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Ampeg SVT-II appreciation thread

#421
I've just inherited one of these as part of a 4 way trade that went partially wrong! It's absolutely immaculate & looks like it just came out of the shop.

Had never considered an Ampeg of any description before because I always thought they were so closely associated with that over driven full on rock sound and only ever to be played through an 8x10 (not that there's anything wrong with this - just not the kind of stuff I play!).

Decided to fire it up anyway to make sure all was working OK (which it isn't, but I'll come back to that) and was really impressed with the sound. The guy who traded it threw in a 1510e cab as part of the deal to make up for the fact that the full trade didn't work out as planned so I've been mostly using that.

Seems to make every bass I've tried through it sound really nice, lovely clean sound that just brings out the natural tone of the bass. Tried a few different cabs as well & sounds great through each one.

It came in a full Boogie shock proof flight case & I can only just lift the thing. I think i can live with this though given how nice it is.

There is one problem which needs urgent attention though. I'll get it to a qualified tech this week (previous owner is paying for any repairs required) but thought I'd ask if anyone had some thoughts about what's wrong.

Basically it fires up OK & then after about 10 minutes there's a really nasty buzz that cuts through the bass signal for a few seconds. This gradually fades away and bass sound is fine. This then happens randomly approx ever 5-10 minutes.

I'm guessing this is a power amp tube failing or something along those lines?

Also - it doesn't have the metal grille at the back to protect the tubes. Do I need to try & track one of these down or is it Ok to use without one if it's flightcased?
 
#422
Molan said:
I've just inherited one of these as part of a 4 way trade that went partially wrong! It's absolutely immaculate & looks like it just came out of the shop.

Had never considered an Ampeg of any description before because I always thought they were so closely associated with that over driven full on rock sound and only ever to be played through an 8x10 (not that there's anything wrong with this - just not the kind of stuff I play!).

Decided to fire it up anyway to make sure all was working OK (which it isn't, but I'll come back to that) and was really impressed with the sound. The guy who traded it threw in a 1510e cab as part of the deal to make up for the fact that the full trade didn't work out as planned so I've been mostly using that.

Seems to make every bass I've tried through it sound really nice, lovely clean sound that just brings out the natural tone of the bass. Tried a few different cabs as well & sounds great through each one.

It came in a full Boogie shock proof flight case & I can only just lift the thing. I think i can live with this though given how nice it is.

There is one problem which needs urgent attention though. I'll get it to a qualified tech this week (previous owner is paying for any repairs required) but thought I'd ask if anyone had some thoughts about what's wrong.

Basically it fires up OK & then after about 10 minutes there's a really nasty buzz that cuts through the bass signal for a few seconds. This gradually fades away and bass sound is fine. This then happens randomly approx ever 5-10 minutes.

I'm guessing this is a power amp tube failing or something along those lines?

Also - it doesn't have the metal grille at the back to protect the tubes. Do I need to try & track one of these down or is it Ok to use without one if it's flightcased?
Click to expand...

Side-note: invest in a good handtruck and your back will thank you.
 
#423
Welcome to our SVT-II gang Molan.

We'd all probably just be guessing about you amps problem. However there's quite a bit of tech info posted in this thread about issues specific to this model, as well as a link to the factory recommended updates that should be preformed, along with the schematics in case your tech needs-em.

I've got one of those Mesa sus-4 shock racks too, they weigh 35 lbs. (15.8757 KG) empty, so your got yourself a 120 lb (54.4310 kg) lift there... Unless your touring (w/roady's) I'd be thinking about finding a lighter 4-space case.

The earlier SVT-II models were not equipped with a rear screen. If yours has a permanently attached power cord, (instead of a removable kettle-type) it probably never had one.
 
#425
anderbass said:
Welcome to our SVT-II gang Molan.

We'd all probably just be guessing about you amps problem. However there's quite a bit of tech info posted in this thread about issues specific to this model, as well as a link to the factory recommended updates that should be preformed, along with the schematics in case your tech needs-em.

I've got one of those Mesa sus-4 shock racks too, they weigh 35 lbs. (15.8757 KG) empty, so your got yourself a 120 lb (54.4310 kg) lift there... Unless your touring (w/roady's) I'd be thinking about finding a lighter 4-space case.

The earlier SVT-II models were not equipped with a rear screen. If yours has a permanently attached power cord, (instead of a removable kettle-type) it probably never had one.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this, I thought the Mesa case would be really heavy. I'm a 1 gig a month person really and always shift my own stuff so I'll definitely go for something a lot lighter!

I'm taking it into the tech this week so will get him to ahve a look at everything and also the factory updates.

It's actually been sitting unused for something like 8 years so that's probably not helped a lot!

