or no? Oh and thanks again for your help. Here is a couple of pics from the ad. Wish I could have bought the cabs.

3L73Nf3H65I15N55Hacaeea828db58bf31d17.gif

3Ed3M13H75Ic5Jb5M9caed5c0812315b91430-1.gif
 
#74
Dang, a matched set of 810's for it? That's a bummer you couldn't swing at least one. But I get it, for sure!

Doesn't really matter for such a short test, but I would probably plug in a cab just to be on the safe side.
 
#76
Can anybody tell me anything about B15R serial number AJYXK2####? Doesn't seem to match any of the ranges or threads that I can locate. I read the thread about after 1985: fourth digit was supposed to be country, then a year digit, then a month digit, followed by ####. The X puzzles me as it doesn't show on any country codes, though it says made is USA on the back. The 5&6 digit would indicate February of 1998 right?
 
#77
K = 1998. 2 = February. The X for country code I'm not sure about. It's not listed in the Ampeg book. Jerrold Tiers told us once, I believe, but the info flew out of my brain.
 
#79
JimmyM said:
K = 1998. 2 = February. The X for country code I'm not sure about. It's not listed in the Ampeg book. Jerrold Tiers told us once, I believe, but the info flew out of my brain.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jerrold didn't know but was kind enough to respond to my PM.
Received a response from LOUD tech support: When SLM (Saint Louis Music) implemented their serialization in 1988, the fourth letter was the country, and was either U, D, W, or Y. While we have seen a few amps that had a X as the country designation, unfortunately, we don’t have any documentation on what it signified. However, the serial number does populate the B-15 parts list.

So, the mystery remains on the X but is kinda cool.
 
#80
Guitar guy here, but I hope you don't mind me coming in to do some serial number inquiry. I have a Crate GX-130CH with the serial number GHHDE50096. Reading through the thread, I believe it works out like:

GHH = model
D= US
E=1992
5= May
0096= serial number.

Am I reading it correctly? Thank you!
 

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