Ampeg Micro Vr but Louder?!?

[mikecd1]

I loved the sound of the svt210av's like yourself, but micro vr was not enough power to cut through the drums. Went through a couple other power amps even trying a Tech21 RBI with a power amp, but settled on a Mesa Subway 800. The sound is warm, I can get a little breakup if needed and it drives those cabs very well. YMMV, but a friend who plays bass and owns a local recording studio loved the sound so much he went out and bought the same head. Worth checking out.

 

[two fingers]

I would love to know if that's possible. So would that defeat the preamp section of the walkabout and just use the power amp side(Micro VR preamp into Walkabout Power amp)?

Here's a screenshot from the Walkabout manual. It says for sure that the effects loop input "will allow you access to the power amp only".

So, if there's a way to get the XLR out of the VR into the 1/4" of the effects loop of the Walkabout, then, yes, you can hear the VR "like real loud".

What I don't know is whether or not you HAVE to have a speaker load on the VR, or if you can run it as a big preamp. Others will have to chime in on that.

 

[drumvsbass]

If you already have two cabs. just get another micro vr head, run a lead from the Fx send to the return of the other, BAM, twice as much power, and two little SVT's side by side looks super cool (this opinion might be very biased). That said... the Pf350 would actually give you more power.

 

[Sparkl]

The above suggestion is solid or maybe Ampeg classic preamp pedal into power amp ? or SVP rack Preamp into power amp ?

or maybe a
SVT III or IV or 7

None of this will sound the same as what the OP is searching for.

SVT III and SVP Pro will come the closest but as I have tested all these heads mentioned just a week ago, none of those came even close to the sound of the V4B I own and I wouldn't expect to hold it against a Micro VR either. Tubes are tubes.

The best option would be to just grab an SVT VR obviously.

 

[Jim C]

To the OP:
Some posts are about the pre of the Micro VR and others talk about a MOSFET power amp being the source of the tone you like. I have no opinion on this.

If it is the pre, I'm not so sure going from 200 watts to 300 (Walkabout) is really going to make much difference.

Going from VR line out into the effects return of the ABM 500 would be a better bet for volume assuming you don't want to add more speaker cone area. This would allow use of the VR pre and still have a MOSFET power amp for power.

If it is just the pre, then using a PF350 should give you a little bit more power than the VR but would have a Class D power section.

 

[Lobster11]

I have the ampeg v4b reissue, 2nd one, but I know it's hard to believe, I just dont love it. It's like I can't control the low end.

I wonder if an HPF might help tame that bottom end?

 

[mikeswals]

If you already have two cabs. just get another micro vr head, run a lead from the Fx send to the return of the other, BAM, twice as much power, and two little SVT's side by side looks super cool (this opinion might be very biased). That said... the Pf350 would actually give you more power.

View attachment 3720535

No you don't have twice as much power. You have two amps only running at 8ohm each, so each rig is currently making 150w.
You would need two more 8 ohm cabs to get the full 200w from each head.

 

[lizardking837]

If you already have two cabs. just get another micro vr head, run a lead from the Fx send to the return of the other, BAM, twice as much power, and two little SVT's side by side looks super cool (this opinion might be very biased). That said... the Pf350 would actually give you more power.

View attachment 3720535

I love it. It's like mini Wall of Death!

 

[slapstick13]

I should have added in the beginning of the post, that I don't want to go any heavier than the V4B that I have. I had a 70s v4b years ago that sounded so raw and ballsy. I'm alone on this, but I fell like the new one is kinda more subdued(at least the 2 I have had). Not a bad amp at all, but the Micro VR to me sounds ballsier/ more aggressive in the mids. I'll probably pickup a used PF-350 since they're so cheap anyway.

 

[slapstick13]

If you already have two cabs. just get another micro vr head, run a lead from the Fx send to the return of the other, BAM, twice as much power, and two little SVT's side by side looks super cool (this opinion might be very biased). That said... the Pf350 would actually give you more power.

