Council sought: Should I buy one or both of these 1977 Ampeg SVT cabinets?

[Sonar]

I'm a guitarist well versed in the market and used prices of GUITAR gear......

 

......BUT I defer to you Bass players for advise on this decision.

 

 

Here's the situation:

 

I have had an old Ampeg SVT amp head (Linden, N.J. era) sitting unused for about a decade. I got it in a gear trade deal long ago. I've never had an SVT cabinet for this SVT head.

 

I'm currently putting together an "old school" jam/practice room and I want this SVT to be restored as part of it (along with Hammond A100/Leslie122, Fender Rhodes and lots of vintage guitar amps).

 

I found two matching SVT cabinets circa 1977 in very good condition. Nice silver/blue grill cloth. All the original Eminence-built speakers intact and covers included for $400 each.

 

I, of course, could get by with one...but I KNOW I'll wish I had purchased both at some time down the road when it's too late.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

 

1.) Should I buy one or both?

 

2.) Is this a "deal" or just typical market value of these cabs these days?

 

 

Any other comments, thoughts, considerations or warnings are welcome!

 

Thanks,

-- Sonar

[hawkhuff]

You can get new ones for a bit more than that.

 

If the speakers are 1977 and the cabs haven't been used a lot they may have some problems with the speakers paper like a dry rot. I would be careful.

 

Also, I would think one cab would be sufficient for starters.

[bassplayinguy]

 

Originally posted by hawkhuff You can get new ones for a bit more than that. If the speakers are 1977 and the cabs haven't been used a lot they may have some problems with the speakers paper like a dry rot. I would be careful. Also, I would think one cab would be sufficient for starters.

.

 

ya but think of how cool it would be to have a wall of bass! id look into the speaker issue... if they seem good and if youre not gonan miss the money right away, do it! you can always sell one

[tylytle]

SVT 810 blue grill cabs for 400.00 each? buy them both!!!! Wish I had the chance..

 

 

Ty

[Craig Vecchione]

 

Originally posted by Sonar I, of course, could get by with one...but I KNOW I'll wish I had purchased both at some time down the road when it's too late.

 

 

 

 

You've answered your own question, my friend.

 

 

 

BTW, Hawkhuff, what constitutes "a bit more"? New SVT-810e's are $900 or more.

[Sonar]

Originally posted by hawkhuff You can get new ones for a bit more than that.

 

Am I missing something here?

 

If these 1977 SVT 8x10 cabinets cost $400 EACH and I'm not finding any new SVT 8x10 cabinets under $900......wouldn't the new ones be said to cost more than TWICE as much?

 

Is their a special Ampeg cabinet discounter outlet I'm not aware of?

 

 

Besides.....I don't want a bunch of current production Eminence high-power speakers vs. the vintage speakers (yes, even Eminence). If I blow any of these speakers, I'd have Ted Weber of Weber VST recone and remagnetize the beast before I'd buy a recent 32-ohm Eminence.

 

AND these cabinets have almost 30 years of funky cool mojo.....and they are light as a feather! (Okay.....I LIED about the "light as a feather" part.....but they DO have DA FUNK!)

[L-1329]

Originally posted by Sonar Besides.....I don't want a bunch of current production Eminence high-power speakers vs. the vintage speakers (yes, even Eminence). If I blow any of these speakers, I'd have Ted Weber of Weber VST recone and remagnetize the beast before I'd buy a recent 32-ohm Eminence. AND these cabinets have almost 30 years of funky cool mojo.....and they are light as a feather! (Okay.....I LIED about the "light as a feather" part.....but they DO have DA FUNK!)

 

Well that sounds like you already have your answer. I'd get 'em!

[Sonar]

Originally posted by Craigv You've answered your own question, my friend.

 

Sometimes what is cool and what is practical are two different worlds.

 

The "old school" mentality can lead me quickly into excess....BUT I wonder if anything to do with older SVT amp usage can EVER be considered excessive when the very CONCEPT of the Ampeg SVT was all about excess from the beginning.

 

I vaguely remember the early SVT amps could put out power that would TOAST the early single SVT 8x10 cabinets. These were the days when Ampeg used 10" Alnico CTS speakers.

 

But by 1977, I wonder that one SVT cabinet wasn't rated to take all 300 watts.....this is one of the things I wonder about.

 

But since the $400 per cabinet price appears a decent deal, I'll probably take them both and be sure the old SVT amp will have plenty of speaker to soak up that power.

 

 

Besides, it will be cool to see the faces of visiting bass players when they walk into the room and get a choice of unloading their rig or use a vintage Ampeg SVT with a recently installed matched sextet of NOS GE 6550s and TWO 8x10 cabs.

 

I hope they have their Steely Dan/TOP/old school Funk chops down!

[tylytle]

You are correct. The early SVT heads recommended you use 2 810 cabinets. They then upped the wattage of the 810 so it would handle the head. Either way... BUY THEM BOTH!! BTW.. I hate you!!! LOL Man I wish I could find a deal like that.

 

Ty