Ampeg SVT VR Head requiring at least 115 volts from wall socket

[BassmanPaul]

An SVT at a backyard party.

And why not?? If that's the amp you have it's the amp you use! ANY gig I play I have 700W available no matter what the size of the gig. I am as loud as I need to be. I really don't thing too many guys have different rigs for different sizes of venues.

Paul

 

[johnk_10]

here's some pics to show what i mean.

jumper (with two males and one female):

schematic and layout diagram:

link to a bigger pic of the schematic:

http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/SVT-VR/SVT-VR_standby_bypass_mod-1.JPG

 

[johnk_10]

An SVT at a backyard party.

the backyard was pretty big, and outdoors i find that i always like to have more headroom than when playing indoors (clubs). i was using it thru my SVT-610HLF.

here's a pic of the rig:

 

[MIJ-VI]

the backyard was pretty big, and outdoors i find that i always like to have more headroom than when playing indoors (clubs). i was using it thru my SVT-610HLF.

here's a pic of the rig:

+1

--------

Nice rig! These big 'pegs have a timeless beauty of their own.

(I miss my old black line... *drifts off into a reminisce of lost & loud youth*)

 

[MIJ-VI]

here's some pics to show what i mean.

jumper (with two males and one female):

schematic and layout diagram:

link to a bigger pic of the schematic:

http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/SVT-VR/SVT-VR_standby_bypass_mod-1.JPG

Hmm... T'would seem that LOUD tech users are going to benefit from North American know-how after all!

 

[MIJ-VI]

And why not?? If that's the amp you have it's the amp you use! ANY gig I play I have 700W available no matter what the size of the gig. I am as loud as I need to be. I really don't thing too many guys have different rigs for different sizes of venues.

Paul

I concur. As a former SVT + 2 X 8X10 user, I would've approached such a soirée by bringing both cabs!

An outdoor gig is an outdoor gig, n'est-ce pas?

 

[johnk_10]

i just have a feeling (not based on anything but a gut feeling)that when LOUD eventually sells Ampeg to someone, that its top of the line gear is going to end up being built back in the USA (IMO where it belongs). it may not happen, but i can always dream can't i?

I think that the SVT, fliptops and early V4/V4B's should be managed and built by a company that really cares about their product (not to say that that can't happen overseas), but they are such an american icon.

 

[MIJ-VI]

i just have a feeling (not based on anything but a gut feeling)that when LOUD eventually sells Ampeg to someone, that its top of the line gear is going to end up being built back in the USA (IMO where it belongs). it may not happen, but i can always dream can't i?

I think that the SVT, fliptops and early V4/V4B's should be managed and built by a company that really cares about their product (not to say that that can't happen overseas), but they are such an american icon.

A BIG +1. Ampeg should come home to those who not only care about classic bass amplification, but also to those who understand 'peg's contribution to the development of North America's (and to a significant extent, the world's) pop music & culture.

For example: would the bouncy exuberance of Mr. Jamerson's bass playing have been as lively had he monitored through headphones instead of a musically responsive B-15N? Maybe. But I'd doubt it...

For now, we can only hope that Ampeg is pulled from the fire the way Fender was.

 

[Chinguschild]

An SVT at a backyard party.

Pimping at its finest

 

[MIJ-VI]

Pimping at its finest

Context?

 

[Chinguschild]

Context?

Nothing more than a play on words. I was simply seconding your statement which I translated as using an SVT at a backyard party was cool

 

[MIJ-VI]

Nothing more than a play on words. I was simply seconding your statement which I translated as using an SVT at a backyard party was cool

I couldn't figure out your riff, but I do like your tone.

EDIT: Using an SVT at a backyard party is cool--as long as there's a designated roadie.

 

[MikeyB]

looking at the schematic and layout diagram, it appears that you can just unplug the J26 jumper (that comes from the standby switch) and plug it into a "Y" cord that has two males and one female that connects to J27 (which is in parallel with J28, to completely bypass the relay, so there's no soldering (and its completely reversible). i'm going to try this on monday to see if it solves the problem, and i really can't see any reason that it wouldn't.

Johnk,

Huge props for the info! The y-cord solution seems perfect. Are you planning to test this with your variac? I'd be really curious to see the results. If you can post a pic of the y-cord "installed" that would be great too.

I've been patiently exercising my faith that there was an elegant solution like this out there!

Thanks,

-M

 

[johnk_10]

Johnk,

Huge props for the info! The y-cord solution seems perfect. Are you planning to test this with your variac? I'd be really curious to see the results. If you can post a pic of the y-cord "installed" that would be great too.

