Conference napalm::guitar

    I don't know about new Ampegs, but the old ones were the b*lls!!
    Lots of top acts used these amps in the late 60's/early 70's.  
    A friend of mine has a V4 w/4X12" cab. and it cranks big time.
    It's got great tones: from clean to crunch.  But, it's heavy
    and LOUD!
    
    	joe.

    I'll second the motion on the older Ampegs. I've had my B25-B for
    15 years and, had I entered this note Friday, could say it's never
    given me one iota of grief...
    
    Saturday night however, it made a couple (4-5) popping type noises
    it's never made before. Grrrrrrr.... Kept running though, dunno
    what to think. Doncha just hate intermittant problems???
    
    Edd

    I'll second that.  A friend of mine has an Ampeg V4-B which he uses
    for his bass and it sounds great.
    
    Greg

    
    I've seen plenty of used Vt22's for ~$250 in the want ads.  Nice amp. I
    have also played with bass players who swear by the V4-B; punchy, loud,
    and dependable.
    
    A long time ago I played through a friends SVT.  As I remember, it had
    two cabs with 8 10's in each. I would have made ears bleed if I had
    turned that sucker up enough to make it distort.  And heavy!  It did
    look nice on stage, though. 8-)
    
    Kevin
    

    
    All new Ampegs are made in the USA by St. Louis Music, the folks
    who gave us Crate, also made in USA, probably at the same factory!!!
    
    The solid state stuff looks like the old stuff on the outside, but
    inside the construction uses the same modern techniques everyone
    else uses.  The tube stuff in the guitar line, I don't know about,
    but the SVT is all that's left in the bass line and although they
    supposedly build them just as they did in the sixties, the list
    price for head and cab is $2700 !!!!!!!!!
    
    I've heard the solid-state bass stuff and the heads are nice and
    quiet, decent amount of power, good patching facilities.  I was
    unimpressed with the stock (i.e. not EV) speaker cabs but that's
    probably less of a concern for guitarists.
    
    I did call SLM for a catalog and some information on dealers.  They
    were not interested in talking to me on the phone.  I did explain
    I couldn't buy an Ampeg amp if I didn't know where to find one. 
    Pretty sorry excuse for customer relations.
    
    Overall, I don't hink you can really judge the new Ampeg by the
    old company.  Only time will tell about how good the new amps are.
    
    

    I used to have an Ampeg B22X which I used for guitar, although it
    was suitable for keyboards (perhaps more suitable for keyboards
    than guitar). This was a 2x12 combo, but is was much bigger than a
    Twin Reverb, and even heavier than a Twin. The closed-back design
    and the optional Altec Lansing speakers made this amp crank extremely
    loud with literally no distortion. This amp was constructed more
    ruggedly than any other amp I've seen. They even went as far as
    use an XLR jack to connect the power amp output to the speaker
    cabinet. I sold it and bought a Silver-faced twin reverb around 1978.
    It just didn't have the tone for guitar, compared to the Twins all
    my friends were using. 
    
    I played in a band with a guy that used an ancient Ampeg Gemini
    (I or II, can recall) for playing harmonica along with an electro-
    static mic. He used to get a really ballsy distortion sound out
    of it, but only used it for practice sessions. This was one of the
    early Ampegs that used that spiral-textured vinyl, and the crome-
    plated chassis, bat-handled knobs, etc. before they went to the 
    newer look around the mid-sixties (brushed aluminum, blue graphics,
    flat toggle switches)
     
    I read a review of a new Ampeg solid-state guitar amp. They 
    highly praised this amp, including the distortion. What strikes
    me as strange is that Ampeg used Bipolar transistors in the
    power amp section, rather than MOSFET. MOSFETs have a cross 
    conductance curve very similar to tubes, and most of the major 
    manufacturers are using MOSFETs. 
    
    Hearing is believing.
    
