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2013 Ampeg V-4B 100W Reissue

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#961
The region of manufacture and Ampeg has been done before to death in other threads. If you have issue with it, don't buy the product or comment. It derails the threads for those who want to learn(and listen) about the amp. I'm sure reliability and a few claims for warranty will pop up on this amp and Ampeg will be all over it to help their customers. Where's the problem?
 
#963
JOE EDO said:
The region of manufacture and Ampeg has been done before to death in other threads. If you have issue with it, don't buy the product or comment. It derails the threads for those who want to learn(and listen) about the amp. I'm sure reliability and a few claims for warranty will pop up on this amp and Ampeg will be all over it to help their customers. Where's the problem?
Click to expand...

+ 1000
 
#965
$1300 isnt bad. Its on par with any other 100 watt tube amp of respectable lineage.

but honestly, as much as Ive been drooling for a new production v4b for years, the "made in china" is exactly why I didnt order one the day they were announced. I, so far, have been waiting for some field reports on reliability/bugs and I like to put my money where my mouth is and I have never been a fan of american companies moving production of anything overseas to save expenses. I'll likely end up giving my cash to an american musician and buy it second hand. Make it in America and I would already have one and Ampeg would already have my money. They MAY still get it, but Ive been on the fence and it is for these reasons.
That said, Im sure its a great amp in its own right (just could be a little better IMO), and I trust JimmyM's review and am impressed so far with the sound clips.

sleepy_monkey said:
Please take the QC conversations to another thread please. This isn't the thread for all that.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the sentiment of not wanting the thread to get derailed by QC concerns, but it is directly applicable to the conversation of the new V4B in that we are discussing its merits and drawbacks in totality. It IS part of the equation people calculate in determining whether to part with their hard earned cash for a product. It is just as much a consideration for some of us as is concerns as to how close of an exact replica it is, or how much the design changes for modern 6l6's affects the output, or its price may be to some of us, and we have been discussing all these throughout these last 900+ posts.

I have alot more faith in TODAYS incarnation of Ampeg under Loud's directorship than I did when they first took over. QC has definitely improved from those early days and they have remained faithful to the Ampeg no-BS warranty promise which is highly commendable, but... there have been some notable problems and those have been on overseas products largely. Its a value based decision for the buyer and some value certain aspects more than others. Its worth discussing.

JOE EDO.. this is PART of 'learning' about the amp.
 
#967
eyeballkid said:
I appreciate the sentiment of not wanting the thread to get derailed by QC concerns, but it is directly applicable to the conversation of the new V4B in that we are discussing its merits and drawbacks in totality. It IS part of the equation people calculate in determining whether to part with their hard earned cash for a product.

JOE EDO.. this is PART of 'learning' about the amp.
Click to expand...

It's pretty hard to determine QC on amps that have been in the hands of players for less than a week. I am sure if there are issues this thread will be the first place tapped. There are threads bashed to pieces about overseas gear. Made in China is not always bad and Made in America is not always good.
 
#968
I agree with you eyeball but so far the QC on the amp is an unknown quantity. So far it's all just biased speculation. So the comments have no basis pertinent to THIS offering; yet.

As for whispers about other Ampeg products from China specifically class D heads, it could be said that, from what I've read, a lot of problems are design related judging by all the chatter about revisions. QC and design revisions are two separate things.

Class D and AB are two separate things as well.
 
#969
Wow, we have this nice lovely thread going, and now it's all shot to hell with this controversy. Hey, do whatever you want. Vote with your dollars. Me, I've got the American stuff, too, but I'd totally put this Chinese V4B up with the best stuff Ampeg's ever made. I'm 3 gigs to the good with it, including today's gig in the 95 degree heat and sun directly on it just after a rainstorm, and it ran just fine and no hotter than usual. And there's just no question the cabs are better than SLM cabs, just on the basis of SLM using OSB alone. Sure, I like to see Americans get jobs, but why do I want to hate on a Chinese person for having a job? They never did anything to me or my family.
 
#970
I agree with you, Jimmy. I don't care where it is made, I simply want to know that it is reliable. I suspect that yours will be getting more use than just about any other at the moment, so keep those reports coming in. The new Fender Bassmans had issues early on with the auto-bias facility, and it was instantly picked up here on Talkbass and members became aware of the issue. Fender dealt with the issue. While I think the Fenders are two superb new amps, I applaud Ampeg for appearing publicly on this forum and fronting up to questions - so far as I am aware Fender have never made a statement here. I half expect the odd teething problem with any new mass production tube head, it would not necessarily deter me from purchase so long as I know that the manufacturer is fronting up to the issue and dealing with it (repair/exchange) responsibly.
Let us remember, though, that it may be early days but to date there have been no issues. Let us not jump the gun :D
 
#971
Well gee whiz Tim, it's been a whole week since they came out...isn't that enough?

