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2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue
- Thread starter z11111
- Start date
- Status
Twangster101
You gonna pull them pistols or whistle Dixie?
Just got the e-mail that sweetwater has these in stock. Trying hard to resist buying another amp I really don't need, or do I?
> Lot's of folks (myself included) wanting this amp to be something else - a smaller SVT,
> a bigger B15, an exact clone of a V4B... I have a feeling it will be it's own thing, and just
> hope it does it well.
I'm confident that it's going to be a good sounding amp. Based upon the specs that Ampeg disclosed in this thread, it's right in the middle of the design center values for a good tube amp. How can it not sound good?
But since it's based around design center values, it's reasonable to expect that the output stage is going to sound like most any other output stage that's run at similar parameters, so I'd expect that the soul of this amp is going to come from the preamp, as the power amp is sort of a garden variety spec'd circuit. Nothing special at all going on there.
I'm one of the guys who was hoping for something more like a mini-SVT, based closely upon the original V4-B operating parameters. But this amp is going to be running the tubes at a full 100-150V less plate voltage than it's predecessor. Higher voltages will exaggerate the player's dynamics and make an amp feel more touch responsive. Lower voltages have the opposite effect, giving better compression. So the new amp can't help but sound different. Not saying that it's going to sound bad, just a bit different. Maybe different enough to notice without a vintage model side by side, maybe not. Maybe the tone will be close enough that it reminds Jimmy of his old amp, and it'll get his blessing. If that happens, that's a good thing. It means that Ampeg hit a home run that makes peoples' ears happy, in spite of the numbers.
> a bigger B15, an exact clone of a V4B... I have a feeling it will be it's own thing, and just
> hope it does it well.
I'm confident that it's going to be a good sounding amp. Based upon the specs that Ampeg disclosed in this thread, it's right in the middle of the design center values for a good tube amp. How can it not sound good?
But since it's based around design center values, it's reasonable to expect that the output stage is going to sound like most any other output stage that's run at similar parameters, so I'd expect that the soul of this amp is going to come from the preamp, as the power amp is sort of a garden variety spec'd circuit. Nothing special at all going on there.
I'm one of the guys who was hoping for something more like a mini-SVT, based closely upon the original V4-B operating parameters. But this amp is going to be running the tubes at a full 100-150V less plate voltage than it's predecessor. Higher voltages will exaggerate the player's dynamics and make an amp feel more touch responsive. Lower voltages have the opposite effect, giving better compression. So the new amp can't help but sound different. Not saying that it's going to sound bad, just a bit different. Maybe different enough to notice without a vintage model side by side, maybe not. Maybe the tone will be close enough that it reminds Jimmy of his old amp, and it'll get his blessing. If that happens, that's a good thing. It means that Ampeg hit a home run that makes peoples' ears happy, in spite of the numbers.
If one wants a mini SVT - I think the V4BH or the B15R head fits the bill (if not the new V4B reissue). One of our most esteemed and knowledgeable TB members studied the preamp circuit of the two - and found that they were the same as the SVT-CL. The 100 watt power sections had their differences between them though.
I have never played a V4BH - but I do own a B15R and a '72 V4 and the B15R can go louder @ clean - while the '72 V4 is more aggressive and dirty sounding. For some reason my '72 does not sound good through small cabs (while the B15R does), but sounds great through my 4x12 and 810.
I have never played a V4BH - but I do own a B15R and a '72 V4 and the B15R can go louder @ clean - while the '72 V4 is more aggressive and dirty sounding. For some reason my '72 does not sound good through small cabs (while the B15R does), but sounds great through my 4x12 and 810.
And on a rainy afternoon in central Florida, it arrives:
Double boxed, well packed:
And it fits in the footcups of the Heritage 810e, although now I want to get a Heritage grill for it for when I use this cab. The 64 B-15N approves:
Full-frontal...a bit glared from the flash, though:
So I plug in my 09 Precision, noon the tone knobs, crank the master all the way and turn it on, and whammo! Sounds exactly like how I set my SVT (bass noon, treble 2:00, mids 3:00 at 800). I go through the different tones on the mid selector...exactly how I remember them on my long-lost 73 V4B. I hit the ultra-hi and lo, and again, exactly as I remember. Turning up the gain with the master all the way up gives me everything I'm remembering about my old V4B. But backing down on the master and cranking gain gives me preamp distortion, something I wasn't able to get on my old one with the single volume.
So let's just get this out of the way now...yes, I'm an endorser, but I also pay for my gear, I don't get commissions for sales, and those who know me know I don't BS when it comes to Ampeg...this is a true V4B in every sense of the word as far as I'm concerned. The memories came rushing back to me the second I heard it. That is THE SOUND.
As far as the weight of it, it's not a bad one hand carry, though for distances, one might prefer to cart it or carry it by its sides. Don't think it needs handles, though. It's really not that bad. I guess I'll find out over the weekend.
