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Ampeg V-4B gigworthy?

#101
Downunderwonder said:
What cab? How many in the audience? What size sticks is the drummer using? Rock kit or jazz kit or something in between? Overdriven or clean bass? Etc etc etc... refer JimmyM.
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I have a 1x15 mesa cab, the drummer is a former rock drummer using a Rogers kit from the 70's. He gets told to play softer as well. Clean bass, I keep the volume and gain around 3 o'clock to keep it quiet enough. The rhythm and lead guitarist play electric guitars on 50 watt tube amps and the singer plays acoustic through the P.A. and we generally play halls or outdoor gigs for 1-200 people. Couldn't tell you the size of the drummers sticks though. Sorry.
 
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#104
bassgrackle said:
That’s exactailly what I was thinking. These cabs don’t break up and sound great. But that is because they are very power hungry. I know this head will be great in small bars and clubs. Luckily both my bands drummers play on the lighter side. But my guitar players in each like to be loud with there Mesa boogies and Orange 2x12s. I would love to able to get the punchy tone with just the F112 because of how easy it is to transport. One trip with the head and can. But I may not be so lucky.
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Are you concerned about breakup of the speakers or the way the cab will handle the amp breaking up? Dial down the tweeter on the Fearless and I would think it would sound quite nice with a driven tube amp.
 
#105
Wasnex said:
Are you concerned about breakup of the speakers or the way the cab will handle the amp breaking up? Dial down the tweeter on the Fearless and I would think it would sound quite nice with a driven tube amp.
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My concern is the way cab will handle the lower power and get that distorted tone you don’t want. I am looking for the tube break up not speaker break down. I turn the tweeters off most of the time. Depending on the room.
 
#106
bassgrackle said:
I have an Ampeg 410he as well that I have thought about pairing with a second one if the F112 and F115 wasn’t loud enough.
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Given you say your band keeps the stage volume relatively low and the variety of speakers you have, I would think a V4b would be a relatively safe purchase. A 410he with a V4b is a pretty natural combination.

A pair of 410he's should be about the same as running an 810e. Same 32ohm drivers I believe. Did a quick search of TalkBass and some argue the 810e has a bit more low end.
 
#107
bassgrackle said:
My concern is the way cab will handle the lower power and get that distorted tone you don’t want. I am looking for the tube break up not speaker break down. I turn the tweeters off most of the time. Depending on the room.
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Sorry not following your concern? Everything I have read about two way cabs with cone mids (in lieu of tweeters) says they sound great with distortion and tube overdrive. Tweeters....no so much. Is there something I have missed?
 
#110
Add an HPF to your signal chain: tight low end, Protect the speakers, better stage volume and FOH dispersion.

Stack your cabs to get closer to ear levels. Move more air gives you more volume. With one cab, I suggest using a stand.
 
#111
Tommygun_ted said:
I have a 1x15 mesa cab, the drummer is a former rock drummer using a Rogers kit from the 70's. He gets told to play softer as well. Clean bass, I keep the volume and gain around 3 o'clock to keep it quiet enough. The rhythm and lead guitarist play electric guitars on 50 watt tube amps and the singer plays acoustic through the P.A. and we generally play halls or outdoor gigs for 1-200 people. Couldn't tell you the size of the drummers sticks though. Sorry.
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By 3 o'clock I meant 9 o'clock, volume and gain at 25%
 
#113
Schmo_bass said:
Wow THAT is bass tone!. Really great bass playing too.
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Yeah, I found him by accident when I was collecting tone ideas for my $$5.
He can play without overplaying, something I wasn't so good at in jazz band with a bari sax.
Just the weight and manner in which he delivers his standby lines live is something I aspire to.

I listen to his clips as a warmup to remind myself to play, don't stab notes and make those weird side things happen when you are overplaying and trying to be noticed.
 
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#115
Son of Wobble said:
Are you referring to the heft of his tone? Or to those gigantic biceps he's sporting?

Good to have an ally with guns like that, for sure.
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If I could lift and get that big, yet maintain flexibility, I'd be down.
Turning 44 this year.
At various points in my life I've been #1 on a jackhammer taking down 90-120yds of concrete daily.
Throwing 40lb blocks I'd cracked nice and pretty for myself into a rock box, rinse & repeat until 4:30pm.
Count down the boxes until I know my day is done.
Still never been half as big as that dude, and I was taking down loading docks in San Francisco after the 89 earthquake in high school to make $$$. (also HS girls love it when you are a beast with a wad of $20's)

The heft is that timing when you are all locked in.
Nothing feels out of place.
Hands are working easy, steady and sure.
Like watching a guy smooth n easy swing a 400+yd home run, hit a 3pt like it's nothing, Tom Brady throwing lazer beams......playing is just as much how you are feeling as what you are doing.

Start solid, be solid, mind feels clean and everything runs good all day.
 
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#118
One of my fondest memories is of playing a Blues Brews and Barbecues festival when my main rig was the much loved SVT plus coffin. Big wooden outdoor stage, large PA/monitors etc and packed crowd. My rig seemed to couple at just the right frequency with the hollow stage, acting as an additional amplifier. Huge bass sound, poor frustrated sound guy didn't need to put anything through FOH. I suppose I could have done the sensible, mature thing and turned down but just for that one gig I cranked the svt and loved it. Very selfish, never done it again as I would normally turn down a bit and use the monitors more, partly influenced by over imbibing on the sponsors' products, but hey just occasionally you have to be young again.....:D:D:D:D:D
 
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#120
arbiterusa said:
I have gigged an original V4B with a single 15 in a rock setting and it was not nearly enough. The tone was simply amazing, though.
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You must mean the 1×15 was not nearly enough. I can't imagine needing more oomph than the V4B paired with a decent 4×10 or 2×15 (or a really good 212) for any bar to medium club. Add a second cab if you think you need it :cool:

My 'master only' 70's V4B & 410 rarely gets turned up past 11o'c with our 5 piece (admittedly sensible decibel level) post punk outfit. Though, sometimes I go to the rehearsal space in our off time just to take a bass bath, and that sucker is rattling anything that isn't nailed down by 2 o'clock :bassist:
 
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