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2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue Pt2

#1,841
The floor noise is high, whatever position the master volume is at. There's some hiss at high gain+master volume setting, but that's to be expected and perfectly normal. The noise is there with or without an instrument plugged in, obviously. The AC power is not the problem, and it's not a ground problem. It's clearly a high voltage regulation ripple that goes through. There's something wrong with the design.

I wouldn't call this amp 'studio' grade, regarding the XLR out, that's for sure. Now, the tone coming out of the cabinet is very good, so using a mic is mandatory.

Ampeg should revise the power supply of this amp, and also revise the XLR out, first by putting it post EQ but PRE master volume. Then they should add a transformer in the signal path, for a nicer tone, but that's optional. But they should definitely do something about the noise. Unacceptable to me.
 
#1,842
Just did some tests again... I think that because the XLR out is post master volume, then the noise floor is raised considerably, unless you use the amp at 80-100% of it's maximum volume.

For quiet studio work, with the V-4B at a low level, the singal at the XLR out is weak, so you have to set the gain of the mic pre higher and you get noise, simple logic.

If the XLR out was pre master volume, then it could use full level and this would allow the mic pre amp gain to be at a much lower level (just like if the amp master volume was set to 100%), and this would mean a much lower noise floor.
 
#1,844
JimmyM said:
Or it could be a loose spade connector.
Click to expand...

I received the distressed 212AV cab today (that I won cheap at auction last week).

One of the speakers seems fine - the other had a rubbing voice coil caused by the speaker's basket being bent. The cabinet did have a dent in the top (that I could not see in the Ebay photos) that indicates someone dropped this thing hard. The force of the impact, combined with the weight of the large magnet, combined with a fairly thin basket, has left the magnet sitting at an angle. I will call Ampeg tomorrow to order a replacement. In the meantime, I stuck a spare 12" speaker I had for my P.A. in there and it sounds good at low volume - but the P.A. speaker does not have a very large X-Max - so it sounds just like a farting wedge monitor when pushed.

I am going to stick the damaged driver in a vice and try to align it first. Why the heck not - Right? It is just garbage as it sits.
 
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#1,845
davidchampoux said:
The floor noise is high, whatever position the master volume is at. There's some hiss at high gain+master volume setting, but that's to be expected and perfectly normal. The noise is there with or without an instrument plugged in, obviously. The AC power is not the problem, and it's not a ground problem. It's clearly a high voltage regulation ripple that goes through. There's something wrong with the design.

I wouldn't call this amp 'studio' grade, regarding the XLR out, that's for sure. Now, the tone coming out of the cabinet is very good, so using a mic is mandatory.

Ampeg should revise the power supply of this amp, and also revise the XLR out, first by putting it post EQ but PRE master volume. Then they should add a transformer in the signal path, for a nicer tone, but that's optional. But they should definitely do something about the noise. Unacceptable to me.
Click to expand...

Maybe you should look at the Fender 100T it's rated very highly I can't explain the issues you're having.
 
#1,846
I've had the 100T. The XLR out has a speaker emulator in post mode. Useless. And it's just like a plain DI in pre mode. I didn't like the EQ on the vintage channel. The auto-bias thing is a nightmare and highly prone to failure! Same with the Super Bassman 300 btw (I've had it as well). The V-4B has a better tone to me, but this noise issue is killing it for me. (Once again, it's not THAT loud, but I just can't live with that).
 
#1,850
It just seems to me this conversation is just asking to much of the V4B. It's a great tube amp that can be mic'd in the studio. The DI is sufficient for live sound renforcement but it's just not designed to be a high quality recording DI.

That being said I don't really know of a gigging amps DI that performs any better than a countryman in the studio and the REDDI just kills.
 
#1,855
Bass 45 said:
I received the distressed 212AV cab today (that I won cheap at auction last week).

One of the speakers seems fine - the other had a rubbing voice coil caused by the speaker's basket being bent. The cabinet did have a dent in the top (that I could not see in the Ebay photos) that indicates someone dropped this thing hard. The force of the impact, combined with the weight of the large magnet, combined with a fairly thin basket, has left the magnet sitting at an angle. I will call Ampeg tomorrow to order a replacement. In the meantime, I stuck a spare 12" speaker I had for my P.A. in there and it sounds good at low volume - but the P.A. speaker does not have a very large X-Max - so it sounds just like a farting wedge monitor when pushed.

I am going to stick the damaged driver in a vice and try to align it first. Why the heck not - Right? It is just garbage as it sits.
Click to expand...

So - I had some more time tonight to mess with the 212AV. After enjoying some authentic Tennessee Moonshine (pictured), I decided to go hillbilly on the damaged speaker and I literally (not figuratively) fixed the driver with a hammer (pictured).

Two good yoinks on the low side - and the voice coil is now re-aligned with the magnet structure - sound test confirms so.

$190 and some elbow grease for a nearly mint 212AV. YEEHAAAWWW!

The bad news: this cab sounds good, but I won't be selling my Heritage 410HLF for it. I don't need a side by side to tell that. I will be comparing the 212 it to an Ampeg PF115LF tomorrow. Hopefully the 212 will talk me into unloading the PF's (I could use the space)
IMG_4598.JPG
 
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#1,857
rodl2005 said:
Good yoinks are hard to come by. Glad they helped you out. That's a great bargain, especially since you fixed it as such.
Click to expand...

Thank you.

You take chances - sometimes it works out.

I figured worst case scenario I would purchase two Eminence Beta12A's for $150.00. They seem like a good fit (on paper anyway) and the cab would have dropped 8 pounds.

I am going to call Ampeg tomorrow anyway just because I am curious about the OEM replacement cost.
 
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#1,859
For those who are curious about my XLR out noise issue, here's an MP3 recorded from the XLR DI out of 3 amplifiers. All level matched.

From 0:01 to 0:07, it's a Fender Rumble 100 V3
From 0:08 to 0:15, it's a TC RH450 in post mode
From 0:18 to 0:33, it's the V-4B. I switch the standby ON at 0:25 and back OFF at 0:30.

The noise is obvious. It's at extreme level, but you can easily compare how noisy the power supply of the V-4B is vs the TC!!

Please note that I connect the XLR cable without turning OFF the level, so be careful if you listen at high volume especially with earphones, there's some loud clicks when I plug/unplug the XLR cable from one amp to another.
 

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