What is the difference between the different SVT's?

[One Drop]

TAD out of Germany sells selected and matched Chinese tubes. The set of matched burned in 6550s I got from them for my blue line SVT sound as good as the previousNOS GEs did (which drifted heavily in spite of supposedly being burned in by Watford Valves)

 

[b-bottom]

Just to triple check....

So the black SVT-CL's like this.......

Are not made in the USA

 

[Bass 45]

Just to triple check....

So the black SVT-CL's like this.......

Are not made in the USA

The SVT-CL's design did not change when the production was moved overseas (around 2008). You would need to read the back panel to see where a used CL was made.

As far as new Ampegs - the Heritage line and the Pro Neo Speaker cabs are assembled in the US - this includes the Heritage SVT-CL - which is very similar to the SVT-CL in the photo that you posted - but with different cosmetics and some slightly different internal componants.

 

[JimmyM]

Just to triple check....

So the black SVT-CL's like this.......

Are not made in the USA

They were made in the USA for 6 or 7 years with that look before the moved.

 

[Slpbass81]

I have a 2007 that was made America. 8 years and 0 problems except changing the tubes due to wear. Best investment I have ever made.

 

[JimmyM]

You must have gotten one of the last American black CL's.

 

[Slpbass81]

You must have gotten one of the last American black CL's.

I did. Switched from an old SWR rig to Ampeg and have never looked back. SLM svt and 8x10. There is probably nothing wrong with out of the country models, but I just like products at say made in America since most don't anymore.

 

[the dude]

Any time I can use an SVT, I am a happy camper, and I'm not real particular about which kind I get because they all sound basically the same...awesome with minor variations at the most. I have a 69 SVT and a Heritage SVT-CL, but I'm happy to use any of them.

Anyway, SVT's break down into two basic categories...vintage style and classic style. Here's a little timeline...and anything made up until 1992 is vintage style...

1969-71...

...wow.

Thanks Jimmy.

 

[b-bottom]

Thanks for all the info. I had no idea that the history of the SVT was so colorful

 

[JimmyM]

Yep, it's had quite the crazy ride, but it's the only bass amp in the world that's been in continuous production in one form or another since 1969.

 

[Slpbass81]

the only way anyone would get me to switch from my SVT is if Ampeg made a 300 watt all tube SVT under 50 lbs

 

[mistergoats]

I have a 2007 that was made America. 8 years and 0 problems except changing the tubes due to wear. Best investment I have ever made.

I have a 2007 810e, and it was made in China... must have been a production switch part way through the year.

 

[JimmyM]

I have a 2007 810e, and it was made in China... must have been a production switch part way through the year.

Yep. 2007 was the year.

 

[Jim C]

Yep, it's had quite the crazy ride, but it's the only bass amp in the world that's been in continuous production in one form or another since 1969.

And of equal importance, an amp that didn't get screwed up by some crap redesign fueled by bean counters trying to save another 2% gross profit

 

[Slpbass81]

Yep. 2007 was the year.

Learn something new every day. Just looked up the date of my rig according to the serial numbers and my cab was made in December 2006 and amp February 2007. I guess I need to adjust my profile to reflect the 2006 8x10.

 

[tburruss]

Resurrecting a bit of an old thread.. anybody side by side compared a vintage SVT Blue Line with one of the mid-2000s USA made SVT 2 Pro’s? I have the latter and may have an opportunity to purchase a blue line, are the vintage ones truly that special to warrant purchasing when I already own one?

 

[Wasnex]

Resurrecting a bit of an old thread.. anybody side by side compared a vintage SVT Blue Line with one of the mid-2000s USA made SVT 2 Pro’s? I have the latter and may have an opportunity to purchase a blue line, are the vintage ones truly that special to warrant purchasing when I already own one?

I have a 69 blue line and an 87 skunk. The 69 is running the original tube type 6146. I would say both sound like an SVT, but they do not sound exactly the same. The 69 seems a bit louder and bigger down low. More power and a slightly different voicing. I am not sure if the voicing differences are due to the 6146s or due to component drift. 54 years is pretty long time, so suspect the latter has some role.

Supposedly healthy amps running 6146 make a bit more power. However they are also considered a bit more fragile if you intend to push them into output drive. The screens of the 6146 have a lower dissipation rating the 6550. If the amp is running 6146 there is a vital factory mod that should have been done to make the amp more reliable. The mod was not done on my amp and it shows evidence of blowing a lot of tubes.

Around 1970 or so Ampeg changed the design to run 6550. This involved rewired the tubes sockets, installing a different power transformer, and a redesigned power PC circuit card with the factory mod I mentioned in the previous paragraph.

I have not played the SVT 2 Pro. I assume it has bit more of a gainy preamp like a CL. The vintage style preamps have a lot of headroom and no master. So if you want to push the amp into OD territory, you crank the amp until the output tubes begin to distort.

I would suggest trying a vintage style amp or if you can, try the blue line.

Whether the blue line is worth it, is entirely up to you.