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Ampeg V-4B

#21
Jim C said:
I'll disagree (and I rarely do with micguy!)

If you're playing 500 seat clubs with a rock band and no PA support, with a V4B and a 2x12 cabinet, you can't get a clean undistorted bass sound IMO/IME (and I had one for over 20 years).
OTOH, I saw The Thunderbirds without Jimmy Vaughan and the bass player was WAY TOO LOUD in a 500 seat room but his SVT with an 8x10 cabinet was nearly full up and it was too loud to put any in the PA.

Maybe I've never had a super efficient 2x12 or 2x15 although I've been happily using BG 2x12 NeoX cabinet for many years.
Never had a problem with loud and clear with 500 watt or better modern class D amps. Same with SWR heads.
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My experience with "low power" heads was a 90 watt Yamaha - solid state (FET outputs). I never lacked for power, and the band was loud enough to give me tinitus - it was a college band, we were young, loud, and not completely sane about volume. How much louder do I want my band to be? None louder - that was more than enough. I had 2 115 cabinets (pretty efficient, very heavy, but I was young).

The heads I have nowadays all have more power, but that's just because you can't find a good 100 watt bass amp. And, of course, all my gigs are now ampless, so the whole amp thing is a bit moot for me.
 
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#22
OP really hasn’t chimed back in has he?

V-4b is a great head run through the right cabs, for the right gig. It breaks up very nicely. If you don’t want that and play really loud and/or have inefficient speakers it’s not for you.

your locale may be different than mine but the big 500+ cap clubs here always have PAs that can and do run bass.

it’s sorta strange how the common wisdom here is “ amp for monitor only” and “you need huge volumes from tiny rigs”. Do what you like. I know I will!

(Kisses, smiley face, etc.)
 
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#23
For me, the huge volume from tiny rig isn't to have huge volume. It's more about headroom if needed, and for cabs, having a great cab that I don't have to worry about damaging or blowing a driver with. I can and do turn down a lot. The tiny part? I don't like schlepping bulky gear for gigs, and, a mesa tt-800 + 2x barefaced bb3's all fit in my civic without issue. And, as an added bonus, I can make a single trip in/ out with 2xcl cabs, head + 1 or 2 basses. It's the way to go for me. Ideally, we'll be going ampless more often.
 
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#26
I spent a few years in the 1970s playing the Holiday Inn circuit with a V4B and an 8x10 cab. It was never not enough.
1976:
DavePlayingBass1976.jpg
 
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#27
Stylee Mousse said:
t’s sorta strange how the common wisdom here is “ amp for monitor only” and “you need huge volumes from tiny rigs”. Do what you like. I know I will!
Click to expand...

I can only speak for myself:

I generally want a rig that can produce at least 124dB calculated. I can make a 118dB rig work, but often I am not happy with the results.

Keep in mind the 124dB is measured at 1m/3.3', and the SPL of the direct sound drops off at a rate of 6dB for each doubling of distance.

2m/6.6' = 121dB
4m/13' = 115dB
8m/26.3' = 109dB
16m/52.5' = 103dB
32m/105' = 97dB
​
Also the 124dB target is due to the type of sound and feel that I want, as I am not into the squishy tube thing. If I were, I might be happy with a V4B and 212AV (about 119dB of tube squish). I don't necessarily push the average volume to 124dB, although I may get close with transients.

Yes, I use my amp as my personal monitor. The idea is to set up and use my rig in a way the reduces interference with the PA by monitoring at the lowest possible SPL. I worked with professional audio techs and trusted them to make me sound great in the mix. I also have quite a bit of experience as a professional audio tech, and know that too much low end coming off the stage is not a reliable recipe for a good bass out in the house.

YMMV definitely applies.
 
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#28
It's probably enough for 90% of what you would ever need. If NOT . . . then later pick up ANY class-D 800W amp and feed the V4-B into it. You'll still sound AMPEG but with some drive. The V4-B should be enough on it's own though. I'm seriously considering a PF-50T, and relying on my Quilter BB802 if I need some extra power. I usually go through the PA, so the PF-50 is more than enough. You need to move AIR, not dissipate watts. If t he V4 isn't loud enough with the 2-12, add another one! Or add a 4-10. get it off the floor. You need to move AIR. V4-B is probably my favourite amp I've used, but, I know in my use, the PF-50T would serve just fine. You shouldn't worry about the watts. You can even mic or DI into the PA.
 
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#29
Wasnex said:
I can only speak for myself:

I generally want a rig that can produce at least 124dB calculated. I can make a 118dB rig work, but often I am not happy with the results.

Keep in mind the 124dB is measured at 1m/3.3', and the SPL of the direct sound drops off at a rate of 6dB for each doubling of distance.

2m/6.6' = 121dB
4m/13' = 115dB
8m/26.3' = 109dB
16m/52.5' = 103dB
32m/105' = 97dB
​
Also the 124dB target is due to the type of sound and feel that I want, as I am not into the squishy tube thing. If I were, I might be happy with a V4B and 212AV (about 119dB of tube squish). I don't necessarily push the average volume to 124dB, although I may get close with transients.

Yes, I use my amp as my personal monitor. The idea is to set up and use my rig in a way the reduces interference with the PA by monitoring at the lowest possible SPL. I worked with professional audio techs and trusted them to make me sound great in the mix. I also have quite a bit of experience as a professional audio tech, and know that too much low end coming off the stage is not a reliable recipe for a good bass out in the house.

YMMV definitely applies.
Click to expand...
YES. Agreed.
 
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#30
micguy said:
If you are playing medium sized clubs (500 ish?), with a reasonably efficient cabinet, and a V4B, if it isn't loud enough, your band is TOO LOUD. The reason SVT's came about was that people were trying to play outdoor events, and the bass amp was the PA for the bass guitar - in that situation, 300 watts makes sense. In yours, 100 watts should be plenty. Yes, 500 watt amps are commonplace nowadays. That doesn't mean most people need that kind of power.
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And even with 500W and 800W amps, who runs them full-on? I usually only have my little BAM 200 1/3 of the way, driving two BC208's. I bring the 800W Quilter as back-up, but usually leave it in the car, because you usually just don't need that kind of power (watts) to get the job done.
 
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#32
Before I made my last amp purchase I looked at V-4 and V-4B amp heads, but I couldn't find any nice ones for the for the right price.

For what I paid, buying low milage '89 SVT II np that came with healthy GE 6550A tubes made more sense to me.

Edit to add: I looked for a nice PF-50T for a good price, too; same thing. I figure this is because, more than ever, there's simply more demand for smaller, lighter heads these days in general.
 
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#39
rocknrolo said:
It should be enough as long as you have PA support and your band is not crazy loud. I had one for a while and I when I matched it with a 4 ohm cab it was plenty loud. We have a hard hitting drummer and two half stacks.
Click to expand...
It's 100w @ any ohm. 4 ohm, 100w. 8ohm, 100w. 2 ohm, 100w
 
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