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Ampeg V4 -vs- V4b
- Thread starter thobbinghotrod
- Start date
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,634
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
the V4 has input attentuation for each channel and reverb. the V4B doesn't have input attenuation or reverb, but has a lo boost switch (which i never use since all it does is cut mids). the eq frequency points are the same, and the both work great for bass.
here's a pic of 2 V4's and a V4B (in the middle of the stack):
here's a pic of 2 V4's and a V4B (in the middle of the stack):
Never tried a V4 with bass, but the V4B is a killer amp for sure. If you see one at a reasonable price, GRAB IT!
I was hoping they were basically the same. I played a V4b in a shop last year that was great, but they wanted $1000 for it so I passed on that one. I may have found a V4 and I want to make sure it's worth it before I buy.
The only thing I dont love about my V4 (or a V4B) is they're nearly 27" wide and look kinda off kilter on top of a narrower cab.
I recently modded my early 70's V4 according to this plan:
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It sounds really great. Not sure how much of a difference the mod made because I had the tech do a thorough cleaning, etc. at the same time. Only the 2nd input was modded - so if somebody (me?) wants to play guitar through it, the first input is still stock.
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It sounds really great. Not sure how much of a difference the mod made because I had the tech do a thorough cleaning, etc. at the same time. Only the 2nd input was modded - so if somebody (me?) wants to play guitar through it, the first input is still stock.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,634
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
i compared all three of mine (two stock V4's and a stock v4B) thru the same cabinet and they all sounded pretty much exactly the same. if there was any difference, IMO, it would've been more due to the different tubes in the three heads rather than the circuit.
But you've got the V4B resistors on one input and the V4 resistors on the other? So you COULD tell us if the two channels sound different in the low register...
I had the same mod done to my V4. It sounded better afterwards, but then again it also got new tubes and caps...
My latest, greatest experience with the V4 is ignoring the front end and running a Summit Audio tube preamp directly into the "power amp in" input. It's difficult to describe how truly excellent this sounds. The only problem is that it interferes with the simplicity of just having a big ugly V4 sitting on top of a big ugly 4x12. But still, that tone...
I'll do a more specific tone comparison between the inputs in the next couple of days. I've only used the amp once or twice since the mod. Before that it collected dust for 15 years while I flirted with solid state amps.
anderbass is right about it looking a bit silly on top of an Ampeg cabinet - it sticks out on each side! Oh well, it's about the sound, not the look for me.
anderbass is right about it looking a bit silly on top of an Ampeg cabinet - it sticks out on each side! Oh well, it's about the sound, not the look for me.
Attachments
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,634
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
i think it actually looks kinda cool like that. it reminds me of a 'manly' version of turning a bassman cab on its side (vertical) in the old days.
that would mean the v4 is wider than the svt? that's odd...i seem to recall it fitting perfectly on my old flatback 810.
It is a bit wider. This is the only pic I could dig up, an SVT on one berg, the V4-B on the other. IIRC the SVT cab is a little wider than the berg. You get the idea...
It just barely overhangs on the flatback, like 1/4-1/2" on either side, but the feet/foot cups line up...
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The SVT is significantly narrower but taller and deeper (and heavier
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When I'm rockin' the tubes, the warm glowing bottles, putting the big fat under the dancing honeys, hitting the one, in the pocket, I've never seen anyone, anyone, care if my amp head overhangs my cabinet.
In real life I'm all about esthetics!
In real life I'm all about esthetics!
