vintage ampeg svt classics-the blue line or black?

[maytoxrok]

i've had a reissue ampeg svt classic and i love the sound but now that that amp is gone im looking for something different but the same...? i like the reissue vintage classic, the svt-vr, but i've never heard anything about them quality and sound wise. i really like the original svt's but i dont know much about them. from what i can tell the blue line classics are the best but does anybody know why? and what is the difference between them and the black line besides age? any suggestions?
thanks,
-Mike

[walterw]

the new svt reissue sounds like a real 70's svt, while the svt classics just don't. ampeg finally got it totally right, just in time to fold as a company and get moved to china, courtesy of Loud Technologies. if you can get one that's still made in the usa, hurry up and buy it before it's too late.

[Hansomatic]

the new svt reissue sounds like a real 70's svt, while the svt classics just don't. ampeg finally got it totally right, just in time to fold as a company and get moved to china, courtesy of Loud Technologies. if you can get one that's still made in the usa, hurry up and buy it before it's too late.Holy cow, really? I just ordered one.. I BETTER not be from china!

[6AM]

I've owned a black line SVT for years, which I just sold because I found a blue line SVT. I compared both side by side and the blue line won out.

The main technical difference is their power section/tubes. In fact, it may be the only technical difference. The blue lines (unless they were modded) use 6146 power tubes, where as the black lines use 6550s. The blue line stays cleaner sounding louder and has much punch and better articulation.

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but there's no way that the new "blue line reissue" sounds ANYTHING like the original. They don't have the same preamp or the same power section. The originals (including the black lines) used all kinds of wacky tubes that aren't used in the reissues. I doubt they sound the same.

[brichards]

I was wondering you seem like you have experience with these types of amps. i have a black line SVT head it is a 1973 and i was wondering I see alot of the later seventies model that have a logal on them and white rockers compared to my black ones. They seem to be a little more puncher than mine. Do you know which ones are more sought after or are they basically the same inside the only difference being the pilot on switch.

On the back they both say they are a division of Magnovox and look alot the same inside.

Also maybe something needs to be changed inside to give me more power?

Thanks for your help

[6AM]

When was the last time you had the power tubes replaced?

[brichards]

The tubes have been replaced recently. When i use the rocker switches especially the ultra low it seems a little bit muddy although there is great bottom end.

[walterw]

i think that any magnavox svt will be a winner. the one i sold (for little money and to my eternal regret, it was the 80's) had 6550's, and just ruled. the new one sounds just like it, at least far more so than the svt classics.

[champnesupernva]

the 69-71 (blue line) svt's were made in linden, nj. these were the original dan armstrong design. in fact, in 68, when the rolling stones came over here to tour, their power adapters failed them, and they blew all their amps. dan armstrong actually took 5 svt prototypes to them and they used them the entire tour, making the rolling stones the first to ever use them. (sorry, fun little fact)

the 72-i think 74 were owned by magnavox. these have the rounded black line face. also great amps, but kinda like a cbs fender, you really want the pre-cbs.

the 75-78 i cant remember who bought them, but these have a boxed in black line. i used to have one of these, and i regret it everyday that i sold it. even though the blue lines sound better.

the SVT-VR is setup like a magnavox era i believe. using 6550's as power. some of these mag's also used KT88's for power. it was def an option.

anyway...you really cant wrong with any from these era's. im personally about to buy a 69-72 cab (before the towel handle tilt-back) and get a USA SVT-VR for now. until i can really afford to buy, and maintain an original blue line or 2.

hope this helps man

[FFTT]

I spent a considerable amount of time thinking about getting a Blue Line in restorable
condition, but I'm old enough to remember this was a $500.00 PCB amp.

A great one, for sure, but when I looked at anything that was not completely abused,
the prices were nuts.

Most of all, I'm just too old to haul 85 pounds.

I wanted something worry free, all tube, all hand wired and easier to carry.

So as much as I appreciate the tone of a good vintage
SVT, I decided to go for the Reeves Custom 225.

24 pounds lighter.
Ample power-256 watts RMS @ 4 Ohm
100% hand wired Hiwatt circuit EQ'd for bass.
2 channel norm and bright
XLR out
Quiet for recording.
4,8, 16 Ohm switching.
and according to Bass Gear Magazine,
holds it's own against the best of the best for tone.

[americananalog]

China, huh? I will NEVER buy a new Ampeg product again. "Ampeg" is now nothing more than a brand name. I hear the new stuff is useless garbage anyway.

[jdoubled68]

to the best of my knowledge it goes a little like this...
unimusic in linden new jersey, then selmer/magnavox was elkhart indiana, then just plain "a division of magnavox" magnavox, then mti (1980-86 china), then st. louis music, then loud technologies (2007 made in vietnam)
the unimusic linden new jersey models were 69-70 blueline with 6146 power tubes
then a period of linden new jersey blackline selmer/magnavox in 1971 , switching to 6550 power tubes
some of them said the selmer music co. and some said a division of magnavox. some said elkhart indiana on the back as well.
then late 1971 magnavox separated from selmer and became just magnavox, still had the toggles but changed over to the rocker switches shortly. they lasted until 1979 and were still great amps
the 1980-86 were mti (japan) and cheap components
then i believe st. louis music took over and i havent paid much attention since because they werent anything special after 1979 unless its the svt-vr made in u.s.a., that seems to be a decent version similar to the older ones, but different pre-amp tubes etc.
then came loud tech. making them in vietnam with crappy components. everyone says they dont hold a candle to the u.s. vr's but i havent personally checked them out and never will.
i had a 1975-ish magnavox and an earlier selmer (elkhart) and i actually preferred the magnavox at the time. now im looking at a blackline linden new jersey with toggles and im pretty excited about that :)

hope this helps !
anything 1979 and before is gonna knock your socks off, but the older the better as far as tone and craftsmanship...a widely shared opinion among ampeg users.

anyone please correct me or add to this if you have the knowledge

[jdoubled68]

the best way to tell what youve got is on the back, where it was made and who owned the company at the time. if its after 1979 i dont think it matters where it was made cos its simply not an SVT anymore :)

i do not mean to offend anyone using any model after 1979, its merely a personal opinion which im sure i share with at least a few other die hard svt users/owners.