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Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT
Bass Guitar Amplifier
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What’s in the Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Channel Voicings and Channel Jumping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Important Information About Tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Survival Tips for Tube Amplifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Changing the Tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Setting Tube Bias and Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Warranty and Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
What’s in the Box
Heritage™ 50th Anniversary SVT® Amplifier, Power Cable, Quick Start Guide.
Introduction
Congratulations, and welcome to the world of Ampeg! Whether this is your first experience with
Ampeg, or you’re a well-seasoned player who’s been around the globe a few times with our gear,
you are taking part in a piece of musical history. From here on out, nothing else will sound the
same... everything else will pale in comparison. You are one of the lucky few to take part in a new
chapter of an American legacy. Ampeg has come home! Each Heritage Series amplifier and cabinet
is designed and assembled right here in the U.S.A. We’ve heard from our bass players around
the globe about their dedication and commitment to Ampeg, and the Heritage Series is made
specifically for these players. It's just our way of saying thank you and letting you know that we
heard you loud and clear.
Ampeg is the standard by which all others are measured. We’ve been pounding bass players'
chests and audiences' booties for over 60 years now, and we’re not going to slow down any time
soon. From our early days of building “amplified pegs” for upright players, to building the world
famous, stadium-rattling SVT, Ampeg has been the choice for bassists—from touring professionals
to weekend warriors, and everyone in between. We were the first ones on the block listening and
building gear for bass players. Heck, even our company’s founding fathers were working, gigging
players. When they weren’t tinkering around the shop on new ideas, they were out in the clubs of
New York, earning their living. Not much has changed since then.
The average length of a hit song is 3 minutes and 40 seconds. We have been a part of most of
those hits for over 60 years. Now that you own a piece of Ampeg history, we want to be part of
your next hit.
Best of luck in all of your musical endeavors!
Sincerely,
The dedicated team at Ampeg
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Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT
Key Features
• 300W of all tube power
• Designed and hand assembled in the U.S.A.
• Etched front panel reminiscent of the original Ampeg 1969 “Blue Line” SVT
• Two discrete, independently voiced channels (1969 + 1975)
• Channel jumping between Channel One & Channel Two
• Never-seen-before front panel layout
• Vintage logo styled cup handles
• 50th Anniversary Heritage badge on rear panel
• Neutrik® speakON® outs
• Newly enhanced Transformer Balanced Output
• Ampeg Super Valve™ 6550 power tubes
Bass Guitar Amplifier
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Front Panel
Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT
Bass Guitar Amplifier
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1. CHANNEL ONE: (The Channel One 1969 Input jacks): The signal output from an instrument or
a line level signal may be connected to this 1/4" input by means of a shielded instrument cable.
Either the Bright or Normal jack may be used. The Bright jack enhances the high frequencies of
the input signal. The signal at these jacks is sent into the Channel One preamp section (Volume
and EQ controls). This channel is voiced like the revered, original 1969 “Blue Line” SVT.
2. CHANNEL TWO: (The Channel Two 1975 Input jacks): The signal output from an instrument or
a line level signal may be connected to this 1/4" input by means of a shielded instrument cable.
Either the Bright or Normal jack may be used. The Bright jack enhances the high frequencies of
the input signal. The signal at these jacks is sent into the Channel Two preamp section (Volume
and EQ controls). This channel is voiced like the iconic, 70's Magnavox® era “Black Line” SVT.
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3. VOLUME: Use to adjust the output level of Channel One.
4. TREBLE: Use to adjust the high frequency level of Channel One. This provides up to 12 dB of
boost, or 12 dB of cut, at 4 kHz. The high frequency output is flat at the center position.
5. MIDRANGE: Use to adjust the midrange frequency level of Channel One. This provides up to 20
dB of boost, or 20 dB of cut, at the selected frequency (see #8 below). The midrange frequency
output is flat at the center position. Rotate the control counter-clockwise for a “contoured” sound
(more distant, less midrange output), or clockwise for a sound that really cuts through.
6. BASS: Use to adjust the low frequency level of Channel One. This provides up to 12 dB of boost,
or 12 dB of cut, at 40 Hz. The low frequency output is flat at the center position.
7. ULTRA HI: This switch, when engaged (right side down), enhances the amount of high frequency
output of Channel One. The amount of boost is dependent on the setting of the Volume control
(see #3 above).
8. MIDRANGE FREQUENCY (1•2•3): This switch selects the frequency that is affected by the
Midrange control (see #5). The available frequencies are 220 Hz (left side of the switch engaged),
800 Hz (switch in the center position), or 3 kHz (right side of the switch engaged).
9. BASS-CUT/OFF/ULTRA-LO: Engaging the left side of this switch decreases the low frequency
output of Channel One. Engaging the right side of this switch enhances the low frequency output
of Channel One. The switch is inactive in the center position.
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Front Panel - continued...
Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT
Bass Guitar Amplifier
87
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10. VOLUME: Use to adjust the output level of Channel Two.
11. TREBLE: Use to adjust the high frequency level of Channel Two. This provides up to 12 dB of
boost, or 12 dB of cut, at 4 kHz. The high frequency output is flat at the center position.
12. BASS: Use to adjust the low frequency level of Channel Two. This provides up to 12 dB of boost,
or 12 dB of cut, at 40 Hz. The low frequency output is flat at the center position.
13. ULTRA-HI: This switch, when engaged (right side down), enhances the amount of high frequency
output of Channel Two. The amount of boost is dependent on the setting of the Volume control
(see #10).
14. ULTRA LO: This switch, when engaged (right side down), enhances the low frequency output of
Channel Two.
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15. STANDBY SWITCH: Before powering the amplifier on, it is recommended to place the Standby
switch in the “down” position to place the amp in Standby mode. The Standby mode allows
the tubes to warm up, or remain warm, without high voltage being applied to them, helping to
extend tube life. Allow the amp to warm up for at least 10 seconds, then toggle the Standby
switch to the “up” position to put the amp into full operation. During short periods of non-use, it
is recommended to keep the amp powered on and in Standby mode.
16. POWER SWITCH: Use this switch to turn the overall system power on or off. (As mentioned in
item #15 above, it is recommended to place the Standby switch in the "down" position before
powering the amplifier on.) Flick the Power switch up to turn on the power to the amp. The Power
switch must be turned off to reset the amp after a Fault Condition. The adjacent lamp illuminates
green when the amplifier is powered on and is not in Standby mode.
NOTE:Alwaysbesuretheamplifierisconnectedtoeithera2Ωor4Ωspeakerloadbefore
turning the Power on, and before toggling the Standby switch to its "up" position (to disengage
Standby mode).
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