On a vintage SVT mission

[Frome]

The 1st pics are a 76-79. $1300 is a good price for a good working example. What kind of tubes are in it, brand?

The 71' with a cabinet is a good price also. The 71' should be blue face, what type of tubes are in it?

I do not think either of those should have any original caps in them still. If any original caps are still in these heads, I would recommend getting the caps replaced as a good maintenance on them.

Not sure on the tubes in the first set of pics. He said he had it serviced a couple of years ago and they replaced two caps.

The head on the deal that included the 71 cab is a 78, they are not matching. Unfortunately he fired it up this weekend to make sure everything was tip top before selling and he liked it so much he decided to keep it.

Whichever one I land on I plan to have it serviced right off the bat to be sure.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Have you looked at a Yamaha built and backed 50th anniversary heritage SVT?
I've owned a blue line and MTI era SVT.

This head is on point tone wise, and has a DI out.

No, it's not point to point wired, but sonically it has the goods.

 

[Frome]

Actually that's where I started. Everything I've read indicates they sound great and I do typically prefer current production stuff from a reliability standpoint. That said, $3k VS $1300 for one that's been serviced and is only second owner makes a lot more sense for me. He has the matching cab and while it's stripped and butt ugly he only wants $350 for it. I can get
The whole rig for half of what the heritage head alone costs new.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Paid 1450 for mine a year ago.

 

[Frome]

Paid 1450 for mine a year ago.

The whole rig or just the head?

 

[/\/\3phist0]

The whole rig or just the head?

Head only.

LabSeries L4, Kappalite loaded 2x15
Was a separate bargain

 

[Frome]

Head only.

LabSeries L4, Kappalite loaded 2x15
Was a separate bargain

Bet it rocks!

 

[JimmyM]

Head only.

LabSeries L4, Kappalite loaded 2x15
Was a separate bargain

There's a name I haven't heard in a while. They actually had good stuff for its time.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

There's a name I haven't heard in a while. They actually had good stuff for its time.

Good stuff to be sure
Gibson / Norlin / Moog DNA

The cab came to me empty.
After contacting Eminence and verifying the Kappas would be happy in the Cab, I threw down the cash for the Kappas.
The L4 cost 100, add the kappas and all told under 500 total for a 75# 900 watt 4ohm 120+ DB cab?

Love it, so does the SVT, and the Mesa, and the Trace Elliott GP7 SM150.

 

[Frome]

The beast has arrived!

 

[Frome]

Sounds great, fan noise is annoying. It's in better shape than I expected. Everything rattles in my studio area when I play it. May need to relocate to the basement.

 

[Wasnex]

fan noise is annoying.

Most obnoxious fan of any amp I have ever played. I hardly notice now.

 

[Frome]

Most obnoxious fan of any amp I have ever played. I hardly notice now.

I do plan to do some recording with it, hope it doesn't pick up.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I do plan to do some recording with it, hope it doesn't pick up.

It will, isolate it from the mic / cabinet.
There is a substantially quieter fan out there, and a thread about it.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

The beast has arrived!

I like your 6 power tubes across the back better than the 3+3 in triangles, of my SVT-CL.
Maybe it doesn't matter much, but they can all be seen in a glance, and they're more likely to run at closer to the same temperature.

 

[Frome]

It will, isolate it from the mic / cabinet.
There is a substantially quieter fan out there, and a thread about it.

I'll check it out thanks.

 

[Frome]

Had my first opportunity to wind it up today and it is everything I had hoped for. Still experimenting but the normal input, channel 1, boost switches off, volume and treble at noon, mid toggle at 800 Hz, dial about 1:00, bass rolled off to about 10:00, is what bass should sound like to me. I'm playing a Mexican J bass, really love the bridge pickup with treble rolled off.

 

[Frome]

Read some posts about using a pedal in the loop as an attenuator of sorts. I have a Two Rock that has essentially a dumbleator, active, tube buffered effects loop that works wonderfully as a second master volume. Wondering what if anything I could use in the SVT's loop to accomplish something similar. Would a Cali 76 stacked be a good option here?

 

[Wasnex]

Read some posts about using a pedal in the loop as an attenuator of sorts. I have a Two Rock that has essentially a dumbleator, active, tube buffered effects loop that works wonderfully as a second master volume. Wondering what if anything I could use in the SVT's loop to accomplish something similar. Would a Cali 76 stacked be a good option here?

IMHO Although you can do it, there's not much potential benefit to running a master on a vintage SVT. If you want preamp grind, get a CL.

Sensitivity of the power section is 0.25V, which equates to about -10dBu. Might be a little hot for most pedals.

I ran my MXR KFK EQ with my 87 SVT. I didn't get any distortion till the volume control on channel 1 was almost maxed out. The resulting distortion was nasty, splatty and harsh. Perhaps the KFK gave up the ghost and the preamp was still clean. Max input and max output for the KFK is 14dBv, which is about 16dBu.

 

[Frome]

IMHO Although you can do it, there's not much potential benefit to running a master on a vintage SVT. If you want preamp grind, get a CL.

Sensitivity of the power section is 0.25V, which equates to about -10dBu. Might be a little hot for most pedals.

I ran my MXR KFK EQ with my 87 SVT. I didn't get any distortion till the volume control on channel 1 was almost maxed out. The resulting distortion was nasty, splatty and harsh. Perhaps the KFK gave up the ghost and the preamp was still clean. Max input and max output for the KFK is 14dBv, which is about 16dBu.

Makes sense. Wish my Fryette Powerstation could handle the wattage it puts out, that would work great.