By the way do you run just the 8 x 10 with the SVT ?
how comes you took a marshall and not an ampeg cab
I was curious about using just there 4 12 actually
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Ampeg SVT-II appreciation thread
- Thread starter i_got_a_mohawk
- Start date
By the way do you run just the 8 x 10 with the SVT ?
how comes you took a marshall and not an ampeg cab
I was curious about using just there 4 12 actually
Hey have any of you ever ran your SVT 2/II with an 8 ohm cab? Just wondering because I currently have an 8 ohm cab and may be interested in purchasing an SVT 2 Pro. I don't see why it wouldn't "work", but I looked up the specs and Ampeg only gives 2 and 4 ohm ratings for these, while many other amps show 2, 4, and 8. Just wondering. Thanks.
As far as im aware, all ampeg tube amps are only 2 ohms or 4 ohms. The difference with tube amps is, as im sure you know, that you need to match the load with a switch or by using a specific output socket (switch in the case of most ampegs).
You will get alot of people saying, "Just switch it to 4 ohms, it wont make that much of a difference", but my school of thinking is not to use it outwith its operating parameters. If a 100% mismatch was ok, then why would they have a 2 ohm switch, why not just use it at 4 ohms? Also, there have been quite a few people who have damaged thier amps quite badly by using them with an 8 ohm cab over prolonged periods.
What cab is it your looking at getting? If its a 4x10 (depending on the impedence of the speakers), you might be able to wire it to being two ohms.
You will get alot of people saying, "Just switch it to 4 ohms, it wont make that much of a difference", but my school of thinking is not to use it outwith its operating parameters. If a 100% mismatch was ok, then why would they have a 2 ohm switch, why not just use it at 4 ohms? Also, there have been quite a few people who have damaged thier amps quite badly by using them with an 8 ohm cab over prolonged periods.
What cab is it your looking at getting? If its a 4x10 (depending on the impedence of the speakers), you might be able to wire it to being two ohms.
My current cabinet is an 8ohm Hartke 410 which I use for practice, a future one will probably be an Ampeg. The 2ohm wiring idea sounds promising. I was hoping to use one cab with 2 heads, but that's still a good idea.
One cab with two heads?
Unless its a stereo cab, dont do it!
Id personally avoid doing it anyways, too much of a risk of fring both amps!
Unless its a stereo cab, dont do it!
Id personally avoid doing it anyways, too much of a risk of fring both amps!
Should have made that one clearer 
Well, what you could do (if the cab uses 4x 8ohm speakers).
You could wire a switch in the back of the cabinet, and be able to switch it from 8 ohms (series+parallel wiring) to 2 ohms (all parallel wiring)
Well, what you could do (if the cab uses 4x 8ohm speakers).
You could wire a switch in the back of the cabinet, and be able to switch it from 8 ohms (series+parallel wiring) to 2 ohms (all parallel wiring)
Should have made that one clearer
True true!
Thanks again for your replies though. I haven't had a good electronics/soldering project in a while...if I can find the time it's a pretty easy and fun thing to do.
Here's my 1991 Ampeg SVT II (non-pro). Just got it back from Tour Supply in Nashville, TN. A power surge in my rehearsal room blew it up about 3 years ago. While it was in the shop Jay DeMarcus fronm Rascal Flatts tried to buy it from my repair tech Randy.
Nice, do you have something supporting the weight at the back of your amp?
If not I'd suggest shoring it up by some means or better yet just move it down to the very bottom of your rack.
(If that thing takes a fall or gets bumped around, thats an awful allot of weight hangin by those rack ears)
dukeplaysbass
Supporting Member
First of all, thanks to mohawk for staying with this thread -- it's been a huge info source for me.
I picked up an SVT-II in late January and it just KILLS. Played it for a fill-in Fri/Sat country gig this past weekend and the tone was just beautiful -- buttery, round, and HUGE, with lots of low end thumpiness. Had a couple of people say they loved the sound I got....
I've got a couple of questions, maybe you cats can shed some light....
1. In the serial number box, it has "B"....that's it. Just "B".... When I was looking at buying this amp, I checked this thread several times, and I distinctly recall some posts that talked about this, even had a pic of the "B" serial number. But running a thread search for "serial" turned up nothing of the sort. Did I hallucinate those posts? And does anybody recall what the "B" designation means? It has the solid graphics, not the outline SVT-II (see pic below); that means it's an early one, correct?
2. Did these amps come with a rear grill/screen to protect the tubes? Mine has nothing back there to keep them from getting whacked in packing/unpacking the power cord. If you've got a grill/screen, would you please post a pic so I can see what they look like so I can fake one?
3. The amp is missing the rack handles. Any idea if the Pro series rack handles (see [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) will fit? I sent an email to the guys at Fliptops and they told me they had no idea, and that they hadn't seen an SVT-II in many years...
Did a little family pic the other day. The SVT-II is on the bottom left...
I picked up an SVT-II in late January and it just KILLS. Played it for a fill-in Fri/Sat country gig this past weekend and the tone was just beautiful -- buttery, round, and HUGE, with lots of low end thumpiness. Had a couple of people say they loved the sound I got....
I've got a couple of questions, maybe you cats can shed some light....
1. In the serial number box, it has "B"....that's it. Just "B".... When I was looking at buying this amp, I checked this thread several times, and I distinctly recall some posts that talked about this, even had a pic of the "B" serial number. But running a thread search for "serial" turned up nothing of the sort. Did I hallucinate those posts? And does anybody recall what the "B" designation means? It has the solid graphics, not the outline SVT-II (see pic below); that means it's an early one, correct?
