Maybe X was the designation for Texas... 
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Ampeg SVT-II appreciation thread
- Thread starter i_got_a_mohawk
- Start date
Now that's funny!!!Maybe X was the designation for Texas...
They were all made in USA - the country designation was where they were to be sold/distributed.
Yeah I knew that I had a brain fart when looking at all the numbers and digits and got confused then posted so forgive me! I wonder if X means it was to be sold universally? Anyway I guess we will never know.
I gigged my '92 SVT II (on an SVT 810) last night with a new Keeley Bassist Limiting Amplifier/Compressor plugged in. I upped the gain a bit on the compressor and turned the amp volume down somewhere below 9:00.
Let me tell you the mild overdrive filled the room with a presence I've never gotten out of it. I have gotten it super loud in the past but the feeling of the mid-lows shaking the stage is something brand new. It wasn't louder. It was bigger. And it was AWESOME.
My question is if I can make this tone with adding gain, is this sound that all tube SVTs with a gain control do?
Let me tell you the mild overdrive filled the room with a presence I've never gotten out of it. I have gotten it super loud in the past but the feeling of the mid-lows shaking the stage is something brand new. It wasn't louder. It was bigger. And it was AWESOME.
My question is if I can make this tone with adding gain, is this sound that all tube SVTs with a gain control do?
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Hi there!
I´m new to the Forum and new to tube amps!
I recently found a 90´s SVT II for a great Price and decided to take the plunge! Boy was I not dissapointed... just plugging it in and brushing the bass strings seems godly. that alone just sounds so much better than a lot of Music I´ve heard. I havnt had a Chance to turn her up loud yet, and to be honest I´m a Little afraid...
Here´s why:
the power tubes in the back do not glow equally at all there also seem to be 3 diffrent kinds/brands of tubes installed. 2 AEG kt88´s, 2 with a half undone logo cant make sense of any lettering but the colours used are blue and White, one of them has a stain on the inside. and 2 tubes with no writing at all...
so three pairs it is! installed symmetricly. the two AEG´s on the outsides. the 2nd and 4th tubes are the ones with the White and blue logo´s and the mittle ones are the no Name ones. also the pairs themselves seem to be equally bright. (the no names the brightest, the blue/White logo the weakest) the preamp tubes seem to glow brighter than the power tubes, though it may only seem so as they are in a darker area of the amp. the tubes have been installed like this by Music store Köln.
If I understood correctly the amp Needs matched triplets, I kinda thought it needed 3 the same and then another run of three the same. not two triplets that have been builtup the same. am I mistaking? unfortunately the tech I wanted to have check this out is on vacation. and I have a Gig coming up before he´s back and I wont have anything else to Play...
Is this wierd and should I look for a new set of powertubes? or is this some neat trick?
I´m new to the Forum and new to tube amps!
I recently found a 90´s SVT II for a great Price and decided to take the plunge! Boy was I not dissapointed... just plugging it in and brushing the bass strings seems godly. that alone just sounds so much better than a lot of Music I´ve heard. I havnt had a Chance to turn her up loud yet, and to be honest I´m a Little afraid...
Here´s why:
the power tubes in the back do not glow equally at all there also seem to be 3 diffrent kinds/brands of tubes installed. 2 AEG kt88´s, 2 with a half undone logo cant make sense of any lettering but the colours used are blue and White, one of them has a stain on the inside. and 2 tubes with no writing at all...
so three pairs it is! installed symmetricly. the two AEG´s on the outsides. the 2nd and 4th tubes are the ones with the White and blue logo´s and the mittle ones are the no Name ones. also the pairs themselves seem to be equally bright. (the no names the brightest, the blue/White logo the weakest) the preamp tubes seem to glow brighter than the power tubes, though it may only seem so as they are in a darker area of the amp. the tubes have been installed like this by Music store Köln.
If I understood correctly the amp Needs matched triplets, I kinda thought it needed 3 the same and then another run of three the same. not two triplets that have been builtup the same. am I mistaking? unfortunately the tech I wanted to have check this out is on vacation. and I have a Gig coming up before he´s back and I wont have anything else to Play...
Is this wierd and should I look for a new set of powertubes? or is this some neat trick?
Ideally, you want a matched sextet of power tubes, all six tubes matched to each other. Since the SVT II has a balance pot on the back, you can use a pair of matched triplets. The balance pot allows you to balance each triplet. You do not want to use three matched pairs.
The mix of tubes in your amp is not a problem if they are matched to one another. It is also not unusual for the amount of glow to be different from one tube make to another. Tubes have different amounts of shielding based on their design and this affects how brightly they glow.
Tubes can also glow brighter if they are not well matched. Sometimes when someone sells an amp, they throw in any mix of older tubes so that they can keep the good ones for another amp. For this reason, it would be good to have a tech check out your amp, look how the tubes are performing and check the bias and balance. It could be that your amp is fine.
