Svt 1972

[guybassman]

Bought an Ampeg svt 1972 yesterday. It's loaded with 14 General Electric tubes and is in pristine condition. I already own an Svt 1976-79 loaded with Svetlanas. Is there going to be a lot of difference in sound?

 

[Metropolis_488]

Isn't the 72 wired differently

 

[svtb15]

3) Guitar players that tell the bass player to lower his/her volume


When a guitar player tells me to turn lower, I know that means that it is just right out front and the bass is where it should be...

 

[timv]

There will probably be a difference in sound, how much depends on how old the ge's are, if the ge's are all good, the older one should sound better. GE's are the 6550 in many peoples eyes, or ears. I've heard good and bad about svetlana's, microphonics, etc..... The internal components are pretty much the same. The older ones electrolytic caps are older and could be needing replacement if not already done. Best way to tell is to try them both out.

 

[KingOfAmps]

Bought an Ampeg svt 1972 yesterday.

Now that's what I call a bass amp!

 

[KeithBMI]

1972 was a horrible year for Ampeg. I suggest that you send that to me as soon as possible. I will take that pile of junk off your hands.

 

[metron]

Congratulations! I want one so bad. Remember lift with your legs so you dont become one of the TB "I have a bad back" crew.

 

[SuperDuck]

Hmm... I had an SVT that was just like that, except the power switch was a rocker type, and the standby was in the back. Would that have made it an earlier amp or a later one?

 

[KingOfAmps]

Hmm... I had an SVT that was just like that, except the power switch was a rocker type, and the standby was in the back. Would that have made it an earlier amp or a later one?

The one pic'd above, if stock, will have the stand-by on the rear.

The other toggle on the front is "polarity".

I thought the later (but still original vintage) SVTs with rocker style switches had 3-prong AC cables and therefore no polarity switch which opened up that slot on the front for the stand-by??

 

[timv]

All of the old, vintage SVT's had the standby on the back, I believe they felt that was safer than running the high DC voltage through the connector up to the preamp chassis through a standby switch and back through the connector again. Once they did away with the polarity switch, I think it was the power on light in that spot.

 

[KingOfAmps]

Once they did away with the polarity switch, I think it was the power on light in that spot.

Yep, that's right. I forgot about that.

 

[teedub]

Bought an Ampeg svt 1972 yesterday. It's loaded with 14 General Electric tubes and is in pristine condition. I already own an Svt 1976-79 loaded with Svetlanas. Is there going to be a lot of difference in sound?

Pristine is RIGHT! How on earth did you find such a gem, and who had the nerve to keep it in their closet for 30+ years?!?!? I've never seen such a clean, minty, classic SVT in my life.

 

[tanuki]

i got a simular condition one off a guy over on the dude pit,

there really is no substitute for these things!

I think im gonna get bad knees before i get a bad back!!

 

[chadds]

I agree with KeithBMI. That is junk and you don't want to hurt any part of your body so I'll come over and get it. Do you a favor as it were. It doesn't even look like the newish ones and who needs power tubes? Here I come...it's only right the responsible thing to do......

 

[ETEcarmine]

I hear that there's hardly any difference at all in sound between the early 70s and late 70s SVTs. I own a '76 - '79 SVT too and I don't think I would ever need to buy an earlier one. Once you set up your '72, please tell me if you hear any difference between the 2 heads. PM me I guess.

Thanks!