Ampeg svt cl fan question

[Old Garage-Bander]

Why don't you test this on you car first?
Remove the fan, or put in one with less airflow.

If you're not willing to "out engineer" the people who designed your car, why is doing the same with your amp any different?

Modifying any equipment comes with risks. As long as you understand those risks and are willing to take responsibility for what might happen if things go south, then by all means proceed.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

The thread is depressing.
Unwatch.
No, I won't let the door hit me on the way out, thank you.

 

[Grossthing]

I completely uninstalled the fan. Bought a $1 Store clip on fan to hang on the back of the head. Keeps cooler and quieter than the stock fan ever did. Been using this setup for 20 years. Never had an issue.

Can you describe the process of disconnecting the fan? Is this on the CL?

I unclipped the fan on a blue logo SVT3 and a noise in the signal resulted. I have a brand new SVT-CL Heritage that I put back in the box and am about to return unless I can get some kind of idea that I could easily unclip the fan without creating an issue with my bass signal. Thanks all.

 

[Grossthing]

The thread is depressing.
Unwatch.
No, I won't let the door hit me on the way out, thank you.

Hey before you go, forget the haters, can you talk a little bit about the process of disconnecting the fan on a CL? Anything special to know about how to do it properly? Thanks

 

[LetItGrowTone]

The fan leads have a plug on the end. If you're a certified technician for this product in your jurisdiction, just pull out that plug.
I also agree with the quote of captainofsmooth in your previous post, but I am not a certified technician, and I don't even play one on tv, but I DID once sleep in a Holiday Inn Express, so there's that.

 

[agedhorse]

Must not comprehend much of what’s been posted in this thread?

Nor recommended, not safe long term, can result is an expensive (very expensive) repair if you guess wrong.

 

[Grossthing]

Must not comprehend much of what’s been posted in this thread?

Nor recommended, not safe long term, can result is an expensive (very expensive) repair if you guess wrong.

I comprehended that. What I don't think is asserted enough in this thread, maybe for all the people who apparently work at Ampeg reading, is how extremely impractical the chosen fan is for a $3000 amp. I'm literally returning $3000 worth of Ampeg merchandise right now because what I comprehend here is that people are afraid to mod their flawed equipment for fear of upsetting the stupid Ampeg gods. I hope that starts to sink in as you design the next generation stuff collecting dust in distributor warehouses.

I think more people are coming here for advice on how to fix this crap than they are to get scolded by some purist.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Can you describe the process of disconnecting the fan? Is this on the CL?

I unclipped the fan on a blue logo SVT3 and a noise in the signal resulted. I have a brand new SVT-CL Heritage that I put back in the box and am about to return unless I can get some kind of idea that I could easily unclip the fan without creating an issue with my bass signal. Thanks all.

https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/ampeg-svt-cl-disassembly-pdf.2938853/

You unscrew on the top, slide the preamp out enough to unplug the fan connector. You can install a quieter fan or blow some air into the back with a quiet desktop fan.

 

[agedhorse]

It will most certainly void your warranty.

If the amp doesn’t work for you, don’t buy it. It appears to work fine for enough others over its very long lifespan. Maybe it’s just not the right amp for your particular needs?

 

[agedhorse]

https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/ampeg-svt-cl-disassembly-pdf.2938853/

You unscrew on the top, slide the preamp out enough to unplug the fan connector. You can install a quieter fan or blow some air into the back with a quiet desktop fan.

Evidently it’s a new amp that the OP is maybe returning. Replacing the fan with a non-stock fan is a quick way to void a perfectly good warranty.

 

[Grossthing]

I'm currently the owner of an SVT3, a Heritage SVT-VR, and a Heritage SVT-CL. I'll upload photos of them all together right here if you don't believe me. They are all noisy as poopie. I'm settling on a Hartke LH1000. That's what I comprehend here.

 

[Grossthing]

Evidently it’s a new amp that the OP is maybe returning. Replacing the fan with a non-stock fan is a quick way to void a perfectly good warranty.