    Mark Jacques
    
    

    While those were real nice amps, I very much suspect that for what
    it would cost to fix he could find another one in really nice shape
    & keep the old one for spare parts.

    
    Sounds like he should remove the amp chassis, add a jackplate and
    use it for an extension speaker cabinet.   You could pick up an
    old black-face Bassman or Bandmaster head for $150 or less to drive
    it which probably would be cheaper than getting the amp fixed.
    
    

    A departing friend gave me an Ampeg VT-40; it was noisy (made a
    gawdawful crackling noise after "power chords") and missing a speaker
    (though there was a LARGE 10 ohm resistor in its place).  I have
    replaced the missing speaker, completely retubed the amp, and have
    since found the source of the nasty crackling -- cold solder joint in
    the cathode circuit of the bright channel preamp stage. 
    
    All that done, I'm not sure that the amp sounds the way it should. 
    Seems to me it should be cleaner; I think it distorts at too low a
    volume, but I never heard one fresh outta the box back when Magnavox
    owned Ampeg, so I have no point of reference.  Any of you other, uh,
    mature players out there have relevant experience with this beast?
    
    The tubes are mostly eastern european in origin (some are TNTs) with
    the exception of the 7027A power amp tubes -- they're a matched set of
    Groove Tubes, H7 rated.  The GTs came with a little flyer that talks
    about biasing your amp, but the VT-40 has no bias adjustment per se;
    adjustment could only be accomplished by replacing resistors.
    
    Anybody have technical documentation on this thing? All I have to go by
    is the schematic that Ampeg pasted to the inside of the back panel --
    and at that, the schematic shows a couple of diodes in the PA plate
    circuit that are there in the actual circuit.  I remember the repair
    tech at Friendly River (Portland, ME) said that those diodes were
    removed from later models, 'cause they created more trouble than they
    were worth.
    
    He'p me! Goot Gawd!  8^0
    
    --Chuck
    

    I just got ahold of an older (mid-late sixties is my guess) Ampeg
    Gemini 20 amp.  Actually a pretty cute piece, like a Fender Vibroverb,
    40-50 watts into 2-10s.  
    
    I notice this is the only note on Ampegs (other than brief references
    in the vintage amp note). Any ideas about why the Ampeg amp line isn't
    as well documented and known as Fenders?  
    
    The obvious answer is that noone plays 'em, but that's not really true. 
    Lots of SVTs and B15s still out there thumping away and more than a few
    other amps like VT22 combos and V4 stacks are out there.  Yet, the
    older style amps, the ones with the mirrored aluminum control panels,
    arrow head knobs and weird tube configurations, are pretty much
    neglected and unknown.  In fact, almost every time I see one, it's
    another model that I had never heard about.  Then there's the story of
    the Ampeg instruments, like the Baby Bass electric upright and those
    weird bass guitars with scroll peghaeds and f-holes on both the front
    and *back* of the body.... 
    
    Does anyone know about any books or articles on older Ampegs, like
    those on Fenders or Marshalls?
    
    							Brian

    I believe there is some talk of Ampeg in Aston Pittman's "The tube amp
    book". 
    
    I played in a band with a guy the used a little Ampeg Gemini I for
    blues harp. It was only about a 20w amp, and with the taxi-dispatch
    mic it really sounded gritty, but was perfect for harp. This was one
    of the older models with a chrome-plated chassis, swirl covering, and
    bat-handle knobs. This amp was great for rehearsals, but was way too
    small for gigs, and didn't mic well, so he switched to a differant
    rig for gigs. I would put this little amp in the same league as a
    Fender Champ.
    
