Ampeg just dropped a bomb on Facebook...

[Jonyak]

And Traynors don't show up as much here. I'll make you a deal. I'll trade you my '73 Ampeg V-4 (in EXCELLENT condition) for a Traynor YBA-3 Super Custom Special, if you can find me one.

Lol. I am pretty sure there is one for sale in a store here and one on kijiji right now.

 

[johnpbass]

I would be willing to buy a "vintage" V4B - do I get a warranty with that? No, okay, then I would like a new V4B that sounds as good as the original, without having to clean out 10 years of garage grime, and a warranty.

 

[gricko]

i just could not go through all +100 post, in case those were covered.

fender 100t - used few fender tube amps long time ago. felt very sterile. i'm sure a lot of people want transparent amp. i do not. roundwounds to ampeg w/ EQ @ 12 o'clock, as loud as possible.

v4b loudness - i play w/ a guitarist that uses two marshall halfstacks. rickenbacker to v4b w/ volume @ 9 o'clock gets us even. loudnesswise. when ric is changed for an active warwick thumb guitar [same 9 o'clock volume] he gets pissed.

 

[JimmyM]

Or criticize gear they haven't spent time with....

No, that I'm OK with.

 

[blendermassacre]

No, that I'm OK with.

It's funny.. i really wanted an SVT, until I got one. It just doesn't quite get low enough or smooth enough for me, personally. I've diddled with it endlessly but it just doesn't do exactly what I want it to. To be fair, a sealed cab doesn't help at all, but still.

 

[StuartV]

Lol. I am pretty sure there is one for sale in a store here and one on kijiji right now.

If it's a Super Custom Special, not just a regular Custom Special, please PM me a link!

 

[will33]

I would be willing to buy a "vintage" V4B - do I get a warranty with that? No, okay, then I would like a new V4B that sounds as good as the original, without having to clean out 10 years of garage grime, and a warranty.

All that grime = mojo. It'd take your new one at least 10 years to sound as good.

Why the warrany? If the amp is worth a damn at all it'll last a whole lot longer than any warranty. You could get an old one rebuilt 3 times over for the cost of a new one. If this is going to work, it has to maintain all the tone and feel of the original and add something more. Premium parts/made in the US/toroid power transformer-lighter weight/more features......something.

Or just leave this market niche to Fender.

Honestly, the bassman was likely easier to "improve" as a dedicated bass amp. The V4 maybe not so much. People won't like it if anything comes up short of the original.

 

[StuartV]

I would be willing to buy a "vintage" V4B - do I get a warranty with that? No, okay, then I would like a new V4B that sounds as good as the original, without having to clean out 10 years of garage grime, and a warranty.

Any amp can break. A new one with modern production tubes MIGHT even be more likely to break. All a warranty does it get it fixed for you for free (except possibly if you have to pay the shipping to get it to and from an "authorized service center").

I'd rather have 2 vintage amps, for less money than one new one, and know that if one does go down, I can use the other one in the meantime while the first one is getting fixed. And pay for the repairs and STILL have less money out of pocket than one new one with a warranty.

But that's just me...

 

[JimmyM]

My boys and girls at Ampeg know what they're doing. Nobody there wants to put out a V4B that falls short of the original, trust me. Just like the SVT, it likely won't be identical due to the oddball tubes they used back then, but they know what we want out of Ampegs and they seem pretty intent on giving it to us.

As for leaving this market niche to Fender and Mesa...what fun would that be?

 

[blendermassacre]

My boys and girls at Ampeg know what they're doing. Nobody there wants to put out a V4B that falls short of the original, trust me. Just like the SVT, it likely won't be identical due to the oddball tubes they used back then, but they know what we want out of Ampegs and they seem pretty intent on giving it to us.

As for leaving this market niche to Fender and Mesa...what fun would that be?

Honestly they owe it to themselves, profit wise, to make this amp, even if not everyone is crazy about it.

 

[johnpbass]

All that grime = mojo. It'd take your new one at least 10 years to sound as good.

