I gigged the new v4b last night. Overall, I'm definitely p!leased. It took me about a set to get it dialed in. I ended up just about flat with a slight boost in the highest frequency setting on the mids. The only thing I have to fine tune is the gain setting with my Roscoe. The amp sounded magnificent with my P bass, and good, but not great with the Roscoe. I think it will just be a matter of finding the sweet spot with the gain from the active bass.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue Pt2
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
Good question. I have the older V4BH and to my understanding it just won't compare to this new V4B or the original. It's still a great amp but that makes me really wonder why they stopped making the 100 watter in the first place.
The original amps were cancelled along with just about everything that wasn't an SVT when MTI bought Ampeg from Magnavox. The V4/VT22 guitar amps were replaced by the V5 and V7, the V2/VT40 by the V3, but the bass line was all about the SVT and some solid state heads/combos. Given that production was ceasing in the US and moving to Japan I'm not really surprised that they'd wipe the slate clean, makes it easier to start up a new factory if you can start most of it from scratch.
Glad to read you finally have a working unit and that you were able to test it in a live setting. You certainly paid your dues on this one.
Wishing you many hours of sonic bliss with your new head. It's a great unit that delivers a sweet spot of tone per weight ratio.
This sort of tube failure seems rare, I have not read of many instances of such thing. Was it your first time?
Did you use a DI as backup and how did that work for you. I would think it was a power tube that went down rather than a preamp tube. Would you confirm that please?
And +1 one on a micro head as backup. I've kept my Markbass F500 for this purpose even though I tend to prefer tube heads these days. I did a 180 from where I was a couple years ago. One could say the JimmyM school of tone won over Kjung. Both are very valid that being said, it just depends on what side you like to butter your toast.
I was wondering because it seems the biggest concern for everyone is if it has enough power for them to get the tone/sound they want. So maybe it was not selling as much because it could not provide the power needed. They do sound good and I wish I could use one in a live setting but it would not get to the level I need for the groups I play way. It would be nice to have a 40-50lbs head instead of the svt monster.
The cabinet choice makes a big difference. With my 810 I find the v4b is just a little south of the volume id want. I think this is due to the "inefficiency" of sealed cabs. With my ported fender 610 its perfect on volume.
Could have been. Given that the discontinuation was at the time the company changed hands I'd assume it was simply them wanting to start with a clean slate (minus the flagship SVT of course) but it (and sale of the company) could have also had to do with declining sales. It was the late 70s/early 80s, amps were getting bigger and louder. The V5/7 were supposed to be Ampeg's answer to the ubiquitous Marshall stacks.
When MTI bought Ampeg from Magnavox in 1980, they discontinued every amp but the SVT. It was to concentrate on building a great flagship amp before trying to build other amps. Unfortunately, all their other amps kind of sucked. And then SLM brought back a V4B of sorts in the mid-90's, but it wasn't the same and it got disco'ed, too. Popular demand caused LOUD to bring it back, but people wanted it done right, with the sound of the 70's V4B. Fortunately, LOUD was listening and made an amazing new V4B that really does sound like the old ones.
EDIT: Sorry...didn't realize your question was already answered.
It was my first time, and it was, indeed, a pre tube. I did use the REDDI as a backup, but as much as I love the REDDI, I hated hearing it through the "OK for vocals but not so good for bass" monitor that I was supplied. After the set was over, I plugged in the PF350.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
I'm always amazed when people talk about the volume of a 100 watt tube amp and is it enough to be heard? is everyone playing in stadiums? and I really don't understand is it that difficult to have the entire band control their individual volumes so "everyone" can be heard? it seems to me so many bands think the louder they are the better they sound. I want to congratulate cheeze on finally getting a working unit you have some extreme patience.
Got to agree with SirMac. 100w won't make me puke with volume, but I used a 73 V4B and 810 all through the 80's, and in some very loud bands, and more often than not, I was asked to turn down.
What's a difference between a guitar player and a terrorist?
At least you can negotiate with a terrorist.
For some people it's never loud enough and I am certainly not of them.
