Sounds like the shipping companies need to get their act together, maybe paying for the damage when the music stores have to ship 3 or 4 amps before one arrives undamaged isn't enough incentive.
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Issues with the Ampeg Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT
- Thread starter thedovewarlord
- Start date
Sounds like the shipping companies need to get their act together, maybe paying for the damage when the music stores have to ship 3 or 4 amps before one arrives undamaged isn't enough incentive.
Unit #3 is en -route, I'll report back. Keeping my vibes positive and will say even though it took a while to resolve to this point I did not feel ignored, not taking for granted by the vendor and from what I understand Ampeg as well. We're trying a different method of delivery this time so hopefully that helps.
. Fingers crossed 
.
Hopefully taking a new direction in delivery method will get an amp into your hands that you love. Let us all know how it worked out after you've received your new amp.
I've been wondering if the SVT shipping boxes have a pair of handles to grab a hold and lift during shipment? If so, does anyone got a pic of the box & handles?
Just an ordinary cardboard box without handles, basically two boxes, one inside the other with hard styrofoam on the two ends where the handles go, not packed with much protection other than that, plus two layers of cardboard. I agree, handles would be a good idea to help someone who'd job it is to handle it, might reduce the struggle and flipping around to get it off the ground.
ps, was supposed to be here on Friday, thing is delayed & stuck in Memphis, TN and no idea the ETA, hoping Monday.
Yep I agree.
I added a pair of easy to grab handles made with 3/4" Mule Tape when I shipped a used SVTCL awhile back.
I received it on Wednesday, only had a little chance to set it up and test it out. So far so good, I plan to play it (and enjoy it) this weekend and will report back. Interestingly, this one sounded a bit brighter at same settings I used on the other one, Im looking to dial in clear, but warm and found blending the two channels there's plenty of tones. Thank you for all the replies and moral support.
Mine is in shipment but not expecting to be here for another week. Got my fingers crossed it doesn't arrive damaged, with loose bolts, or loose wires. Buddy of mine has a SVT VR and had issues with his due to a bolt or washer coming loose inside.
I was about to start a new thread exactly like this one. Glad I found it. I'm literally having the same exact issues as you are right now.
Other than an Aguilar DB751 that gets occasional use, I've been using mostly lightweight stuff for years and wanted to finally pull the trigger on an all tube SVT. The 50th Anniversary Heritage seemed perfect.
I ordered the first one from MF. Pulled it out of the box and heard a "clink clink" inside. Was hoping maybe it was just a piece of a zip tie or something, so I unscrewed the grill and realized the fan wasn't even connected.
Hoping that's what the noise was, I tipped the amp, heard the "clink" again and this fell out.
Called Ampeg and they told me to send it back. The guy seemed embarrassed. Called MF and told them what happened. Waited over a week for it to be picked up - taped this to the top of the amp before I returned it.
Finally, about 3 weeks later (today), I got my replacement. I took it out of the box and see this screw and washer floating around in the plastic.
Take a look at the screw next to it in the above picture - it's also starting to come out.
Here's the hole where the screw was supposed to go:
I took the amp out of the plastic bag and realized that none of the screws on the bottom of the chassis (I think they're the ones that hold the power section in place) were really even screwed in. I snugged them all up - one of them screwed in really wobbly and felt bent.
Anyway, I was finally able to try it out today and it seemed to work ok, although there is an audible hum and I'm running power through a Furman P-1800 PF Power Factor Pro floor unit. Not sure if that's normal, but now I'm gun-shy. Are these supposed to hum a little?
Really not sure what I'm going to do at this point, but I'm seriously taken aback that there'd be this many of Ampeg's flagship 50th anniversary amp with this many assembly problems.
Is everyone here still using their amp? Any problems? Do you guys think I should ask for a third or just give up and call it a day? Sometimes I feel like I have the worst luck in the world. UGH.
Any advice is appreciated.
-Chris
Other than an Aguilar DB751 that gets occasional use, I've been using mostly lightweight stuff for years and wanted to finally pull the trigger on an all tube SVT. The 50th Anniversary Heritage seemed perfect.
I ordered the first one from MF. Pulled it out of the box and heard a "clink clink" inside. Was hoping maybe it was just a piece of a zip tie or something, so I unscrewed the grill and realized the fan wasn't even connected.
Hoping that's what the noise was, I tipped the amp, heard the "clink" again and this fell out.
Called Ampeg and they told me to send it back. The guy seemed embarrassed. Called MF and told them what happened. Waited over a week for it to be picked up - taped this to the top of the amp before I returned it.
Finally, about 3 weeks later (today), I got my replacement. I took it out of the box and see this screw and washer floating around in the plastic.
Take a look at the screw next to it in the above picture - it's also starting to come out.
Here's the hole where the screw was supposed to go:
I took the amp out of the plastic bag and realized that none of the screws on the bottom of the chassis (I think they're the ones that hold the power section in place) were really even screwed in. I snugged them all up - one of them screwed in really wobbly and felt bent.