I've been patiently exercising my faith that there was an elegant solution like this out there!

Thanks,

-M

Hi Mikey,
sure, i'll take a few pics of it with the y-cord. and then i'll test it with my variac to make sure that it works just like its vintage counterpart. i'm intend to use it at a gig next weekend so i want to make sure that it works as it should.

 

[MikeyB]

Awesome!

Can't wait! I have an outdoor gig in a few weeks (in a park setting) and I'd love to have confidence in my rig.

Did you solder up the Y-connector or is that something I can pick up somewhere?

Thanks again,

-M

 

[Chinguschild]

Disclaimer: I have basically no previous electronics knowledge so my post is worth what you paid for it. (hint: you didn't pay for ti)

Since people like SVT's at the breakup level and SVT's as far as I know have no digital components that make them work would it burn up any of the electronics to simply use a variac to back the voltage down (reasonably) to a level where you could more easily approach the breakup level of the tube circuitry.

Second time for good measure. I know nothing

 

[Bassgrinder77]

That's completely messed up. Requiring 115V is RIDICULOUS. Power line sags are VERY COMMON depending on the building transformer, building wiring and loads. 115V - 10% (which puts you around 103V) is called "low-line" and is very common and every piece of equipment should function at it. Most amps will function significantly lower, although at a somewhat lower power. Honestly, return it. You shouldn't have to deal with that. My basement power often goes low-line an none of my amps (US made SVT CL, old '78 SVT, GK 1001RB) have had a problem.

Just recently got a made in Vietnam Ampeg SVT VR- for the record, the amp sounds and looks as good as any other VR Ive seen or played through. Nails "the tone" as it should.....

However.....


The first time I plugged it in, I let it warm up for about 2 mins or so, flipped the "stand by" switch....and nothing....the light didnt turn from red to green, no volume....

after about 5 mins it did kick over. So I tried another wall outlet and this time it never kicked off of standby....even after 10 mins...I could hear some volume want to come out of it....it would come out very faint and then dissapear within 2 seconds.

I could easily return it and wait a month until the shop gets another one in, but Im not that patient....so I called Ampeg/Loud and spoke to a pretty cool tech. he said:

"These amps are extremely power hungry and require at least 115 volts out of the wall to kick off of standby. 110 volts wont do it."

So I went and bought a voltage checker from Radio Shack and checked every socket in my apartment. Every socket that was under 114.5 would not kick the amp off of standby. Many of them were in the 112-113 ranges. Two were coming in at around 116v and those two would kick the amp off of standby after 2 mins of warming up.

So...My question is....Is this normal? Has anyone else had this experience? Seems a bit inconvenient, espescially if youre at a gig and the outlets are less than 115. Should I return this head or is this truly the case with every VR out there?

 

[johnk_10]

That's completely messed up. Requiring 115V is RIDICULOUS. Power line sags are VERY COMMON depending on the building transformer, building wiring and loads. 115V - 10% (which puts you around 103V) is called "low-line" and is very common and every piece of equipment should function at it. Most amps will function significantly lower, although at a somewhat lower power. Honestly, return it. You shouldn't have to deal with that. My basement power often goes low-line an none of my amps (US made SVT CL, old '78 SVT, GK 1001RB) have had a problem.

IMO, its no big deal. and i love the amp. bypassing the relay is a simple fix and it makes it more like my other two vintage SVT's. i rarely have AC voltage below 115V but i'm going to bypass the relay so that if it ever falls below 112 (the relay cutoff point) it'll still stay on.

and Mikey,
i made the y cord myself. it was super easy.

 

[moment15]

Hi Mikey,
sure, i'll take a few pics of it with the y-cord. and then i'll test it with my variac to make sure that it works just like its vintage counterpart. i'm intend to use it at a gig next weekend so i want to make sure that it works as it should.

This is fantastic! Thanks for the pics of the y-cord and schematic and thanks in advance for the post-mod pics and variac test results. It's so nice to know that this is potentially a really easy fix.

How did you make the y-cord yourself if I might ask?

 

[johnk_10]

okay. i performed the standby mod this morning and it works PERFECT! i tested it with my variac and i ran it on 95 volts. its going with me to my gig this friday night.

here's a pic of it installed:

rather than post all the pics and info here, i created a page for the mod on my website:

http://johnkvintageguitars.homestead.com/SVT-VR.html

Many thanks to Jerrold Tiers for the tips on this mod, and thanks to those that were patient enough for me to post it.

regards,