/ Register

Can anyone identify my Ampeg SVT?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by jackn1202, Jul 11, 2021.

  1. Jul 11, 2021 #1
    jackn1202

    jackn1202

    Feb 14, 2018
    Austin, TX
    Picked up this absolute stone over the weekend. Always dreamt of having an SVT, now I got one. Don’t know what model it is though, tried tracking the serial and didn’t really get anywhere with it. All I know is it’s in beautiful condition for something that seems so old. Anyone out there that can tell me what exactly I bought?

    4FC30277-C1F9-4B35-A054-74371F63CDFF.jpeg 07916AC9-FE83-4630-901C-3CC10272D7CA.jpeg
     
    Buster Brown, PrinceByTor, Peter Torning and 4 others like this.
  2. Jul 11, 2021 #2
    coreyfyfe

    coreyfyfe Supporting Member

    Nov 19, 2007
    boston, ma
    MTI era, made in Japan in the early to mid 80s
     
    Raw N Low, Funk With Me, JimmyM and 1 other person like this.
  3. Jul 11, 2021 #3
    jackn1202

    jackn1202

    Feb 14, 2018
    Austin, TX
    What does MTI era mean? Anything special about ‘em?
     
  4. Jul 11, 2021 #4
    jackn1202

    jackn1202

    Feb 14, 2018
    Austin, TX
    Just found an old thread on here from a million years ago that explains this. Y’all feel free to chime in and discuss, but I think I got my answers.
     
  5. Jul 11, 2021 #5
    coreyfyfe

    coreyfyfe Supporting Member

    Nov 19, 2007
    boston, ma
    MTI bought the ampeg brand from Magnavox in 1980 or so, moved production to Japan, then eventually sold the brand to SLM in 1986.

    Circuit-wise not really much different from the 70s models. When 12DW7s went out of production they changed the amps over to 12AX7s, it was just a few resistor changes.

    upload_2018-5-5_11-21-41-jpeg.jpg
     
    KaraQ and jackn1202 like this.
  6. Jul 11, 2021 #6
    jackn1202

    jackn1202

    Feb 14, 2018
    Austin, TX
    Thanks much for the info!
     
    coreyfyfe likes this.
  7. Jul 11, 2021 #7
    Funk With Me

    Funk With Me

    Jul 28, 2020
    Southern California
    That is a mighty fine looking SVT !!
     
    jackn1202 likes this.
  8. Jul 12, 2021 #8
    Raw N Low

    Raw N Low If I can't hear it, hopefully I'll feel it Supporting Member

    Jul 16, 2009
    Denver, Colorado
    Mighty fine indeed. The MTI and the Black Line SVT are probably my favorite two of the variants. I noticed that you're using this for guitar -- totally killer! If possible, be sure the check out the Ampeg V3 and the V7 (MTI amps), these are Marshall JCM 800 circuits with a little more punch.
     
    jackn1202 likes this.
  9. Jul 13, 2021 #9
    Jazz Ad

    Jazz Ad Mi la ré sol

    Mar 16, 2002
    Langueux, Brittany, France
    Don't leave your guitar there. SVTs are known to snack on them.
     
    Funk With Me likes this.
  10. Jul 13, 2021 #10
    JimmyM

    JimmyM Supporting Member

    Apr 11, 2005
    Apopka, FL
    Endorsing: Yamaha, Ampeg, Line 6, EMG
    Said it before and I'll say it again...MTI SVT's are underappreciated and IMHO just as good as any of them.
     
    jackn1202, Funk With Me and msb like this.
  11. Jul 14, 2021 #11
    jackn1202

    jackn1202

    Feb 14, 2018
    Austin, TX
    Thanks much! Yeah, I bought it for bass but I’ve also always been of the mind that instead of buying a cheap bass rig and a cheap guitar rig, I may as well consolidate the money into just getting a nice bass rig and running my guitar through that. Won’t hurt the amp, and imo sounds fantastic. Especially if it’s an SVT! This thing cost me two weeks’ pay, but it’s worth every dollar.

    As for it being an MTI, I think it’s the only SVT that looks as menacing as it sounds. Most of the old ones look beautiful, but maybe a little too friendly for the thrashing they dish out.
     
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2021
    Raw N Low likes this.