Yep - definitely my favorite head. I've got a coupla 300W tube amps, but this is the amp I gig with 90% of the time...
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2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue Pt2
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
If I didn't have the Fender Super Bassman & it wasn't SO GOOD the V4B would get far more gig time as the V4B is stunning! !! But the SB300 is only 20lbs heavier and punches so solidly. ..it's hard to leave behind.
That said. .. my V4B does get plenty of gig time. And it does sound great. Just can't quite fill the notes as fully as the 6x6550s of the Super Bassman.
I love em both. It's a fantastic choice to have.
That said. .. my V4B does get plenty of gig time. And it does sound great. Just can't quite fill the notes as fully as the 6x6550s of the Super Bassman.
I love em both. It's a fantastic choice to have.
Got to put the new V-4B to actual use to day using my '58 Pbass. My first impression is that it is more pronounced in the upper mids slightly maybe, and definitely in the highs than my V-4BH (which has very sweet mids and highs). It took about a half hour to try different settings then finally ended up about where I have the BH (only I boost mid position 450Hz which is missing on the VR--and I think I miss that).
At home I was really concerned it was going to be too bright and have to be dialed back some, but when everyone was playing I didn't think so, by myself possibly. Volume-wise this think will CRANK! I'm sure it's not the same for both amps but I was a fur piece on the gain and master on the new amp compared to the BH (which has <yr old Ruby's).
My conclusion after one use is--I'm a very happy camper. A nice bonus is it's lighter than the BH by a little, though the specs say they are the same. I go to the board for FOH but even without that things would have to 13 yr old loud to not be heard with these. (No offense to the 13 yr olds....with sense!
) Well done Ampeg!
At home I was really concerned it was going to be too bright and have to be dialed back some, but when everyone was playing I didn't think so, by myself possibly. Volume-wise this think will CRANK! I'm sure it's not the same for both amps but I was a fur piece on the gain and master on the new amp compared to the BH (which has <yr old Ruby's).
My conclusion after one use is--I'm a very happy camper. A nice bonus is it's lighter than the BH by a little, though the specs say they are the same. I go to the board for FOH but even without that things would have to 13 yr old loud to not be heard with these. (No offense to the 13 yr olds....with sense!
) Well done Ampeg!
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Is it possible for tone of this amp to improve with playing? I bought it new and have probably used it a dozen times at gigs and practices, every time it sounds better to me...am I imagining things?
No you are not
Well, you probably are, or you're getting more adept at finding your sound, or if you got a new cab with it, maybe it's started opening up after a break-in period. Who knows? I wouldn't worry too much about it, though...just be glad it's happening!
Agreed. As @JimmyM says. ... @Stevehill I reckon it's you finding yr sound. ..learning the Sweet spots of the amp more. ..learning to exploit those sweet spots too!
Like when I'll use it with a big cab and it'll sound (as usual) fantastic. ..but a smaller cab might do and it'll let me crank the V4B's power tubes a bit more. Might just allow me to get a cool growl at a lesser volume etc.
Gotta love all tube power and, of course, the great design of the V4B.
Like when I'll use it with a big cab and it'll sound (as usual) fantastic. ..but a smaller cab might do and it'll let me crank the V4B's power tubes a bit more. Might just allow me to get a cool growl at a lesser volume etc.
Gotta love all tube power and, of course, the great design of the V4B.
As you play through an amp and listen, you get to know how to interact with it and how to play to get the best out of it. This is usually done somewhat unconsciously. It comes down to you know what you like and you like what you know.
Thanks, I'm definitely not worried about it, this amp just keeps getting better and better!
So what's better sounding for an audience than a V-4B hooked up with two SVT-112AV cabs?
The same rig with a RE20 microphone in front of the cabs (instead of the d.i.)
Our usual sound-guy already loved my set-up, but he started to smile even more with the Re20 helping out.
"A deeper sound...much more Oh yeah!" are his words.
I guess a lot of TB'ers have been doing this a long time already, but for me it was the first time to try it.
The stage wasn't too big for the eight-piece band I'm in, but did it anyway and glad I did.
So the investment in the mic has payed off already for me, morally!
