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2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue Pt2

#1,121
Burwabit said:
Musicians Friend has a RESTOCK for 899. They aren't very knowledgeable about what that means for this particular unit... could be factory second, refurb, or return. Thoughts on whether buying a Restock is a good idea? I'm leaning against doing this, but 400 off is tempting me.
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Well I bought a B stock PF800 to save some bucks, felt worth it. Amp shut down on me and after talking to Ampeg warranty folks; very helpful for sure. I returned it for full refund within the 30 day return and yes it only had 90 warranty. I even called in and asked if they knew why amp was returned. AMS just said prolly a customer return. So it went back to them.

I wish I'da known about checking serial # with loud. I keep thinking, do they actually check/repair these returned items or just discount them and sell em off again???

Ampeg made a good point in saying "buy a new PF800 you get 2 yr warranty for just a hundy more". Right. So I did. That new PF800 shut down on me at first gig. And the top plate was rattling on certain notes while it sat on my 212AV. I had to place foam under the head to make that stop. Well I returned that PF800 for refund. I know, folks may think, what they heck am I doing wrong to make these amps fail. Nothing I can think of really. Just normal small-med club gigs with my P5 or J5 and my RS 210's and even the days old 212AV. Oh well, call me crazy but I'm considering yet another PF800.

Course reason I'm here is I am now considering a new RI V-B4 (or a M9 Carbine). Just don't know if that 100 tube watts will do me as I own three different micro amps of 800-900 watts, so I'm kinda spoiled that way. I use those with other 212, TB153, 2x210 cabs; not the 212AV. I don't always get PA support so the amp with my single 212AV, may be adding a 112AV, to hear rig better. And it has to carry the room in these club gigs. I'll go back and read all the posts in this thread now. :rollno: I know, shoulda done that first. But I've been posting all this crud incorrectly over at the "100 watt amps" thread. But I found y'all now, I'm home. :thumbsup: Sorry just polished off some BBQ ribs with a nice bottle of Argentinian Malbec with the wife and she went to sleep, so yal get to benefit now. :smug:
 
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#1,122
Burwabit said:
Speaking of sealed cabs, anyone run a V4B reissue with Bergantino NV115 cab(s)?
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I have and still would be if I had not fallen in love with the portability and tone of running it with 2 x 210 av cabs. It sounded great through the nv115 with real bottom end tightness and punch, though. The 210avs focus it a little more on the upper muds which I find quite appealing.
 
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#1,124
I played a two night stand this weekend here in AZ. The club is a fairly good sized room with no pa support for bass. As I have been doing at this venue, I bought my HSVT/H410HLF rig. Of course, I love the rig and as usual, it performed and sounded great on Friday night - but I only had my gain and volume at about 10:00 on the SVT, so on Saturday I bought the V4B along to compare to the SVT (as Jimmy has done recently).

Saturday night I played the HSVT for the first set (to get the sound and levels back in my head) and then during the first break, I switched to the V4B. My findings were a bit different then I recall Jimmy's being as I thought the two amps sounded very different. The SVT was definitely thicker and more authoritative. I did not play with the knobs on the V4B too much - but it seemed like I was not going to be able to duplicate the depth and girth of the SVT. But - I think I liked the V4B EVEN better. It was more punchy and seemed quicker (if that makes any sense). If I was playing in a larger/louder venue, the SVT may be able to duplicate the quickness and punch with the master turned up higher - but at this volume, I enjoyed playing the V4B more then the SVT (and the V4 was easily loud enough).

As I have mentioned here before, I think the V4B works really well with the Heritage SVT410HLF - and I think that that particular cab may expose tonal differences between the SVT and the V4B more then the 810e - which does not go as low.

Sorry - I forgot to take a photo.
 
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#1,125
Bass 45 said:
I played a two night stand this weekend here in AZ. The club is a fairly good sized room with no pa support for bass. As I have been doing at this venue, I bought my HSVT/H410HLF rig. Of course, I love the rig and as usual, it performed and sounded great on Friday night - but I only had my gain and volume at about 10:00 on the SVT, so on Saturday I bought the V4B along to compare to the SVT (as Jimmy has done recently).

