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Finally! Ampeg collection is completed. HOLY GRAIL!

Do vintage cabinets/speakers sound better than modern cabs/speakers?

  • Total voters
    43
70spbase

70spbase

Fender/Ampeg for over 30 years!Portaflex #449
Supporting Member
Nov 30, 2011
530
1,145
Las Vegas
#1
I have looked for 11 years and have been collecting for 25 years.... Yikes! SO here is the elusive 1969 ampeg SBT preamp. Probably more of a rarity than a Dodo bird. It had been stripped of its tolex in the '70's by the original owner that I bought it from in Atlanta. SO I had to re-tolex it. Also finally picked up an ampeg B40 4x10 with CTS speakers and I know a lot of people think it's not a good power monster with a 120 watt rating. But I will tell you from experience with every bass cab ampeg has made (popular) ones - 410HE, SVT 810, V-4B, B-25B, V-6B, 210HE, 410HLF, SVT48HE, 215E.... This guy stands tall 30"! It has the scooped sub low end and I have been running the V-6B 160 watts at 8 ohms and the cabinet is more than capable. The cabinet was in Chicago area and unmolested practically mint condition. Thanks for looking, and thanks for having this community to share our obsession and gift for music.
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#6
PhantomGuitar said:
Ready to play The Pusher now?

I've always heard George Biondo used SBT's with a Scroll bass.
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George is my good friend ;) and he did, indeed, use an SBT rig with a Scroll bass:



But he said the power amp in the cab was always breaking down on him, so he eventually replaced it with an SVT.
 
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#7
JimmyM said:
George is my good friend ;) and he did, indeed, use an SBT rig with a Scroll bass:



But he said the power amp in the cab was always breaking down on him, so he eventually replaced it with an SVT.
Click to expand...



As for the power amp I can attest to that.... All four output transistors on mine were melted.
 
#8
Well at least the pres lasted for the most part, so that's the important thing. I wonder how many of them are still floating around. Can't be a whole lot, eh? More than 5 ;) but I wonder if they did more than a couple hundred...
 
#10
JimmyM said:
Well at least the pres lasted for the most part, so that's the important thing. I wonder how many of them are still floating around. Can't be a whole lot, eh? More than 5 ;) but I wonder if they did more than a couple hundred...
Click to expand...

Yah as for the preamp it is in EC sonically. The original owner had worked for SLM as an exec and prior was an engineer and has amassed an incredible collection that makes mine or even JOHNK's stuff pale in comparison. Off the top of my head I recall 6 V-4B rigs (folded horn cabs) 20 V-4 full stacks 10 V-2 stacks and every combo think VT-22, GU-12, and even some of those Rocket,Mercury, and Jet combo's...that was the first room. The amp tech I have been using has the Power Amp all buttoned up and has added a wiring option for the extra input jack to act as a power amp bypass and use the cabinet as just a cab....to run any of the heads into. It smokes the other 2x15 Mesa cab that I tested against. 421A's man, just sound beautiful. As far as production or what is left floating around I would love to know. I have embarked on building a companion cab since I doubt I'll find another cab. I have an A-120 power amp slave and I am going to build an SBT utilizing that amp in there with a couple 16 OHM speakers to facilitate the 8 OHM min load for the A-120.
 
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#11
For some reason, I see more SBT heads than cabs. The SBT head is full of one type of transistor that some people like to use in pedals. So some SBT's are used for parts because of this.

All the ones that I've seen, including my head, were made in 1969. I've wondered if they were all made that year.

I like to use mine as a pedal, feeding the output into the input of another amp to overdrive the first stage.
 
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#12
beans-on-toast said:
For some reason, I see more SBT heads than cabs. The SBT head is full of one type of transistor that some people like to use in pedals. So some SBT's are used for parts because of this.

All the ones that I've seen, including my head, were made in 1969. I've wondered if they were all made that year.