    I used to own an Ampeg B22X which I bought brand new in 1971. This
    amp was a large combo with 2 12" Altec Lansing speakers. It was built
    like a truck and played extremely loud. I was always satisfied with 
    this amp, until I started playing in a blues band with some experienced
    players that pointed out to me that the amp did not have a nice warm
    tone like most Fender amps. I ended up trading the amp into a music 
    store around 1978. My Ampeg was the newer style Ampeg amp with the
    brushed-aluminum trim, rocker switches for tone boost, and the square
    Ampeg insignia. The 2 12" speakers were in a cabinet that was sealed 
    from the amplifier chassis, but it was still a combo, and quite bulky
    at that. I suppose this amp would work well for keyboards or other
    applications where a clean loud sound is needed, but for electric
    guitar, it just didn't cut it.
     
    I also owned an Ampeg "Dan Armstrong" clear plexiglass guitar. This
    was clearly one of the worst guitars I've owned. The bridge was a
    nightmare. Intonation usually lasted about 10 seconds before the
    bridge moved. I had a guitar shop rout a large slot in the guitar and
    had a bass-ass bridge put in so it would stay in tune. Even with this
    mod, it still wasn't a very good guitar. The pickups were extremely
    sterile sounding, and there really was no differance between the
    various pickups that popped in and out of this beast. When I think
    how much I paid for this guitar, and the nice instruments I could
    have bought at that time, I could kick myself, but hey I was 16 years
    old. 
    
    Mark

    	Hey!! I've got an SVT and it's the best amp I've owned yet, and the
    price of $500 CDN used can't be beat. I spent another $300 to totally 
    retube it just to be safe. To me it blows away the Trace Elliot/Boogies/
    Peaveys/or what_have_you. The only down side is that it is a PIG to
    move, but it doesn't get moved often, yet( a new band is in the
    works..where ever that is). My best buddy and favorite guitar player
    uses a V4 into an old Marshall stack bottom, vintage 1970 or there
    abouts. It can be loader that any one really ever needs to be and gives
    a great clean tone, for dirt he uses parametric EQ (homebrewed) with a
    Boss distortion and compresor/sustainer. Hopefully I'll pick up a V2
    head this weekend for under $150 in working order.
    
    	Ampeg knew how to build one tuff amp don't know how good the new
    ones are....
    
    				FJE
    

    Ampegs (at least used to) come with a lifetime guarantee against
    everything except tubes and speakers.
    
    They were also kind enuf to supply a schematic with each unit, a
    practice I wish ALL electronics manufacturers would adopt.
    
    Edd

    I've got this OLD SVT amp, the likes I haven't seen before.  It uses
    power output tubes that have a lead that attaches to the top of each
    tube.  It's in extremely battered shape cosmetically but, the sound is
    incredible.  As, such there is no information on the back panel as
    usually seen.  Can anyone date this beast?
    
    Regards,
                             
    Eric

    re: .14
    
    Check the numbers on the power output tubes ( the tubes with 
    leads attached at the top ). They will probably be 6146B/8298A's.
    If so, then the amp must be circa 1970.  I bought an SVT new 
    in January 1970 that used these tubes for the final.  Later
    on ( I don't know how much later ) the design was changed to
    use 6550's. 
    
    I still have the schematic, owner's manual, and some promotional
    flyers from this time as well as a price list, if any of that 
    might help.
    
    I also have the specs of the 6146B/8298A tube somewhere, if 
    interested.
    
    Yeah, awesome sound.  Does your amp have the hearing-loss
    warning printed on the back?  ;v)
    
    BTW, it's a 4-ohm out, unless you use the 'EXT. SPEAKER' jack
    as well; then it's 2 ohms.
    
                  Rock on-
    			Kent
                            

    Re: -1. Thanks,
    
    Definitely interested in the schematic and owners manual.  If it's not
    too much trouble to make a copy.  I picked this amp up used in very bad
    shape many years ago.  It was missing knobs, no, there's no warning on
    the back about hearing loss although there should be.  Actually there
    is no writing on the back at all.  It is all missing.  No serial #, 
    output or input labeling, nothing.  It's so ugly it's beautiful and so
    is the sound.   I bought 2 new SVT cabs and ran it with them for
    awhile.  Then switched to 2 smaller Cerwin Vegas for a little more
    portability (folded horn w/1-18 and 1 front firing 10").  Used to blow
    this beast up all the time.  I'd play a low A and could watch this
    little fire run all through the cicuit.  Than I got smart and turned it
    down.  It's been running for years now with no probs.  Actually added a
    second amp, Marshall 100w bass w/2 4-15" cabs. The cabs sucked,
    vibrated very loud at certain frequencys.  Ended up with the Marshall
    head through a Ampeg V4B cab - very good sound.  Enough for now, I
    think I hear someone calling me :^}.

