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2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue Pt2
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
As Jimmy said, reseat the tubes first and see if it helps. The tubes do need to warm up, wait a minute in standby if it makes a difference. If the scratching only occurs sometimes and not once the tubes are warm, I wouldn't be concerned. When the amp is on and warmed up, you can try pinging the tubes with a pencil or something similar. IF you hear a loud ping, the tube is microphonic and should be replaced. A low level ping is normal.
If it occurs when you are playing or more than you think is normal, there is a short warranty on the tubes. Call Loud and log a ticket on the issue so you are covered. You could ask them to send another set of tubes.
As soon as they warm up it stops and it only does it sometimes.
Thanks for all the replies...
Thanks for all the replies...
I just don't know why you wouldn't let the amp warm up properly then? It only takes a minute, technically speaking probably even less. I always let my tube amps warm up before playing. Sounds like you just need to give it a little bit more time before you start playing.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,945
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Ampeg sent us a V-4B and SVT-212AV for review, and this was my rig last night:
It was a medium-sized room that was laid out long and deep. I did have to run the bass through the PA, but the Ampeg rig sounded great on stage. Our guitar player just got a new Orange rig and brought both the 4x12 and the 2x12, so I had to push this thing for all it was worth. I was getting some power tube overdrive, but it sounded great.
I am very impressed with the output from this cab. I considered bringing a bigger cab to this show (either my SVT-810e or one of my Berg NV's), but those bigger sealed cabs didn't seem to push much more air than the smaller, ported 212AV.
For an all-tube rig with an authentic vibe, this is a very reasonable load in/out.
It was a medium-sized room that was laid out long and deep. I did have to run the bass through the PA, but the Ampeg rig sounded great on stage. Our guitar player just got a new Orange rig and brought both the 4x12 and the 2x12, so I had to push this thing for all it was worth. I was getting some power tube overdrive, but it sounded great.
I am very impressed with the output from this cab. I considered bringing a bigger cab to this show (either my SVT-810e or one of my Berg NV's), but those bigger sealed cabs didn't seem to push much more air than the smaller, ported 212AV.
For an all-tube rig with an authentic vibe, this is a very reasonable load in/out.
Great, short review already Tom, pretty much what I've found of my V-4B+212AV. When might we expect the full BGM review, digital version, to come out?
This was very much my impression too, after going from the Fender Bassman 100T to the V4B. I felt the V4B had noticeably more useable haeadroom than the 100T, and when it went into power tube overdrive it did so more gradually and was more pleasant to my ears. That said, the 100T has heaps of extra features that are simply not there on the V4B and make it preferable to others but me, I like simple.Ampeg sent us a V-4B and SVT-212AV for review, and this was my rig last night:
It was a medium-sized room that was laid out long and deep. I did have to run the bass through the PA, but the Ampeg rig sounded great on stage. Our guitar player just got a new Orange rig and brought both the 4x12 and the 2x12, so I had to push this thing for all it was worth. I was getting some power tube overdrive, but it sounded great.
I am very impressed with the output from this cab. I considered bringing a bigger cab to this show (either my SVT-810e or one of my Berg NV's), but those bigger sealed cabs didn't seem to push much more air than the smaller, ported 212AV.
For an all-tube rig with an authentic vibe, this is a very reasonable load in/out.
So you guys actually do gigs where you could turn a V4B up into power tube breakup, eh? What's that like? All I can picture is our drummer throwing his sticks down and walking off the stage in disgust, and everyone yelling that they can't hear their monitors.
I did it for fun, Jimmy, and it was loud. What I did notice, as did the others, was that at similar playing levels the 100T was dirtier than the V4B which stayed nice and clean (or its overdrive was nice and clean sounding). Because I really only use a clean tone the 100T did not suit me at the volume I needed (which I don't think is excessive), whereas the V4B just became louder and smoother.
As I said, there are many who use the 100T for exactly that feature and consider it a big advantage. Horses for courses.....
As I said, there are many who use the 100T for exactly that feature and consider it a big advantage. Horses for courses.....
With my V4 I gig and practice at a level where I can sit it right at the point where if I dig in it'll growl like a mutha and if I play softly, it's nice n clean. This was with just the one 15'' cab. And. ... I've only gigged it once so far. I'm looking fwd to this Fri where I can take the V4 & 810 
Wouldn't it be nice if everyone else in the band simply played at a reasonable volume level and let the loud guitar player play till they realize that they need to turn down? My feeling is that the rest of the band should be confident enough in their playing ability to not engage in that game.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,945
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
As I mentioned, this particular guitar player had a new toy and was just cranking it. This particular drummer is not too bad, but one of the other bands I play in, the drummer hits 'em so hard that I know I'd be pushing the V-4B, even if the guitar players were behaving.
Band dynamics always take some diplomacy. A new amp is a special situation, you want to see what it can do.
I did it by accident (and for fun) couple weeks ago. Outside on patio of a Houston Central Mkt was coming up on my solo in "Teena, neena nu", I reached back and dialed up the Gain knob in mid-song, but no other knobs. Well, my solo sounded like I'd just stepped on several distortion stomp boxes at once.
Well that's not my tone goal ever. But it happened, was kinda fun but I'm still learning the V-4B, so won't do that again, unintentionally. And once I backed off of digging in so hard; back to a nice cleaner sound. So mostly did it with my hands, pretty cool.
Wouldn't you know, gitard thought it was "the coolest sound ever".
Well that's not my tone goal ever. But it happened, was kinda fun but I'm still learning the V-4B, so won't do that again, unintentionally. And once I backed off of digging in so hard; back to a nice cleaner sound. So mostly did it with my hands, pretty cool.
Wouldn't you know, gitard thought it was "the coolest sound ever".
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Rod, have you just bought yourself a V4?With my V4 I gig and practice at a level where I can sit it right at the point where if I dig in it'll growl like a mutha and if I play softly, it's nice n clean. This was with just the one 15'' cab. And. ... I've only gigged it once so far. I'm looking fwd to this Fri where I can take the V4 & 810
A little update on my V-4b. I took out the tubes checked them and put them back again and it is working perfectly...
