Is this a Vintage Ampeg?

[silencer eleven]

I am a guitarist but ran across this at a low price if it is what he says it is.

Here's the description and Pic

Ampeg SVT bass head
model 1002
serial - 149122
early 70's sounds great

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll189/silencereleven/Ampeg.jpg

Does it all add up?

[~Abstract~]

Looks like the one I used to have from the mid-70's.

[MichaelThomas]

Man I miss my 70s V4...

[jay42]

I'd say it's not early 70's. Ask if the 'ampeg' logo is metal or plastic. It looks like plastic to me. The rocker switches should be black, not white.

[mcknigs]

Yes, I'd want to look at the back to find out where it was made and by whom. It's been a while since I read the Ampeg book, so I wouldn't swear to this, but my recollections are that the best years for SVTs were the ones where the amp was built in Linden, New Jersey. Quality dropped off some when the company was sold to Magnavox. It dropped off more when the company was sold again and production moved overseas.

[This is the part I'm unsure of ->] Of all the amps being made by Ampeg during all that time, the SVT probably changed the least so you might be OK buying the later ones. I guess if it's made it this far it's probably OK. [edit: last night when I was reading about the SVT I saw a statement to the effect that they considered the SVT to be their flagship, bread 'n' buter amplifier and did not want to mess with it much, so all SVTs should sound pretty similar across the years].

If it's made by St. Louis Music then it's not a vintage Ampeg, it's a reissue. I've heard those are OK. Hope this helps.

-Scott

[mcknigs]

I'd say it's not early 70's. Ask if the 'ampeg' logo is metal or plastic. It looks like plastic to me. The rocker switches should be black, not white.

The Hopkins & Moore Ampeg book says that rocker switches were black from '68-'75 and white from '76-'79. If I understand correctly, that would make it a Magnavox amp made after the move out of Linden.

-Scott

[fcortex]

I may be wrong, but I was always under the impression that the older ones had the control panel on the top back...

[mcknigs]

I may be wrong, but I was always under the impression that the older ones had the control panel on the top back...

I think some of the early '60s guitar amps were like that but by the time they made the SVT, the controls for it, and for all other V-Series Ampegs AFAIK, were in the front.

-Scott

[poorboy]

Thats a 75 or later SVT. A great amp if working well.
If you can get it for under $1400 go for it.
SVT's all basicly have looked the same with subtle changes through out the years.
The earliest 70-71 had blue etched graphics. 72-74 had black painted sharp corner graphics . the 75 and later had the black rounded corner graphics and went to white rockers from the black ones.
I feel they quit makeing SVT's after that.
The knob lay out was always the same in the same location.
I've owned all 3 types at one time or another.
The new ones ARE NOT the same.
Great heads.