Just been reading through some of the 20 odd pages here and spotted some doubts about using with an 8Ohm cab. I don't actually know what my 1510E is but I'm guessing it's an 8Ohm so will need to think about whether it's safe to use or not. Damn, when the guy gave it to me for free I thought it was too good to be true!
 
#426
Mwahahahahahahaha!!!!

Dammit, my back went out again.....

IMG_1694.jpg

IMG_1695.jpg
 
#434
I miss seeing this thread pop up every now and then, thought maybe it's time to contribute again...

I got a bassballs pedal a couple of months ago... and it sounds *incredible* through my SVT-II. I thought I'd be using the bassballs sparingly as an obnoxious, really over the top effect but I find I'm using it a lot more subtly and a lot more often -- and I think it's more the amp than anything else.

The SVT-II (as well as the vintage SVT's at our rehearsal space) is voiced just perfectly to really bring out the throatiness of the pedal. On the SVT-II I have the mid set to 450 (that's the second position right?) and bumped to about 3 o'clock. Just a really sweet. I remember enjoying the sound of a wah for the same reason but the bassballs is taking that to... a... whole... nuvva... lev-oh...

Oh another note -- I play through a '73 or '75 (can't remember) SVT810 and despite swearing up and down during every load-in/load-out that I'm going to get something smaller I'm currently looking to buy a car and my two criteria:
1. fuel economy
2. fits the 810 :-)

Ken
 
#435
well my SVT II should be here on WED at the latest.

Im pumped! but I as well, have some questions!

Im using the ampeg BXT Series cabs. I fear that because these cabs are mid scooped, they will start to break up and I wont be able to push my SVT with them! ( the 15 and 410 BXTs)

They have tweeters and are ported....Am I screwed or what?

Should I invest in something else?


PS pokeroo I use an EHX bassballs too, and can't wait to hear it with the SVT II
 
#437
thanks freddles!

another fellow masshole helping another out! ( your probably a nice masshole like me though) :)

The other thing with the amp, as I posted in a previous thread is that the power tubes are Phillips except for 1 replacement which is a Svetlana...

It will be interesting to see what I will have to do with that 1 mismatched powertube, if anythings. It should come in in a few days!

Also guys, Is there a "Dummies Intro in How to Put the Tubes Back Into Your Amp" thread around here?
 
#438
BTW, for those with racks and Ampeg gear of various sorts......

At some point in the past, I personally hollered long enough until most all the Ampeg SVT series rack heads got a dedicated welded-in nut on the back for support.......

it's up to you what you DO with it, but you can attach a strap to the case and put a bolt through it into the nut, etc......

Standard PA practice was to use "plumbers tape" which is actually a somewhat flexible metal strip with holes punched into it every inch or so..... or you can use a bracket, etc. Depends somewhat on whose case you have.

I think you can see it on the SVT pictures in this thread. it's usually pretty close to the middle of the chassis on the rear.
 
#439
SUNNyday r. said:
I wish I kept the one I had. But, I have the other oddball, MTI SVT, and I do love it. There was a SVT II local for $700 recently. Don't know if it sold but I was considering questionable methods of aquiring the money to buy it.:D
Click to expand...


If you put 12DW7s back in the preamp on that MTI SVT, it will be almost identical to the original SVT. MTI did not mod the preamp when 12DW7s were not available. They just installed 12AX7s in their place, making the preamp too "hot". The 12DW7 will calm it down & give you more linear control over the gain like the original.
Otherwise they are at full volume [depending on the bass] at 9 or 10 o'clock.
 
#440
Jerrold Tiers said:
BTW, for those with racks and Ampeg gear of various sorts......

At some point in the past, I personally hollered long enough until most all the Ampeg SVT series rack heads got a dedicated welded-in nut on the back for support.......

it's up to you what you DO with it, but you can attach a strap to the case and put a bolt through it into the nut, etc......

Standard PA practice was to use "plumbers tape" which is actually a somewhat flexible metal strip with holes punched into it every inch or so..... or you can use a bracket, etc. Depends somewhat on whose case you have.

I think you can see it on the SVT pictures in this thread. it's usually pretty close to the middle of the chassis on the rear.
Click to expand...

I remember you mentioning this before, I still need to get around to doing it with mine. Def a great idea to take some of the strain off the front rails.


Dave Ryan said:
If you put 12DW7s back in the preamp on that MTI SVT, it will be almost identical to the original SVT. MTI did not mod the preamp when 12DW7s were not available. They just installed 12AX7s in their place, making the preamp too "hot". The 12DW7 will calm it down & give you more linear control over the gain like the original.
Otherwise they are at full volume [depending on the bass] at 9 or 10 o'clock.
Click to expand...

Im pretty sure that there were other alterations to the preamp aswell.
 

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