Vintage Ampeg refurb...

[phatkat]

I am about to inherit an early 80's Ampeg valve Bass amp (sorry, dont know which model), its been lying unused and unloved for many years. My question is, are these amps worth the time and effort to give them a new lease of life? Are parts still readily available? Will I end up with a good sounding reliable bass amp?

Graeme

[icastle]

[quote name='phatkat' post='1172744' date='Mar 22 2011, 11:19 PM']I am about to inherit an early 80's Ampeg valve Bass amp (sorry, dont know which model), its been lying unused and unloved for many years. My question is, are these amps worth the time and effort to give them a new lease of life? Are parts still readily available? Will I end up with a good sounding reliable bass amp?[/quote]

Yes.
There seems to be quite a market for old bass amps - one of the reasons for all the modelling amps and add on modelling boxes that are on the market.

Parts wise, there shouldn't be much of a problem - modern valve amps are still using many of the same components that their ancestors did, and those that aren't available can be easily be worked around if needed.

[paul_5]

I think these guys are the only authorised Ampeg spares people in the UK [url="http://www.panicmusic.co.uk/index.html"]Panic Music[/url]. They're not the cheapest, but they really know their stuff.

From experience they've been really helpful in sorting my old Ampeg kit out.

Also you might want to drop [url="http://www.watfordvalves.com/"]Watford Valves[/url] a line if you're retubing, again not the cheapest, but worth the premium for knowledge/advice and speed of delivery.

[Mr. Foxen]

Ampeg has had their ups and downs, but the name holds plenty of value. They should be fairly familiar to any tech (because they've been around a long time, rather than a particular habit of needing a tech), but some can be a nutpain to work on. Check around for a good tech, there are plenty of bodgers about (like me).