I like to use mine as a pedal, feeding the output into the input of another amp to overdrive the first stage.
Click to expand...


I've only seen pics of the heads and cabs until now. Mine is most likely '69 as well...all of the pots are dated 23rd week of '69 except for two that are 48th week of '68. I am trying it out as a preamp into an SVT 200T and driving an SBT cab. Tonight after my gig I'll pick up the power amp and install it like it should be in the cabinet. The tone of this amp is a little less SVT than I expected and more of a B-25B overdrive. The ultra low is gutsy thud when engaged. But flat it has that dry barky '70's tone. All components are original. So maybe it needs a cap or 20. Haha!
 
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#13
70spbase said:
I've only seen pics of the heads and cabs until now. Mine is most likely '69 as well...all of the pots are dated 23rd week of '69 except for two that are 48th week of '68. I am trying it out as a preamp into an SVT 200T and driving an SBT cab. Tonight after my gig I'll pick up the power amp and install it like it should be in the cabinet. The tone of this amp is a little less SVT than I expected and more of a B-25B overdrive. The ultra low is gutsy thud when engaged. But flat it has that dry barky '70's tone. All components are original. So maybe it needs a cap or 20. Haha!
Click to expand...

Often all the pots are from around the same time but it isn't unusual to have a mix. My pots are all dated 6943 and one is 6911.

I wouldn't expect it to sound like a tube amp but except for the transistors, the designs are similar. A recap certainly wouldn't hurt.

Let us know how the power amp sounds with the pre.
 
#14
AMPEG SBT PREAMP - Finding this article of the acquisition of the SBT preamp and trying to recreate the SBT powered cabinet is very interesting. I purchased one NEW SBT powered cabinet factory loaded with Altec 421 in Florida 1972 and preamped with a BT25 and then moved on to an SVT. The SBT was the most versatile powered cabinet. The curved Aluminum port with the Altec 15s made all the difference. I had an SVT driving SVT 810 cabinet and feeding the SBT cabinet adjustable variable volume control on the rear SBT amp panel or SVT powered folded 18" and feeding the SBT powered cabinet. The Altec 421 45-8K Hz is significantly different than other 15s made for bass guitar. I sold the SVT heads / 810/ 18" folded cabinet and SBT in 1982. Years later in 1992 in order reproduce the SBT I obtained a twin JBL 2206 LF with JBL 2445 HF biamped cabinet that does not say Ampeg. You are pursuing a remarkable Ampeg preamp and bass cabinet.
 
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#15
Congrats!
I had a BT15.
Are these pres similar with the exception of mine not having a mid control?
It was a really good sounding amp and I liked it better than the B15 I had at the same time due to the 100 watts.

+1 on 421's
(I think mine are 421A's)
I have a pair in an old Peavey 2x15 cabinet with an SVP-CL pre and SVP1500.
Needless to say the volume stays way down but the tone is really nice.
 
#18
70spbase said:
I have looked for 11 years and have been collecting for 25 years.... Yikes! SO here is the elusive 1969 ampeg SBT preamp. Probably more of a rarity than a Dodo bird. It had been stripped of its tolex in the '70's by the original owner that I bought it from in Atlanta. SO I had to re-tolex it. Also finally picked up an ampeg B40 4x10 with CTS speakers and I know a lot of people think it's not a good power monster with a 120 watt rating. But I will tell you from experience with every bass cab ampeg has made (popular) ones - 410HE, SVT 810, V-4B, B-25B, V-6B, 210HE, 410HLF, SVT48HE, 215E.... This guy stands tall 30"! It has the scooped sub low end and I have been running the V-6B 160 watts at 8 ohms and the cabinet is more than capable. The cabinet was in Chicago area and unmolested practically mint condition. Thanks for looking, and thanks for having this community to share our obsession and gift for music.View attachment 605206View attachment 605207View attachment 605208View attachment 605209View attachment 605210
Click to expand...
Great Job! Very Nice!
 

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