Saturday night I played the HSVT for the first set (to get the sound and levels back in my head) and then during the first break, I switched to the V4B. My findings were a bit different then I recall Jimmy's being as I thought the two amps sounded very different. The SVT was definitely thicker and more authoritative. I did not play with the knobs on the V4B too much - but it seemed like I was not going to be able to duplicate the depth and girth of the SVT. But - I think I liked the V4B EVEN better. It was more punchy and seemed quicker (if that makes any sense). If I was playing in a larger/louder venue, the SVT may be able to duplicate the quickness and punch with the master turned up higher - but at this volume, I enjoyed playing the V4B more then the SVT (and the V4 was easily loud enough).

As I have mentioned here before, I think the V4B works really well with the Heritage SVT410HLF - and I think that that particular cab may expose tonal differences between the SVT and the V4B more then the 810e - which does not go as low.

Sorry - I forgot to take a photo.
Click to expand...


Nice!!!

I've been thinking of getting a v4b, but was hesitant because most of the time I play without pa support. You have just convinced me to pull the trigger and order the v4b...
 
#1,126
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rulyongo said:
Nice!!!

I've been thinking of getting a v4b, but was hesitant because most of the time I play without pa support. You have just convinced me to pull the trigger and order the v4b...
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I hope it works out as well for you.

I just took a picture of the two heads to display the settings I was using. I would say that the V4 was a tad louder then the SVT at these settings.

I also wanted to share a product that I found a few weeks ago. I was shopping for a cover for my Ampeg GVT52-112 guitar amp and found that the dimensions for a Fender Blues Deluxe was the same - so I purchased a cheap ($18.00) cover designed for the Blues Deluxe. After I got the cover, I realized if I fold it in half (fold the lower half inward), the cover works great for the V4B reissue and now it is now double ply! It is a nice cheap cover (not padded) that will help keep the V4B lookin' sharp.

Invalid Link Removed
 
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#1,131
As before I stated. .. not RI, or even a 'B'but the 76 (i think-will find out later ) Ampeg V4 I got off a guy a few hours away from me, arrived today. :hyper:
I just tried it out thru the old stock standard PF115HE that's here at my school. Sounds lush! VERY quiet. No hums or even a crackly pot!:cool:
Has 4 x JJ 7025 pwr tubes. Haven't looked at any of the smaller or pre tubes yet. But. .. If it sounds good...

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With my custom 51P
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Looks to be in great nic

20141006_171043_zpsey9jewhe.jpg


Is therea V4 thread apart from this, that's for the non RIs ? Don't feel 100% posting this here...:sour:
 
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#1,136
Darn it. Bit of wrench in the works. I just swapped amps with a TX-TBer this Sat. My GB Shuttle 9.2 for his Shuttlemax 12.2. Both amps just months old, still like new. My 9.2 had been sitting like third backup to my other amps.

So I took the 12.2 to my gig w/212AV cab, passive JoB5 this past Sat nite. It sounded so awesome. I'd never tried my 9.2 thru the 212AV to know how it would work. Course two gitards this nite w/Fender twin tubers and they got real loud late in the nite. Up til that point my rig was filling the club nicely I was told. I just felt I was being washed out by the two, scooped-toned tube amps a few times. But the rig held it's own most the nite. No instruments were in PA this nite. And I refused to try to out-volume them, I just stayed at a still nice n loud volume but never pushed the rig into speaker breakup or bad distort. Rig was thumping along nicely.

I had cab tilted up at me slightly but was small stage and I was right on top of my rig. So the cab was still flapping my pants legs. I tried a few different EQ settings thru the nite; so many options with the 12.2 and the cab responded nicely. Even some real nice tubey grind with hi-gain buttons in to some big bottom lows on couple Marley reggae tunes. This amp just has all those tones in it and more.