Why the warrany? If the amp is worth a damn at all it'll last a whole lot longer than any warranty. You could get an old one rebuilt 3 times over for the cost of a new one. If this is going to work, it has to maintain all the tone and feel of the original and add something more. Premium parts/made in the US/toroid power transformer-lighter weight/more features......something.

I would hope and expect it to last a long time, but you never know... Just would feel a little better with the added security! My old V4 ran like a champ for 10 years of club work.

I totally agree with you in that it would be essential for the new version to maintain the tone and feel of the original.

 

[Jonyak]

If it's a Super Custom Special, not just a regular Custom Special, please PM me a link!

I just checked, it was a yba-1... sorry.

 

[johnpbass]

Any amp can break. A new one with modern production tubes MIGHT even be more likely to break. All a warranty does it get it fixed for you for free (except possibly if you have to pay the shipping to get it to and from an "authorized service center").

I'd rather have 2 vintage amps, for less money than one new one, and know that if one does go down, I can use the other one in the meantime while the first one is getting fixed. And pay for the repairs and STILL have less money out of pocket than one new one with a warranty.

But that's just me...

I guess I'm overestimating the cost of reparing a tube amp - it's been a while since I was doing the tube thing. Also I may be underestimating what a new version V4 would cost.

 

[JimmyM]

BTW, I want a new one because it's shiny and new. I could buy an old one, but a new looking old one that's recently been serviced is going to cost, and a beater that hasn't been serviced in a while is likely going to need around a couple extra hundy put in it unless you luck out.

Not that I need to explain my motivation for wanting a new one to you guys but that's my thinking.

 

[hdracer]

As for leaving this market niche to Fender and Mesa...what fun would that be?

+1
competition always makes the market better.

With more and better 100's on the market I feel that it will not be a "niche" market for long. 300 are nice but I do not need one. A good 100 gives me all the OD and grind I need without blowing the first 5 rows ears out and with a good DI built in you can send your signal to the board.

100's also weigh a lot less then a 300. Just as big and bulky but much lighter.

 

[johnpbass]

BTW, I want a new one because it's shiny and new. I could buy an old one, but a new looking old one that's recently been serviced is going to cost, and a beater that hasn't been serviced in a while is likely going to need around a couple extra hundy put in it unless you luck out.

Not that I need to explain my motivation for wanting a new one to you guys but that's my thinking.

I like shiny and new! And I would like a front panel that has all of the graphics intact so I can show the soundman that my stage volume level is at 9 o'clock as opposed to the guitar players who are running full tilt! LOL!

 

[hdracer]

BTW, I want a new one because it's shiny and new. I could buy an old one, but a new looking old one that's recently been serviced is going to cost, and a beater that hasn't been serviced in a while is likely going to need around a couple extra hundy put in it unless you luck out.

Not that I need to explain my motivation for wanting a new one to you guys but that's my thinking.

and you get that new tube amp smell when you push it hard the first few times!

 

[jumbodbassman]

My first real ampeg was a B25B back in 1974. I had that and a fender Musicmaster Bass. I was 17 and so so proud playing adult clubs in my first funk band. We had so many members in the band and a corrupt manager I made like $10.00 a gig but I didn't care. On top of that I had my own car a Buick Skylark coupe, silver with Cragar Mags. You couldn't tell me nothing. LOL!!!!

LOL!!!!! almost same here . got my v4b in 73 at 16, think i worked for the same corrupt mgr. I drove a 73 duster cause it fit the sqaureback.

 

[blendermassacre]

+1
competition always makes the market better.

With more and better 100's on the market I feel that it will not be a "niche" market for long. 300 are nice but I do not need one. A good 100 gives me all the OD and grind I need without blowing the first 5 rows ears out and with a good DI built in you can send your signal to the board.

100's also weigh a lot less then a 300. Just as big and bulky but much lighter.

I wonder if lighter means less cost. I mean, if they can make a SVT for $999, can they make a V4B / 100w Bass head for .. $799?

 

[Kaa]

I wonder if lighter means less cost. I mean, if they can make a SVT for $999, can they make a V4B / 100w Bass head for .. $799?

Depends on the parts, I'd reckon. If they can use some common elements for both amps, the price will go down.