    I also have the complete service manual for the older SVT.  PLEASE
    *DON'T* retube it with 6550s a la the GT book.  Mouser has the older
    tubes around, and the differance between the old/new(er) units are
    like night and day.  Years ago, the Stones used to have 16 old
    SVT heads and each had a large 4-12" (Altec) cabinet, the bass the
    10"s.  Rod & the Faces used the same set up, even the same exact
    pieces, as Ampeg used to rent them out.  What a sound.  I have a old
    SVT with 2 4-12" V4 cabs with Altecs.  Words cannot describe the sound
    it has.
    
    Yes, the older Ampegs were something else.  The new ones, made by 
    Crate/St. Louis Music can't touch them.
    
    Jay Tashjian
    

    re: -.1
    
    I had seen the Stones many years ago.  Wyman's bass did sound great!
    Live, his playing really carried the music, something that didn't
    really come across on their records.  It left me very impressed.
    
    btw: don't worry, NO plans on retubing, never crossed my mind.
    
    Regards

    re:-.2
    	What's so special about those tubes vs the 6550, should I convert
    my SVT so it can use those??????
    
    FJE
    

    The older tubes were broadcast, H/D units, with a voltage cap on top
    of them.  They cannot really be reverted from 6550's.  Find a old
    head, and re-tube.  OR, use KT90s instead of the 6550s, with just a 
    little bias adjustment.  Over 400 watts RMS (CLEAN!) is produced.
    
    oddly, the 1st new SVTs with 6550's just had socket changes to
    use 6550's.  Then, transformer & resistor changes followed.
    
    I found KT90s to be almost as good sounding as the older tubes,
    and alot tighter.  For guitar, with reduced bias almost to class-A1,
    NOTHING touches this amp.
    
    Magnavox really did proud with this amp, and the circuit is still
    owned by them, SLM "is allowed" to make them.
    
    SVTs are still my fav-rave all around amp.  &, since ya can still
    buy them cheap used (& needing tubes, like all older ampegs) they are
    still great bargins.
    
    I still have alot of neat-o Ampeg stuff, like Yearly stockholder
    reports, etc.  If you want one, e-mail me for details.  They
    are free while they last.
    
    Jay Tashjian
    

    Can you explain the details of the bias adjustment with the KT90's in
    the SVT. I have the one for 6550's, on the amp and the schematic. How
    is the set up different? Will these tubes (with the extra power)
    degrade the life expectancy of my o/p xformer?
    
    BTW I will be in the Boston area for training the week of the 11th of
    March, any way we could get together, looking for tubes, ideas info
    etc.
    
    FJE
    

    Send me a SASE & I'll send ya a detailed KT90 rebias for the SVT.  Or,
    e-mail with details & I'll be glad ta meet with ya.
    
    Jay
    

    AMPEG
    1400 Ferguson Street
    St. Louis, MO  63133
    
    (current address 4/91)
    
    

      
    
      Expect some wild stuff out of Ampeg as far as guitar amps goes-
    Hot Rodder Lee Jackson is working with them now!!! (ex Metaltronix)
    
    							-B()()M-

    >  Expect some wild stuff out of Ampeg as far as guitar amps goes-
    >Hot Rodder Lee Jackson is working with them now!!! (ex Metaltronix)
    
    I *finally* saw this head at the Guitar Center in Dallas, TX.
    
