2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue Pt2

[coreyfyfe]

Good to hear. What are the differences in EQ to your ears?

Setting my V4 knobs in the same position as my SVT it sounds a little weaker on the bottom end. A slight nudge on the bass knob puts it back in the thunder zone. Caveat all this with that I'm talking about a 73 V4 and 74 SVT, but it should hold fairly well as the new amps sound pretty close to the old ones.

 

[TC.65]

Well I finally might pick one of these up. I've been pretty happy with my bass tone lately. I've been using a DB751 into a Dually 215 and really like the tone. Today at practice though I decided to plug my '73 SVT in after not using it for about 6 months. Wow. I keep forgetting how much I love the SVT tone. From what a lot on this thread say, I should be able to get that and grind at a very reasonable volume. The V4B being 40 something pounds too will seems like a micro compared to hauling around the big 90 pounder.

If you love the SVT tone then you'll probably love the V4B Reissue just as much. It is pure Ampeg all tube tone with just a little extra mojo goin on to my ears. JMHO.

 

[rodl2005]

How's the D.I . on this V4B RI ? Anyone use it regular like?
At a couple of the regular places I gig I HAVE to use a DI. I've a VT bass deluxe with its DI & a Fishman Platinum+ DI but I usually use the DI built in to my Fender Super Bassman or the built in one on my Aggy TH500.
I got a 76 V4 but of course there's no DI built into that. Perhaps I should just get one that can plug in AFTER the speaker out of the V4- Radial JDI or the like.
But am interested to hear your views on the inbuilt V4B RI one

 

[Jefff]

Also.. they weigh half as much.

That can't be overstated.

 

[JimmyM]

How's the D.I . on this V4B RI ? Anyone use it regular like?
At a couple of the regular places I gig I HAVE to use a DI. I've a VT bass deluxe with its DI & a Fishman Platinum+ DI but I usually use the DI built in to my Fender Super Bassman or the built in one on my Aggy TH500.
I got a 76 V4 but of course there's no DI built into that. Perhaps I should just get one that can plug in AFTER the speaker out of the V4- Radial JDI or the like.
But am interested to hear your views on the inbuilt V4B RI one

The DI on the V4B is excellent. With knobs on noon and ultra filters off, it's about dead flat but with a nice tubey warmth to it. Only thing about it is the entire preamp is tied to it, so any changes you make will go to the board as well. Some consider that a benefit, some don't. Can't be too drastic about volume changes, that's for sure. But it does sound killer, way better than most onboard amp DI's.

Personally, I'd do the outboard DI on the speaker out with the V4 so you get the whole amp. Still the same basic sound but that's where the REAL tubey sound lives.

 

[rodl2005]

Thanks for the info Jimmy.

So there's no 'pre/post' switch on the V4B's DI ?

 

[JimmyM]

Nope. OTOH, do you really want to defeat the V4B? Now I have gotten complaints from soundmen about making too drastic changes when I used a DI from a tube amp, even though I thought they were just minor tweaks. But as long as you don't get too nuts, it'll work out.

 

[rodl2005]

True. I almost always use em in POST anyway. I like to get as much of MY amp's sound into my signal sent to the board.
Thanks again

 

[rulyongo]

Also.. they weigh half as much.

That can't be overstated.

That for me was one of the biggest selling points to check it out... I couldn't be happier with it...

 

[husky123]

Hey guys, I'm super excited, my new V4B will be here tomorrow. Trying to get a sense of how you guys run them….I know, we're all different. Do some of you find that you can get good power tube growl at a reasonable volume by diming the master and using the gain for volume? Does the pre sound good with the master low/gain high? I know all my questions will be answered tomorrow eve but I'M EXCITED what can I say...

 

[BBQV]

How do you guys use the mid control? Do you cut or boost? How much? At what frequency?

 

[JimmyM]

Hey guys, I'm super excited, my new V4B will be here tomorrow. Trying to get a sense of how you guys run them….I know, we're all different. Do some of you find that you can get good power tube growl at a reasonable volume by diming the master and using the gain for volume? Does the pre sound good with the master low/gain high? I know all my questions will be answered tomorrow eve but I'M EXCITED what can I say...

