ampeg 1970's vb-4 (wattage/volume)

With a 4x10 you might slice, if you use mids.

If all else fails, you could pick up a nice little bass mic and just mic your rig up and go through the PA.

At a show, I'd say it should work but at practice, it might be tough.

 

I used one back in the 80's with a huge efficient 18" sugar-scoop cab. With a cab that big and efficient, I never had any problem being heard, and I was playing in band with (3) 4x12 tube half-stacks! I've still got the V4-B, and it still rocks.

So it really depends on the speaker setup. I've never used a 4x10, so I don't know. If you could get a big cab with JBL 2x15's or 1x18 with a folded horn design, you'd be loud enough for sure.

Chris

 

no. This amp only works with a 70's Ampeg 8x10.

 

I use my V4 with a Sunn 2x15 cab loaded with JBL's. It's plenty loud, and the V4 (not the V4B) has a mid selector switch which lets me dial in the mids.

For classic rock, or country, it's fine, but for very very loud rock it would need to be helped--use another power amp and a second cab, come out of the V4's line out into the second power amp.

 

When some of you say there's not enough power, are you running the amp clean, or turning it to 10 and getting some distortion too?

 

I think they're talking about running it near the point of clipping, which is usually about the 11 o'clock postion on the knob. Anything above that doesn't get much louder, just a lot more distorted. I'm all for some distortion, but anything over 12 o'clock on an Ampeg is usually too much even for me.

It will match up nicely to unamplified drums and a 50 Watt tube guitar setup, maybe a couple of guitarists. This is assuming you're using a big efficient cabinet. Anything more than that, and just run some signal through the PA along with everybody else.

Chris

 

I recently got a 70s one myself as well...any specific recommendations for a cab for it for smaller sized gigs? I've already got an Ampeg 6x10...

 

Get a 1x15. Look for the old Peavey 1x15 loaded with a Black Widow. Those old things are built like tanks and sound great with 100 Watt tube amps. They can usually be found for about $150 if you look around. You may even like it better than your 6x10.

Chris

 

a 1x15 has been tops on my tentative list...I'll scour around for the Peavey's w/Black widow...how about any others? Someone recommended one of those 80s cabs "Joes cabs", and an EAW...just looking for options and to see what people who have used/heard these think about them? Even though I'm in Boston, there aren't too many different kinds of 1x15s floating around...

 

bump

?

 

The V4B has that too.

 

Sorry, I didn't think the V4B had a mid selector. I thought it had an Ultra Lo instead (which functioned by cutting mids??) But since my version is the regular V4 I will defer to those more knowledgeable.

 

1970's V4B has 3-way mid selector switch (300, 1000, and 3000 Hz I think), Ultra Hi, and Ultra Lo switches.

Chris

 

my v4b wasn't loud enough for a punk/hardcore band(what 100w amp would be??) but i think it would be fine in a mellower environment. it sounded great but that thing was really heavy. i iked it w/ my nemesis 2x10 better than a mesa 1x15 or an old peavey 6x10.

 

That's NOT true!..It may be great with one,but it works well with ANY efficient cab/cabs. This is key though. While the V-4, V-4B sound like 200 watts, mine sounds killer with a Sonic 1-18 and Eden D410xlt. These cabs are very effecient and brings out the best of the amp. It sounds more at ease with the 4 ohm load than an 8. The V-4s have a different vibe than the SVT. They have a wonderful HUGE girthy sound.

 

Go and see Corey and Justin at Rock City Music in Sommerville. I think they have a V-4 (4-12). Check your P.M.

 

Thanks for the heads up...though:

a) im looking for a cab for smaller gigs - a 4x12 isn't small, and ive already got an ampeg 6x10

b) its actually Corey who made the two suggestions I mentioned for the 15 inch cabs

 

How hard is this, and how exactly would you go about doing it?

 

The amp has two 1/4 inch jacks on the back that are marked "ext amp". Get a 1/4 guitar cord and plug one end into one of the jacks that's marked "ext amp" Plug the other end into the other power amp. Connect the power amp to a speaker cabinet. Play.