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Ampeg SVT-II appreciation thread

#41
I snagged this super-fine SVT today by making a four hour (round trip) drive to Tucson.
After getting it home, I only had a short time to revel in its sonic riotousness before a
mothers day gathering cut my brief bliss short....but It sounded simply amazing!

I found it on craigslist for $800, Its really clean and nearly scratch/roadrash free.
The seller claimed to have bought it new in 93, and only had it out of the studio for a
couple shows. He also claimed it still had all the original tubes, but after inspecting the
6550(s), I found it has a mismatched set of 4 GE and two (made in USA)-Groove Tubes.
(Besides the labeling), all 6 power tubes look identical, inside and out...

Was Ampeg using General Electric and G/T tubes around early 93?

And could Groove Tubes have been relabeling General Electric brand tubes in this era?

I think I'll take it in for a check up just to make sure every-thing's well, but it played
very loud, sounds fantastic and was nice and quiet at idle (with the volume at up high),
so I'm one very happy camper...:)

The serial # seems to be dating this amp as a January of 93 manufacturer. Is this correct?
(5th digit-F / 6th digit-1)

Thanks.....

DSCN1202.jpg
 
#44
anderbass said:
I snagged this super-fine SVT today by making a four hour (round trip) drive to Tucson.
After getting it home, I only had a short time to revel in its sonic riotousness before a
mothers day gathering cut my brief bliss short....but It sounded simply amazing!

I found it on craigslist for $800, Its really clean and nearly scratch/roadrash free.
The seller claimed to have bought it new in 93, and only had it out of the studio for a
couple shows. He also claimed it still had all the original tubes, but after inspecting the
6550(s), I found it has a mismatched set of 4 GE and two (made in USA)-Groove Tubes.
(Besides the labeling), all 6 power tubes look identical, inside and out...

Was Ampeg using General Electric and G/T tubes around early 93?

And could Groove Tubes have been relabeling General Electric brand tubes in this era?

I think I'll take it in for a check up just to make sure every-thing's well, but it played
very loud, sounds fantastic and was nice and quiet at idle (with the volume at up high),
so I'm one very happy camper...:)

The serial # seems to be dating this amp as a January of 93 manufacturer. Is this correct?
(5th digit-F / 6th digit-1)

Thanks.....

DSCN1202.jpg
Click to expand...

Very nice!! It looks mint, and the serial number and date sounds about right, it was the later SVT-IIs that had the asthetics like that :)

Glad you like it :hyper:
 
#48
Last night, I finally got to experience my (new to me) SVT-II with the full band.

I've had quite a few fairly nice amps now, but none have ever really given me
this magical feel and sound that just totally enveloped my (fairly large) home
studio last night. (I cant wait to gig this thing!!!)

My 400+ and V4 are both very cool amps, but I think I finally understand why
so many people rant about the SVT experience.

The sound was just a absolute perfect blend of a clean, and a slightly compressed
saturated tone. The cushy feel (oh my god the feel) through out the room was
simply amazing.

My bands haven't been playing much lately, (and quite honestly) I haven't been
practicing much, so I fully expected my playing to be way below my normal level.
I also fully expected the overall sound of the band to be off, because of my crappy
practice habits.
But this sound and feel was so dam good, that I (and the rest of this band) felt
I've probably never played better in my life! It was like I couldn't do anything wrong.
I was playing with such new found confidence that I was pulling off new fills, runs
and playing in totally different and much better ways.

I've gotten over enthusiastic about new gear and the occasional nights when
the band really clicked before, but never like this. (Its just gotta be this new amp)

I think It even made my drummer play better...:eek:
 
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#52
Anyone have any wisdom, advice or tips about the SVT-II Frequency knob?
I haven't stumbled across much info about this particular setting on this model.

I've been running mine strait up, because (as I'd expect) it doesn't seem to do
much when my mid knob is in (my currently preferred) center position.

(I can hear it now... DO A SEARCH! . . . ;)
 
#53
anderbass said:
Anyone have any wisdom, advice or tips about the SVT-II Frequency knob?
I haven't stumbled across much info about this particular setting on this model.

I've been running mine strait up, because (as I'd expect) it doesn't seem to do
much when my mid knob is in (my currently preferred) center position.

(I can hear it now... DO A SEARCH! . . . ;)
Click to expand...

I'm in a good mood so I'll be nice and post the freq selections :)
220, 450, 800, 1.6K, 3K left to right. And, as you say with the midrange pointing north, it'll have little to no effect on the tone.

If anyone wants a PDF of the manual drop me a note.
 
#54
EASonBass said:
I'm in a good mood so I'll be nice and post the freq selections :)
220, 450, 800, 1.6K, 3K left to right. And, as you say with the midrange pointing north, it'll have little to no effect on the tone.

If anyone wants a PDF of the manual drop me a note.
Click to expand...
Ive got a thread with a download link somewhere, here is the link again anyways:

Link Removed


I usually run my mid-frequency knob at 450, gives a nice lower mid bit of umph without being too bassy for what i want :) .

And Anderbass, glad you like it in a band situation, the first time i got to play mine in a band situation i was blown away by how perfect the sound was :hyper: , even the guitarist in my band went "Wow, that sounds good!"
 
#56
i loooove my svt II. had it about nine years. built in 92. had my share of little problems, but finally paid jeff bakos in atlanta to fix it. totally worth it. been pumping through my henry 8x8 for a long time. tried many other cabs, but something 'bout henry just sounds so big and mean. a great match! only player i know with this combination
 
#60
ander,
those groove tubes are ge's so they are esentially the same tube.

the frequency know will not affect anyhting if you run the mid know in the center. They are active tone controls just like your v4 so the center is essentially flat, no cut, no boost so no matter where the frequency know is set, you won't hear a change. Now turn the mid know all the way down or up and you'll here some differences.

The only negative I would say about the SVT2 vs. older svt's is the assembly is much more modern with connectors attaching everything to everything else. I've worked on 2 of these amps now which connections were the problem.

I sold one that when it got to portland it wasn't working right because some connectors came loose in shipping.

It is an awesome amp though.
 

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