View attachment 3720535

Sorry for my ignorance, but is this setup technically 400 watts into the cabs? Or is it literally just 200 into 1 cab and 200 into the other. Or is that the same thing? haha sorry.

 

[74hc]

I agree the pf350 is probably your best bet, but this is a case where buying more power than needed is best, imo. Look for a used pf500 or 800 if you can. Even at the same volume levels, I thought those sounded better to my ears.

 

[slapstick13]

Im probably going to sell my V4B, so Maybe I can buy a pf-350 AND a PF-500 to test. Anyone know what rev/ serial # range I should be looking for for a PF-500 that doesn't have the issues of that intial run?

 

[Luckydog]

Its just me I’m sure, but ever since they were brought into production, I have not been able to separate in my mind the Micro VR setup from Spinal Tap’s stonehenge.

 

[drumvsbass]

Sorry for my ignorance, but is this setup technically 400 watts into the cabs? Or is it literally just 200 into 1 cab and 200 into the other. Or is that the same thing? haha sorry.

Sigh... alas it is not 400 watts. You would need 4 cabs as the heads only put out 150w each with one cab on them, but 200w with 2 cabs. The PF350 will only out put 200ish???w having only 1 cab on it but with 2 cabs on it, it should put out the 350w. So it's technically 300w vs 350w, but the micro VRs look better I have considered getting the 350 just for options.

 

[drumvsbass]

No you don't have twice as much power. You have two amps only running at 8ohm each, so each rig is currently making 150w.
You would need two more 8 ohm cabs to get the full 200w from each head.

This is true, I missed on that he was running both cabs on the one head getting the full 200w

 

[drumvsbass]

Though if you really want the secret sauce...

Ampeg SVT tube DI in the FX loop. F.O.H. gets the EQ off the amp with Ampeg tube DI coloration. Tube coloration goes back into the FX loop makes the amp sound even more ampeggy.

 

[JimmyM]

@JimmyM has forgotten more about Ampeg stuff than most of us will ever know. If he says the 350 is the same sound, it's the same sound.

That being said, Jimmy, could the effects loop send of the VR go into the effects loop in on the Walkabout he has to allow him to try out what the VR would sound like with more MOSFET power? I'm just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks. Or if he has a regular DI box laying around could he possibly use the XLR out on the VR and a 1/4" out of the DI into the effects loop in on the Walkabout?

That would at least let him hear what the VR with more MOSFET power would sound like... I'm guessing.

He certainly could .

 

[TonH]

Its just me I’m sure, but ever since they were brought into production, I have not been able to separate in my mind the Micro VR setup from Spinal Tap’s stonehenge.

View attachment 3720654

Stonehenge?

See this page from the Micro VR manual:

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I know this is going to sound ridiculous. But I love love the tone of my micro VR with my 2x 210av cabinets. I just need some more power/volume. I've used a couple 500 watt or so amps with the right volume for me(perceived or otherwise), but not the tone of the micro VR that I cherish. I have the ampeg v4b reissue, 2nd one, but I know it's hard to believe, I just dont love it. It's like I can't control the low end. So I've tried to force myself to love it(buying it 2x in the past few years) but alas I enjoy my micro vr tone better. The obvious obvious is an SVT, but too heavy for me. I've had a pf-500, didn't love it. Any ideas?

I loved my micro, but I had the same problem. I just needed more volume than it could dish out. So, I went with the pf800. For a little while, I was running the pre out to the amp in on the pf. But, it got old hooking up two amps. I learned how to dial in the pf almost as nice as the micro. It's not quite there, but it's close enough for me.

 

[Flog]

Love the PF500 for the midrange growl!

somewhat related: Saw a show the other night with many bands' amps in the backline. The Ampeg and Fender sparkly grills just look so much cooler and classier on stage than so many other black (and yellow) brands. they are meant to look great with stage lighting.