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Ampeg VT-22 combo, some help? Speaker Identification, etc

O

oldsoundz

Jun 18, 2007
10
0
#1
Hello. I am new here and have recently acquired a VT-22 combo amp. This is a guitar amp but has some history for being used as a bass amp. Hope I'm in the right place.

I'm hoping someone out if the speakers are original, also to find someone familiar with the vt 22 and ask some opinions. They have no real identifying marks except for a small sticker on each with 3 lines of numbers.

"005379
465-418
12T6-10"

I have it taken apart, as the amp itself is ready to go see my tech, and the cabinet is going to be refinished. I decided to remove the speakers as well and check them out. The numbers on the stickers resemble nothing mentioned on the bluemuse (ampeg amp dating) site.

It has the Black control panel graphics with square corners (72-75)
Metal "a" logo (68-72)

This amp seems to be a rare one? has a 7th knob outside of the square design on the faceplate, that I have been unable to find on others. Unfortunately, most of the lettering/etc is missing from the faceplate, and I can't tell for sure what it is. The amp was working when I got it, but has obvious issues and I am sending it in to be checked before I go any further.

and ASSUMING that what I think is the serial number IS the serial number (can anyone please let me know where to find it for sure on a vt 22?), the amp was built the first week of 1972.

Maybe this will help to determine about the speakers? I don't know. I'm still trying to pull info together.

Anything help would be greatly appreciated.

Chris
 

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#3
oldsoundz said:
Anything help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

465 is Oxford. The speaker manufacturer codes are here:

Invalid Link Removed

Ted Weber can probably tell you more about those specific drivers. Ned Carlson at Triode Electronics in Chicago (http://www.triodeelectronics.com/) knows a ton about old Ampegs too. You might also ping Psycho Bass Guy here on TB.
 
#4
Passinwind said:
465 is Oxford. The speaker manufacturer codes are here:

Invalid Link Removed

Ted Weber can probably tell you more about those specific drivers. Ned Carlson at Triode Electronics in Chicago (http://www.triodeelectronics.com/) knows a ton about old Ampegs too. You might also ping Psycho Bass Guy here on TB.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much!:bassist:

Would you imagine it possible for these speakers to be original to the VT 22? Or anyone? If original, I'll keep them with me, store them away. However, I am a JBL guy and intend to load it up with just that.
 
#5
oldsoundz said:
Thanks so much!:bassist:

Would you imagine it possible for these speakers to be original to the VT 22? Or anyone? If original, I'll keep them with me, store them away. However, I am a JBL guy and intend to load it up with just that.
Click to expand...

I'd think there's a pretty good chance they're original. They look like the right vintage at least. Try the sources I cited, then PM me me if you don't get a definitive answer. My kung fu is strong, but I'm a little lazy.

Don't run bass through them, for sure.;)
 
#7
oldsoundz said:
Hehe, no way. If i were to put bass to it, there would be extensive modding involved... including a sealed enclosure to begin things :) I'll give it a closer look, thanks.
Click to expand...

Looks like the T series Oxford was rated for something ~25 watts RMS for the 12s : http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender2.html (scroll down to speaker section).
 
#8
Wow. I hope the speakers aren't original, that would be a bad choice considering how powerful the amp is. Hopefully a decent JBL of this type won't be too expensive... I mostly know their home audio. Time to check out good 'ol ebay... Thanks for all the help.
 
#9
oldsoundz said:
Wow. I hope the speakers aren't original, that would be a bad choice considering how powerful the amp is. Hopefully a decent JBL of this type won't be too expensive... I mostly know their home audio. Time to check out good 'ol ebay... Thanks for all the help.
Click to expand...

The other popular driver back then for larger combo amps was the Jensen C12N, which also wouldn't handle all that much power.

If JBLs are too spendy, you might want to take a look at the Weber speakers. The California series sounds a lot like a JBL, the Michigan like an EV, etc.
 
#11
Psycho Bass Guy said:
Those are cheapie Oxfords, probably out of a mid 70's Bassman cab; they are crap drivers for bass and not original. The VT22 came stock with CTS speakers with an option to upgrade to Altecs if you wanted more highs. The VT22 is the combo version of the V4 and is an excellent bass amp.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. How much experience do you have with the VT22? I know you're likely more versed in the v4 head being a bassist, but if you can offer an opinion on speaker choice, I'd love to hear it.

I'm torn on what to do here. I play bass and have always wanted a nice vintage ampeg. This came up and turned out to be a guitar amp, but I got it at a deal anyway. Now do I restore it (as I had originally planned) and play a guitar through it, or harvest the amp for use as a bass head and leave the rest (which IS in fairly poor shape, needing new speakers, and the cabinet needs to be re-supported and re-covered) to rot?

