Ampeg SVT-VR Vintage Reissue 300W

[Lackey]

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.

Ed I didn't check your profile but I'm guessing your day job is contract killer.

 

[Ed Bloom]

Ed I didn't check your profile but I'm guessing your day job is contract killer.

LOL! Close, in a way, I used to do international negotiations for the Department of Defense. I'm now retired.

 

[bobyoung53]

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.

Thanks @Wasnex SVT's break down here and there of course like most amps but they've been really reliable for me, I've been using them since the mid 70's, good idea to have them checked though from a good tech who knows them. I have a tech in Boston who does all my tube stuff. I have all 70's heads. I've flown a head back and forth between Lima, Peru and Boston twice. I completely cover it with thick cardboard with holes for the handles, put fragile and HEAVY! stickers all over it and pay between 100.00 and 200.00 to fly it. This with a layover in Miami, not fun but it's doable. The only time I had a problem is when I missed the flight and my wife had some moron in the airport in Lima put it right on top of an unstable load of luggage on a cart and it fell onto the cement floor and a preamp tube half popped out. Another time one fell off the top of an 8x10 cab onto a cement sidewalk (years ago not in an airport), it made a little crater in the cement but didn't do anything to the head. Don't know about the new ones (anything newer than early 80's, no experience with them) but the old ones are almost indestructible, they will play with bad tubes and you'll hardly notice the difference. I left a studio once and left one in the middle of the parking lot, the owner found it later on and brought it back in. Did the weight keep it from being stolen?

 

[bobyoung53]

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

The 70's heads can be converted to 220, don't know about the new ones, he'll need a tech to do it as it involves moving a primary tranny wire. I've also used 220-110 transformers with them, it's a pain. I bought a 220 SVT head in Lima but they're very rare there, probably more common in Argentina. I had the 220 head converted to 110 when I brought it back here.

 

[Patrice B]

Thanks @Wasnex SVT's break down here and there of course like most amps but they've been really reliable for me, I've been using them since the mid 70's, good idea to have them checked though from a good tech who knows them. I have a tech in Boston who does all my tube stuff. I have all 70's heads. I've flown a head back and forth between Lima, Peru and Boston twice. I completely cover it with thick cardboard with holes for the handles, put fragile and HEAVY! stickers all over it and pay between 100.00 and 200.00 to fly it. This with a layover in Miami, not fun but it's doable. The only time I had a problem is when I missed the flight and my wife had some moron in the airport in Lima put it right on top of an unstable load of luggage on a cart and it fell onto the cement floor and a preamp tube half popped out. Another time one fell off the top of an 8x10 cab onto a cement sidewalk (years ago not in an airport), it made a little crater in the cement but didn't do anything to the head. Don't know about the new ones (anything newer than early 80's, no experience with them) but the old ones are almost indestructible, they will play with bad tubes and you'll hardly notice the difference. I left a studio once and left one in the middle of the parking lot, the owner found it later on and brought it back in. Did the weight keep it from being stolen?

New ones could be finicky with their « protection circuit » if a tube goes bad! Mine did once the green-red LED dance (with no sound obviously) at startup but it didn’t happened again since I got JJ’s KT-88 instead of Svetlana’s 6550 or OEM Sovtek’s.

 

[direktor]

I’ll be honest, I’d be surprised if the economics of flying with this head work out. Over 75lbs and most airlines will really ream you on fees, and that’s even IF all the carriers involved will allow over 75 for international.

Then there’s the pulling of the tubes by your friend, and getting it packed safely. I could see easily another $300 in expenses, if it can even be done. (Again, some airlines won’t do over 75)

I think this all is a huge ask for a friend, too.

 

[bobyoung53]

I’ll be honest, I’d be surprised if the economics of flying with this head work out. Over 75lbs and most airlines will really ream you on fees, and that’s even IF all the carriers involved will allow over 75 for international.

Then there’s the pulling of the tubes by your friend, and getting it packed safely. I could see easily another $300 in expenses, if it can even be done. (Again, some airlines won’t do over 75)

I think this all is a huge ask for a friend, too.

American airlines will let you fly them for $200.00, I never pulled the tubes, just covered them completely with pieces of thick cardboard taped together with duct tape.

 

[MojoPin]

OP completely abandoned this thread is seems. Guess we'll see him post again when he needs something in another year or so when he needs more info about something bass related. Guess that's to be expected considering the nature of this post to begin with.

 

[agedhorse]

Beware that there are versions of the SVT that are 120V/60Hz only and there are versions that are have 120/240V primaries. Transformers sometimes get replaced and when this happens, often 120V primaries are used. There's no way for sure to know without examining the transformer itself.