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Ampeg V-4B question
- Thread starter green3101
- Start date
I’m a bit rubbish with some of this stuff! Aha!
might seem like a stupid question, but are you able to expand at all on what you mean? What circumstances do you think it might work?
One of the main reasons why I ask is due to page 11 of the following: https://barefacedbass.com/uploads/Barefaced Manual V.3.1.pdf
mentions the minimum as 150watts, but the Ampeg is 100watts
mentions the minimum as 150watts, but the Ampeg is 100watts
I just realized that a V4B has outputs for 2,4, and 8 Ohms so you're good.
(SVT doesn't have an 8 Ohm tap)
(SVT doesn't have an 8 Ohm tap)
I would contact them.
"Gigging with a drummer" is an OK barometer but I've got quiet and stupid loud drummers so not a great measuring stick. What type of music and how many people in your band?
Do you play loud?
Ok green - in my experience the V4b is a great sounding head, mine is a’72. By all reports the reissue is also good.
it has a great ampeg tone, very close on the preamp side to an SVT, with 100 watt output stage vs. 300. Will stay clean at lower volumes and grit up as volumes grow. So with one really nice and pretty efficient 12 it would get moderately loud but really wants more cabs to get really loud.
if it’s in good shape and cheap enough it could be fun if you are into tube amps and vintage type tones. They are not light.
what do you use now?
And re the 150watt recommendation from bareface: look up “under powering” on the forum. Spoiler alert - it is not a real concern. Big baby would be very happy with a v4-b’s output.
it has a great ampeg tone, very close on the preamp side to an SVT, with 100 watt output stage vs. 300. Will stay clean at lower volumes and grit up as volumes grow. So with one really nice and pretty efficient 12 it would get moderately loud but really wants more cabs to get really loud.
if it’s in good shape and cheap enough it could be fun if you are into tube amps and vintage type tones. They are not light.
what do you use now?
And re the 150watt recommendation from bareface: look up “under powering” on the forum. Spoiler alert - it is not a real concern. Big baby would be very happy with a v4-b’s output.
Last edited:
Thanks guys. Essentially (to broadly answer you both). The amp will be used at home for recording purposes, coupled with small/medium sized gigs, so blaring volumes will not be a concern. I like the look of the V4B due to its ability to get dirty quite easily, even at lower volumes. I play rock - mostly hard rock type stuff but it can vary. I need that traditional tone from a bit of hair to more. Certainly not clean.
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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The Big Baby has a sensitivity rating of 97dB 1W/1m...this is not super high. With 100W, the calculated SPL will be about 117dB. With 150W, the calculated SPL will be 118.8dB; not really significantly louder.
For home recording 117dB should be plenty IMHO.
For gigging purpose, I don't think 117dB is enough for anything but the lowest volume gigs. Whether it will meet your needs depends on how much distortion you are willing to accept.
As always, YMMV.
stupid question time (aren't they all!) - the Barefaced cab has feet both on the bottom and one of the sides. As the Ampeg is longer than the amp is wide when upright, do you think it will make much difference if I put the Barefaced on its side (just on the rubber feet on the side as mentioned), where the Ampeg can then fit on top?
Well I'll be damned. I have been playing bass for 33 years, and I had no idea that the SVT should be run only at 4 or 2ohms. I have owned three in my life, but I was a lot younger when I had them and they were always paired with an 810.
