FS: Death In A Box

[tomteriffic]

OK guys, I've had my fun, and this is just more amp than I need or can use. I'll get pix later, but I've decided to sell my Ampeg V-2 head.

People who heard it at the final MWJ Amp shootout can attest to it's power, condition and tone. Poe and Denise will be childless due to this amp, and a couple of other folks are fearful of the same.

It's been put back to original spec. It's a Linden NJ Ampeg, original run of the V-Series, out of the Stones-era. Somebody put a couple of holes in the back for something (FX loop?), but that bit had been undone by the time I got it. When I recieved it, it popped a power tube which took a couple of resistors with it, but that's all been repaired, and some out of spec resistors have been replaced. Other than that, it's original. I'll include the NOS preamp tubes it came with, but I can't vouch for them. Also included with be a set of unused JJ power tubes. The tubes in the amp have less than 15 hours on them.

This thing is potent to the max for a 60-watt or so amp. It's clean up to about 11:00 on either loud knob, then gradually starts breaking up while getting louder up to about 2:00. Then it just gets dirtier. At this point, it's incredibly loud. The breakup quality is much like an old, original Hiwatt, which someone, quite rightly, described as "a blizzard of nails". The tone controls are extremely versatile, far more so than on most amps. It takes pedals very well and is built like a tank.

There's some wear on the front panel, making the markings a bit of a trick to read, but I believe a replacement panel can be gotten from Fliptops. This is from the original SVT era, so you know it's built to last. There's also the remains of what appears to be candle wax or something on the top. It doesn't get in the way of the function and I forgot it was there until I took the pix.

I'm wanting to clear $450. The extra tubes alone are about $120. Add for shipping and/or PayPal. Great for bass, too.

P.S. This may also be considered bait for interesting trades or trade + cash.

Edit to add pix and description

[santellavision]

++++1 on these. Somebody steal this thing!

I read all the glowing reviews in the Tonequest Report about these. So, I wanted one bad. Finally, last year, I found a beat-up head. Sent it to the Ampeg Guru, Todd Sharp at Nashville Amp Service. Then bought a Fliptops 2x10" cab, threw in some old Alnico Fane speakers and for-get-a-bout-it, it's amazing.

I took it out to an Open Jam, and then spent the next hour answering questions like... "What the hell is in that that thing?" "How are you getting that tone with no pedals?" Oh, yeah. It's pure, simple and beefy. The ultimate sleeper amp! Below is a pic of mine.

[MCChris]

Yep, my balls are still vibrating nearly six months later.

This IS the "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" tone. Unmiced, it could probably fill Madison Square Garden too.

[Lockbody]

Great, underrated amps. Sometimes I still miss the V-4 halfstack I used to own. now there's some volume for ya!

[tomteriffic]

This thing never sounded better than through MCChris' beat-up widowmaker of a 4 x 12 with the Eminence Legends. DAMN that was fun, my playing notwithstanding....

[MCChris]

This thing never sounded better than through MCChris' beat-up widowmaker of a 4 x 12 with the Eminence Legends.  DAMN that was fun, my playing notwithstanding....

So true. Which is why I'm damn tempted by this amp.

Nothing like pairing up one hog with another, at 4 ohms no less!

[tomteriffic]

This thing never sounded better than through MCChris' beat-up widowmaker of a 4 x 12 with the Eminence Legends. DAMN that was fun, my playing notwithstanding....

So true. Which is why I'm damn tempted by this amp.

Nothing like pairing up one hog with another, at 4 ohms no less!

Bumparoonie for the post-apocalyptic weekend crowd!

[Billy_Baloney]

These are the same amps Queens of the Stone Age use. They try to keep it a secret by removing the Ampeg logos.

[tomteriffic]

Edit to add pix. Lots more available, just holler.

[santellavision]

Just trying to help out Tomterrific,

I've done a ton of research on these amps. This version of the V2 is the one to get. The ones with the silver knobs are the 'best' ones from the correct years. They have the best circuit design and tranny's. And don't worry about the odd tubes they run, that's big myth too. My amp tech, Todd Sharp (who's the Ampeg guru) gave me the whole run-down on these and what tubes work best. There's plenty of choices including NOS that make it sing!

[alpep]

I can testify that the amp kicks butt.

buy it.

[tomteriffic]

Santellavision. Correct, this is the version to have. I had this one built into a 4 x 10 combo box as a youngster, they called it a VT 40. That was the only amp that has ever gotten me arrested.

Does Todd do the Ampeg to Fender reverb mod? That's the only thing I can concieve of that would noticeably improve this amp.

