Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Ampeg Svt Limited edition 1987 authentication
- Thread starter brunoPint
- Start date
Know a place in London? No.
The MTI and Skunk SVTs look very similar and are constructed very similar, but there are two obvious tells. If you look at the amp from the side, the front edge of an MTI headcase will go straight up. The Skunk headcase tilts back so the side of the case is parallel to the control panel.
Skunk
MTI
No vintage style SVTs were made after the Skunks.
The official Skunks will have a numbered badge on the back.
My understanding is some additional Skunks escaped that factory without badges.
To validate the MFG date, an internal inspection can be done. You basically look for date codes on various components.
There are also some minor circuit changes that are detailed here:
The MTI and Skunk SVTs look very similar and are constructed very similar, but there are two obvious tells. If you look at the amp from the side, the front edge of an MTI headcase will go straight up. The Skunk headcase tilts back so the side of the case is parallel to the control panel.
Skunk
MTI
No vintage style SVTs were made after the Skunks.
The official Skunks will have a numbered badge on the back.
My understanding is some additional Skunks escaped that factory without badges.
To validate the MFG date, an internal inspection can be done. You basically look for date codes on various components.
There are also some minor circuit changes that are detailed here:
Thanks a lot for the info..Know a place in London? No.
The MTI and Skunk SVTs look very similar and are constructed very similar, but there are two obvious tells. If you look at the amp from the side, the front edge of an MTI headcase will go straight up. The Skunk headcase tilts back so the side of the case is parallel to the control panel.
Skunk
View attachment 7415332
MTI
View attachment 7415333
No vintage style SVTs were made after the Skunks.
The official Skunks will have a numbered badge on the back.
View attachment 7415334
My understanding is some additional Skunks escaped that factory without badges.
To validate the MFG date, an internal inspection can be done. You basically look for date codes on various components.
There are also some minor circuit changes that are detailed here:
Mine looks like an original and the plate ate the back says 314 of 500. I was wondering as I bought it recently and it did not have any paper work, so I would like for someone to have a look to make sure it'sall original still. But it is definitely looking good.
Thanks for the help, much appreciated.
I wouldn't be surprised if the amp has been recapped. The original electrolytics in mine looked like this:
All of these are Mallory FP twist lock caps except C10. I don't remember the brand of C10, but it is held in with a clamp rather than an FP twist lock insulator base. C11 upper is the same type as C11 lower. Upper just has a cardboard insulator sleeve.
The other component that is likely to have been replaced is the screen resistors. The screen resistors are designed to act fuses. It's not unusual for one to blow when an output tube goes bad.
The image above is not my amp. This is my amp with new caps:
Images pulled from:
The Mallory twist locks have a number that I believe includes a date code. Format: 235-YYWW. AFAIK 235 is the type of capacitor. YY is year and WW is week. I have a few of the old Mallorys that I pulled from the Skunk and the full numbers are 235-8718. Week 18 of 1987.
FYI, they don't make Mallory twist lock capacitors anymore. CE MFG claims to make their capacitors using the original Mallory equipment.
I have bought some twist locks to repair my 69 from Fliptops. I don't know who made them. I also had several custom twist locks made by company called Hayseed Hamfest.
The twist locks you see in my Skunk came from Hayseed. The blue capacitor in the back (C10) is a 50/50 From F&T that was used to replace the original 100uF.
FYI, they don't make Mallory twist lock capacitors anymore. CE MFG claims to make their capacitors using the original Mallory equipment.
I have bought some twist locks to repair my 69 from Fliptops. I don't know who made them. I also had several custom twist locks made by company called Hayseed Hamfest.
The twist locks you see in my Skunk came from Hayseed. The blue capacitor in the back (C10) is a 50/50 From F&T that was used to replace the original 100uF.