    The layout is VERY similar to a Metaltronix M1000, but the package
    is not nearly as UGLY!  I played thru one (thru M-word cabs), and it
    sounded like an M1000.  I asked the dude if they were as unreliable,
    and he delined comment.
    
    Buck, who may buy one if they blow out alao REXX/KH in a year or two

    Saw two VT60 Tri-Ax tube with Celestion.  One had black face the other
    was crome plate with different covering.  Does anyone no what the
    difference is?  Thinking of getting one if the price is right.
    
    Thanks,
    
    RJ

      I don't think there is any difference other than cosmetics, I have
    seen both models as well. I'd be willing to bet that you could get a
    great deal on THESE Ampeg tube amps because right now they are pushing
    the Lee Jackson designed VL series (read that as modified Metaltronix).
      Ampeg effectively has been enjoying their new lease on life since 
    being bought up by SLM, which also produces Crate amps.
    
    							-BooM-

Does anyone have one of, or have information on, the "new" Ampeg B1 rack
mount bass preamp/amp?  150w single rack space unit, two channels, bypassable
power amp section so you can use it as a preamp only, and a few other 
goodies.  List price is $650(!) and a local shop is selling them for $525.
I'd like to hear from someone who has actually played one (or better yet,
owns one).

Thanks in advance,

-- Sam

    HELP!!
    
    Got an Ampeg VT60, tube amp, makes an terible sound on the clean
    chanell.  Sounds like "SHHHHHHHHHHH....", you know when you tell
    someone to be quite, except real loud.  Switch to one of the other
    chanells kinda goes away.  Turn down the volume and it's not as loud,
    but need the volume to play out.  Any ideas what may be the problem or
    possible fixes?
    
    Thanks,
    
    RJ

    My guess would be a tube in the preamp section. At least that's where
    I'd start by swapping preamp tubes around to see if I can change the
    symptoms to reveal other clues. Next I'd get either a set of new tubes
    for a shotgun fix, or for tube sets like 12AX7's buy one and swap out 
    one at a time and isolate the noisey tube. 
    
    This is not to say that tubes are the culprit eitgher, just a place to
    start. The odds are pretty good however that a tube or two will do it. 
    
    "sakman"

     The amp should have 4-7025 pre-amp tubes, 1-12AU7 driver
     tube and 2-6L6 power tubes. My guess is that the 1st or 2nd
     stage 7025 pre-amp tube for the clean channel is the problem.
     I think it may be oscillating. I don't know which is which
     without a schematic. Try this, number the 7025 tubes 1-4 with
     a marker, power the amp down, swap the #1 7025 with the #2
     7025, note any difference, if none, power down and change them
     back. Then swap the #3 with #4, check it, etc. You can ignore
     the 12AU7 the 6L6's for now. It's highly unlikely that they are
     the culprit.

     Hope this helps
     Neal

    Have you tried "lightly" tapping the preamp tubes with a pencil or pen?
    Sometimes that will aid you in finding the bad one (if it's microphonic
    that is). If a tube is microphonic it'll make a nasty sound while the
    amp is in run mode. Set your volume around 2 or 3 (fairly low) and make
    sure you're not in standby mode. Gently (and I mean gently) tap the
    preamp tubes one at a time and listen for noise from the speaker. The
    amp must be in clean mode also, otherwise if the gain is high enough
    (dirty channel) all the tubes may sound bad, so make sure you're in 
    clean mode. 
    This *may* help isolate the bad tube...  then maybe not, but it is another 
    avenue to try. 
    
    
    Good luck,
    		Fred

    It may also be any cap attached to the preamp tubes.  This would cause
    noise, which turns into a bad, noisy tube.
    
    Jay
    

    Is this a new amp?  I'm not familiar with too many Ampeg model numbers,
    but if it's used make sure the tubes are still available; Ampeg was
    famous for putting uncommon tubes in their amps, many of which are
    at least hard to find these days.  If it's a new Ampeg, I dunno, it's 
    not the same company any more.  The old Ampegs were solid, reliable and 
    often heavy amps.
    
