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Ampeg SVT-VR Vintage Reissue 300W

sergemelomano

sergemelomano

Mar 13, 2007
22
3
Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.alaiweb.com.ar
#1
I'm from Buenos Aires and a friend of mine is travelling to New Jersey for the next 2 weeks.
She told me she could get me anything i wanted and responded: and Ampeg head amp. I found 2 used ones in Guitar Center's webpage:

Option 1:
[This invalid link has been removed]
Condition: Used - Good : This product is completely functional and shows some signs of use. It may have surface scratches and/or dings and dents.
$1,109.99

Option 2:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Condition: Used - Great : This product shows little signs of use and all controls are completely functional. It may have minor surface scratches.
$1,629.99

I have this one shot to make it right but, of course, it would be nice to save me a few dollars.
Already tried to call the stores but got no answer.
The live chat customer support has no additional information rather the one specified on the items details shown on the links shared.

Im anxious to hear your opinions.
 
#2
Your option 1

IMG_0044.png


Leads to… nothing!

IMG_0045.png


As for opinions, any of the SVT’s but assuming a checkup by a tech will be needed. I don’t know about GC as they aren’t present here in Canada.

Other U.S. citizens will certainly chime in :).
 
#3
The biggest concern is that Argentinian power is 220VAC, while these GC amps are certainly the "Domestic" model, designed for ~100 – 120V AC. You would need a significantly large step-up transformer to use these amps in Argentina or find one explicitly for "Export". It may be possible for a qualified technician to convert the power section, but I don't know if that's cost effective for you.
Ampeg SVT-VR Amp Owner's Manual - Rev B, English
 
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#4
abarson said:
The biggest concern is that Argentinian power is 220VAC, while these GC amps are certainly the "Domestic" model, designed for ~100 – 120V AC. You would need a significantly large step-up transformer to use these amps in Argentina or find one explicitly for "Export". It may be possible for a qualified technician to convert the power section, but I don't know if that's cost effective for you.
Ampeg SVT-VR Amp Owner's Manual - Rev B, English
Click to expand...
If I’m not mistaken, 220v to 110v is a step down (not step up), and readily available under $100 USD
 
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#6
How are you going to get the amp home. I wouldn't want to fly a SVT in checked baggage as it may be damaged. Also AFAIK an SVT exceeds the weight limit, so you will need to spend extra on transportation cost.

Additionally, when buying a used tube amp I suggest budgeting for a fresh set of tubes and a service charge to check the amp over and set the bias. Maybe you will get lucky and the amp is in perfect order. I have a bunch of tube amps that I bought used, and I would say approximately 50% had bad tubes or some other problem. Here in the US that means and extra $500 or more. Additionally there have been a few amps that were in such bad condition that I requested a return.

@bobyoung53 may have some words of wisdom.
 
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#7
Wasnex said:
How are you going to get the amp home. I wouldn't want to fly a SVT in checked baggage as it may be damaged. Also AFAIK an SVT exceeds the weight limit, so you will need to spend extra on transportation cost.

Additionally, when buying a used tube amp I suggest budgeting for a fresh set of tubes and a service charge to check the amp over and set the bias. Maybe you will get lucky and the amp is prefect order. I have a bunch of tube amps that I bought used, and I would say approximately 50% had bad tubes or some other problem. Here in the US that means and extra $500 or more. Additionally there have been a few amps that were in such bad condition that I requested a return.

@bobyoung53 may have some words of wisdom.
Click to expand...

I purchased an SVT-VR years ago and flew it in checked baggage from Dallas to Japan for use in a band. I purchased a used head that came with an airline case. I flew business class in order to increase my weight limit. I removed the tubes, labeled and wrapped them and put them in a suitcase. The weight of the head, minus the removed tubes, plus the airline case was over the coach limit but below the business class limit. I didn't have much of an electrical current issue as Japan runs 110 volts, 50 Hz. I don't know if it was related to the slower current cycles or not, but I had to replace the cooling fan shortly after I started using it in Japan. I replaced it with a fan rated for 50/60 Hz and it has worked well for 10 plus years. It is now working well back here in the states.

One additional minor consideration if you are obsessive, compulsive, like me. The SVT-VR has silver/blue grill cloth, the majority of SVTs have black grill cloth. I could not find an 8 x 10 in Japan with silver/blue grill cloth and so I had to purchase a cabinet with black grill cloth, then order replacement silver/blue grill cloth and modify the grill cloth on the cabinet I purchased.
 
