2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue

[Lia_G]

I have a question. I'm reading the V4B manual from the Ampeg site, and it says to replace the power tubes at least once per year. I didn't realize that they needed replacement so frequently. Is this true, or is Ampeg just being ultra-conservative?

Cheers,
Liam

 

[P Town]

That sounds absurd.
I suppose you should only buy tubes from your authorized Ampeg retailer, as well.

 

[Ric Vice]

I have a question. I'm reading the V4B manual from the Ampeg site, and it says to replace the power tubes at least once per year. I didn't realize that they needed replacement so frequently. Is this true, or is Ampeg just being ultra-conservative?

Cheers,
Liam

Liam,
I have the original Sylvania tube set from my 1964 B-15N(C) and although I did replace them in 2005 there isn't anything really wrong with them. This has to be an error on in the Users Manual.

Ric

 

[beans-on-toast]

They'd probably also like it if you bought a new V4B when the warranty expires.

Tube life mostly depends on how hard they are driven, how many hours they're in service, and physical conditions such as heating and cooling. It isn't based on time. In their manuals, they do talk about changing tubes based on the sound of the amp and how they are performing.

If they didn't give a time period for the service life of the tubes, you can bet on people contacting them asking for one.

 

[WretchedExcess]

I'm reading the V4B manual from the Ampeg site, and it says to replace the power tubes at least once per year. I didn't realize that they needed replacement so frequently. Is this true, or is Ampeg just being ultra-conservative?

To me, it sounds like a hint that they're pushing the 6L6 pretty hard and they expect them to fail, so they recommend frequent replacement.

This leads us back to the discussion that a 6L6 isn't a suitable replacement for a 7027.

If anyone has doubts about this, consider the fact that there are plenty of vintage V4-B out there that are still running on their original 7027 while Ampeg is recommending that you replace 6L6 once yearly with the new amps.

 

[Bass 45]

I have a question. I'm reading the V4B manual from the Ampeg site, and it says to replace the power tubes at least once per year. I didn't realize that they needed replacement so frequently. Is this true, or is Ampeg just being ultra-conservative?

Cheers,
Liam

I think it would only be true if you used the amp every night. Their catalogs have been stating that for a very long time.

My '89 SVT-2 has the original power tube (Phillips) and they still sound great. The '89 manual also recommended changing the tubes with such frequency.

 

[Lia_G]

Liam,
I have the original Sylvania tube set from my 1964 B-15N(C) and although I did replace them in 2005 there isn't anything really wrong with them. This has to be an error on in the Users Manual.

Ric

That's reassuring.

It doesn't look like a misprint. Misinformation maybe. For reference, here's the quote from page 12 of the manual:

"Replace the tube(s) on a regular basis; at least once per year or as often as every 4 to 6 months if you play long and hard every day."

Liam

 

[Lia_G]

I think it would only be true if you used the amp every night. Their catalogs have been stating that for a very long time.

My '89 SVT-2 has the original power tube (Phillips) and they still sound great. The '89 manual also recommended changing the tubes with such frequency.

Cool, thanks.

Liam

 

[Lia_G]

To me, it sounds like a hint that they're pushing the 6L6 pretty hard and they expect them to fail, so they recommend frequent replacement.

This leads us back to the discussion that a 6L6 isn't a suitable replacement for a 7027.

If anyone has doubts about this, consider the fact that there are plenty of vintage V4-B out there that are still running on their original 7027 while Ampeg is recommending that you replace 6L6 once yearly with the new amps.

Nah, I just checked, and they recommend the same thing for the 6550's in the SVT-VR manual. It's not just a 6L6 thing.

Liam

 

[JimmyM]

I have a question. I'm reading the V4B manual from the Ampeg site, and it says to replace the power tubes at least once per year. I didn't realize that they needed replacement so frequently. Is this true, or is Ampeg just being ultra-conservative?

Cheers,
Liam

Ultra-conservative. Tubes can sometimes last decades. Tubes can also die 10 minutes from now It's kind of random that way. I didn't interpret that as saying you have to change them once a year, but just suggesting that if you want uninterrupted service, power tubes stand more of a chance of blowing in the second year than the first, so if you're anal about stuff like that, change them once a year. Me, I change them when they break and not a moment sooner. And if only one breaks, I replace only one if it's a preamp tube, and only as many power tubes as I need to create matching on the side with the bad tube. With the V4B, that's two. With the SVT, that's three. Now I have had tubes go on me in the middle of a gig before, but that can happen even with tubes that aren't a year old, so I figure why spend the money?

So everyone just calm down. It's advice you can take or leave, and it certainly wasn't said to make you want to buy new tubes once a year. But if you're a cranker, it would be a good idea to think about it, as cranking does take its toll on the tubes.

