2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue Pt2

[Slpbass81]

At least 50 Florida outdoor gigs since I got it. Nary a hiccup.

Good to hear. I posed the used SVT-VR I bought a couple weeks ago and fixed up on Craigslist. I put it for $1,400 which I really don't expect anyone to spend but I also did not plan on selling it. I usually put most of my gear I'm not 100% attached to on Craigslist for a borderline absurd amount that I would be ok letting it go for. I may lower my price so I can pick up a V4B.

 

[DaveDeVille]

i've been rockin' this badboy for a couple of months ...

... sitting on top of my Ampeg SVT-212AV , it sounds awesome !!

 

[Slpbass81]

i've been rockin' this badboy for a couple of months ...

... sitting on top of my Ampeg SVT-212AV , it sounds awesome !!

I bought the 212AV when it first came out to use with my SVT-CL and it sounds great.

 

[Eric_Allard]

This has probably been answered many times already, but i don't have the time to read a 100 page thread...
How many of you are gigging with a V4B in medium sized venues without PA support?
I'm considering one of these and a 2x15 with a pair of Faital 15PR400. Guitarists are running 40 and 60 watt Fender combos (a Blues Deluxe and a Hot Rod Deville).
With slightly more efficient speakers I think I could get by with my old 50 watt Bassman, but it wouldn't be very clean. I'm currently running a homemade 2x12 with Eminence Delta Pro 12's. I usually run a GK 700RB-II for rehearsals and shows, but usually have the volume pretty low: Input gain is usually below 9 oclock with the boost and master at noon. I've been rocking the GK for about 12 years and would like something new and different.
I find myself attracted to the Ampeg sound lately and think the v4b should be enough power, but SVT's can be had for not much more money on the used market.
Unfortunately, I am not able to audition one of these on person. I believe that SVT's are available for rent in a local music store. Is there a way I can approximate the sound and output of the V4B with an SVT-CL?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[JimmyM]

V4B's and SVT's don't line up identically with the knobs, but you can get basically the same sounds out of both. I'm able to use one in a medium venue without PA support using two 210av's, yes.

 

[Eric_Allard]

V4B's and SVT's don't line up identically with the knobs, but you can get basically the same sounds out of both. I'm able to use one in a medium venue without PA support using two 210av's, yes.

Thanks for the reply Jimmy.
I imagine the power tubes get pushed pretty hard to keep up at band volumes. How long are you guys getting from a set? I suppose there might not be a reliable average value yet as these are still pretty new.
Have any significant recurring reliability problems surfaced? I was also considering the Fender Bassman 100T, but can't help but suspect that those amps would be nearly impossible to repair once a problem surfaced. The Ampeg looks far more straightforward.
Again, thanks for the help.

 

[TC.65]

This has probably been answered many times already, but i don't have the time to read a 100 page thread...
How many of you are gigging with a V4B in medium sized venues without PA support?
I'm considering one of these and a 2x15 with a pair of Faital 15PR400. Guitarists are running 40 and 60 watt Fender combos (a Blues Deluxe and a Hot Rod Deville).
With slightly more efficient speakers I think I could get by with my old 50 watt Bassman, but it wouldn't be very clean. I'm currently running a homemade 2x12 with Eminence Delta Pro 12's. I usually run a GK 700RB-II for rehearsals and shows, but usually have the volume pretty low: Input gain is usually below 9 oclock with the boost and master at noon. I've been rocking the GK for about 12 years and would like something new and different.
I find myself attracted to the Ampeg sound lately and think the v4b should be enough power, but SVT's can be had for not much more money on the used market.
Unfortunately, I am not able to audition one of these on person. I believe that SVT's are available for rent in a local music store. Is there a way I can approximate the sound and output of the V4B with an SVT-CL?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

The V4B Reissue will do that with the 212AV so should easily fill a med sized venue with that particular cab.

 

[Bass 45]

This has probably been answered many times already, but i don't have the time to read a 100 page thread...
How many of you are gigging with a V4B in medium sized venues without PA support?
I'm considering one of these and a 2x15 with a pair of Faital 15PR400. Guitarists are running 40 and 60 watt Fender combos (a Blues Deluxe and a Hot Rod Deville).
With slightly more efficient speakers I think I could get by with my old 50 watt Bassman, but it wouldn't be very clean. I'm currently running a homemade 2x12 with Eminence Delta Pro 12's. I usually run a GK 700RB-II for rehearsals and shows, but usually have the volume pretty low: Input gain is usually below 9 oclock with the boost and master at noon. I've been rocking the GK for about 12 years and would like something new and different.
I find myself attracted to the Ampeg sound lately and think the v4b should be enough power, but SVT's can be had for not much more money on the used market.
Unfortunately, I am not able to audition one of these on person. I believe that SVT's are available for rent in a local music store. Is there a way I can approximate the sound and output of the V4B with an SVT-CL?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

I would be comfortable using a V4B reissue with a good 2x15 in the situation you describe. It can get pretty loud and clean if you crank the master and use the gain for volume.

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks for the reply Jimmy.
I imagine the power tubes get pushed pretty hard to keep up at band volumes.

Not on my gigs. Gain's usually at about 9, master goes between halfway and all the way, usually no more than 3/4 of the way.