To get to the point, I was all ready to order a new V-4B on Monday. But with this amp Genz 12.2, I now plan to order a second 212AV cab. To have second cab up higher to me and to handle more volume should that occur again. Most of my outdoor gigs are about done now with summer gone. But I know I will still have times where two, 212 cabs will be needed in a couple of my bands. I own a few 4 ohm cabs so that's why I swapped amps. But nice to know the V-4B will handle both 4 ohm, 212AV's as well.
I'm really trying to justify a full Ampeg rig, now with 412's and a V-4B. But I think the 12.2 and two 212AV's are gona be pretty darn awesome already. Hey that's a lot of 1's and 2's I'm dealing with; maybe I should go buy a lotto ticket with those digits.
I still may just buy the V-4B to compare to the 12.2; cuz I gots to know.

But after what I heard this past Sat nite from the 12.2 V-4B better offer me a lot more to move the 12.2 outta here. Still be nice to have the 12.2 around when I don't want to lug the V-4B to some gigs. Will start with the second 212AV for now and take it from there.
But DAMN, this will be the heaviest rig I've had in many years........and I aint getting any younger, ugh. All this s*it better sound awesome when I'm done. :nailbiting:
 
#1,137
ErnieD said:
Darn it. Bit of wrench in the works. I just swapped amps with a TX-TBer this Sat. My GB Shuttle 9.2 for his Shuttlemax 12.2. Both amps just months old, still like new. My 9.2 had been sitting like third backup to my other amps.

So I took the 12.2 to my gig w/212AV cab, passive JoB5 this past Sat nite. It sounded so awesome. I'd never tried my 9.2 thru the 212AV to know how it would work. Course two gitards this nite w/Fender twin tubers and they got real loud late in the nite. Up til that point my rig was filling the club nicely I was told. I just felt I was being washed out by the two, scooped-toned tube amps a few times. But the rig held it's own most the nite. No instruments were in PA this nite. And I refused to try to out-volume them, I just stayed at a still nice n loud volume but never pushed the rig into speaker breakup or bad distort. Rig was thumping along nicely.

I had cab tilted up at me slightly but was small stage and I was right on top of my rig. So the cab was still flapping my pants legs. I tried a few different EQ settings thru the nite; so many options with the 12.2 and the cab responded nicely. Even some real nice tubey grind with hi-gain buttons in to some big bottom lows on couple Marley reggae tunes. This amp just has all those tones in it and more.



To get to the point, I was all ready to order a new V-4B on Monday. But with this amp Genz 12.2, I now plan to order a second 212AV cab. To have second cab up higher to me and to handle more volume should that occur again. Most of my outdoor gigs are about done now with summer gone. But I know I will still have times where two, 212 cabs will be needed in a couple of my bands. I own a few 4 ohm cabs so that's why I swapped amps. But nice to know the V-4B will handle both 4 ohm, 212AV's as well.
I'm really trying to justify a full Ampeg rig, now with 412's and a V-4B. But I think the 12.2 and two 212AV's are gona be pretty darn awesome already. Hey that's a lot of 1's and 2's I'm dealing with; maybe I should go buy a lotto ticket with those digits.
I still may just buy the V-4B to compare to the 12.2; cuz I gots to know.

But after what I heard this past Sat nite from the 12.2 V-4B better offer me a lot more to move the 12.2 outta here. Still be nice to have the 12.2 around when I don't want to lug the V-4B to some gigs. Will start with the second 212AV for now and take it from there.
But DAMN, this will be the heaviest rig I've had in many years........and I aint getting any younger, ugh. All this s*it better sound awesome when I'm done. :nailbiting:
Click to expand...
If weight is an issue you might find a pair of vertically stacked 210 avs more to your liking. Deceptively good they are, especially with the v4b.
 
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#1,139
Burwabit said:
Great advice. I put in a request for the serial number.
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In regards to researching a Restock V4B, here is the response from the MF...
"Dear Eric, We just got word back from our warehouse. There are no details regarding what was refurbished, as well we do not record serial numbers due to volume of stock. Our current stock, however, was received on 9/3/2014, and all of the units are in what we call condition 1 or 2, meaning they work perfectly fine and are either immaculate or show only very small signs of use. Hope this helps!"
 

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