    Dave

    That sounds like the new(er) Lee Jackson designed Ampeg (I think all
    the VT series are).  If so, I played through one awhile back and was
    fairly impressed, but not totally blown away.  Some people say this is
    the same design as the old Metaltronix M1000, which did blow me away
    (at the time).
    
    I imagine that if I spent some time with it, I'd be really happy owning
    one.  It's got a nice tone and a lot of gain in that mode.  It seemed a
    little thin sounding and a little buzzy, but perhaps in getting used to
    it I'd like it.
    
    Greg
        

    
    
    I thought a 6CA7 was an EL-34 with a different name?  That's a common
    tube....
    
    Kevin
    

    Yeah, a 6CA7 is just the American version of the European EL-34, *very*
    common.  If you order an EL-34 from Mesa-Boogie, you'll get a 6CA7.
    
    Why so many?  I guess that design uses different tubes for each preamp
    channel, unlike many designs.  I'd be willing to bet that the high gain
    channel has at least 4 12AX7 preamp tubes in it, maybe 5.  I think the
    Soldano/Yamaha (T50/T100) design has 5 preamp tubes in it's high gain
    channel (not absolutely sure).
    
    Greg

    I have an Ampeg reference guide (6/89) that list a VT60 & VT120 don't
    see a VT220.  The tubes are probably Ampeg Hot Rods.  The owner's guide
    says (as the previous note stated) EL34 (6CA7) can be used instead of
    6L6GC's.
    
    There's alot of knowledge in these here notes, don't know why I bother
    with the books.
    
    Later,
    
    RJ

    
      The VT-220 is an older model, well before Lee Jackson designed the
    VL series. I'm fairly certain the VT-220 was a V4 head (100 watt tube 
    chassis) mated to a 2 X 12 combo cab. The V4 made its name with
    numerous Rolling Stones world tours from the late 60's to the late
    70's. They sounded very good when cranked! Quite sedate at less than
    60% though.
      
    							-B{}{}M-

      >The VT-220 is an older model, well before Lee Jackson designed the
    >VL series. I'm fairly certain the VT-220 was a V4 head (100 watt tube 
    >chassis) mated to a 2 X 12 combo cab. The V4 made its name with

     It's a VT-22. It's the "twin" version of the V4. I owned one
     for a short period of time many years ago. Totally awful amp.
     I hated it. I got it as part of a trade deal and sold it off
     for the $$.

     Neal

    Neal's right.  The VT22 was way before channel switching, master
    volumes, etc. 
    
    The amp for those who think Twins are too light.
    
    							Brian

    
    The amp is too powerful for only 2 speakers.
    
    In the mid 70s, I bought a V4 head with *two* V2 bottoms.
    
    Now that was a great sounding rig.
    
    Guy
    
    

>      The VT-220 is an older model, well before Lee Jackson designed the
>    VL series. I'm fairly certain the VT-220 was a V4 head (100 watt tube 
>    chassis) mated to a 2 X 12 combo cab. The V4 made its name with
>    numerous Rolling Stones world tours from the late 60's to the late
>    70's. They sounded very good when cranked! Quite sedate at less than
>    60% though.
    
    This doesn't really make sense, since he said the one he saw had three
    switchable preamp channels.  That reeks of the Lee Jackson design, not
    a V4...
    
    I saw a band called Soul Asylum about a week ago and the lead guitarist
    was playing a V4.  He had a great sound!
    
    Greg
        

    I campaigned an Ampeg V2 (separate head and cab) for many years.  This
    was a 60 watt amp on a 4 x 12 cab.  Nice, cuz you could crank up
    without overpowering the rest of the group, yet still push serious air.  
    I owned it 10+ years and never retubed.  
    
    Oh yeah, the head weighed 70 -ish lbs, and the bottom was well over
    100.  What a beast.
    
