Bass amp build

[leleduke]

I finally talked a local bass player into letting me build a real amp for him. He decided to do it after his so called SVT classic gave out on him for the last time. I opened the classic up and closed it back up, what a piece of junk. Thin pc boards, ribbon connectors. Here is the amp I'm building for him.
http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/newsdesk_i ... anguage=en

[selloutrr]

Looks like a lot of fun to build I'm sure he'll be very happy with the final result. I like the selectable Output load, very handy for voicing to the perfect cab. Take lots of pics and keep us updated on your progress. If you get stuck don't hesitate to ask. Happy Building!

[leleduke]

Will do.
I'm also building a D'lite 44 and a TW express for myself.


MD

[M Fowler]

My friend asked if I could build him an SVT and I said I will check and see, not much out there for this, Flipflops has cabs, faceplate and trannysets but I am going to try convince him the Bassman 100, Marshall Plexi bass or Mesa Boogie 400 would be easier for me to build.

How is the plexi compared to an old SVT? For power I think the Ampeg is 300 watts.

Mark

[Structo]

What are the shipping costs like from TAD?

Looks like it has a good stiff supply.

[leleduke]

What are the shipping costs like from TAD?

Looks like it has a good stiff supply.

I don't know. He purchased the kit. I will find out when I see him again

MD

[selloutrr]

The SVT is conservatively rated for 300watts at 4ohms (it's only impedance). A great bass amp that is overlooked is the Fender Showman and Dual Showman with a 15" speaker. They aren't Arena loud by they give the B-15 a serious run for the money. I've rebuilt two late 60's SVT's repaired a couple dozen 70's and 80's models. I own 4 SVT and to be honest they are a bitch to work on. seperate power and preamp chassis. tight spaces and PCB's... If you were going to venture down that path i'd be willing to say you'll have more in labor starting from scratch then if you bought a used one in distressed condition and rebuilt it. that way you have a map and most of the parts already there like the boards. Another awesome bass amp is the Marshall Major, Sunn Model T, and the Hiwatt 200 converted to KT88. those IMHO would be an easier built then the SVT (maybe not the model T). But all these amps have there plus and minus so it's really dependant on the music and what the player wants out of his tone and what bass he plays (active / passive) and style (pick / finger/ slap).

[UR12]

I have a good friend that took the output section from a V4 using 7027s and the front end from an older B15 (6sl7s) and built a bass amp out of those circuits and it came out sounding very good and loud! I know it's not 300 watts but I would bet it would hold it's own with the Marshall or Fender Showman.

[selloutrr]

the V4 is under rated at 110 watts I've measured them as high as 118 watts. I really like the way the 7027a sound. The showman is only in the 30 watt range but it's a very smooth punchy and musical tone if you have a PA it's more head room then you need and it really fills in a mix in the studio. The Marshall is close to 200 watts of marshall power doing the marshall thing. I've found the major to be better for Blues rock guitar (SVR) then bass but can hold it's own on the low foundation. My main go to amps for bass are the B-15n or s, the preamp out of the SVT and a Trace Elliot SM-7 or SWR studio 220 pre or Avalon U5 direct to an API or NEVE pre. My personal Rig when I was touring consisted of an SWR 220 studio, Korg rack tuner, Klark technic Dual 31 band graphic EQ BSS Varicurve for time alignment. UREI 1176LN Avalon U5 / Countryman Type 85 feeding an SWR 10 monitor as foldback off the 200 watt onboard power and 3 Crown K2 power amps. Pushing 4 Ampeg 8x10 (810e) and 2 ampeg 2x15 (215e) cab. Headroom for days. I later went to 2 cabs and dual anniversary SVT heads from the 80's. It looked impressive but it was heavy and expensive to ship.

I bet the B-15 pre and V4 Output would make an awesome amp!!!

[Alexo]

I bet the B-15 pre and V4 Output would make an awesome amp!!!

Along those lines, I'm wrapping up my 100 watt B15 build, it's a B15N preamp and pi, hitting post-pi cathode followers into a pair of 6550's at very high voltages, gigantic filter caps and super-sized Hammond transformers. Fun build and it looks pretty impressive; that B15 preamp is just great, the bass control seems to deliver exactly what you want a bass amp's bass control to deliver.

BTW, many B15 schematics on the net are wrong and list 47pf and 470pf caps in the treble circuit, you need 470pf and .0047uf caps.

[selloutrr]

sounds awesome I'd love to see some pics when you get it buttoned up.

[billyz]

Another great bass amp, the Sunn 2000S. for the studio the B 15 is hard to beat. A Showman preamp ( aka Alembic FB1 ) into a big power amp is good too.

[doctord02]

I'm in the process of building a 4 x KT88 Hiwatt DR201 inspired bass amp myself.

[Ronsonic]

I finally talked a local bass player into letting me build a real amp for him. He decided to do it after his so called SVT classic gave out on him for the last time. I opened the classic up and closed it back up, what a piece of junk. Thin pc boards, ribbon connectors. Here is the amp I'm building for him.
http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/newsdesk_i ... anguage=en

I don't want to be harsh about this, but getting an SVT Classic to live and rock reliably is not exactly rocket science. If you can build, you can go through, solder what needs resoldered, secure what needs secured and clean what's dirty. I work on these and don't see them more than once every three years (those are the ones out on tour). Usually, I never see them again. The player just sprays the jacks, exercises the pots and retubes and biases once in awhile. These are fundamentally sound amps.

As for the build, why not get sick and use the Ampeg iron and chassis and build a turret board monster in there. Maybe Marshall Major inspired, but with two more power tubes. All the big and expensive parts are already in there.

[Ronsonic]

I bet the B-15 pre and V4 Output would make an awesome amp!!!

Along those lines, I'm wrapping up my 100 watt B15 build, it's a B15N preamp and pi, hitting post-pi cathode followers into a pair of 6550's at very high voltages, gigantic filter caps and super-sized Hammond transformers. Fun build and it looks pretty impressive; that B15 preamp is just great, the bass control seems to deliver exactly what you want a bass amp's bass control to deliver.

BTW, many B15 schematics on the net are wrong and list 47pf and 470pf caps in the treble circuit, you need 470pf and .0047uf caps.

That sounds like an awesome amp concept. You've gotta post pics.

A huge B15 is pretty much what almost any bass player needs.