So now I have to try it with the two 210av's. Haven't done that yet...just wanted to rush this stuff up here, though, because I knew everyone was waiting and I don't like to keep you rabid wolves waiting
Double boxed, well packed:
And it fits in the footcups of the Heritage 810e, although now I want to get a Heritage grill for it for when I use this cab. The 64 B-15N approves:
Full-frontal...a bit glared from the flash, though:
So I plug in my 09 Precision, noon the tone knobs, crank the master all the way and turn it on, and whammo! Sounds exactly like how I set my SVT (bass noon, treble 2:00, mids 3:00 at 800). I go through the different tones on the mid selector...exactly how I remember them on my long-lost 73 V4B. I hit the ultra-hi and lo, and again, exactly as I remember. Turning up the gain with the master all the way up gives me everything I'm remembering about my old V4B. But backing down on the master and cranking gain gives me preamp distortion, something I wasn't able to get on my old one with the single volume.
So let's just get this out of the way now...yes, I'm an endorser, but I also pay for my gear, I don't get commissions for sales, and those who know me know I don't BS when it comes to Ampeg...this is a true V4B in every sense of the word as far as I'm concerned. The memories came rushing back to me the second I heard it. That is THE SOUND.
As far as the weight of it, it's not a bad one hand carry, though for distances, one might prefer to cart it or carry it by its sides. Don't think it needs handles, though. It's really not that bad. I guess I'll find out over the weekend.
So now I have to try it with the two 210av's. Haven't done that yet...just wanted to rush this stuff up here, though, because I knew everyone was waiting and I don't like to keep you rabid wolves waiting
Crap I guess I have to buy a V4B now, I was hoping JimmyM's review was going to suck but I highly respect his opinion on gear and now that he says the V4B is KILLER I'm buying one definitely.
So I tried it in one and two 210av's, and also those B-15 cabs. In the 210av's, I had to cut treble down to 9:00 and boost bass to about 1:30, but that's what I have to do with most of my heads anyway, so it was expected. Still got my sound. In the B-15 cabs, the treble almost sliced my ears off when set at noon, but backing it down to 9:00 or 10:00 made it much more tolerable.
So yep, this head is a keeper for sure! Don't mean to induce GAS in anyone but it really is all they said it was.
So yep, this head is a keeper for sure! Don't mean to induce GAS in anyone
but it really is all they said it was.
And it's one loud mofo! 
After only a limited amount of playing time using a '12 Am Std P bass, a roadworn P and a roadworn J, through an SVT410HE, I fully concur with Jimmy. That "sound" is there for me with knobs at noon, master full up and gain as needed for volume.
My Fender 100T ain't going anywhere, but neither is this one.
Winner!
Dan
After only a limited amount of playing time using a '12 Am Std P bass, a roadworn P and a roadworn J, through an SVT410HE, I fully concur with Jimmy. That "sound" is there for me with knobs at noon, master full up and gain as needed for volume.
My Fender 100T ain't going anywhere, but neither is this one.
Winner!
Dan
One last pic...kind of a tube family portrait if you will, but shows the V4B with the 210av's as I will use them:
Sorry...left that out. It IS one loud mofo! Won't quite induce nausea when you crank it like the SVT will, but it will get quite respectably loud, certainly loud enough to piss off any club managers or soundmen.And it's one loud mofo!
Have not played the 100t before but it sounds like you're in a pretty good tube amp positionAfter only a limited amount of playing time using a '12 Am Std P bass, a roadworn P and a roadworn J, through an SVT410HE, I fully concur with Jimmy. That "sound" is there for me with knobs at noon, master full up and gain as needed for volume.
My Fender 100T ain't going anywhere, but neither is this one.
Winner!
Dan
Just George
Fingers on 4 Flatwounds
- Dec 29, 2008
- 412
- 413
- Disclosures
- Artist Relationship: Wilkins-Ampeg-La Bella
Within reason, yes it can, George. Of course, you have to answer for yourself whether it'll work for you, but you knew that already
But in two of those 210av's, I can get pretty offensively loud and clean. And even in one of them, it's not quiet by any means.yeah Jimmy- I need some more real life opinion on this one too! How loud- cover any club gig without FOH? How do you compare it tone wise to your SVTs? Not sure you've played the 7pro but if you have how would you compare it? I rarely need to play REALLY loud (outside large 1,000+ shows), but it does happen 6 or more times a year. This amp as well as the Fender amps are giving me fits of gas. First Ampeg I've owned is my SVT7pro and I really dig it (although I feel it lacks a touch in the mids). Nice amp, and thanks in advance for any input (and congrats on the new rig!!!!)
I bit the bullet and my wife ordered one from L@M . Ampeg in the blood was looking at new Mesa as a option and I couldn't see me letting go of the svt . I think the v4 will be great as a main amp or my go to amp for session work . Great post Jimmy love the insight .
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