Ampeg Identity Crisis

[medmed]

So I play both bass and guitar, and I've acquired both an Ampeg VT-22 combo AND an Ampeg V4B head. They haven't been used in a while, and I haven't had the opportunity to test them well yet. Both probably need repairs, plus the VT22 has Celestion Vintage 30's in it, one 8 ohm and one 16 ohm. (That's bad, right?)

Basically I don't want to keep both, but whatever I keep, I want to be able to use for both bass/guitar. (I already have an *eh* bass cab w/Sunn Concertbass that I might trade for something else, depending on this conversation).

Versatility between guitar/bass is my main concern. I'm planning on playing both Fugazi-type stuff and some stoner stuff.

From what I read, VT22 = regular V4, and V4's are like V4b's with less low end/no reverb? Just how versatile are V4B's as guitar amps? Too bassy?

How expensive is a transformer repair? I heard that's happening with all Ampegs now, but the VT22 seems older.

And here's my crazy idea: What if I replace the VT22 combo speakers with bass speakers? Would it be versatile as both a bass and guitar combo? And I'd have to find a way to close up the back without the tubes overheating, right?

What bass speakers would I even get?

[christw]

moral of the story is below!

[medmed]

wait, what? so what should i do?

[JimmyM]

One thing not to do is put bass speakers in the VT-22 cab. It's an open back cab, so you'll never be able to play bass at any reasonable volume no matter what you do. I'd keep the V4B, use a pedal if you want reverb, and get separate bass and guitar cabs.

[someparts]

Ditch the VT-22. When you want to run at least four 12s in a live setting a 2x12 combo that weighs 90 lbs just doesn't make sense.

[B-string]

I had a......um..... discussion with a guitarist who was under the belief that tube amps could not have as sweet a high end as SS (no really he was saying that, honest). I plugged him into my V4-B, cut the bass some, boosted the treble. END of discussion (and that was through 2 Altec 421A bass speakers). The V4-B sound great with guitar. The VT-22 would sound really good for bass but not with the combo's speakers, you can't seal the back and if you did the cab volume would be too small for bass speakers.
My vote is for JimmyM's suggestion, but you could make the VT work with a bass cab and not using the internal speakers.

[christw]

Sorry, that was a terrible ramble on my part. I meant to suggest a flatback 810 as a viable option for a speaker set that'll work for guitar or bass and team well with your V4B.

[rodl2005]

Ha ha. That was a ramble Chris.
I 2nd keeping the V4B & getting a nice pedal-Boss Blues Driver etc- to use when playing guitar

[medmed]

Hmm.. what if I kept the v4b and got an ampeg v412 cab? Decent for both guitar/bass? Or will I get drowned out playing bass?

[Alex1984]

I did the opposite, sold my V4B and kept my VT-22. The VT sounds good, but you can't get high volumes out of it, but it's fantastic through my flatback.

[walls]

You can use bass speakers for guitar and guitar speakers for bass but, you shouldn't.

Bass speakers don't allow for the high end intricacies to shine through with a guitar. Basically, it will sound like you have a piece of carpet over your cab.

Guitar speakers don't have the "ca-hones" to take the low frequencies produced by a bass. At anything other than practice volume anyway.

You should keep the v4 and get a 2x12 cab for guitar and a 2x15 for bass. That is my opinion.

[RickenBoogie]

Yes, the amp is of little concern, but bass needs to be played through a bass cab, and guitar is better off played through a guitar cab. The 2 have very little in common, except being spkr cabs.