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#8
The SVT from the 1970's for 1700 is a really great amp and won't break down, you'll sound like a god. Newer ampegs are not very good imo. They sound good but crap out and have the noisy fan, ampeg repair services are primitive, unfriendly to working musicians and made me sell almost every ampeg piece I own out of disgust. All those Ampegs are heavy as hell. I have svt 3 that is ok sounding, and i hardly ever use it, I got sick of repairs on SVT classic. I'm old and think 1970's are still the way to go, I can't be fixed.... But then again, another option is SVP rack preamp and pair it with a local power amp. The workhorse amp I like and would snag one if I saw one for a good price, is SVT 2 non-pro, built like a tank and won't turn off mid-song, rather with go down with a fight and perhaps total electrical malfeasance. If you got the chance and and you want to go for the big gun then do that, go for the amp you always wanted, you only live once!
 
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#9
sugarsand said:
The SVT from the 1970's for 1700 is a really great amp and won't break down, you'll sound like a god. Newer ampegs are not very good imo. They sound good but crap out and have the noisy fan, ampeg repair services are primitive, unfriendly to working musicians and made me sell almost every ampeg piece I own out of disgust. All those Ampegs are heavy as hell. I have svt 3 that is ok sounding, and i hardly ever use it, I got sick of repairs on SVT classic. I'm old and think 1970's are still the way to go, I can't be fixed.... But then again, another option is SVP rack preamp and pair it with a local power amp. The workhorse amp I like and would snag one if I saw one for a good price, is SVT 2 non-pro, built like a tank and won't turn off mid-song, rather with go down with a fight and perhaps total electrical malfeasance. If you got the chance and and you want to go for the big gun then do that, go for the amp you always wanted, you only live once!
Click to expand...

This is an excellent point. I made sure that the SVT-VR that I purchased was one of the ones made in the US prior to Ampeg moving their manufacturing offshore. I have not played one of the foreign made models, but their reputation is sketchy. My US model, other than the fan replacement, has delivered flawless performance.
 
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#10
Does your friend know how much these things weigh??? We're talking about nearly 40 kg, and not a very convenient form factor to carry around.

I'm assuming air travel is involved. Bringing an SVT to an airport without a crew to handle it is my personal idea of HELL!!! I would never, never, NEVER do it.

I mean, if it's got a flight case (which would make it even heavier) and it's handled by professionals with trolleys, sure, no problem. But to ask a friend to do this?

Asking a friend to transport an SVT from New Jersey to Buenos Aires by plane... That's not something you do to a friend IMO. At least not unless she is fully aware of the size/weight and all the potential hassle.

And I'm not even joking!

But if your friend is aware of this, and still goes through with it... Best friend ever!!!:thumbsup:

Like others have already said, be aware of the voltage. A step down transformer isn't very expensive but you'll need a BIG, heavy one for an SVT, which means even more hassle if you ever need to move the rig for gigs etc. Not an ideal solution IMO. Definitely not something I would personally do. Moving an SVT rig is enough hassle already, without an additional heavy transformer to carry around.
 
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#11
sugarsand said:
The SVT from the 1970's for 1700 is a really great amp and won't break down, you'll sound like a god. Newer ampegs are not very good imo. They sound good but crap out and have the noisy fan, ampeg repair services are primitive, unfriendly to working musicians and made me sell almost every ampeg piece I own out of disgust. All those Ampegs are heavy as hell. I have svt 3 that is ok sounding, and i hardly ever use it, I got sick of repairs on SVT classic. I'm old and think 1970's are still the way to go, I can't be fixed.... But then again, another option is SVP rack preamp and pair it with a local power amp. The workhorse amp I like and would snag one if I saw one for a good price, is SVT 2 non-pro, built like a tank and won't turn off mid-song, rather with go down with a fight and perhaps total electrical malfeasance. If you got the chance and and you want to go for the big gun then do that, go for the amp you always wanted, you only live once!
Click to expand...
My SVT-AV from 2005 is running fine… No, I don’t gig, it’s a permanent « fixture » in my home studio ;).
 