:D

Fortunately, the technology for tube amps is way mature at this point. They kept it pretty simple and to the point, too, which helps reliability. Can't rule out an occasional manufacturing defect or a bum tube along the way, but they're quite good about CS issues.
 
#973
I'll likely end up giving my cash to an american musician and buy it second hand.
Click to expand...

This way of thinking puts you guys right where you are. Geez... :eyebrow:

Congratulations to everyone who bought the amp. JimmyM, thanks for comparing the V4B and CL. Also it would be interesting to hear impressions of V4B compared to V4BH. Anyone?
 
#977
JimmyM said:
Fulfilling a couple photo requests:

V4B210av1_zps166490a8.jpg


V4B210av2_zps9b962abf.jpg
Click to expand...

Humm got me thinking on those cabs now .
 
#978
eyeballkid said:
$1300 isnt bad. Its on par with any other 100 watt tube amp of respectable lineage.

but honestly, as much as Ive been drooling for a new production v4b for years, the "made in china" is exactly why I didnt order one the day they were announced. I, so far, have been waiting for some field reports on reliability/bugs and I like to put my money where my mouth is and I have never been a fan of american companies moving production of anything overseas to save expenses. I'll likely end up giving my cash to an american musician and buy it second hand. Make it in America and I would already have one and Ampeg would already have my money. They MAY still get it, but Ive been on the fence and it is for these reasons.
That said, Im sure its a great amp in its own right (just could be a little better IMO), and I trust JimmyM's review and am impressed so far with the sound clips.



I appreciate the sentiment of not wanting the thread to get derailed by QC concerns, but it is directly applicable to the conversation of the new V4B in that we are discussing its merits and drawbacks in totality. It IS part of the equation people calculate in determining whether to part with their hard earned cash for a product. It is just as much a consideration for some of us as is concerns as to how close of an exact replica it is, or how much the design changes for modern 6l6's affects the output, or its price may be to some of us, and we have been discussing all these throughout these last 900+ posts.

I have alot more faith in TODAYS incarnation of Ampeg under Loud's directorship than I did when they first took over. QC has definitely improved from those early days and they have remained faithful to the Ampeg no-BS warranty promise which is highly commendable, but... there have been some notable problems and those have been on overseas products largely. Its a value based decision for the buyer and some value certain aspects more than others. Its worth discussing.

JOE EDO.. this is PART of 'learning' about the amp.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Is is not a good idea to separate QC concerns from how nice it sounds and looks. Its all part of the package. Keep assembly location concerns/issues alive. Ok, now we can talk about how pretty it is and how nice it sounds again.
 
#979
Since I've finally had the chance to get my hands all up in a bunch of these this week, and since we're talking about QC, I'll address a few things. The first batch of V-4Bs were built in early June and the second in mid-late July. A couple of things have already been modded and implemented for newer production runs- nothing major, just a couple of potential things that engineering is on top of. So if you've already got one, or are planning on getting one, don't get all freaked out. Like I said, there's nothing catastrophic here.
As for QC, I'll just do a quick production run-down:
The PCBs are stuffed and run through the wave-solder machine. I'm pretty sure they have the wave solder technology figured out at this point. Then the boards are inspected and cleaned. Next, they get sent to a bed-of-nails type automated functional test. This test is pass/fail. No user error allowed. Boards fail, they go to a tech. They pass and they go into an amp. After the amp is assembled (but before going into the cabinet) there is another functional test. Once again, Pass/fail, and very little room for user error. This test runs through all of the EQ and power settings.
Next the amp is loaded into the cabinet and sent to the burn-in room. Actually I'm not sure if they get burned in before or after they get put in the cab, but that's not important.
I *think* they get burned in for 4 hours. At least 2, I'll have to look that up.
THEN the amps get run through a play test.
The power tubes get matched into quads using a Maxi-Matcher, the same one I use here on the Heritage stuff. We specify the limits for each set.
I probably forgot something, but this is just off the top of my head- and yes, I've actually been there and have seen the production 1st hand, not on the V-4Bs, but on the CLs, 4-Pros, and 3-Pros.
 
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