The SVT-VR

[elysrand]

You aren't just whistling Dixie, Bob! A really nice 1969 SVT with 6146B tubes, insides shiny and non-corroded, transformer plates not rusty but instead good lacquer or enamel all around, and good caps and biasing, not to mention not-so-perfect Tolex, is north of $3000 now, with $5000 paid recently for a not-even NOS-looking 9 of 10 example, some dents and corrosion on the corner caps and brightwork but all the blue lines there and gleam still on the chassiswork -meaning it was never stored in a high-humidity or salt-laden environment.

[soundmasterg]

I think all of the vintage SVT's will follow the blue lines up in prince eventually, though the blue lines will still be king.

The Ampeg book has the history of Ampeg, but also has technical sections and info on particularly important amps such as the Portaflex and the SVT. Its a great book.

[soundmasterg]

Damn, I can't type.....

I meant to say that all the vintage SVT's will follow the blue lines in PRICE!

[rictified]

Not princes, they are the kings!

[koobler]

well, I'll tell you this. I'm 18 years young, bought my '72ish SVT about two years ago for $950 hard earned minimum wage dollars (and it's clean..go figure, right? the guy wanted to help a youngin' out) and haven't done a thing to it yet. I record bands with it frequently now, and I gig it semi-frequently when the venue permits, and it's never even thought of letting me down. now, the guy I bought it from WAS an electrical engineer who did own one more of them, and he did take extremely good care of it. it sat for about 15 years from the late 80's/early 90's until when I purchased it. honestly, just delve around, see if you can dig up any locally that might be worth the change and you'll have what may or may not be the best sounding and most reliable amp created to date, anywhere.