NAD: Ampeg V-4B Classic (V-4BH)

JoshuaTSP · #1 01-03-2011, 09:29 PM

It arrived today, but I had to spend most of the night recording.

Only got to play it for 20 minutes, but I'm really impressed.
It really does have that "ampeg tone".

It seems plenty loud for me.....but I don't mind some natural break up.

Rehearsal Wednesday will be the ultimate test.

(I've been pretty happy with the 800RB (always loud enough)....just experimenting with tone.)

JimmyM · #2 01-03-2011, 09:55 PM

nice! t00bZ r00lZ! hope you enjoy it!

Josh Pelican · #3 01-03-2011, 09:55 PM

I hate you.

JoshuaTSP · #4 01-03-2011, 10:01 PM

This is not my first tube amp.

(had a vintage V4, SUNN 2000S, OR120, and I still have a Traynor YGL-3a that sounds great with bass. I have a decent collection of tube guitar amps too. )

I lucked out and got it from a GC at a really good price.....it's in really good condition, and the tubes seem pretty fresh (but I have no real way of knowing).

I'm a tube amp fan......love the dynamics and low end response.
Like the ability to match the band's volume live, based on my picking intensity.

rodl2005 · #5 01-04-2011, 12:04 AM

Great amp!! I've never seen one with blue markings around the control knobs before.
Plenty loud with a decent amount of drivers! Or nice being able to get power tube OD at decent volumes with a single 15" or the like.
Congrats!

OldHack · #6 01-04-2011, 01:56 AM

Nice score! I've got the exact same model, just got new pots and knobs to replace all the glued in ones :/ Also have a full set of JJ's to try in the preamp. Sounds great with the settings it's at tho!

JoshuaTSP · #7 01-04-2011, 05:22 AM

Thanks. I'm using it with a SWR 2x15 that has Emi Kappalites.

Anyone mess with the preamp tubes?
Replacing the low gain 12AU7 with a 12AT7 or AX7?

Wes Whitmore · #8 01-04-2011, 05:53 AM

Please compare the two amps when you can...people usually says that Ampeg and GK are polar opposites in sound. The VB4 is something that I am working towards in the future...

JoshuaTSP · #9 01-04-2011, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wes Whitmore

Please compare the two amps when you can...people usually says that Ampeg and GK are polar opposites in sound. The VB4 is something that I am working towards in the future...

My initial reaction is, yes.....complete opposite.

The GK is tight, growly, mid-focused and punchy.
The Ampeg seemed fat, round, scooped (in certain areas) and snappy in the high end.

I would definitely have to say that the vintage V-4(B) and V-4BH are drastically different.

Wes Whitmore · #10 01-04-2011, 06:40 AM

That is what I have read, and that's the sound I hear in recordings of Ampegs in general. It's a great sound. Honestly, my only Ampeg experience is with an SVT-3pro. I'm scared if I ever find a V-4B or V-4BH for sale in good shape at the right price, I'll be forced to buy it and gig with it. I really like the GK sound as well though. I have had a bunch of them, recently moving to the MB series. Good job finding a clean one!
Wes

TylerDurdenPSSC · #11 01-04-2011, 06:58 AM

Congrats on the score man! I've been looking for a V4B for quite some time now.

I'm also curious to know if anyones put AX7's in the preamp section, and how it affected tone. Always wanted to pick one of these up, and swap for a full JJ setup with 12AX7's, and "winged C" 6505's.

JoshuaTSP · #12 01-04-2011, 10:54 AM

I'll try swapping out the tubes tonight, see what happens, and report back.

Any suggested setting on this thing?
The 5 position mid freq switch?

pedro · #13 01-04-2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

I would definitely have to say that the vintage V-4(B) and V-4BH are drastically different.

I own the V4b but have never tried the VBH - I'm curious how they sound different?

JoshuaTSP · #14 01-04-2011, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedro

I own the V4b but have never tried the VBH - I'm curious how they sound different?

I haven't had too much time with it, but my initial thoughts are.....

The old V4B, IMO was really mid driven and punchy. Loud and angry.

The V4BH sounds more like their other modern offerings......SVT3PRO, maybe?....but more tubey.

Slightly scooped (to my ears) in certain mid frequencies, and much rounder sounding than the V4 I had.
A lot snappier in the high end.....lots of pick attack accentuation. brighter.

I will play it more tonight and post more.

pedro · #15 01-04-2011, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

I haven't had too much time with it, but my initial thoughts are.....

The old V4B, IMO was really mid driven and punchy. Loud and angry.

The V4BH sounds more like their other modern offerings......SVT3PRO, maybe?....but more tubey.

Slightly scooped (to my ears) in certain mid frequencies, and much rounder sounding than the V4 I had.
A lot snappier in the high end.....lots of pick attack accentuation. brighter.

I will play it more tonight and post more.

Many thanks. Like I said I've never had any time with the VBH but absolutely love the V4b.

margus_ · #16 01-04-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

The V4BH sounds more like their other modern offerings......SVT3PRO, maybe?....but more tubey.

V4BH doesn`t sound like svt3pro at all.
V4BH is way darker and less open sounding than 3pro.
I haven`t had much experience whit other all tube heads, but orange ad200b was much less dark and had more open sound and clarity as well. In the other hand V4BH was bassier, punchyer and maybe also fatter sonding (when bass knob was cranked all the way up).
I have read opposite opinions, but to my ears is V4BH most vintage sounding from thees three

pedro · #17 01-04-2011, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by margus_

V4BH doesn`t sound like svt3pro at all.
V4BH is way darker and less open sounding than 3pro.
I haven`t had much experience whit other all tube heads, but orange ad200b was much less dark and had more open sound and clarity as well. In the other hand V4BH was bassier, punchyer and maybe also fatter sonding (when bass knob was cranked all the way up).
I have read opposite opinions, but to my ears is V4BH most vintage sounding from thees three

I have the Orange 200b and compared to the Ampeg V4b it does not have the same mid bump as the Ampeg. The Orange has a softer more scooped tone to it (to my ears) than the Ampeg as well as a little more headroom.

JoshuaTSP · #18 01-04-2011, 12:24 PM

I said the V4BH sounds more like Ampeg's other modern offerings, not exactly like the SVT3PRO.

I don't hear any of the things margus claims to hear in the V4BH.

The vintage V4B and V4BH are substantially different, that's for sure.

pedro · #19 01-04-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

I said the V4BH sounds more like Ampeg's other modern offerings, not exactly like the SVT3PRO.

I don't hear any of the things margus claims to hear in the V4BH.

The vintage V4B and V4BH are substantially different, that's for sure.

I don't have any experience with either the SVT3PRO or the V4BH so I can't say. But since he brought it up I did give my impressions on the V4b vs Orange.

JoshuaTSP · #20 01-04-2011, 12:38 PM

These aren't the best videos (compressed), but it gives you an idea of the tone.....
(though I don't think the video sounds exactly like it does in real life. Almost sounds like the ultra low switch is engaged

)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmuavEsvX4c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTRza...eature=related