2. Did these amps come with a rear grill/screen to protect the tubes? Mine has nothing back there to keep them from getting whacked in packing/unpacking the power cord. If you've got a grill/screen, would you please post a pic so I can see what they look like so I can fake one?
3. The amp is missing the rack handles. Any idea if the Pro series rack handles (see [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) will fit? I sent an email to the guys at Fliptops and they told me they had no idea, and that they hadn't seen an SVT-II in many years...
Did a little family pic the other day. The SVT-II is on the bottom left...
No probs 
Glad its been useful! All the SVT-II owners out there are a friendly bunch!
Quite some ampeg collection you got going on!
1) Ive got the serial number "B", i read somewhere about B in the code relating to the 1989 production year or something, so im going by that , you can also tell its older by the way the "Ampeg" and "SVT-II" , compare it to RevMachineBass's SVT-II (which is very nice!), the filled in and hollow lettering are swapped around.
2) My understanding is that the "newer" SVT-IIs had a sheild at the back, i know mine doesnt either. And ive never seen one of the older style ones with one. Granted, they may have all been lost. Who knows. I dont think they did anyways.
3) Im not sure about the rack handles, one of mine was loose but all i needed was another bolt.
If you are worred about the power cable in the back, I modified mine, and its really simple, useful and effective. Just cut the wire, and used attatched IEC sockets to each end. That way it is only a small plastic IEC socket in the on the case, i left enough cable so it can be tucked round the side between the side of the amp and the side of the rack case:
Glad its been useful! All the SVT-II owners out there are a friendly bunch!
Quite some ampeg collection you got going on!
1) Ive got the serial number "B", i read somewhere about B in the code relating to the 1989 production year or something, so im going by that
, you can also tell its older by the way the "Ampeg" and "SVT-II" , compare it to RevMachineBass's SVT-II (which is very nice!), the filled in and hollow lettering are swapped around.2) My understanding is that the "newer" SVT-IIs had a sheild at the back, i know mine doesnt either. And ive never seen one of the older style ones with one. Granted, they may have all been lost. Who knows. I dont think they did anyways.
3) Im not sure about the rack handles, one of mine was loose but all i needed was another bolt.
If you are worred about the power cable in the back, I modified mine, and its really simple, useful and effective. Just cut the wire, and used attatched IEC sockets to each end. That way it is only a small plastic IEC socket in the on the case, i left enough cable so it can be tucked round the side between the side of the amp and the side of the rack case:
dukeplaysbass
Supporting Member
Thanks, mohawk....I appreciate the help.
I might do the cord mod...I have to weigh the chance of destrying a tube vs. the chance I'll lose the extra detachable cord.
The rack handles are no biggie, don't really need them now that I've got this sucker in the rack. I was planning an order from Fliptops and thought I'd save some shipping if they fit.
The collection is pretty nice. The B-15 needs some of the screws tightened, has a buzz that's making me nuts. And the vintage SVT has a volume drop intermittently that needs looking at, but you can't beat the tone of those tubes.
Chiropractors be damned!
I might do the cord mod...I have to weigh the chance of destrying a tube vs. the chance I'll lose the extra detachable cord.
The rack handles are no biggie, don't really need them now that I've got this sucker in the rack. I was planning an order from Fliptops and thought I'd save some shipping if they fit.
The collection is pretty nice. The B-15 needs some of the screws tightened, has a buzz that's making me nuts. And the vintage SVT has a volume drop intermittently that needs looking at, but you can't beat the tone of those tubes.
Chiropractors be damned!
Duke;
dope collection dude
if you got any more info on intermittent volume drops please reveal the secret
I experienced this when I first got my SVT II also identical in appearance to yours, down to the missing grips!
Also no grill on the back,
Greets
dope collection dude
if you got any more info on intermittent volume drops please reveal the secret
I experienced this when I first got my SVT II also identical in appearance to yours, down to the missing grips!
Also no grill on the back,
Greets
Right on pulse. I currently have this problem of intermittent volume drops. Very aggravating. Please post if you have any more information.
I believe your thinking of this thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=323306
Those replacement handles appear very similar to my 93 SVT-II and the 5" size seems right too.
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Can someone tell me the difference between the II and the 2Pro/II Pro??
From what I can see the II or the VR don't have gain control.
From what I can see the II or the VR don't have gain control.
The 2-pro has a master volume/gain setup, The II only has a volume
The 2-pro has a 9- band EQ, the II has a 6 band.
The 2-pro has mute, tuner out and a pad button. The II doesnt (tho the bright input is padded)
The 2-pro has speakons, and older ones have bannanas aswell as 1/4 outputs, the II only has 1/4 outputs.
The 2-pro also has a fancy bias light system thingy.
There are probably a few more differences too (that i cant remember off the top of my head).
They both have completelly different preamp setups (not sure about power amp similarities). And the II, IMO, slays the 2-pro when it comes to tone
The 2-pro has a 9- band EQ, the II has a 6 band.
The 2-pro has mute, tuner out and a pad button. The II doesnt (tho the bright input is padded)
The 2-pro has speakons, and older ones have bannanas aswell as 1/4 outputs, the II only has 1/4 outputs.
The 2-pro also has a fancy bias light system thingy.
There are probably a few more differences too (that i cant remember off the top of my head).
They both have completelly different preamp setups (not sure about power amp similarities). And the II, IMO, slays the 2-pro when it comes to tone