Define reasonable volume. It's still loud enough to get you fired from most joints if you use a big enough cab but it won't cause nausea or blurred vision like an SVT through an 810e cranked way up. And the pre sounds good with the master low/gain high, but I prefer it the other way because it's more compressed when you crank the gain. Depending on the bass, you may not get full-on distortion by diming the gain but you should be able to get some mild grind that sounds good.

How do you guys use the mid control? Do you cut or boost? How much? At what frequency?

I'll boost or cut depending on what I need in whatever cab(s) I use, and I almost always use the 800 hz setting.

 

[Tim1]

How do you guys use the mid control? Do you cut or boost? How much? At what frequency?

I tend to have everything flat except for a slight mids boost with the selector in the middle. If I am using the 210AVs I might boost the bass a tad but with this amp flat really is flat and it sounds great like that.

 

[KaseOfBass]

How do you guys use the mid control? Do you cut or boost? How much? At what frequency?

I keep mine set at 800 Hz and boosted at around 2 or 3 o'clock. I keep the ultra low engaged which cuts at 500 Hz. Bass and treble controls set flat otherwise.

Edit: this is with two 210AV cabs.

 

[husky123]

Define reasonable volume.

Yep, I guess I ran into that one. A volume that doesn't cause one to throw up on themselves and/or have inadvertent bowel movements is a good start.

 

[kbakerde]

Define reasonable volume. It's still loud enough to get you fired from most joints if you use a big enough cab but it won't cause nausea or blurred vision like an SVT through an 810e cranked way up. And the pre sounds good with the master low/gain high, but I prefer it the other way because it's more compressed when you crank the gain. Depending on the bass, you may not get full-on distortion by diming the gain but you should be able to get some mild grind that sounds good.


I'll boost or cut depending on what I need in whatever cab(s) I use, and I almost always use the 800 hz setting.

Hey Jimmy, The new V4B paired with the Ampeg 610LF, how large a venue could you run that combination for without a FOH help?

 

[JimmyM]

Hey Jimmy, The new V4B paired with the Ampeg 610LF, how large a venue could you run that combination for without a FOH help?

Depends on your band. I could probably do any size short of an arena. It'll get loud, make no mistake.

 

[rodl2005]

Yep, I guess I ran into that one. A volume that doesn't cause one to throw up on themselves and/or have inadvertent bowel movements is a good start.

Mine's a '76 V4 and only had the main VOLUME control- no GAIN control.
But I'd assume it's the same thing pretty much.
Pair these with enough speakers- an 810 or 215, 610 etc & you'll get darn loud and be able to stay pretty clean.
I often run my Fender Super Bassman (300w) into a 115 (& now I run my V4 into the same 115) which allows me to crank the V4, and even the 300w Super Bassman, into power tube overdrive at 'not too bad' a volume.
But give that 100w V4, or especially the Super Bassman, an 810. .... whoo hooo. ... They both get LOUD.

 

[Burwabit]

Mine's a '76 V4 and only had the main VOLUME control- no GAIN control.
But I'd assume it's the same thing pretty much.
Pair these with enough speakers- an 810 or 215, 610 etc & you'll get darn loud and be able to stay pretty clean.
I often run my Fender Super Bassman (300w) into a 115 (& now I run my V4 into the same 115) which allows me to crank the V4, and even the 300w Super Bassman, into power tube overdrive at 'not too bad' a volume.
But give that 100w V4, or especially the Super Bassman, an 810. .... whoo hooo. ... They both get LOUD.

It's funny I had a 70s V4B and there was not enough clean headroom for me. From what I understand, there's a lot more in the reissue. Wish I could play one locally, but will be getting one by the end of 2014 regardless.

 

[rodl2005]

Understand. We all have different volume requirements.
The V4's MID control is detrimental to the amount of drive I get.
I can have the volume at 10 o'clock and if yr mid control is below 12 o'clock= clean.
Wind UP the mid control and it's power tube overdrive city. [emoji12] [emoji12] [emoji12]