| Reviewer
| Paul Gier
|
| Experience
| 15
|
| Review date
| March 12 2002
|
| Manufacturer
| Ampeg
|
| Model
| SVT-HD
|
| Price
| $1200
|
| Item owned for
| 1-6 months
|
| |
|
| Dimensions
| 24X12X13
|
| Weight
| 85 Pounds
|
| Power
| 300 Watts RMS, 700 Peak
|
| EQ
| Bass, Treble, 3-Position Mid
|
| Other
| 2 parallel speaker out, pre-amp out, power amp in, rear-mounted standb |
| |
y (?)
|
| |
|
This Ampeg head is the first (well, second after the SVT-100, but that's
just an MTI head reworked) product after SLM aquired Ampeg in 1986; they
were handmade by the "skunkworks" team at SLM, from original
schematics and parts aquisition orders dating from 1969. This SVT marks
the return of the Electrical Windings transformers, which were replaced by
"made in Japan" items during MTI's ownership of the Ampeg trade
name. Only 500 were produced between 1986 and 1990.
I've owned a couple of "vintage" Magnavox SVT's, and this head
has much less inherent noise and an incredible treble and mid response that
I've never experienced with an SVT before. Coupled with the traditional
high-wattage tube growl, this amp is almost perfect. Perhaps an SVT
purchased as "new" in the 1970's sounded like this, but I'll
never know; suffice to say, this amp is the best sounding "large"
tube amp I've ever heard. Period.
| Construction
| 98% | 
|
| (Perfect shape, like a little Sherman tank)
|
| Clarity
| 98% |
|
| (Best highs from an SVT, bar none)
|
| Versatility
| 85% |
|
| (Well, not good for Neu-metal or slappy-poppy)
|
| Volume
| 100% |
|
| (Oh my God, Oh my God!)
|
| Value
| 95% |
|
| (You pay to play)
|
| Overall
| 98% |
|
| (A classic, loud bassamp!)
|
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