2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue

[AlexanderB]

The 90s model had Speakon out but the reissue only has the inferior 1/4" tele connectors? Huh? Seems like a bad decision to be cutting cost in such sensitive place in the amp.

 

[JimmyM]

The 90s model had Speakon out but the reissue only has the inferior 1/4" tele connectors? Huh? Seems like a bad decision to be cutting cost in such sensitive place in the amp.

Speakons are only necessary for amps over 500w since amps under 500w don't present a shock hazard. Personally, I'm happy since I never use speakons and don't particularly like them.

BTW, you might have missed the part in this thread where Ryan said they're going to be offering CL grills for the V4B that you can get separately as well as VR grills for the CL cabs.

 

[michele]

I had a '70 V4B: to these days it was the best sounding amp I ever owned. I got rid of it because of the weight: no matter how I loved the sound I couldn't carry it up and down four floors anymore.
Now this reissues weight in at 40 lbs and I guess Ampeg have a serious winner here...

 

[AlexanderB]

Thanks JimmyM - missed that about the CL grilles. That seems good and certainly better than getting grilles for two SVT-410HLFs and two SVT-210HEs!
Regarding Speakons - well all my other gear has Speakons which I think is a more robust and reliable connector. In 20 years of hobby level PA use I have never had a Speakon fail on me.

 

[MrCool84]

The 100t has only 1/4" as well.

 

[johnpbass]

A 1974 V4B was used to A/B the new one, and all of the gear-heads at Ampeg agree that the reissue sounds virtually identical to the old one.

That's what I was waiting to hear! #1 criteria for me for getting one.

 

[johnpbass]

I had a '70 V4B: to these days it was the best sounding amp I ever owned. I got rid of it because of the weight: no matter how I loved the sound I couldn't carry it up and down four floors anymore.
Now this reissues weight in at 40 lbs and I guess Ampeg have a serious winner here...

Same here. I had a mid-70s V4B that combined with an SVT 810 was the best tone I've ever had from an amp. I got rid of it when I downsized to an amp that I'm embarrased to mention!

 

[Tom Howland]

I had a '70 V4B: to these days it was the best sounding amp I ever owned. I got rid of it because of the weight: no matter how I loved the sound I couldn't carry it up and down four floors anymore.
Now this reissues weight in at 40 lbs and I guess Ampeg have a serious winner here...

A agree, big GAS !!!!!!

 

[Bisounourse]

A agree, big GAS !!!!!!

Agreed, big GAS, but they're expensive over here in Europe... (around 1400 € (aprox. 1900 $))

 

[Dan55]

In spite of the fact that I have a Fender 100T and an Ampeg SVT-7 Pro, I've pre-ordered the new V-4B. I look forward to comparing them. I use the matching Fender neo 410 with the 100T and the 7 Pro runs through an SVT 410HE. If all goes as I expect, the V-4B will live atop the 410HE and the 7 Pro will go to backup status. We shall see.

Dan

 

[Lia_G]

Looking very much forward to your comparison of the V4B to the 100t!

Cheers,
Liam

 

[eyeballkid]

+1

 

[Moosehead1966]

Looking very much forward to your comparison of the V4B to the 100t!

Cheers,
Liam

Comparing both the Ampeg and the 100t side by side will be the teller. As I have just ordered the 100t, I am intrigued.



Marc

 

[Dan55]

Sweetwater predicts they'll ship in about a month. Anticipation...

Dan

 

[rodl2005]

Just an aside. I've got a Fender Super Bassman 300 -same controls as the 100T.
You can use these amps as a simple eq by just using the Vintage channel. Bass/mids/treble. Only when u kick in the other channel do you add the sweepable mids etc.

 

[Tim1]

I have a feeling that in a shootout between the V4B and the 100T there will be no clear winner. The 100T is, to my ears, a new amp and way ahead of the earlier Bassmans I owned. If the V4B is a V4B in the truest sense of the word I may have to keep both. The 100T will no doubt be more versatile, but if the V4B has "that" sound then it will win a lot of hearts (and wallets). Now the Super Bassman 300 with its 6550s is a different story altogether.......
The last thing I want to do is get into an Ampeg vs Fender thing, I think they are both great sounds and it may well boil down to taste is reliability is equal. I want both

 

[denton57]

Definitely waiting on hearing the comparison. I will say that after getting my 100T, I do not miss my '76 V4B at all. So as Tim1 says, I think it will just be a matter of taste between the two great amps.

I personally love the two channels, auto tube bias, and post power tube DI of the Fender.

 

[rodl2005]

Definitely! :thumbup:
I think owning a RI V4B will be the only thing satisfying my gas for one.

 

[TC.65]

I have never played through a V4B and have only played through an SVT Classic a couple of times, but that was enough to know why most people love the way that amp sounds and feels. So my question is how does the V4B compare in tone and feel to the SVT CL? I should be able to pick one up in a couple of months. I've been looking at the 100T also but I really like the simple layout of the V4B reissue. can anyone give me some insight on this?

 

[96tbird]

Scenario. Player goes to store and tries 100t. No v4b to compare it to. Player loves the 100t.

Scenario. Player goes to store and tries v4b No 100t to compare it to. Player loves the v4b.

Moral: they're going to sound different but either sounds very good. If the v4b were never to be reissued, plenty would have a heyday with their 100t.

But Ampeg is cooler for bass.