What’s wrong with this SVT-CL?

[Nevada Pete]

First, don't do anything that invalidates the warranty.

Second, IMO it's not a good idea to be delving into the innards of electrical gear, trying to fix a problem, especially with a new purchase. Return the item, get them to fix it, check it out and then buy it back if it's OK.

It doesn't make sense to me to purchase something, particularly a used bass head, that is fraught with problems.

 

[Greg Lastname]

Well it’s official, power amp section works fine. I think it’s worth popping in some tubes (I have some fresh 12ax7s on hand) to get my last 2 weeks out of the trial. I didn’t get enough experience to decide if I wanted to keep it; it died 2 hours after I brought in the rumble 500 and an 810.

 

[Greg Lastname]

I’ve learned from playing guitar that tube amps always have the potential for issues. (My Budda Superdrive 30 blew some power supply caps once) Perhaps this is just a reminder that with an SVT it ‘could’ be more expensive.. (entire repair on the SD30 cost less than a set of tubes for this beast) I’ll dig into it tomorrow and see.

 

[JimmyM]

Well it’s official, power amp section works fine. I think it’s worth popping in some tubes (I have some fresh 12ax7s on hand) to get my last 2 weeks out of the trial. I didn’t get enough experience to decide if I wanted to keep it; it died 2 hours after I brought in the rumble 500 and an 810.

Do them one at a time so you find the true culprit and don't end up throwing out good tubes. I suspect it's only a pre tube, too. And of course you want to keep it if it fixes it, bro...unless you want to wait for the Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT in November, but it'll be a heck of a lot more than you paid for the HSVT-CL!

 

[Wasnex]

Well it’s official, power amp section works fine. I think it’s worth popping in some tubes (I have some fresh 12ax7s on hand) to get my last 2 weeks out of the trial. I didn’t get enough experience to decide if I wanted to keep it; it died 2 hours after I brought in the rumble 500 and an 810.

I would roll a fresh 12AX7 through the preamp. If that doesn't fix the problem, it's probably best to return it. IMHO $1760 is a fair price for a working amp, but not enough of a bargain to offset potential repair costs.

 

[JimmyM]

First, don't do anything that invalidates the warranty.

Second, IMO it's not a good idea to be delving into the innards of electrical gear, trying to fix a problem, especially with a new purchase. Return the item, get them to fix it, check it out and then buy it back if it's OK.

What did the amp cost? $1000 - $1500? What's the worst case scenario for the repair bill? $500 -$800? Those are not good odds. I understand you really want this amp, but you've got to be thinking with your head, not your heart. IMO it's not worth the risk, send it back!!!

As Sgt. Hulka said to Pvt. Psycho in Stripes, "Lighten up, Francis!"

Tubes are user serviceable parts, and Ampeg makes them to make tube swaps as easy as possible for the user, so swapping tubes will not void the warranty. Second, what if he returns it and all it needed was a pre tube? We've already established the power section is fine, and that's a classic symptom of a bum tube.

 

[Nevada Pete]

Well it’s official, power amp section works fine. I think it’s worth popping in some tubes (I have some fresh 12ax7s on hand) to get my last 2 weeks out of the trial. I didn’t get enough experience to decide if I wanted to keep it; it died 2 hours after I brought in the rumble 500 and an 810.

I'll bet that Rumble 500 would sound good with an 810!

 

[Greg Lastname]

I swapped the 2 preamp tubes in the front section and that appears to have fixed it. No more pops coming out of standby and no cutting out. Gonna button it up and see if it holds.

I did end up using the rumble 500 on the (Fender) 810 when the SVT quit. It sounded good but is voiced very differently. Doesn’t have the low end that the Ampeg does. (I’m running ultra low on) I almost feel that the 810 is wasted on the Rumble; I was ‘nearly’ equally impressed with my friend’s rumble 500 210 combo.