Ampeg V4 - Welcome Home Ol' Buddy!

rllefebv · #1 07-05-2010, 11:03 PM

Backstory - For the past several months, I have been gigging my Sunn 200S exclusively... Two months ago, I decided to pull out the Ampeg and give it a whirl. After powering up and playing for 10 minutes, it started making this hissing and popping noise... Immediately powered it down and set it aside, went back to the Sunn...

Fast forward - It is now 'outdoor-gig-season' and I will be wanting the Ampeg for several of these shows. Took it to the amp doctor a few weeks back, explained the symptoms, and left it with instructions to call me if it looked as though it would go over $200 (a trusted relationship with an amp specialist is unbelievably nice to have)... He traced the problem to a failing pre-amp tube, fixed a few suspect connections, cleaned things... Tested, replaced and biased the power tubes... I got it back last Tuesday, and was finally able to test it today... I can't stop smiling! So nice to have it back!

-robert

marklaforest · #2 07-05-2010, 11:09 PM

I just went through the same thing - after getting tired of carting my V4 and 8x10 around I downsized and played through the winter without it. First outdoor gig of the season was a few weeks ago and I can't believe I ever sidelined my V4/8x10 SVT rig.

Jefenator · #3 07-06-2010, 02:23 AM

Funny - mine had a preamp tube go bad too. (Try the other channel if that ever happens again - saved my bacon.)

I keep my Sunn in rotation - it does a certain something nothing else does. But for most occasions, that old V4 is THE sound!!

Reminds me of the Rhodes I used to own. Imitated & copied up the wazoo but there's just nothing quite like the real deal. And it's heavy.

rnilson · #4 07-06-2010, 07:45 AM

I am looking at a V4B with the same problems what did it cost to fix.

Also, what Cab is that in the picture..

Zooski · #5 07-06-2010, 08:15 AM

that is a nice looking cab--what is it?

big stubby · #6 07-06-2010, 08:54 AM

Very nice, I just got a V4B and now I am searching for a cab. I love the V4 cab.

johnk_10 · #7 07-06-2010, 09:16 AM

yeah, i love mine too. IMO, they are great bass amps:

Jefenator · #8 07-06-2010, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnilson

I am looking at a V4B with the same problems what did it cost to fix.

A preamp tube doesn't cost much at all. You could swap in a fresh one, one at a time, and see if that clears up your problem.

I highly recommend getting an expert to give the amp a checkup, though. That set me back about $60, including a suitable new-old-stock preamp tube.

rllefebv · #9 07-06-2010, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefenator

I highly recommend getting an expert to give the amp a checkup, though. That set me back about $60, including a suitable new-old-stock preamp tube.

Seconded... The added sense of security gained by having a tech who knows what they are doing is well worth the cost... Based on the symptoms that I was hearing, I would have sworn that it was a capacitor!

And, I'll have to remember that second-channel if it ever happens on a gig... I always have a backup head on-tap... A little AI Clarus that gets surprisingly loud through that cab!

The cab is a '73 V4 4X12 guitar cab loaded with Eminence 2512's (thanks johnk_10!!)... It sounds great with a number of heads, but just 'feels right' sitting under the V4

-robert

JimmyM · #10 07-06-2010, 02:36 PM

my old buddy never got a chance to come home. my old buddy was burned alive in a bar fire. didn't do anything wrong...just sat there on the stage waiting for me to come back to play it. wasn't the end of the world but i really do miss it sometimes. went over 10 years with nary a problem.

Groover · #11 07-06-2010, 03:14 PM

I want one

Jefenator · #12 07-06-2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

my old buddy never got a chance to come home. my old buddy was burned alive in a bar fire. didn't do anything wrong...just sat there on the stage waiting for me to come back to play it. wasn't the end of the world but i really do miss it sometimes. went over 10 years with nary a problem.

Dang, that's sad!! (Hate to see a prime old gem go like that...)

JimmyM · #13 07-06-2010, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jefenator

Dang, that's sad!! (Hate to see a prime old gem go like that...)

me too. otoh, i got to play our singer's peavey tnt for a few months.

blendermassacre · #14 07-06-2010, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

me too. otoh, i got to play our singer's peavey tnt for a few months.

johnk_10 · #15 07-06-2010, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

me too. otoh, i got to play our singer's peavey tnt for a few months.

i'm really sorry to hear that (in more ways than one).

JimmyM · #16 07-06-2010, 09:34 PM

lol! well, i said that crying smiley for the joke, but you know what? she still has that amp, and it still works great after 25 years, and it really wasn't that bad. i liked it as much as my acoustic 136 combo that i sold about a year before that fire.

do i want one for myself, though? i think you guys know the answer to that one.

blendermassacre · #17 07-06-2010, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

lol! well, i said that crying smiley for the joke, but you know what? she still has that amp, and it still works great after 25 years, and it really wasn't that bad. i liked it as much as my acoustic 136 combo that i sold about a year before that fire.

do i want one for myself, though? i think you guys know the answer to that one.

Those aren't bad amps, but they're not V4s. I had one for a while. Loud as balls, but broke them trying to move it out of my basement practice space