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2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue Pt2
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
Anyone else put casters on the SVT 212AV? I use one with my v4b, and it is the wrong size to just carry. It is not excruciatingly heavy, but it is hard to pick up, and heavy enough that you don't want to carry it very far. I just put a screw on set on mine, and like moving it much better.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
I purchased a set of 3" casters from my local hardware store. Just haven't put them on yet. Maybe later this week.
I agree that it's too heavy and awkward to carry. Plus with casters you can set the amp on the cab and roll the whole rig!
Rather than casters, it might be neat if a head came with a set of table legs. Ampeg did this in 1960.
Wow cool job digging that up..that is way cool/strange/weird! Made my day looking at that!
Just picked up my V4B and rushed it home at lunchtime for a quick play
. It confirmed to me straight away that getting it was a good decision. It sounds absolutely magic through the Berg NV115, I was considering getting a pair of 210 AVs if it didn't match but all is good on that front. It sits perfectly on top of the Berg (with the Bergantino on its side) and tonally the two really work together. There was a disconcerting buzz on C initially, but traced it to the back grille and it disappeared after tightening the screws - easy fix
. I previously sold my Fender 100T because its early power tube overdrive with the relatively inefficient Berg cab was not for me, although many would have loved it. The V4B seems to have a lovely warm compression to it as you crank her up, which is just what I want. I only had time to play my 68 Jazz through it but it really nailed that vintage vibe with everything flat - in fact I can honestly say the 68 J has never sounded better. To a certain extent this head sounds more like my sadly missed SVT2 nonpro than the SVT VR I used for a while. I am looking forward to playing it through my NV215 and Fender 610 neo (a great 610) with the Precision and Rick too, but currently working on some pit work for Grease so probably will not get a chance to use it live straight away.
. It confirmed to me straight away that getting it was a good decision. It sounds absolutely magic through the Berg NV115, I was considering getting a pair of 210 AVs if it didn't match but all is good on that front. It sits perfectly on top of the Berg (with the Bergantino on its side) and tonally the two really work together. There was a disconcerting buzz on C initially, but traced it to the back grille and it disappeared after tightening the screws - easy fix. I previously sold my Fender 100T because its early power tube overdrive with the relatively inefficient Berg cab was not for me, although many would have loved it. The V4B seems to have a lovely warm compression to it as you crank her up, which is just what I want. I only had time to play my 68 Jazz through it but it really nailed that vintage vibe with everything flat - in fact I can honestly say the 68 J has never sounded better. To a certain extent this head sounds more like my sadly missed SVT2 nonpro than the SVT VR I used for a while. I am looking forward to playing it through my NV215 and Fender 610 neo (a great 610) with the Precision and Rick too, but currently working on some pit work for Grease so probably will not get a chance to use it live straight away.Just googled up the owner's manual for the old V4BH which had some of the old style generic settings (rock/jazz/country....) in it so will give them a try as a shortcut. Otherwise I tend to find a tone I like and stick to it bar a few tweaks for years.
So I had two gigs this past week with the V4B and it was oh so sweet. The question I have now is do I want to buy the matching 212 cab or not? I ran it through my GK 212 NEO both shows and was pleased but I admit that I have a soft spot for matching amp/cab rigs. Can you guys with the 212AV tell me if I'm going to gain any thing other than looking cool by buying one?
When I first got my V4B I ran it through my GB NeoX 212T. It sounds real good through that cab but once I got the SVT 212AV I found the perfect match for the V4B. That match up is pure Ampeg tone IMO.
Again I say, if you want a vintage tone the V4B into the Bergantino NV115 (fifteen and a six inch for mids) is absolutely stunning low to mid volume gigs and really lets the tone of each bass come through - the Ric sounded great and then last night the 59 P was great with its own vibe too. The head is a nice fit too - must post a pic.
Not yet, will give it a fling tonight maybe in the rehearsal space and report back. To be honest, it sounds so sweet with the NV115 that I just haven't been tempted to try it with another cabinet. Tonally, despite having its own "signature" as they all do, I am pleasantly surprised with the versatility of the controls. It just oozes pure, syrupy, vintage tone.
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Here you are, some V4B alternative porn for y'all. V4B sitting on my Bergantino NV115, NV215 and Fender neo 610 cabs (shock material for one James M 
).
).While I was setting up the above photos I briefly played the V4B into the NV215 and Fender neo 610. I was surprised that the 215 sounded a tad drier and tighter than the NV115, although it was a different room and I did not play around much with the controls. The Fender cab was much bigger sounding with a little more bottom end and highs due to the tweeter. My cab of choice for the V4B remains the NV115, with the NV215 a close second (bearing in mind I have not tried any Ampeg cabs with it other than the 410HLF in a shop so I am not making any comparisons with Ampeg here). I usually play an Orange AD200 into the NV215 and was struck by the similarity in tone between it and the V4B, so much so that I took the Orange into the room where I have been using the 115 with the V4B and the similarity remained apparent. Yes, you could distinguish between them easily enough on a blind test but they were far more similar than the V4B to my old Fender Bassman 100T. Since Tom Bowlus and I both love the Orange into the NV115 it follows I suppose that I might notice some similarities.
I am also starting to learn that the tone controls on the V4B are quite interactive. I wondered whether the treble boost switch on the V4B was working with my Precision and TI flats (not that there really is much treble on that bass
), but when I boosted the upper mids the switch became more apparent. Of course the Bergs have a 6" mid rather than a tweeter anyway - but who wants to tweet anyway, I would rather leave that to the birds .
Finally, this amp has plenty of useable grunt - just give it more speakers and it keeps on delivering.
I am also starting to learn that the tone controls on the V4B are quite interactive. I wondered whether the treble boost switch on the V4B was working with my Precision and TI flats (not that there really is much treble on that bass
), but when I boosted the upper mids the switch became more apparent. Of course the Bergs have a 6" mid rather than a tweeter anyway - but who wants to tweet anyway, I would rather leave that to the birds .Finally, this amp has plenty of useable grunt - just give it more speakers and it keeps on delivering
.
