Ampeg Company Origins
Ampeg was founded in 1946 in New Jersey by Everett Hull and Lou Zirn to produce amplified upright basses. The company introduced the Portaflex flip-top bass combo in 1950 and expanded into tube amplification through the 1960s.
SVT Development and Launch
In 1969 Ampeg released the SVT (Super Valve Technology) head, a 300-watt design created to meet the volume demands of large stages. It featured dual channels, a solid-state rectifier option on later units, and a massive output transformer that became its sonic hallmark.
Notable Users and Evolution
The SVT quickly became the bass amp of choice for artists including The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath. Ampeg issued the SVT-II, SVT-3, and later the SVT-CL reissue while maintaining the core 6L6 topology across decades of production.
