Ampeg SVT-II appreciation thread

[Loki182]

Thanks

 

[DudeLeap]

I wish I never sold mine, only had it for about a year but it left me with the best tone I've ever had on a recording to date. No DI, just a mic to the speaker. Had it pushing a SVT410HLF and was playing my old active deluxe jazz bass. Miss all 3 of them.

 

[DocGeorge]

Just got mine today. Been jonesing for one for years because of everything I've heard about it. I have to say, that all the love, fluff, and promoting everyone does on not only this thread but this forum and many others just don't do it justice!!!

 

[spector_boogie]

Anything wrong with the newer SVT-II models? I'm looking at a 2009 2Pro but just curious if there's anything I should know before jumping on this...

 

[Floyd Eye]

I have serious gas for this amp now, thanks in large part to this thread. I can find the II Pro easy enough, but I am having a hell of a time finding a non pro. I hope Justin whatshisname didn't buy the last one. lol

 

[jmjbassplayer]

I bought the very, very last one.

 

[Floyd Eye]

I bought the very, very last one.

I knew it dammit. Wanna sell it?

 

[spector_boogie]

If I didn't have the DI requirements I do I'd hold out for the non-Pro too but oh well!

 

[Floyd Eye]

A couple questions.

Are the newer SVT 2 Pros better/worse/different than the old Pro 2s with the red and blue letters?

Assuming JMJ bought the very last one and I am unable to track down an SVT II, should I go for a Pro 2 or just go for a CL?

 

[jmpiwonka]

i would buy whatever i could find locally and works well, a pro2 or a CL should sound fine.

 

[jellymax]

I bought the very, very last one.

so it was you that snapped that up. cool. something tells
me it is not your first one though. am i right?

 

[rough house]

Proud owner of 1993 svt 2!

 

[flygirafda3]

I've had an early '90's ('91 I think) SVT II for about 2 years now, I think. I love it great tone, super reliable, just awesome in general.



But today I bought a '78 SVT and now I just don't know what to do I even almost posted a feeler thread in the classifieds earlier

 

[JimmyM]

Well that will make Floyd Eye happy...unless he already got one of the CL's he had his eye on.

Spector, honestly, I just don't hear much difference in SVT's over the years, and I've used them all at one time or another. The master volume SVT's can be made to sound like the non-master SVT's just by cranking the master volume and using gain to control your levels, so I'm happy with any of them. If you sit there with a room full of different SVT's over the years I'm sure you'll find some differences, but I doubt it'll be related to when they were made as much as how well they were kept up, what kind of tubes are in them, etc.

 

[judas jedermann]

I have an option to buy SVT2 (non-pro) that has some issues with EQ sliders. EQ on/off works fine. 3 sliders work as they should, 1 slider won´t go to its extremes and 2 do not move at all (they are loose and you can rock them sideways but not up or down).

I talked to local amp tech that said it is possible that EQ can not be fixed. Has anyone here got similar problem?

 

[judas jedermann]

Nevermind the sliders, give me a number. My svt2 seems to be manufactured September 1990.

 

[judas jedermann]

and here is the proof.

 

[Alex1984]

The graphic EQ is good for finer tuning, but the original 3 band EQ control should be plenty to get you a good tone. I'm pretty sure they can be fixed given the right parts. Most graphic EQs are relatively simple LC networks.

 

[Floyd Eye]

Well that will make Floyd Eye happy...unless he already got one of the CL's he had his eye on.

Spector, honestly, I just don't hear much difference in SVT's over the years, and I've used them all at one time or another. The master volume SVT's can be made to sound like the non-master SVT's just by cranking the master volume and using gain to control your levels, so I'm happy with any of them. If you sit there with a room full of different SVT's over the years I'm sure you'll find some differences, but I doubt it'll be related to when they were made as much as how well they were kept up, what kind of tubes are in them, etc.

I am not a patient man, so yeah, I got myself a real good deal on a 2006 CL.

 

[pulse]

Been slowly approaching letting go of mine past year +, even though it has the best sound.... I gigged it once, recorded with it once (very successfully), but really did not enjoy the trips to and from said sessions....

This amp is freaking awesome sonically.... but financial issues combined with the fact that it starts to make less sense for me on a practical level....make me consider letting go....also I always feel like I have a liability for anyone helping me move it ... cos they dont realise how freaking heavy it is and invariably lift it badly or trap their fingers underneath it..... no disrespect to anyone that is fine with running this amp.... I am no pro touring and playing all the time..... anyways as said their might be one floating in Europe soon.... Ofcourse I had great times with it and it taught me all about good tone....