    Carl

    Oh yeah, I used to have an old V4 4x12 cabinet and it was extremely
    heavy.  It was also the best built guitar cabinet I've ever seen.  I
    wish I'd kept it now, but I got rid of it a couple of years ago in a
    fit of frivolity...

    Greg

    Re -.1
    	Extremely heavy!!!!  Not as bad as an SVT. And not bad enough to
    keep someone from walking off with my guitar player's head, ... and 71
    Marshall 4x12, two guitars, pedals, 3 vcrs...Well you get the picture.
    He had his place broken into, but the consolation is that he gets to
    really go shopping this Christmas.
    
    	In the meantime he's using my V2 head and has his tone back. The
    Jackson designed Ampegs are the VL series (the insurance co is buying
    him a VL1002, and he's hopin its clean side will be close to the V4)
    
    
    PS Mr Morse used Ampeg V4s heavily with The Dregs.
    
    
    FJE

    
     Tom Scholz used a Ampeg V-4 head, as well as a Marshall head, in the
     recording of the first Boston album.
    
     It's old news now, but he was apparently one of the first people
     to wire in an EQ *between* the preamp and poweramp stages of
     a guitar amp.  I remember reading something about him not
    "minding trashing the Ampeg" if the experiment went wrong.
    
     Wouldn't it be great if he got rid of the Rockman stuff and
     went back to Marshalls and Ampegs for the next Boston album,
     which he swears is going to be a reality?
    
     Brian

    
    Well GTS set in a few months ago and I set out on an excursion for a
    new amp.  I zeroed in on the Marshall Valvestate 8280 80 Watt Stereo
    Chorus amp.  Brought it home, boom the reverb mechanics made noise.
    Got a second one from the store, boom the reverb mechanics made noise
    and the Pre-Amp made a wonderful geiger counter noise.  After having it
    in the shop four weeks, I kept checking status (were waiting for parts
    sir) but no amp. Finally a tech called me and said Marshall said they
    had no transistors, Korg had no transistors, tell the guy he should
    just return the amp we had problems with those....
    
    Well back to the store with my $900.00 investment I owned for 5 weeks and
    played thru 1/2 hour.
    
    Brought it back and tried some amps till I found the Ampeg VH-140C
    Stereo 70 Watts a channel @8ohms 90 Watts a channel @4ohms, Chorus,
    Seperate Reverb for Channel A & B, Two Channel, A (Dirty) B (Clean)
    XLR outs, Line Out, Mono and Stereo Outs, Pre-Amp and Effects Loops.
    2 X 12 Speakers
    
    Extremely happy with the range of tones and the proice $649.00 out the
    door, Absolutely ZERO buyers remorse and just a ton of fun. I'm looking
    forward to being a new Ampeg owner.
    
    Pat

    Tube or SS?  And the real question is... what does it weigh?  %^)
    
    Dave

    SS and 68 Pounds with four casters (cheap they keep falling out).
    
    Very cool I like it...

You have to boot it? (sorry)

    ...and glove it -- we're knitting a whole outfit for Mr. Patmeister's
    new Ampeg baby.  What a beautiful - L O U D - amp!  Am looking forward
    to dragging my Twin over so we can do sonic reconstruction of Mr. P's
    studio space.  Actually, just getting ready for doing some light
    strumming at a quiet, little local spot, Juicy Lucy's.  
    
    The Ampeg:  super looks, solid construction, flexible, great tone (and
    volume - as mentioned earlier), excellent overdrive and reverb, and
    SWEET chorus.  Nice work, good buy Patrick!
    
    :>  jds
    
    
    p.s.  The Marshall 8280 is no longer listed in my current Musician's
    Friend -- wonder WHY??
    
