Tedster Posted June 14, 2001 Share Posted June 14, 2001 Guess what? I was just able to snag onto a vintage Ampeg 2x12 combo (could be 60s vintage) for an obscenely low price! Now, you're an Ampeg gal, aren't you? What do I (an old Marshall guy) need to know to tame these beasts??? "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Gauss Posted June 14, 2001 Share Posted June 14, 2001 don't tame it, or else you'll lame it. -d. gauss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtrmac Posted June 14, 2001 Share Posted June 14, 2001 You might want to have a tech replace the old electrolytic capacitors if they are the originals. These are the components which degrade over time besides the tubes obviously and the pots. The pots can usually be cleaned if they are scratchy sounding. Putting new caps in will reduce the hum from leaky filter caps and restore the original frequency response. Make sure you take it to a good tech who uses high quality parts suitable for a vintage restoration. ------------------ Mac Bowne G-Clef Acoustics Ltd. Osaka, Japan Mac Bowne G-Clef Acoustics Ltd. Osaka, Japan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat0124 Posted June 14, 2001 Share Posted June 14, 2001 Ted...congrats. One of my "used to own but was stolen" pieces was a Reverb Rocket. That thing had a sweet grind. I'd love to find another....also any Super Champs along the way. Down like a dollar comin up against a yen, doin pretty good for the shape I'm in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted June 14, 2001 Share Posted June 14, 2001 Woohoo! Ted,is it a VT-100? 2 12's/100 watts? That is a kick ass amp! As for how to tame it - I'm with d gauss, you can't. You will have to resign yourself to playing too damn loud. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I have had virtually no maintenance problems with mine since I bought it in 1979, have replaced tubes a couple of times and that's about it. Keith Richards did an ad for Ampeg at one point which showed him throwing one out a 3rd floor hotel window and it still worked fine afterward - and I believe it! I had mine fall out of the back of my van and roll a couple of blocks down the street once and it was fine. Anyway congrats! Let us know how much it rocks! --Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted June 14, 2001 Author Share Posted June 14, 2001 Oh, let me rephrase that...I don't re-eally want to "tame" it. By taming it, I was kinda referring to any excessive hum that a lot of old amps have. Mac gave some good tips for that... I'm not sure which model, it's at my drummer's house (actually in his truck, the damn thing was so heavy he didn't feel like Herc'ing the thing around. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gifhttp://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gifhttp://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted June 15, 2001 Author Share Posted June 15, 2001 Lee... It's a VT-22. Mac called 'em a "nasty, dirty, beast". Tell me more...Mac said they're not really a high dollar collectible...what do I care? I want kick butt... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted June 15, 2001 Share Posted June 15, 2001 Ted, Yeah, that's what I meant, a VT-22 (duh, I'm on major prescription cold medicine). They are slightly cleaner than my VT-40 (60 watts, 4 10's, loud as shit), but they hearken from the same period (late 60's-early 70's) and they indeed kick butt! You have to crank them pretty loud to get "the tone" out of them but the problem is that once you hear "the tone" you won't want to turn back. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif I played with another guitarist for awhile in a band that had one - twin Ampegs! And the bassist had an SVT! Sheer bliss! You want that "Get Yer Ya Ya's Out" sound, that was it right there! And yes, amazingly, these amps have stayed off the vintage collectors' high dollar list. Why, I don't know, but I just keep my mouth shut and don't ask any questions. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif Your drummer has great taste! I hope you love it as much as I do! --Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted June 15, 2001 Author Share Posted June 15, 2001 Well, I read a "Harmony Central" review...no one rated the amp anything below a 9 on anything except customer support, which makes sense 'cause they don't make 'em anymore. But now, I'm itchy to sink my fangs into it. Question...I read on Harmony Central that a couple of people were using them as bass amps. Is that feasible? I mean, an Ampeg would definitely blow the hell out of the, uh...(made in Mississippi) amp that he's using now. But, I'm sure I'm gonna want to run my guitar through it...and I'm sure it'd sound better as a guitar amp... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted June 15, 2001 Share Posted June 15, 2001 Hmm, I suppose the VT-22's COULD be used in a pinch as bass amps, and it wouldn't sound half bad. But I've never heard it. I'm sure you will be happy with it as a guitar amp, though, except for getting fired from clubs because of volume. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif --Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted June 15, 2001 Author Share Posted June 15, 2001 EVIL GRIN... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtrmac Posted June 15, 2001 Share Posted June 15, 2001 The thing that I remember about VT-22's was that they get dirty real quick. Great for guitar players but not a good quality in a bass amp. My old bass player used his sometimes with his SVT cab for a real dirty sound which was good once in a while in the studio. They do have a very dark tone compared to a Marshall even. I actually like a little more high end myself but it is a nice contrast sometimes. It's definately an amp worth having in any case. Enjoy it. Here's a link for ya with some info from a VT-22 owner: http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data/Ampeg/VT_22-01.html This message has been edited by gtrmac@hotmail.com on 06-14-2001 at 09:45 PM Mac Bowne G-Clef Acoustics Ltd. Osaka, Japan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip McDonald Posted June 15, 2001 Share Posted June 15, 2001 Originally posted by Tedster: Question...I read on Harmony Central that a couple of people were using them as bass amps. If you really want some fun, try an SVT as a guitar amp... A student of mine used to run a 100 watt Super Lead head with an SVT as a "sub" amp. Very cool, very heavy sound - and very heavy weight. I think the Ampege VT bass amp phenomenon has something to do with a particular band in certain cities, but I'm too tired to stretch my mind enough to figure out who it is.... ------------------ New and Improved Music Soon: http://www.mp3.com/chipmcdonald Guitar Lessons in Augusta Georgia: www.chipmcdonald.com Eccentric blog: https://chipmcdonaldblog.blogspot.com/ / "big ass windbag" - Bruce Swedien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted June 15, 2001 Author Share Posted June 15, 2001 Yeah...I remember when two different bass players in two different bands of mine used SVTs. Somehow guess who always got stuck herc'ing 'em off the truck? "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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