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Ampeg SVT CL questions

Ogbassist

Ogbassist

Feb 16, 2012
85
5
#1
Hi all. I am in the market for a used Ampeg SVT CL. I found one on craigslist not too far away from me that I am interested in. I am trying to find one made in USA. All the ones I have found that are made in Nam have the Loud Technology logo on the back and this one doesn't(seller hasn't responded yet, its really early in the morning) The add says 1100 dollars for the head and a flight case for it. The add also says tubes need replacing before being used. If it is American, I will try to talk him down to maybe 700-800 for both. But my question is... I just want to make sure he isn't selling me a piece of fried equipment. I assume it's just the power tubes that need replacing, could I buy tubes and bring them with me when I pick up the head and if it doesn't work with the new tubes in, just return the tubes or save them until I finally get a head? Or is it even worth dealing with? Is it shady to sell an amp with bad tubes? I mean, you could just be broke and don't play it a lot anymore.

Is there any way to verify that it is the actual tubes? Can I ask him to take the tubes out and see where they need replacing? Do tubes show signs of damage?
 
#4
They are asking top dollar for an amp that doesn't work. That makes me suspicious. For that price, the amp should be working. They say that they need the money fast so I wonder how much they would be willing to come down on the price.

It looks like it's in good shape but you have no idea what the problem is. I don't know of any tube seller that will allow you to return tubes for a full refund once you have used them. If a power tube has blown, it is possible that it took out some parts on the power board. So it may not be as simple as buying a set of power tubes, plugging them in, and re-biasing the amp. On the other hand, it might be a problem with a tube in the pre-amp. Much less costly to fix.
 
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#8
beans-on-toast said:
They are asking top dollar for an amp that doesn't work. That makes me suspicious. For that price, the amp should be working. They say that they need the money fast so I wonder how much they would be willing to come down on the price.

It looks like it's in good shape but you have no idea what the problem is. I don't know of any tube seller that will allow you to return tubes for a full refund once you have used them. If a power tube has blown, it is possible that it took out some parts on the power board. So it may not be as simple as buying a set of power tubes, plugging them in, and re-biasing the amp. On the other hand, it might be a problem with a tube in the pre-amp. Much less costly to fix.
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Well I am eventually going to have one dammit. So if I bought the tubes, probably around 300ish dollars. I could just have a backup for when I actually get one if come to find out that something terrible is wrong with the amp.
 
#9
Yesterday I knew nothing about tubes. I have only owned a SS. I've been reading all night. I know how to change power tubes and bias. I do not know how to retube preamp tubes or driver tubes yet though. However they are quite a bit less expensive :PP
 
#10
The preamp and driver tubes are all self biasing and thus you simply plug in a new one. If you change the driver tubes recheck the bias on the power tubes. The good thing about the SVT-CL amps is that they have the user bias adjustment controls, they aren't as good as having a tech properly bias the amp but they work fairly well. I agree with what was said above, if the amp absolutely can't be played without new tubes I'd be suspect. I'd at least contact the guy and see if he means it needs new tubes to sound good or is currently dead due to tube failure. Either way, talk him down on price.
 
#11
coreyfyfe said:
The preamp and driver tubes are all self biasing and thus you simply plug in a new one. If you change the driver tubes recheck the bias on the power tubes. The good thing about the SVT-CL amps is that they have the user bias adjustment controls, they aren't as good as having a tech properly bias the amp but they work fairly well. I agree with what was said above, if the amp absolutely can't be played without new tubes I'd be suspect. I'd at least contact the guy and see if he means it needs new tubes to sound good or is currently dead due to tube failure. Either way, talk him down on price.
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I'm pretty sure he means it can't be played without new tubes
 
#14
Ogbassist said:
Yesterday I knew nothing about tubes. I have only owned a SS. I've been reading all night. I know how to change power tubes and bias. I do not know how to retube preamp tubes or driver tubes yet though. However they are quite a bit less expensive :pP
Click to expand...
Pop the old pre tubes out, pop the new ones in.

I don't agree that US SVT's are superior to Chinese SVT's, though. I use both old and new SVT's regularly when I fly and have to rent a rig, and they all sound the same to me. But I'd be lying if I said my opinion is shared by all. There are some Ampeg employees and ex-employees who feel that they could use an output transformer upgrade because when you start pushing the power tubes, they tell me the overdriven tones you get from doing that sound a little bit better, and when you're not quite at the point of distortion but you're giving the amp a lot of gas, the clean tones hold together a little better. Now I never run mine that loud, so I really don't notice any major differences. However, I did get a Heyboer output transformer on my Heritage SVT-CL because it was only $200 extra last year and they told me I could still have the warranty if they installed it ;) It's not something they do for everyone, though, at least not yet. But it's a relatively simple mod on a CL or VR that involves nothing more than a little heavy lifting and unplugging and plugging in a molex plug. Voids the warranty if it was bought new, but since you're looking at used SVT's, it won't apply to you.
 
#15
I sold my CL, an American one, with less than year on the (EHX and GT gold) tubes. I sold it with the old tubes. I got $900 for it and it was hardly an easy sell.

No friggin' way I would even consider an $1100 Asian made one, a Viet Nam one no less. I think the $500 offer is far more appropriate considering you are looking at around $400 in tubes and tech. Even the $1000 one is steep, just hit up TB classifieds. There are times when %10 of the Amps FS are SVT's, they are far from rare.
 
#16
Does he have any documentation from a real tech stating it "only needs tubes?

If not, I wouldn't give more than $500. If so, decuct the cost of a tube set plus a techs bench fee from the $1100.

IMO, of course.

You need something from somebody who knows what they're looking at. Tubes aren't lightbulbs.
 
#18
So I bought one... I had to drive almost 10 hours round trip, but it was fun. Bought a pack of smokes. Had the jams cranked. Borrowed my mom's jetta (I drive a 4Runner) spent about $50 on gas for there and back, overall fun trip. Listened to Jason Ellis the whole way back. IT SOUNDS SO AMAZING. Well worth the money I spent.
 
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#19
Ogbassist said:
Bought a pack of smokes.
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Congratulations on the new amp. Road trips to buy an amp are a lot of fun. I always look back fondly on gear buying trips. :)

Amps do better in a smoke free environment. I'm in the process of cleaning an amp that had a lacquer like layer of nicotine everywhere. I've never seen a piece of equipment as bad as this one. The inside of the chassis, the wires, the components, the pots, the transformers, everything, was covered with a layer of yellow. It's amazing how it penetrated every nook and cranny inside the amp. It took a lot of meticulous work with solvents to get the smell and dirt out. No question that the metal-on-metal contacts such as the jacks and tube sockets as well as the pots were affected. The amp sounds like it should now.
 
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#20
beans-on-toast said:
Congratulations on the new amp. Road trips to buy an amp are a lot of fun. I always look back fondly on gear buying trips. :)

Amps do better in a smoke free environment. I'm in the process of cleaning an amp that had a lacquer like layer of nicotine everywhere. I've never seen a piece of equipment as bad as this one. The inside of the chassis, the wires, the components, the pots, the transformers, everything, was covered with a layer of yellow. It's amazing how it penetrated every nook and cranny inside the amp. It took a lot of meticulous work with solvents to get the smell and dirt out. No question that the metal-on-metal contacts such as the jacks and tube sockets as well as the pots were affected. The amp sounds like it should now.
Click to expand...

The head was in the trunk. I was driving :)
 

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