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#13
If the main outlet is 230 and the amp runs on 110-120V you need to step down, hence the naming. There are many step-up/step-down transformers reasonably priced and not as heavy as the old stuff. So that would not be a concern. Also, if Ampeg is using a universal power supply, a qualified technician should be able to make the conversion in minutes; so the OP would not need a transformer.

I agree with one of the above posts though, i.e., to schlep around an SVT head in a flight case is next to impossible, so the OP would need to fully inform their friend! :)

Personally, I would ask for a top of the line brand new light-weight class D amp which would work anywhere. Still US prices and some serious power under the hood, like a Bergantino Forte HD, or a Mesa D800/D800+.
 
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#14
sergemelomano said:
I'm from Buenos Aires and a friend of mine is travelling to New Jersey for the next 2 weeks.
She told me she could get me anything i wanted and responded: and Ampeg head amp. I found 2 used ones in Guitar Center's webpage:

Option 1:
[This invalid link has been removed]
Condition: Used - Good : This product is completely functional and shows some signs of use. It may have surface scratches and/or dings and dents.
$1,109.99

Option 2:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Condition: Used - Great : This product shows little signs of use and all controls are completely functional. It may have minor surface scratches.
$1,629.99

I have this one shot to make it right but, of course, it would be nice to save me a few dollars.
Already tried to call the stores but got no answer.
The live chat customer support has no additional information rather the one specified on the items details shown on the links shared.

Im anxious to hear your opinions.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if you can run it without power. You probably need to find a euro version.
sergemelomano said:
I'm from Buenos Aires and a friend of mine is travelling to New Jersey for the next 2 weeks.
She told me she could get me anything i wanted and responded: and Ampeg head amp. I found 2 used ones in Guitar Center's webpage:

Option 1:
[This invalid link has been removed]
Condition: Used - Good : This product is completely functional and shows some signs of use. It may have surface scratches and/or dings and dents.
$1,109.99

Option 2:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Condition: Used - Great : This product shows little signs of use and all controls are completely functional. It may have minor surface scratches.
$1,629.99

I have this one shot to make it right but, of course, it would be nice to save me a few dollars.
Already tried to call the stores but got no answer.
The live chat customer support has no additional information rather the one specified on the items details shown on the links shared.

Im anxious to hear your opinions.
Click to expand...
You'd even much better off having her order you one from Thomann, or somewhere in your area. That way you'd be certain that you have the export version if the amplifier.

Oh, and if she said anything, and you want an SVT, you need to order a heritage 50th. That's the one you want.
Ampeg SVT 50th Heritage Sp.Ed.


Oh, but just know that you cannot run an SVT with an 8ohm load. It needs a 4ohm or 2ohm load attached to it at all times. Pretty much every 300w amp does.
 
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#16
I worked at Alex Music for several years in the early 80's. we sold a TON of stuff to major acts in South America, especially Brazil and Argentina. the guy who managed this was Sergio Goffin. he owns Rockland Music Center in Nanuet NY. we have stayed in touch over the years. I suggest contacting him and getting his suggestions - (845) 624-5470 and [email protected]. tell him Al Hospers told you to contact him. good luck...
 
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#20
logdrum said:
Everyone is assuming the OP did not take into account the weigh. Maybe the friend is not flying commercial but a crew of a cargo plane or actually owns a private plane with assistants all around.
Click to expand...
You have any female friends that fly in cargo/private planes with "assistants all around"? Any of your friends? It's a safe assumption this is just a regular person visiting the states on a typical commercial plane. Especially because it's a 2 week trip to New Jersey, nobody with a private jet spends 2 weeks in Jersey. Why go out on such a limb to make this sound better than how it ACTUALLY sounds, maybe we are saving this guy from losing a friend for such a large ask?

One of my ex's (college days) I lived with for 4 years was Japanese and in the beginning when she was planning a trip to see her family she'd ask friends if they wanted anything. Inevitably, she would always have a couple of "friends" that would literally ask for a whole shopping trips worth of food/snacks. Sometimes even the American friends would ask for something really heavy and she'd try to bring whatever she could back but eventually she just had to quit asking those people because they would always try to take advantage of her. It happens alot with people who travel back on forth to a country and they ask their "friends" if they want anything. Happened to her legit friends alot too. People just will take advantage if the friend is a little too nice like Megumi was and it's just sad because she was trying to bring a little joy to people who were homesick.
 
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