Try the amp at home, push it hard at gig levels if you can. If it sounds good, chances are it will be ok for the gig. If there is a bright orange glow on the metal plate inside a tube, don't use it. Google "tube red plating" for examples as to what to look for.
The mix of tubes in your amp is not a problem if they are matched to one another. It is also not unusual for the amount of glow to be different from one tube make to another. Tubes have different amounts of shielding based on their design and this affects how brightly they glow.
Tubes can also glow brighter if they are not well matched. Sometimes when someone sells an amp, they throw in any mix of older tubes so that they can keep the good ones for another amp. For this reason, it would be good to have a tech check out your amp, look how the tubes are performing and check the bias and balance. It could be that your amp is fine.
Try the amp at home, push it hard at gig levels if you can. If it sounds good, chances are it will be ok for the gig. If there is a bright orange glow on the metal plate inside a tube, don't use it. Google "tube red plating" for examples as to what to look for.
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Hi!
Thanks for putting in a reply
I usually prefer to find the awnsers myself but I´m quite busy at the moment. and really don't want to shagup this beauty . I really wish I would have gotten thin in a time I had more time to read up.
so until I've checked/measured theres nothing to say yet? or at least nothing that seems really dodgy? ok I´ll see if I can give her a go this weekend on loud volumes. From what I´ve read false biased or wrongly matched tubes only make the tubes less effective and/or get used quicker. the last won't be a problem if it ain`t a good set anyway...
Thanks for putting in a reply
I usually prefer to find the awnsers myself but I´m quite busy at the moment. and really don't want to shagup this beauty . I really wish I would have gotten thin in a time I had more time to read up.
so until I've checked/measured theres nothing to say yet? or at least nothing that seems really dodgy? ok I´ll see if I can give her a go this weekend on loud volumes. From what I´ve read false biased or wrongly matched tubes only make the tubes less effective and/or get used quicker. the last won't be a problem if it ain`t a good set anyway...
In general yes, but there are exceptions.
If the tubes are matched fairly well, a non optimal bias is not a big deal. The amp will simply not sound as good as it can. Unmatched tubes can produce a higher total harmonic distortion, the amp will hum louder than it should. The plate currents will vary and some tubes could be working harder than others. At the other end, if the tubes are a mix in terms of performance, it's likely that some of the tubes will require a different bias to match the performance. If some are running way hotter than others and there is the possibility of red plating. It depends on how the bias is set.
A sign of worn out tubes is that the bias can't be set.
Well things went down shady...
Went to the rehearsal room with my amp, hoping to get some calibration done I brought a voltmeter a frequency counter and and a synth (for the 40 hz sine wave) but the Moog sounded so damn shaging great on the amp I couldn't stop playing! until after 5 minutes the amp went plop... one of the tubes was glowing like a small sun. and now the amp won't even go into standby. hope to find some time tomorrow to open her up to see if there´s any on board damage done. and I guess now is a better time than ever to find a matched sextet of KT88´s. -I understand some people here have the schematics as PDF. if anyone who does reads this please drop me a PM-
Those 5 minutes where a shaging blast though! now I´ve got 3 weeks to get her on her legs again, or I´ll play my first acoustic set!
Went to the rehearsal room with my amp, hoping to get some calibration done I brought a voltmeter a frequency counter and and a synth (for the 40 hz sine wave) but the Moog sounded so damn shaging great on the amp I couldn't stop playing! until after 5 minutes the amp went plop... one of the tubes was glowing like a small sun. and now the amp won't even go into standby. hope to find some time tomorrow to open her up to see if there´s any on board damage done. and I guess now is a better time than ever to find a matched sextet of KT88´s. -I understand some people here have the schematics as PDF. if anyone who does reads this please drop me a PM-
Those 5 minutes where a shaging blast though! now I´ve got 3 weeks to get her on her legs again, or I´ll play my first acoustic set!
My SVT-II Pro took a dump today.
Has all new tubes from tubesdepot, Tung-sol set.
I turned it on and let it warm up. Started playing through it a few minutes later, started getting some static and crackles, then some volume swells. the volume evened out but I was left with a lot of dirty static.
Going to the shop tomorrow
Has all new tubes from tubesdepot, Tung-sol set.
I turned it on and let it warm up. Started playing through it a few minutes later, started getting some static and crackles, then some volume swells. the volume evened out but I was left with a lot of dirty static.
Going to the shop tomorrow
My SVT-II Pro took a dump today.
Has all new tubes from tubesdepot, Tung-sol set.
I turned it on and let it warm up. Started playing through it a few minutes later, started getting some static and crackles, then some volume swells. the volume evened out but I was left with a lot of dirty static.
Going to the shop tomorrow
What you are describing sounds like a problem with a small signal tube. So it may not be a power tube issue.
My SVT-II Pro took a dump today.
Has all new tubes from tubesdepot, Tung-sol set.
I turned it on and let it warm up. Started playing through it a few minutes later, started getting some static and crackles, then some volume swells. the volume evened out but I was left with a lot of dirty static.