[santellavision]

Yes, he mods the Reverb. I had it done by him. The guys amazing. You have you wait awhile, but it's well worth it.

Here's one of his emails back to me on mine. Interesting stuff.

We will completely replace your reverb circuit with one that

sounds good this would include a new pan, driver transformer & a few other things.

Based on my experience with this amp and these tubes I'll try to lay it out

as I understand it. The 7027A was one of the last "improved" versions of the

6L6 back when we still made tubes in the US. It goes kind of like this; they

made a 6L6, then an improved 6L6G, GA, GB, GC then there were industrialized

and higher voltage rated types such as the 7027 and the 7581.

It has been my observation (though I don't know this as absolute fact) that

when for instance the Sylvania factory (later became Phillips) tooled up for

the 7027 - why then tool up again to make the slightly inferior rated

6L6GC?. Just re-brand the glass "6L6GC" knowing it will meet, actually

exceed all requirements. The same goes for the 7581A branding.

Hence, the Phillips 7581A is the exact same tube as their 7027A and this is

the same tube as their 6L6GC. Their data sheets might tell you different

things, but they are the same. I am quite sure that the currently produced

JJ 7027A is merely their 6L6 with a different branding.

A few different factory's made the 7027 as you have already read - RCA, GE

and Sylvania (Phillips), as far as I know that's it. My experience with the

RCA types has not been consistent with the TQR opinion. They have been

troublesome for me - likely because they are older - if you can find them.

NOS tubes are getting a bit scarce. The GE's were also great sounding -

again as far as I can tell they are the exact same tube as their 6L6GC. They

are a smaller fatter bottle and I find they don't last as long as the

Phillips.

The Phillips 7581A's were amongst the last tubes produced in America. The US

Military used tons of them and though (NOS) stocks are drying up, they are

still fairly available. We have used lots of these tubes and as a player

and repair dude - I think they are the toughest and best out there. I have

had a set of them in my VT 40 for more than 6 years. That includes a ton of

gigs and numerous bus rides across Arkansas.

Having said all of this - and I know it was a long answer, I am lately

finding that the Wing C 6L6's are holding up well and sound great in this

amp at half the price. Still, as your repairist I would sleep better knowing

you have the 7581A's in there.

Todd

The guy knows his stuff!

[tomteriffic]

Bump to get it out of the back pages. Somebody make me a reasonable offer or trade me a Special or a Traynor or sumpthin'!

[SirDouglas]

That LICHEN growing on the top of the amp Tom?

Nice amp V-2s are nice... smooooooooooooth

Randy

[tomteriffic]

Randy, it's candle wax that only got partially removed or something of that ilk. This thing spent most of its life in Joisey, so you just never know.....

[tomteriffic]

One more iddle biddy boomp.

[serial]

Tom:

I hate to say it, but if those knobs are the same as what Ampeg used on the DA plexi guitars and basses, you've gotcha two and a half to three bills' worth right there. If they have the "D" shaped pot shaft inserts, you might could put on any ol' knob and sell those as replacement DA guitar/bass knobs. The last three sets that have sold on the 'bay that I've seen went for $100 and over. There is a set or two on there now at $99 starting bid.

I know a guy who needs a set of the original knobs. I was gonna buy some, but they sell for silly money!

[Turdus]

Fliptops has that knob listed at $20, though currently out of stock. I would never buy an Ampeg without the original knobs for that very reason. Kinda like Sound City amps. The only thing that really made them cool, was the colored knobs. It seems that 9 out of 10 SC heads have had the knobs replaced. Probably becuase they broke. They just don't have the correct "look" without those knobs.

[cmatthes]

Yeah - I think I may be "that guy"!!

I need two of those knobs if anybody has a line on a pair. Repros are fine if they'll still fit.

CM

[tomteriffic]

Still waiting for a good home. Make me a reasonable offer.

[MCChris]

Damn. What a pair this thing makes with my 4x12.

Tempting. VERY tempting. I'm also intrigued by the bass application, but 60 watts tells me there's little or no headroom for that sort of thing. What's the scoop?

[tomteriffic]

Chris, I was thinking in terms of small rooms, practice, that sort of thing, unless you wanted to get into full on grizzly roar pretty quick. I've got a couple of bass cabs around, let me terrorize the neighbors after work and get back to you.

[tomteriffic]

As I suspected, it gets pretty grizzly pretty quick when you wind it up. Depending on your opinion of distortion on bass guitar, it was either one of the better fuzz basses (compressed with just enough gritch to make it interesting) I've ever heard or a well-executed fart.

[tomteriffic]

Gone byebye, thanks for playing!