For half a century, bassists fought their way through unruly drummers and guitarists with more stacks than a pancake house and an amp built to bolster low-end.
Living up to its heroic label of “Super Valve Technology,” the SVT has been the prime choice of players—from Rob Trujillo to Colin Greenwood—and has seen a number of models over the years. Now, to commemorate its golden anniversary, Ampeg’s paying homage to two of the most beloved models in one modern head.
The Ampeg Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT combines two of the series’ fan-favorite preamps in one handmade American package with a sound and style all its own. Built around the 1969 “Blueline” and mid-’70s Magnavox renditions, the Heritage SVT lets you summon the singular tones of each model in a period-correct package that spares no detail, down to the etched faceplate.
But Ampeg doesn’t bill their latest offering as just a love letter to models past. This new head lets you combine both circuits for an even throatier growl and serves modern necessities like a redesigned balanced XLR DI output, streamlined user-biasing, and Neutrik speakON jack.
Cap it all off with six hand-selected and -sourced Ampeg Super Valve 6550 tubes and you have 50 years of legendary tone in one box.
While a prototype of this new head was on hand at this January's Winter NAMM, the production-line model is now here, and is available to order now, retailing for $2,699.99 USD. Find your Heritage 50th Anniversary SVT Head on Reverb, and stay tuned for more Summer NAMM coverage.
Of course, if you'd prefer the original models, you can find plenty of vintage '60s and '70s Ampeg SVTs on Reverb too.