Going to the shop tomorrow
i had a problem like that and it turned out to be the pre-amp out jack was corroded.My SVT-II Pro took a dump today.
Has all new tubes from tubesdepot, Tung-sol set.
I turned it on and let it warm up. Started playing through it a few minutes later, started getting some static and crackles, then some volume swells. the volume evened out but I was left with a lot of dirty static.
Going to the shop tomorrow
Rust and oxidization on jacks and their contacts are quite common. Oxidization can be especially bad on the inside of the chassis where there's a lock washer, it can look white or greenish depending on the metal. With some amps, this can affect the quality of the ground connection.
Amps all need some maintenance from time to time.
I've also had the signal cut problem from the corrosion on the Preamp out jacks. Had it from preamp tubes as well.
I've got many years on the Tung-Sol 6550 power tubes, they've been quite reliable.
I've got many years on the Tung-Sol 6550 power tubes, they've been quite reliable.
I went to a local HiFi store to see if they could measure the tubes I had left. They couldn't... but they looked around their stock and they had 6 matched Ayon KT88sx Black Treasure. now those have been built for HiFi equipment but the specs should be the same no? According to the store owner they where in a new amp but the buyer wanted other tubes form the get go. so they have had little to no use at all... he also offers guarantee (whatever that means with tubes) he wanted 230 euro for the bunch.
The only other option I found for 6 matched KT88´s would be a sixteen of new JJ´s for 209 euro plus shipping.
Would the ayon´s be overkill? or would it make sense at all to put Hifi tubes in my amp? or would they be more reliable? therefore making me happy for several years?
The only other option I found for 6 matched KT88´s would be a sixteen of new JJ´s for 209 euro plus shipping.
Would the ayon´s be overkill? or would it make sense at all to put Hifi tubes in my amp? or would they be more reliable? therefore making me happy for several years?
I haven't tried the Ayon tubes so can't comment on them othere to say that they are Chineese made in Shuguang. Some Shugang tubes are good, others not so good. In general, hi-fi tubes are way over priced.
There is no difference between a hi-fi tube and one used in a musical instrument amp. Some hi-fi tubes are screened for low noise. As for reliability, it comes down to the design of the tube and the quality control process. Some tubes are better than others. No tube is designed just for hi-fi. The same tube that you are looking at is probably on the market for different applications with a different brand nake.
I would wonder why the person that bought the Ayon amp wanted different tubesin their amp.
You want a tube set that is burnt in and properly matched to a high tolerance. Shop around, here is one good place that sells tubes in the uk: Link Removed. You want to use tubes as soon as you recieve them. If there's an issue, you want it taken care of under the warranty. The seller that you are dealing with only has one set. How will he replace one with one that is matched to your set if there's an issue?
There is no difference between a hi-fi tube and one used in a musical instrument amp. Some hi-fi tubes are screened for low noise. As for reliability, it comes down to the design of the tube and the quality control process. Some tubes are better than others. No tube is designed just for hi-fi. The same tube that you are looking at is probably on the market for different applications with a different brand nake.
I would wonder why the person that bought the Ayon amp wanted different tubesin their amp.
You want a tube set that is burnt in and properly matched to a high tolerance. Shop around, here is one good place that sells tubes in the uk: Link Removed. You want to use tubes as soon as you recieve them. If there's an issue, you want it taken care of under the warranty. The seller that you are dealing with only has one set. How will he replace one with one that is matched to your set if there's an issue?
Thanks again for helping someone who's not in the know!
Your last point hits something I´ve been worrying about aswell. If all goes fine it could turn out interesting. but even having to replace one tube would put me back 115 euro. He did say it comes with warranty though... I should have ask more specifically what he can offer... probably a refund at the most (but for how long, what situations?).
But yeah, I think I should probably stick to a place that knows their stuff when it comes to this. And its specific problems/needs. This was my gut feeling when I was in the store, thanks for confirming me. We are taking about a considerable amount of money (for me) so I´m gonna try and play things safe.
Right now I´m in the process of opening the amp up. trying to see if anything else got damaged when the tube blew. the amp shut off and wouldn't go on anymore. If I understood correctly the amp would still be able to turn on when its just a tube thats broken right?
Your last point hits something I´ve been worrying about aswell. If all goes fine it could turn out interesting. but even having to replace one tube would put me back 115 euro. He did say it comes with warranty though... I should have ask more specifically what he can offer... probably a refund at the most (but for how long, what situations?).
But yeah, I think I should probably stick to a place that knows their stuff when it comes to this. And its specific problems/needs. This was my gut feeling when I was in the store, thanks for confirming me. We are taking about a considerable amount of money (for me) so I´m gonna try and play things safe.
Right now I´m in the process of opening the amp up. trying to see if anything else got damaged when the tube blew. the amp shut off and wouldn't go on anymore. If I understood correctly the amp would still be able to turn on when its just a tube thats broken right?