 

[rodl2005]

+1 I've played/owned all tube amps all my playing life - 40 yrs nearly. & I reckon I've bought a complete set of new tubes ( power tubes ) Probly twice.
I've NEVER bought a complete set of pre and power tubes.
And I've bought replacement pairs or trios about 3 times at most too.
Not bad

 

[Bowe]

From the manual page 13:
< quote >
Tubes wear out in direct proportion to how often and how hard you use the amplifier. Power tubes should be checked at least once a year &ndash; more frequently if you use the amplifier nearly every day. When power tubes wear out, the amplifier will begin to grow weak, lack punch, fade up and down, or lose highs and lows. Power tubes work together in a push/pull configuration and should be replaced at the same time with matched or balanced tubes. Your dealer can recommend the best replacement tubes for your amplifier.
< /quote >

The other reference was for:
< quote >
To prolong tube life, observe these tips and recommendations:
< /quote >
It is the ultra conservative amplifier maintenance info that Ampeg has in all their tube amp manuals.

 

[denton57]

Replacement on a time schedule is absurd, as others have mentioned. I've bought vintage amps from the 60's with their original tubes that were working great. Now that being said, they were RCA's and Sylvanias, which far exceed these new tubes in tube life, performance, and tone.

I think this is where the 100T has an advantage with the auto bias. It constantly monitors the 6L6GC's and keeps them in check. If one fails, it shuts down the pair and you can continue playing on the good pair. Unfortunately, I had it happen with my 100T on day 1, when a GT 6L6 flared up on me. It shut that pair down immediately, and I played a 4 hr practice on 2 tubes that night (with 50 watts of glorious tone!)

You also do not have to match pairs or quads according to a couple different places in the manual. One tube fails, replace the one tube. The bias system will adjust it to match up. You can also adjust the bias colder or hotter by simply pushing a button. I run mine in the middle setting.

Myself, I want NOS tubes and replaced every tube in mine with NOS pre (Amperex, RCA) and power (small bottle GE) because I would prefer a potential 30 year life span and better tone

 

[j.kernodle]

question for you experienced v4 users.... can the amp still put out a reasonably clean sound at full drums and guitar rock volumes, or is it venturing into breakup level at that point? I know that one of the basic ideas of a these amps is to get tube overdrive at a lower overall volume than an SVT, but I'm just trying to determine if I'd have a choice of still getting an overall clean tone at medium high volume by adjusting the gain and master volume appropriately. 90% of the time I like a little of that fat wooly sound, but I'd like to have that choice if it makes sense.

to clarify my cab is an Aguilar 2x12. and my current amp is a Mesa bass400+ that can still put out a clean sound at that level.

 

[pgk]

just ignore the master and leave it on 10 all the time. the originals didn't have one. if you want more headroom add more efficient cabs

 

[johnpbass]

Well I did it. Pre-ordered a V4B and SVT-212AV through Sweetwater. Woot! I have high hopes that this will be a perfect rig for my funky blues band.

Cheers,
Liam

I'm gassing for a new V4B but I'm also really anxious to hear how these new 112 and 212 AVs sound.

 

[Lia_G]

I'm actually having second thoughts about the SVT-212AV, and thinking about getting a Dually instead. I want to be able to be fairly clean, with just a bit of grunt. We're not ultra loud (I don't have to wear ear plugs), but I don't want to be forced into distortion. On the fence ... I really like the look of the 212, and the thought of having a matched pair, but the Dually should be more efficient, I would think.

Cheers,
Liam

 

[StuartV]

question for you experienced v4 users.... can the amp still put out a reasonably clean sound at full drums and guitar rock volumes, or is it venturing into breakup level at that point?

I had an early 70s V4. To keep up with guitars and drums at full rock volumes, playing through a Bergantino NV610, it would be into breakup territory.

 

[pgk]

I'm actually having second thoughts about the SVT-212AV, and thinking about getting a Dually instead. I want to be able to be fairly clean, with just a bit of grunt. We're not ultra loud (I don't have to wear ear plugs), but I don't want to be forced into distortion. On the fence ... I really like the look of the 212, and the thought of having a matched pair, but the Dually should be more efficient, I would think.

Cheers,
Liam

i would think that a pair of those 2-12 cabs would be pretty equivalent efficiency-wise to a Dually (iow pretty darn loud) but not nearly as deep sounding. depends on what you're shooting for tone wise. myself i have waking dreams of the new v4b with a pair of mid-sized Bag End S15D-L cabs, which would be really loud and huge. can't imagine needing more for what i do. i used to have one of those cabs and i could cut any gig (roots music) with a 60 watt tube head, and i like things on the clean side. two of them? heart be still...

 

[hennessybass]

Seems like the whole "replace the tubes every year" thing is kind of a lowest common denominator / cover our buts kind of thing.

I'm pretty interested to see what the new V4B can do clean headroom wise. I kind of remember a point in that video where Dino is playing with the master and the gain at around noon, and thinking it was pretty dirty.

I'd like to hear a sweep of the gain knob with the master on 10.