Anyway, I was finally able to try it out today and it seemed to work ok, although there is an audible hum and I'm running power through a Furman P-1800 PF Power Factor Pro floor unit. Not sure if that's normal, but now I'm gun-shy. Are these supposed to hum a little?
Really not sure what I'm going to do at this point, but I'm seriously taken aback that there'd be this many of Ampeg's flagship 50th anniversary amp with this many assembly problems.
Is everyone here still using their amp? Any problems? Do you guys think I should ask for a third or just give up and call it a day? Sometimes I feel like I have the worst luck in the world. UGH.
Any advice is appreciated.
-Chris
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If it was me, I'd send it back. I have two SVTs that I use all the time, love them. But neither came with QC issues or shipping damage (whichever is the reason for these loose parts in yours).
I had the same experience. Bad.
I honestly think these are completely built in china and shipped here in sections where day laborers merely screw them together. And, not very well.
I went through four. I gave up.
The first had cut lines in the top of the tolex. It worked, though. Boy was in for a ride!
Second had a loose transformer that had 1 bolt that would not tighten. Everything was a bit loose but that didn't really bother me.
Third had multiple issues. Hum, pops, very crooked grill cloth installed by someone being attacked by murder hornets, fan not connected, loose screws in the amp you could hear rolling around, mystery parts in the bag.
The fourth was supposedly examined by a "tech" and was guaranteed flawless. HAHAHAHA! Damn thing didn't even power on!
So, I gave up. Chinese crap screwed together by nincompoops just so they can say "Made In USA" is not my idea of quality.
As a former president once said, "Fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again." Unless you're me, in which case I got fooled FOUR times.
I honestly think these are completely built in china and shipped here in sections where day laborers merely screw them together. And, not very well.
I went through four. I gave up.
The first had cut lines in the top of the tolex. It worked, though. Boy was in for a ride!
Second had a loose transformer that had 1 bolt that would not tighten. Everything was a bit loose but that didn't really bother me.
Third had multiple issues. Hum, pops, very crooked grill cloth installed by someone being attacked by murder hornets, fan not connected, loose screws in the amp you could hear rolling around, mystery parts in the bag.
The fourth was supposedly examined by a "tech" and was guaranteed flawless. HAHAHAHA! Damn thing didn't even power on!
So, I gave up. Chinese crap screwed together by nincompoops just so they can say "Made In USA" is not my idea of quality.
As a former president once said, "Fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again." Unless you're me, in which case I got fooled FOUR times.
Mine is working well. I just had to make sure the wires don't touch the power tubes. Sounded excellent last band practice. Replaced V1 and V5 with USA ANOS tubes.
The Heritage VR is a nice amp.
There was apparently an issue with the wire routing of the standby switch being too close to a preamp section which resulted in some hum. I would ask customer service if there's a technical note on this. See below.
There was apparently an issue with the wire routing of the standby switch being too close to a preamp section which resulted in some hum. I would ask customer service if there's a technical note on this. See below.
Thanks for the quick replies. I've got an update.
I spent some time with it today. Let it warm up in standby for 30 minutes and then started playing. As soon as I took it out of standby, the hum was terrible, but it would get louder and softer on its own.
Immediately started hearing bursts of screeching buzzes and pops, followed by an intermittent and even louder hum that would come and go as I played.
This was all way more pronounced on my Fender CS passive jazz with my pedal board in the chain. Switched to my Sadowsky 5 with HC p'ups and it got slightly better, but still unbearable.
Took my pedalboard out of the chain and it the intermittent hum seemed less, but still bursts of random crackling and popping.
Then I completely unplugged my cable from the amp and the hum was there with random bursts of harsh static and popping.
I have it all on video.
I'm completely disappointed, disgusted and any hope of me trying for a third amp is out the window. I'm washing my hands of this and getting my money back.
Ugh.
I spent some time with it today. Let it warm up in standby for 30 minutes and then started playing. As soon as I took it out of standby, the hum was terrible, but it would get louder and softer on its own.
Immediately started hearing bursts of screeching buzzes and pops, followed by an intermittent and even louder hum that would come and go as I played.
This was all way more pronounced on my Fender CS passive jazz with my pedal board in the chain. Switched to my Sadowsky 5 with HC p'ups and it got slightly better, but still unbearable.
Took my pedalboard out of the chain and it the intermittent hum seemed less, but still bursts of random crackling and popping.
Then I completely unplugged my cable from the amp and the hum was there with random bursts of harsh static and popping.
I have it all on video.
I'm completely disappointed, disgusted and any hope of me trying for a third amp is out the window. I'm washing my hands of this and getting my money back.
Ugh.
I wish I bailed after #2 -- practice volume and my amp started to screech and throw my cab into a fit, I smelled smoke this is insane
