Possible Ampeg V4bh and Ampeg 410he issues

cullendean · #1 07-08-2011, 02:45 PM

Should I be getting speaker distortion in my 410he if I run my v4bh with the bass at 1:00, mid on 11:30 with the mid freq on 4, treble at 1:30, gain at 3:00 and master at 12:00 and the ultra hi and ultra low engaged? Just wondering.

coreyfyfe · #2 07-08-2011, 02:49 PM

Probably. That's fairly high on the gain and master. Sounds to me like you're running out of headroom. It's only a 100 watt amp, might be time for something bigger. Or at least a bigger cab.

JimmyM · #3 07-08-2011, 02:54 PM

Absolutely you should be getting distortion, but it's not speaker distortion...it's head distortion.

paganjack · #4 07-08-2011, 02:56 PM

Yeah that's plenty of gain for that head, so the distortion is most likely from the amp. The ultra-low/ultra-hi settings are probably reducing your headroom.

fjbass78 · #5 07-08-2011, 02:59 PM

You might like the 410 hlf better with that head, or add another 410 he.

Jonyak · #6 07-08-2011, 02:59 PM

holy crap yes. you basicaly have it going full out with those gain and master settings.

you might want more wattage.

IMO it should sound pretty awesome though lol

acubass · #7 07-08-2011, 03:11 PM

Disengage the ultri hi and low.

Jonyak · #8 07-08-2011, 03:12 PM

especially the low.

cullendean · #9 07-08-2011, 03:13 PM

ok thank you for the advice. i switched to bass 4 months ago to play with in 3 piece indie-rock band after playing guitar in hardcore bands for 8 years. I'm used to just plugging into a mesa recto or similar high gain head and just going for it. So i'm still kind of new to bass gear. I'm going for tones like Tim Payne of Thursday and Riley Breckenridge of Thrice. I know they both use Ampeg Classics through 8x10's. But i don't have the cash for that right now, So i decided to pickup a used V4bh and 410he for now.

Jonyak · #10 07-08-2011, 03:14 PM

You could sell the V4B to me if you want

lol.

if its more volume you are looking for, try an 810, or another 410.

also, it sounds good by itself, but in a band situation, the amp with the ultra high and low off, will cut through more.

also you might want to try the mids boosted past 12, instead of cut, as they will come through more.

one thing I have noticed about tube amps especially ampegs, is they are all about low mids. I usualy have my SVt on the middle mid setting and at about 2 oclock.

Bassmec · #11 07-08-2011, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonyak

holy crap yes. you basicaly have it going full out with those gain and master settings.

you might want more wattage.

IMO it should sound pretty awesome though lol

He cant get more watts with a v4b! 100 real great ones is your lot.
so its get another 4x10he time and that will make more volume with coupling than even having twice the watts via one cab.
He wont need to boost the bass end as much with 8 tens either.
A V4B with eight tens is quite loud cleanish.

coreyfyfe · #12 07-08-2011, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acubass

Disengage the ultri hi and low.

Definitely. And try adding more low mids, especially for the tone you said you're looking for. The ultra high and low switches cut mids to boost highs/lows but bringing up your mid tones will really help you cut through in a band setting.

JimmyM · #13 07-08-2011, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cullendean

ok thank you for the advice. i switched to bass 4 months ago to play with in 3 piece indie-rock band after playing guitar in hardcore bands for 8 years. I'm used to just plugging into a mesa recto or similar high gain head and just going for it. So i'm still kind of new to bass gear. I'm going for tones like Tim Payne of Thursday and Riley Breckenridge of Thrice. I know they both use Ampeg Classics through 8x10's. But i don't have the cash for that right now, So i decided to pickup a used V4bh and 410he for now.

It's actually a great way to go if you can't swing the king daddy yet. But you have to dial down your volume expectations or get a second 410he or just use an 810e.

cullendean · #14 07-08-2011, 04:52 PM

Wow, thank you all so much. You're advice is so helpful.
Jonyak: When I get the cash for a Classic in a few months I will deffinetly contact you to see if you're still interested.

So I have a gig on the 24th and it's outdoors. The guitarist uses a 55watt tube amp and 2x12 cab. He plays a tele and his tone is on the twangy side. The show is small enough where we won't have to mic his cab and the drummers kick drum, but do you think I should run the xlr out to the PA and do this for every subsequent show I have until I can upgrade?

nashvillebill · #15 07-08-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cullendean

....do you think I should run the xlr out to the PA and do this for every subsequent show I have until I can upgrade?

Only if the PA has adequate power and subs to handle the extra bass in there, otherwise the mix can get real muddy, IMO.

I'd rather have just vocals in the PA and maybe add a little cymbals or guitar but leave out the bass or floor toms, if the PA doesn't have enough oomph to cover the extra low frequencies.

Turock · #16 07-08-2011, 05:14 PM

I own both an SVT and a V4BH. I prefer the V4BH most of the time. It has plenty of volume; you just need to set it differently.
Boost the mids to at least 1:00 or so, cut the bass back to around 11:00 or so. Disengage the ultra hi and lo switches. That should help you to cut through much better. If not, add more mids, and/or cut some more bass.

JimmyM · #17 07-08-2011, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cullendean

Wow, thank you all so much. You're advice is so helpful.
Jonyak: When I get the cash for a Classic in a few months I will deffinetly contact you to see if you're still interested.

So I have a gig on the 24th and it's outdoors. The guitarist uses a 55watt tube amp and 2x12 cab. He plays a tele and his tone is on the twangy side. The show is small enough where we won't have to mic his cab and the drummers kick drum, but do you think I should run the xlr out to the PA and do this for every subsequent show I have until I can upgrade?

Maybe if you were micing the bass drum, but since you're not, I'd probably just go for stage volume. However, everyone in the band has to cooperate, even the guitarist, and I have no idea what kind of guns your PA is packing, so I don't think any of us can say for sure what you should do.

**ddbassGA** · #18 07-08-2011, 08:51 PM

Others have said it but here goes. I have both a V4 and V4b. These amps start to distort with gain set above 11:00. So...
1. Set output impedance to match cab. 8ohm for the 410HE
2. Set gain at 11 or less to keep clean sound.
3. Turn off ultra low and tape it in the off position

It's stealing all your headroom.
4. Use Ultra high if you wish at times for some sparkle but generally leave off.
5. Set bass control at 11 initially and adjust as needed.
6. Either boost low mids slightly or cut upper mids.
7. Treble to taste
8. Use Master to get your volume up...you can crank Master way up to max if the gain is dialed back to clean.
9. If needed, add 2nd cab (and reset output impedance) to match.

I think the V4b should be able to hold it's own with 55 watt guitar amp and Tele, esp with some PA support.

derridiandrift · #19 07-08-2011, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turock

I own both an SVT and a V4BH. I prefer the V4BH most of the time. It has plenty of volume; you just need to set it differently.
Boost the mids to at least 1:00 or so, cut the bass back to around 11:00 or so. Disengage the ultra hi and lo switches. That should help you to cut through much better. If not, add more mids, and/or cut some more bass.

Wow, those are my exact settings when I'm using my V4BH with my 810 cab. I use the mid-frequency selector on number 1 (220Hz I think?) for these settings.