2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue Pt2

[beans-on-toast]

Thanks for the replies guys! I will try those suggestions beans but i'm not understanding the "If the tube v4 in the power amp, the 12au7 is weak, it.....". The power amp uses all 6l6gc i thought. Did you mean preamp? Also, I don't think the 12au7 is the v4 slot (the v # is referring to slot i'm guessing cause I honestly don't know). A bit mixed up now.

Sorry for the confusion. Corey explained it. To add:

We are talking symantics with the division between the pre and power amp. The tubes after the pre-out/power amp jacks are considered part of the power amp. V1 and V2 are 12AX7's (ECC83S) and part of the preamp. V3 is a 12AX7, V4 is the 12AU7 are both part of the power amp circuits. The power tube pairs are (V5, V6) and (V7, V8). If you were to open the amp and look at the silk screened lettering, the tube "V" designations are marked on the printed circuit board. Of course, the tube positions are marked on the back of the amp to make life easier.

You want to try whatever is simple first. Swapping out the 12AU7 (ECC82) is a worth a shot. Chances are, this isn't the problem but it has to be checked.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Ah, thank you for clearing that up for me. I actually don't have another 12au7 around (only a 12ax7 I can grab from a different amp) so I guess it will have to wait till tomorrow.

You can use a 12AX7 for the purpose of the test. It has less drive capacity so it will no be able to supply as much current to the power tubes. It won't hurt the amp to try it.

When people want early distortion the use a 12AX7 instead of a 12AU7 in that position. So expect earlier distortion with a 12AX7 in there. You can try it and see if the type of distortion is different.

 

[Grooveline]

Ah so even though it reads (left to right) 12ax7, 12au7, 12ax7, 12ax7 on the back of the amp if I was to pop the top those would read v3, v4, v2 or v1, v1 or v2 respectively to the back of the amp? To clarify about the distortion I'm getting this with the master at 9 o'clock and the preamp at 11-12 o'clock. My passive pbass is even getting this extremely early distortion onset.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Often when they are in a row, the first tube closest to the input jacks is V1 but it doesn't have to be the case.

I think that the key test would be to run a different pre into the power amp and see if it still distorts.

 

[Grooveline]

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions beans! I literally tried everything (different basses, cabs, cords) and everything was giving the distorted sound. Your suggestion lead to a cleaner sound which then in turn led me to recheck the tube seating. I wasn't as thorough (I needed to take the aluminum guards off to actually see) as I needed to be and a tube was not seated properly. The amp hasn't been moved any so I wonder if the socket isn't holding so well. I will definitely have my eye/ear open for this problem if it happens again to see if it is a socket issue.

 

[Bubby Brown]

Dumb question, how do you get the front cover off on the 212av? Their is a small rattling at lower frequencies and I can't get the cover off to get a look at the speakers?

 

[Bass 45]

Dumb question, how do you get the front cover off on the 212av? Their is a small rattling at lower frequencies and I can't get the cover off to get a look at the speakers?

The grill is held on with strong velcro type fasteners.

I unscrew one of the logo screws a bit - and pull it with a wrench to get it loose.

 

[JimmyM]

Ya, those fasteners might as well be nails, it feels like at first, but they will pop loose.

 

[Bass 45]

I made a '70's Ampeg style detachable dolly for my 212AV cab last week. It rolls around nice - with a V4B or an SVT on top.

 

[JimmyM]

Ingenious!

 

[Bass 45]

Ha! Not really Jimmy - but I'm real glad I did it

Another V4 glamour shot:

 

[JimmyM]

Amazing how much that black sparkle cloth makes that V4B pop. You have the prettiest V4B of us all. I've heard a few people say they prefer the silver. OK, so the silver is very cool, but the black is the coolest.

 

[Bass 45]

Amazing how much that black sparkle cloth makes that V4B pop. You have the prettiest V4B of us all. I've heard a few people say they prefer the silver. OK, so the silver is very cool, but the black is the coolest.

Thanks again Jimmy!

I have this silly idea of getting a Micro VR rig and doing the same thing with the grills. The last thing I need is another amp though!

 

[peterpalmieri]

I am thinking about changing the grill on my EA NM410 to match the V4b. The EA grills are screwed on metal, can anyone recommend someone who would make a frame and use matching cloth?

 

[Grooveline]

I like the way the black sparkle cloth really brings out the whole "my mids go to eleven" thing you got going on!

 

[Bass 45]

I like the way the black sparkle cloth really brings out the whole "my mids go to eleven" thing you got going on!

Ha! I could tell you which bass I was playing by looking at the eq.

I have a reissue Ampeg Scroll bass from the '80's (made in Japan) that has an active pickup. It is very mid scooped - but it sounds great when boosting the high mids on the amp - whether I am using the V4, SVT or SVT-7.

 

[Grooveline]

I was going to either guess you have the low switch on (small bass boost with bigger mid cut) with the mids pumped to make up for the cut or you were playing a scooped bass.Since running the two jazz pickups on full in my jaguar sounds a bit scooped I like to crank my mids to at least 3oclock. Helps to bring some of that punch back in the attack that i'm used to getting from pbasses as well.

 

[rodl2005]

I used the V4B RI into my single Fender Bassman Pro Neo 115 tonight, with my 51 RI P bass with Fender flats. Hoooley doooley! What a great tone! Punchy solid and thunky! Loved it. Great amp and great cab

 

[husky123]

Thick + funky = thunky!

 

[beans-on-toast]

51 RI P bass with Fender flats

Nice bass Rod.

Have you ever tried Thomastik-Infeld JF-344's? I love them on my 57 Precision. The problem with flats on a P is that they can last forever. Hard to justify tring different strings if you never have to change them.