How long are you guys getting from a set? I suppose there might not be a reliable average value yet as these are still pretty new.

Still got the original tubes after 2 years except for one that broke when I dropped it onto my garage floor. Sometimes they'll break right away, sometimes it'll take decades. There are a lot of factors at play.

Have any significant recurring reliability problems surfaced? I was also considering the Fender Bassman 100T, but can't help but suspect that those amps would be nearly impossible to repair once a problem surfaced. The Ampeg looks far more straightforward.
Again, thanks for the help.

I don't know anything about the Fenders, but the V4B is rock solid.

 

[Eric_Allard]

Thanks for all the responses. I think I'll try one. If I don't like it, I can always sell it.

 

[Bent77]

Thanks for all the responses. I think I'll try one. If I don't like it, I can always sell it.

I considered both those amps, very pleased with the V4, but I am a worthless source of info about gigging

 

[tombowlus]

This has probably been answered many times already, but i don't have the time to read a 100 page thread...
How many of you are gigging with a V4B in medium sized venues without PA support?
I'm considering one of these and a 2x15 with a pair of Faital 15PR400. Guitarists are running 40 and 60 watt Fender combos (a Blues Deluxe and a Hot Rod Deville).
With slightly more efficient speakers I think I could get by with my old 50 watt Bassman, but it wouldn't be very clean. I'm currently running a homemade 2x12 with Eminence Delta Pro 12's. I usually run a GK 700RB-II for rehearsals and shows, but usually have the volume pretty low: Input gain is usually below 9 oclock with the boost and master at noon. I've been rocking the GK for about 12 years and would like something new and different.
I find myself attracted to the Ampeg sound lately and think the v4b should be enough power, but SVT's can be had for not much more money on the used market.
Unfortunately, I am not able to audition one of these on person. I believe that SVT's are available for rent in a local music store. Is there a way I can approximate the sound and output of the V4B with an SVT-CL?
Thanks in advance for any advice.

It's kinda close, but yes, I think it could do the job without PA support. I pushed my V-4B/212AV rig for all it was worth at a rock gig with a loud guitar player and reasonable drummer (without PA support), and while I did have to push the rig very, very hard, it did just manage to keep up.

 

[rodl2005]

I use my V4B with either a Fender Bassman Pro 115, a Berg NV412 (sealed 4x12") , Berg AE410 & it EASILY keeps up with a loud band with either of those cabs.
With an efficient 2z15 I think it'll cope very nicely. ...And I also think it'd be in the clean range of its power still.
This is one of the beauties of this amp. It's got plenty of clean power but dial in the eq differently and you can get the power tubes to overdrive

 

[Eric_Allard]

I found a V4B-AV available for sale. I think it's based on the V4BH that was available through the 90s, but with AV style cosmetics. Reading here, it appears the V4BH wasn't as highly regarded as the current reissue or the original ones. Is that a fair consensus?

 

[JimmyM]

I found a V4B-AV available for sale. I think it's based on the V4BH that was available through the 90s, but with AV style cosmetics. Reading here, it appears the V4BH wasn't as highly regarded as the current reissue or the original ones. Is that a fair consensus?

I have no idea if it's fair or not, but the V4BH was voiced more like an SVT, and wasn't really like the older ones or new one, where it's voiced to have flat response with knobs at noon.

 

[Eric_Allard]

I have no idea if it's fair or not, but the V4BH was voiced more like an SVT, and wasn't really like the older ones or new one, where it's voiced to have flat response with knobs at noon.

I see. How would you describe an SVT's preamp in comparison when set with the knobs at noon? I think hear a bit of a bump in the low mids with the SVT's preamp. If that correct?

 

[JimmyM]

I see. How would you describe an SVT's preamp in comparison when set with the knobs at noon? I think hear a bit of a bump in the low mids with the SVT's preamp. If that correct?

Low mid bump, then a gradual tapering off of higher frequencies. BUT...that comes from the power amp, not the preamp. SVT preamp is dead flat with knobs at noon.

 

[Eric_Allard]

Low mid bump, then a gradual tapering off of higher frequencies. BUT...that comes from the power amp, not the preamp. SVT preamp is dead flat with knobs at noon.

Thanks for all the help. Like I said previously, I'm feeling rather bored with my current sound and one of these Ampegs may be just the thing for me.

 

[Slpbass81]

Right now I am using my SVT-CL through my 212AV for smaller gigs. My volume varies between 7-8 and gain varies between 4-5 (these are numbers on the SVT...not clock references). Would the V4B be able to match this level and stay semi-clean? What level do you think the v4b maxed out is on an SVT-CL?

 

[Bass 45]

Right now I am using my SVT-CL through my 212AV for smaller gigs. My volume varies between 7-8 and gain varies between 4-5 (these are numbers on the SVT...not clock references). Would the V4B be able to match this level and stay semi-clean? What level do you think the v4b maxed out is on an SVT-CL?

My SVT-CL is put away right now - so I can't compare the dial settings at the moment - but I feel that if your 212AV is not farting out on said gigs with the SVT that the V4B could get to that volume - with fairly clean tone. There is a difference in the authority of the SVT at any volume (to my ears) - but not a huge difference.