Ampeg SVT-II appreciation thread

[Catalin]

On my volume knob, I do not get any volume until the knob dot hits 1. From zero up to 1, it is silent. Do you guys get the same?

Mine does exactly the same

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Wouldnt say silent, but there is a large jump in volume at about 1

 

[Catalin]

Wouldnt say silent, but there is a large jump in volume at about 1

You are right.

 

[cowpoke]

Here is my little rig. Picked it up on Nashville Craigs List......$259. It was all I had in my pocket. Came with the original Ampeg rack case. It is an older model Serial number "B". It has the original GE 6550 tubes. Took it to Rock Block Guitar Shop a month ago and it was putting out 390 W at 2 ohms and the oscilloscope showed no signs of trouble. Two of the power tubes were a little weak, but obviously not too weak.


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[jellymax]

$259 ?? that is sweet! congratulations on a keeper!

 

[anderbass]

Dam, you got a smokin deal there man!

 

[1Kay]

My vote for deal of the year thus far!

Just so that it's been said... you should never ever sell this with what you have into it.

 

[cowpoke]

I am really mad..........I could swear that it had GE tubes in it when I bought it. I took it to the shop to have it tested and now I just looked and it has Philips tubes in it...............does this sound right? Are there such a thing as GE tubes, or am I loosing my mind.

 

[Peg_legs]

does anyone have the schematics for the SVT II? the links for them in this thread no longer work

 

[greengoblin]

does anyone have the schematics for the SVT II? the links for them in this thread no longer work

I have the schematics. Send me your email addy in a PM and I will send them to you...

 

[cardboardJoe]

^^ How much?

 

[anderbass]

I am really mad..........I could swear that it had GE tubes in it when I bought it. I took it to the shop to have it tested and now I just looked and it has Philips tubes in it...............does this sound right? Are there such a thing as GE tubes, or am I loosing my mind.

Yeah GE made tubes, good used 6550 GE's are very desirable/expensive. If your sure you remember seeing GE powertubes before, your tech probably ripped you off and reinstalled a set of Philips.

Do you have any interior pics of the amp before?

 

[Peg_legs]

I have the schematics. Send me your email addy in a PM and I will send them to you...




Also, if anyone is interested I am thinking about selling my SVT-II as I dont use it as often as I thought. Wanted to keep it forever but have an itch for another hobby...

You have mail. Thank you so much

 

[Bassholio]

Hey guys...Merry Christmas to all...

I desperately need a READABLE schematic and Owners Manual on the 1991 SVT II...NON-PRO...
Also a parts list would be a great help too.
I had a meltdown on a quarter size pc of PCB and there's 3 resistors that vaporized. I have a decent pic of a SVT II PCB, but don't know to identify the resistor values, etc...

Thanks to all...peace.

Update...I did find a post in this thread that had a good copy of the schematics...hopefully will be able to repair this SVT II...got a great deal on it, )so I thought) for $300. Not sure if it was the 3 inch drywall screw rattling around in the bottom that caused the damage or not...

Many thanks to anderbass's post #286 Invalid Link Removed

 

[anderbass]

Hey yer welcome Bassholio, hope your repairs go smooth.

 

[sapienerabass]

I'm running an SVT 2 Pro (I know, I know!!) and I'm getting an intermittent loud clanging sound/noise when I turn on the standby switch?? The amp clangs and then works fine with absolutely no dodgy performance issues-none ever!!

When it clangs though everyone in the room will usually turn and ask "What the %$# was that??"

Is this a "typical" ampeg SVT 2 Pro trait??

I'm going to check if this happens at 4 ohms too as its intermittent and I can't be sure if its happened at both 4 and 8 ohms??? I am running the Ampeg SVT 2 Pro with either a Mesa Boogie Roadready Basis 410 (8 Ohm impedence) and/or an EV TL15 (8 ohm impedence). I thought the issue with correct impedence was to not run with too great a load ie 2 ohm load on a 4 ohm amp etc.

I read recently that the reverse is also true, that I shouldn't be running my SVT2 Pro with a single 8 ohm cabinet? I have been running a single 8 ohm cabinet every couple of rehearsals and gigs (when I couldn't be bothered with the whole rig!). I have noticed the amp gets really freaking hot and I have decided I will now be running it with both cabs (at 4 ohms) whenever possible.

Any info on the clanging sound and whether its related to the impedence mismatch would be appreciated. Any info on operating temperature would also be appreciated.
Thanks P

 

[Bassholio]

Sounds like a microphonic preamp tube...the culprit's probably the one closest to the standby switch...
The heat problem could mean time for a bias adjust...

 

[Alexander]

Sorry if this has been done before, but after reading through much of this thread (and searching more broadly), I can't find an answer. I'm wondering what the real differences are between the SVT II and the 2 Pro. The first bass amp I ever player through was a 2 Pro and it was awesome - I assumed since it had Pro in the name, it would be better than the SVT II (non pro) - but sounds like you all think differently. I'm interested in perhaps getting one with a Berg NV610. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Doc Halo]

Any info on the clanging sound and whether its related to the impedence mismatch would be appreciated.

The clanging noise is common to the SVT-II Pro. Mine--one of the first ones made--does it, and so do many others.

IME, every SVT-II Pro owner whose unit makes the noise says the exact same thing: he doesn't know where it comes from or what it means, but it's been there since forever and has no bearing on the performance of the amp.

 

[Doc Halo]

I'm wondering what the real differences are between the SVT II and the 2 Pro.

I have one of each. The differences are these:

• The II and the II Pro have different preamps.
  
• The II has a 6-band EQ and a footswitch control. The II Pro has 9 bands and no footswitch.
  
• The II has two inputs: "normal" and "bright." The II Pro has a single input.
  
• The II has a single volume control. The II Pro has a gain control and a master volume control. It has a drive control as well.
  
• The II does not have a tuner out. The II Pro does.
  
• The II has a 2 ohm/4 ohm impedance switch. The II Pro does not.
  
• The II does not have an effects loop send/return. The II Pro does.
  
• The II does not have a polarity rocker switch. The II Pro does.
  
• Both units have a pre/post balanced out, but only the II Pro has a level adjustment pot.
  
• The rear-panel bias adjustment lights are a feature that came along after the II was discontinued; because it's an older model, my II Pro doesn't have them either. Newer SVT II Pros, of course, do.
  
• Similarly, the II has 1/4" speaker outs. My II Pro has both 1/4" speaker outs and banana-plug outs. Newer II Pros have Speakon outs, and, I'm guessing, 1/4" outputs as well.
  

There are a few differences in the chassis design as well. Of these, the only one worth noting (IME) is that the II Pros use ring-and-springs retainers to secure the power tubes, while the II uses a single metal bar that sits just above the tubes, spanning from one side of the unit to the other. This might seem inconsequential until you need to swap out the tubes; the bar is a real pain remove, while snapping off the individual spring clips on the II Pro is a breeze.

In terms of tone, I would say that while both amps are monsters, the SVT-II is a considerably less polite, which is why a lot of folks who've played both prefer it over the II Pro. Once you start factoring in the enhanced features of the latter, though, choosing one or the other becomes a bit more complicated, which is why I have (and love) both.