(I know that in the pic the mic isn't hooked up yet
)
RE 20 rules, man! Just know that there are pockets of fraidy cat sound techs who will be afraid to touch it because they suck, and otherwise, have fun!
I think I've used an RE20 one or twice. ... but. .yeah, I'd like to be using it regularly.
One of my pet hates is the sound guys that spend 45mins setting up drum sounds then ask for the bass. ...2 notes. .."yep cool"
Lucky for me our S.E. takes a decent amount of time and gets a great bass sound. . But it ain't an RE20. .. think it's some model of Sennheisser ....???? Anyway- it sounds good with the V4B's DI plus the mic & he mixes the two.
Sennheiser makes a mic that's great for bass too...421. Brighter than the RE20 but still sounds great.
Hello Everybody!
I'm new here.. (and I'm not a bass player). ;-)
Another cool bass mic is the new AKG D12VR
Nothing to do the original (and famous D12).. But truly great and fat sounding imho.
the old akg D20, D12 etc are also really cool and very punchy on bass amps as well as kick drums (although quite expensive these days for what they are).
Back on track with the thread, I'm thinking of getting a V4B with an svt212av for my backline (with a used aguilar th500 as a backup or to use it with a smaller cabinet for smaller gigs).
howdy
Cheu
Hey, the specs on that mic look pretty good if you leave the filters off. AKG also makes a cheaper mic called the P2 that's been getting some love for cabs, but this D12VR looks like it would do very well for bass.
I've had three weekends of using the V-4B. I'm still impressed. It's voiced in such a way that a couple basses that didn't sound bad but didn't make me want to grab them first sound better. This Sunday the opposite happened with one bass--a Regnerate Heritage Plus (think early Pbass with a second PU being a nordy super Jazz, and pre also). Sounded fantastic with the 3Pros and the V-4BH, but something didn't match up as well with the RI. It had GHS Pressure wounds so I switched those out and we'll see. That's the first bass so far that kept me wanting to tweak every few songs. Other than that it's been a pleasure-filled learning experience.
The DI is hot like the amp itself and puts out a really good signal and it sounds good. I'm still surprised at how this amp puts out some serious sound. As has been said, unless you're playing in a doom band (Jimmy), or a stadium I'm not sure why this wouldn't work in most situations. I've turned it up just to see what the old girl will do and I can't see a band setting where others would need to be that loud. Even when I was in my 20s we didn't play that loud!
The learning experience will continue as the possible consideration of a cab for it. My EBS Proline is great, but I really would like something maybe a little warmer. Ampeg AV 2X112, 212 or EBS ClassicLine are serious contenders at the moment. Trying the EBS is going to almost impossible.
The DI is hot like the amp itself and puts out a really good signal and it sounds good. I'm still surprised at how this amp puts out some serious sound. As has been said, unless you're playing in a doom band (Jimmy), or a stadium I'm not sure why this wouldn't work in most situations. I've turned it up just to see what the old girl will do and I can't see a band setting where others would need to be that loud. Even when I was in my 20s we didn't play that loud!
The learning experience will continue as the possible consideration of a cab for it. My EBS Proline is great, but I really would like something maybe a little warmer. Ampeg AV 2X112, 212 or EBS ClassicLine are serious contenders at the moment. Trying the EBS is going to almost impossible.
Unless you want the option just to use a single 12 (not a bad thing at all) consider (and you probably have) that the 212AV is 25lb lighter and $300 cheaper than 2x 112AV. I haven't played through the 112AV but the 212AV sounds very, very good.
Very good point. I'm just a sucker for more than one speaker, whether its in the same cab or not. With the 112 I do like the idea of being able to move one cab at a time and the slight extra heigth. But the 212 is so appealing. Just haven't run across one in town to try.
I story my gear in the attic, a 212AV would be an uncomfortable lift for me.
(hence the two 112AV cabs)
I have played both the 112AV and the 212AV and both sound great!
Two 112AV cabs sound more or less identical (surprise) to the 212AV.
Ooohhh an attic. ..to store bass gear. .. that hurts just thinking on it. 
Hats off to you sir. R.E.S.T.E.C.P.T 
Hats off to you sir. R.E.S.T.E.C.P.T 
