Ampeg today announced it will be hosting a special event at the 2019 NAMM show in Anaheim, California, honoring the 50^thanniversary of the venerable Ampeg SVT bass amp.

The celebration will feature Ampeg’s custom-built, one-of-a-kind 11-foot tall SVT bass amp—originally created in the late 1980s and a staple at trade shows for years after. The 600-watt amp head sits on a 3-by-10-foot speaker cabinet, measuring 11 feet tall and weighing more than 800 pounds in total. The Beast, as it has come to be known, has been completely restored for the event.

“We are extremely excited to celebrate the 50^thanniversary of the SVT with a once-in-a-lifetime event using The Beast – an amp that truly goes to 11,” said Dominic Liberati, Ampeg Product Manager. “We’re honored to be the first choice for bassists who value great tone, and are looking forward to 50 more years of making exceptional products for bassists around the world.”

Originally introduced in 1969, the SVT and SVT-810 cabinet is still the most requested concert bass amplifier among touring professionals, backline companies, and sound companies worldwide. When it comes to shear power and classic tone, no other bass amp sounds like the SVT. Over the last five decades, the SVT has been featured on countless studio recordings, live concert performances, music award shows, late-night TV performances, and more.

On Saturday, January 26 at 2:00PM, none other than Derek Smalls, formerly of the band formerly known as Spinal Tap will make a special guest appearance and put The Beast through its paces. Smalls will also promote his new album Smalls Change (Meditations Upon Ageing), and take questions from the audience. The giant Beast will be on display for photo ops throughout the duration of the 2019 NAMM Show.

This event marks the start of what Ampeg expects to be a yearlong celebration of the SVT anniversary, as well as the beginning of the next 50 years of bringing great products to bass players throughout the world.

Visit online at ampeg.com