    

    I had the chance to play through a new Ampeg ISOVENT bass speaker
    cabinet this weekend. It was being driven with a Harkte 3500 head,
    and I was playing a friends Warwick bass. What a sound! The thing
    sounded so huge and musical, it's definately near the top of the
    list of possible new aquisitions. It's so small that I just couldn't
    believe it was so loud and clean. They have two 15" drivers facing
    each other and driven out of phase. It makes a thunderous low end.
    There are two 10" that are angled up to project higher, and there is
    a "high frequency device" (tweeter?), between them. 
    
    Has anyone else had a chance to use one of these? I couldn't play
    my own bass through it (BTW: The Warwick bass is really nice too!),
    and the only other bass amp there that even came close was a big
    Trace Elliot stack. Many more dollars and much bigger/heavier.
    
    The possibility of being able to carry my bass in a gig-bag backpack
    style while pushing the whole amp into a gig on a  hand truck in one
    trip is very attractive. It seemed that this little rig would be good
    for almost any medium size venue, and could cause structural damage in
    a small club.
    
    Theo

    Theo, what are the dimensions and weight of this beast?
    
    /rick

    Rick ...
    
    I don't know about the weight, but the size is:
    
    17" deep
    32" high
    24" wide
    
    Handles 600 watts, with seperate inputs for low and high freq (the
    Hartke matched it well). It has a high freq switch for plus or minus
    6db on the highs. I think it has 3 inch casters too.
    
    I don't know what the list price is, but the local outlet quoted
    the ISOVENT and the Hartke 3500 at about $1500 for the set.

    The 1/1/93 Ampeg price list has the SVT50DL Isovent cabinet listed as:
    
    2-15", 2-10", horn with level selector, 600 watts handling, 4 ohms, 3"
    casters, $1000 list.
    
    Weight is 1-7/8 Twins  8^)
    
    							Walt Hull

    The Music Workshop in Salem, NH (603-893-1544), has a used SVT on 
    consignment there: head plus 8x10 cab, cosmetically well worn, both 
    for $495.  Standard disclaimer.  I didn't try it out, and no, I didn't
    try to lift it.
    
    D-Dave

    A friend has a V4 Ampeg and is going to sell it as he is worried that
    he will not be able to find tubes for it when they go.  It has the
    original tubes in it and is over 10 yrs old.  The amp sounds great,
    especially with his new SRV Strat with gold trim and Texas special
    pickups. 
    
    Can anyone help with tube info? availability or cross reference
    numbers?
    
    Mark

    
        I believe Ampeg was using 7027A tubes at that time and one of
    the manufacturers was GE (which no longer makes tubes). Your best bet
    may be checking with Groove Tubes or checking into a HAM fest.
    
    
    							-B{}{}M-

     Unfortunately, the 7027 power tubes (4) is no longer made, and the
     12DW7 preamp tube (1) is outrageously expensive. There is hope, however,
     because conversion to the 6550 or EL34 power tubes, and a $5 12AX7 preamp
     tube is available. The 6550 sounds more like the 7027 than does the EL34,
     but costs twice that of the EL34.

     Neal

    Are both 6550s and EL34s available as replacements?  Is there any circuit 
    modification required?  and last but not least,  where might I find
    such an animal?
    
    Mark  

    Both 6550 and EL34 tubes are readily available these days.  Can't help
    ya with the electronics part though.
    
    Greg

>    Are both 6550s and EL34s available as replacements?  Is there any circuit 
>    modification required?  and last but not least,  where might I find
>    such an animal?
    
     Both are redily available, and both require minor circuit modification.
     The screen resistors and a bias circuit resistor need to be changed to
     accomodate the new tubes. I have all the parts to do the job, except for
     the 6550's. I have EL34's however.

     Neal

    Ampeg still makes a fine piece of equipment. The new SVT heads are
    excellent. There's really nothing negative I can say about them
    if you're going for that sound. I've been getting Trace Elliot
    gear lately because I'm getting it at cost or free through a
    friend's endorsement deal, but if it weren't for that, I'd probably
    be taking a hard look at the SVT II myself...
    
    -b