04-29-2024, 05:55 AM
There were several generations of SVT heads. The first generation (about 800 units) had 6146B output tubes. From the front they had plastic paddle switches which were really cool but broke off easily. The output section could catch fire if you pushed it hard. Your #1 head is a second-generation model that used 6550 output tubes to increase reliability of the output section. The switches were changed to conventional toggle switches. These were manufactured when Ampeg was owned by Magnavox. These heads are most common and have most of the original design except the output tubes. Ampeg was later sold to Selmer. Your #2 head is a Selmer era head. Things went downhill as Selmer redesigned the SVT and V series to make them cheaper to produce and "modernized" the graphics to give more detail about preamp controls that had been there all along. Some people say it looks like a 1958 Buick! Internally the amp was redesigned, including the power supply layout. Your #1 SVT is the "read deal" and #2 is still an SVT but not nearly as coveted. SVTs never had reverb. They were "real" rock and roll amps made to "Part your hair at 50 feet", as Ampeg advertising stated. With 8-10 cabinets, they work great for bass or guitar. The SVT and V series preamps are amazing, but few musicians learned how to harness the capabilities.