But if I call customer service and I say, "the fan is way too noisy, it's unbearable," what are they going to do to fix it?

 

[Wasnex]

But if I call customer service and I say, "the fan is way too noisy, it's unbearable," what are they going to do to fix it?

If the fan is operating within spec, there is nothing to fix. Feel free to mod the amp, but it will be on you if it melts down.

The majority of big tube amps have audible fans, and some are even more obnoxious than the fans in the SVT Classic.


Maybe an amp that does not have a fan will suit your better. Consider Orange AD200B and Reeves 400. Neither can be dialed in to sound like an SVT, but they don't make any fan noise.

 

[MattZilla]

I love this original post. The obvious answer is “SVT’s are industrial tools like 2179ft/lbs JD 9R 640’s, get a PF20/50T+2x115 or a refurbed B15n on a matching extension cab to use for being at home bathed in bass in the comfort of a nice chair.”

I can’t believe the idea has been posed to un connectify the fanny thingy ma doodle pop on such a thing. It was designed to carry the bass for large outdoor festivals.

 

[agedhorse]

But if I call customer service and I say, "the fan is way too noisy, it's unbearable," what are they going to do to fix it?

If that's how it's supposed to be, then you bought the wrong tool for your needs.

 

[Grossthing]

Well, I called customer service and asked, and he said they can only recommend to replace the fan with the exact same fan. Guy was really cool about it and offered that I might even have a tech somewhere do a mod that can be undone if I ever need to send it in to have a different issue repaired under warranty.. End of the day I just returned $6k worth of Ampeg gear because regardless of their fantastic 5 year warranty, it only covers the piece of poopie fan they went with in manufacturing. Thanks

 

[Johnny Fingers]

Spend twenty or thirty grand and custom water cool the sumbeez. Or use refrigerant. Guarantee it will be one of a kind.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Evidently it’s a new amp that the OP is maybe returning. Replacing the fan with a non-stock fan is a quick way to void a perfectly good warranty.

Absolutely. If a new amp under warranty has an issue, it should be returned and exchanged for another one. If it is beyond the return period and under warranty, it should be sent to a service center. Period.


I would expect that a modification is only performed on an amp that is being kept and the owner is willing to forgo the warranty. If a modification is made, it shouldn’t be discussed on the internet. I wonder if in the future AI crawlers will identify offending amp owners and void their warranties if they publicly admit to breaking the terms and conditions. It could come to that.

 

[agedhorse]

Well, I called customer service and asked, and he said they can only recommend to replace the fan with the exact same fan. Guy was really cool about it and offered that I might even have a tech somewhere do a mod that can be undone if I ever need to send it in to have a different issue repaired under warranty.. End of the day I just returned $6k worth of Ampeg gear because regardless of their fantastic 5 year warranty, it only covers the piece of poopie fan they went with in manufacturing. Thanks

That's not a surprise, since their safety certifications require a specific fan. That's what was required to pass the safety certification testing so of course they aren't going to tell you otherwise (and for good reason IMO).

If the amp doesn't work for you because it's the wrong tool for YOUR needs, that's just the way it goes. Just find something that works better for you.

 

[agedhorse]

Absolutely. If a new amp under warranty has an issue, it should be returned and exchanged for another one. If it is beyond the return period and under warranty, it should be sent to a service center. Period.


I would expect that a modification is only performed on an amp that is being kept and the owner is willing to forgo the warranty. If a modification is made, it shouldn’t be discussed on the internet. I wonder if in the future AI crawlers will identify offending amp owners and void their warranties if they publicly admit to breaking the terms and conditions. It could come to that.

It's not just the warranty. The fan is part of the safety certification and is required to carry specific UL and IEC/VDE certification in order to be able to even be used in a 60065/62368 certified compliant amplifier. Ampeg/Yamaha chose to follow the regulations, some (usually larger or more established) companies are rule followers and other companies not so much.