Ampeg SVT Head I Just Bought 1972

[beans-on-toast]

I just pulled all the tubes and several of the preamp tubes have Magnavox printed on them in blue ink. The 12ax7 was switched with one of the 12dw7 tubes. I'm going to have them tested. All the caps are original including the large paper caps on the bottom of the chassis. I need to find a good readable schematic to download.

This service manual is close enough.

https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/svt-manual-5-1-1977-pdf.1116491/

 

[JimmyM]

I hear Tung Sol 6550's are pretty good. Never tried them myself.

 

[basscapes]

Great! Just great!!!!

Between you and JimmyM, I'm now officially full of GAS and a Drooling Idiot over these things...

 

[basscapes]

I bought a late 70's SVT head in Lima Peru where my wife is from about 15 years ago for 300 bucks, needed a cap job and tubes. Used it last night.

I think I'm beginning to hate you all! LOL

 

[basscapes]

I'm going to order 6 matched Tung-Sol 6550 tubes for it unless someone knows of a currently available 6550 that will match the original sounding tubes better.

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Go for it. TBS is one of the best tube dealers around!

I used to live about 20 miles from them, and would routinely order from them and have it show up the very next day!

They also back it up- had ONE small signal (preamp) tube out of a lot that was microphonic out of the box. Called them up and they sent me a new one (which I got the next day) and didn't even want me to waste the time sending back the old one!

 

[bobyoung53]

I hear Tung Sol 6550's are pretty good. Never tried them myself.

They sound great, i had one go out on me though after a couple of years which is unusual in my experience, I have them in both heads, I just had the other checked out the other day and they're still all good in my 2nd one but i like they way they sound, big and full.