I hate the idea of doing that to a vintage amp. Only makes sense, because I loved the idea of restoring it. However, I don't know how much use it'd get as a combo guitar amp around here.
 
#12
oldsoundz said:
Thanks for the reply. How much experience do you have with the VT22?
Click to expand...

I've got one, but it doesn't stay at my house.

I know you're likely more versed in the v4 head being a bassist, but if you can offer an opinion on speaker choice, I'd love to hear it.
Click to expand...

The VT22 was Ampeg's answer to the Fender Twin, so JBL's are a good, if brighter, choice. If you're more interested in tone than names, one of the best sounding Twins I ever heard had a pair of Peavey Scorpion 12's. They sounded great. A Twin is slightly brighter than the VT22 which has better mids and a tighter bottom, so it really depends on your taste. A couple of EVM12's in a sealed cab would work wonders for guitar or bass, just don't expect loads of low end at high volume.

I'm torn on what to do here. I play bass and have always wanted a nice vintage ampeg. This came up and turned out to be a guitar amp, but I got it at a deal anyway. Now do I restore it (as I had originally planned) and play a guitar through it, or harvest the amp for use as a bass head and leave the rest (which IS in fairly poor shape, needing new speakers, and the cabinet needs to be re-supported and re-covered) to rot?
Click to expand...

It's worth restoring as a guitar amp, and if you want to play bass, just disconnect the internal speakers and run out to a bass cab.

I hate the idea of doing that to a vintage amp. Only makes sense, because I loved the idea of restoring it. However, I don't know how much use it'd get as a combo guitar amp around here.
Click to expand...

Look for the CTS 12's first: they're cheap on eBay.
 
#13
The Ampeg book lists the VT-22 speakers as:

CTS 12", Eminence 12" 28-or 40-oz. magnet,......Altec 417B The Altec was listed as an alternate speaker, probably an upgrade.

My first bass rig consisted of a VT-22 and a really crappy Fender 15" bottom. Har!

bassrig2.jpg


BTW, I replaced the speakers in the VT-22 with Weber Californias (webervst.com), and they're great - for guitar.

It isn't necessary to change the speakers and seal the cab to play bass through the '22. just unplug the speakers in back of the chassis, and plug in a bass cab. If it's too heavy and cumbersome to lug the whole combo around, have vibroworld or someone make a V4-like head cab, and bolt the chassis in it. That way you can switch between using it as a head or combo at will.

Have you removed the chassis from the cabinet yet? There may be a schematic with the date on it glued to the top of the chassis. Mine had one.
 
#14
Edword said:
Have you removed the chassis from the cabinet yet? There may be a schematic with the date on it glued to the top of the chassis. Mine had one.
Click to expand...

I have removed, it, yes, and I did not find a schematic. The face looks like yours (with the metal toggles) except it's got one more knob. And actually, up until taking this pic, I thought the faceplate had black on it. Wrong, it's blue, making it older for sure.


As for the weber californians, did you go for the alnico or ceramic versions? I think I could get the real deal JBL, and have them fully reconed for less than their alnico model.
 

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#15
oldsoundz said:
I have removed, it, yes, and I did not find a schematic. The face looks like yours (with the metal toggles) except it's got one more knob. And actually, up until taking this pic, I thought the faceplate had black on it. Wrong, it's blue, making it older for sure.


As for the weber californians, did you go for the alnico or ceramic versions? I think I could get the real deal JBL, and have them fully reconed for less than their alnico model.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I saw that yours is a blue-line model, so it's likely a '69 - '72 like mine. I don't know why a VT-22 of that era would have seven knobs, maybe it's a mod.

I got the ceramic Californias, and I'm glad I did. The '22 is so clean that I once used it as a P.A. in an emergency (running only one mike). Wasn't as loud as I would've liked, but definitely better than nothing!
 
#18
Mine looks like edwords. I am not clear on the value of the VT-22's, but I bought mine with the original vinyl cover, so it's pretty minty (Chelsea Guitars had it on repair and told me that GE Smith wanted to buy it. Dunno if I believe them...)

Anyway, sounds like you'd get more use out of it building a head cabinet for it and using it as a V4.

I'd love to hear how it turns out.

and i agree about the 7th knob being a mod... another reason to turn it into the bass amp that it truly wants to be!
 
#19
Cool. I've decided to restore it and get myself a bass cab. That's definitely the best option. It would hurt me too much to kill it. Got it at the tech, he's gonna take a look at that 7th knob when he goes over it. Getting a nice matched quad of GE 6v6g. Blah blah, this 'n that. I'll have it back in less than a week and he's also gonna give me 3 sets of speakers to check out in it :) CTS, some other random ones... and some jensens i think. Can't wait.
 

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