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Ampeg V4 Club

#802
Dang, just 1 more inch would do it! Back in the old days I used to turn a big 2x12 Bassman cab on its side and stick the V4 on top of it for the same reason. That cab didn't sound so hot but the Ampeg sure did!
 
#804
wighat said:
My V4 is 27" wide. I think it will still overhang an 810 a little. Aren't they like 26"? Music Man 15's and 18's work, I believe.
Click to expand...

They do hang over slightly. Always slightly irked me that my V4 overhung my 8x10, even if it was barely noticeable (like 1/2" on either side).

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I used to keep it in the road case bottom which hung over even more but was mostly because I was lazy

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#808
JimmyM said:
I used an old V4B 5-6 nights a week for years with no fan on it, and while it did get hot, I can't think of any trouble I ever had with it. It might make you feel better about life to have one on it, but it's not necessary.
Click to expand...

I was taught that tubes are hot because thats how they are designed for optimized performance within a specific design temp range (both internal and ambient) given their intended use. Cooling below the design range isn't good just the same as too hot above the range isn't good. While the type of harm may be different on either side of the optimized operating range - it's still having a negative impact on the tube OR the amp in theory. In other words - don't mess with what the factory builds.
Does anyone have any real evidence that adding fans to these heads actually extends tube life?
 
#809
Vintagefiend said:
Oooh, can I get a number??
Click to expand...

Updated list:
#1: Birdman14; V4B
#2: Floridabwoy; V4
#3: Phoenix Crush; V4
#4: Silenttodd; VT22
#5: SwansonEricJohn
#6: lowend1; V4, V4B
#7: nouroog; V4B
#8: Pedro; V4B
#9: Nashvillebill; V4
#10: coreyfyfe; V4
#11: BobbyXIII; V4, V4B
#12: Bassics; V4B
#13: J-O; V4B
#14: tapehead Ted
#15: tombowlus; V4B
#16: JimmyM
#17: paidtheprice; V4, VT22
#18: lazyone2; V4B
#19: StuardV; V4
#20: JvN; V4B
#21: JMac4strngr; V4
#22: 68Goldfish; V4B
#23: anderbass; V4
#24: wartonbass; V4BH
#25: Turock; V4BH
#26: Kramerbassfan; V4
#27: 2behead; VT22
#28: big stubby; V4B
#29: tallchris; V4B, VT22
#30: 3l3phantstomp; V4B
#31: themacinator; V4B
#32: ampegfuzz; V4B
#33: RockBobby; V4
#34: Hamerguy; V4BH
#35: zanzibar jorge; V4B
#36: karter2000; V4
#37: LowerBeef; V4BH
#38: Billy-Bob; V4
#39: Coughdrops; V4
#40: jbass62; V4
#41: Spinal Tapper; V4B
#42: 2behead; V4
#43: bassbobh; V4BH
#44: LH1000; V4B
#45: Bert Slide; V4B
#46: Epidrake; V4
#47: TheCush; V4
#48: subbasshz; V2
#49: Jazz_bass2664; V4
#50: throbbinnut; V4B
#51: Alex1984; V4
#52: Stiles72; V4BH
#53: gastric; V4
#54: Birdbrain; V4B
#55: Dave44; V4B
#56: the dude; V4
#57: jumbodbassman; V4
#58: FenderLove; V4BH
#59: denton57; V4B
#60: bsmithgrind23; V4B
#61: CoopNasty; V4B
#62: 68PBassDave; V4B
#63: Bass 45; V4, VT-22
#64: Old Fart; Vt-22
#65: TussinBot; V4B
#66: debris; V4
#67: astack; V4B
#68: Groovy_Gravy; V4B
#69: BassSurfer; V4
#70: 3mrrhythm; VT-22
#71: christw; VT-22
#72: Henko; V4B
#73: j_rod; V4B
#74: seventhsunbass; V4
#75: dubstylee; V4
#76: matthewcowley; V4B
#77: Ang1970; V4B
#78: Glenn Taylor; V4
#79: doudoubasse; V4
#80: Ben714; V4
#81: sedan_dad; V4BH
#82: dukeisdog; V4BH
#83: nayisthereason; V4B
#84: LordRyan; V4, V4B, BT-25
#85: Steve Marquez; V4B
#86: z11111; V4
#87: saxman_singcan; V4B
#88: lyla1953; V4BH
#89: bigtexashonk; V4B
#90: bsuttonbass; V4B
#91: Vintagefiend; V4B
 
#810
Back in the club! Traded my Sound City for this beast today. Not quite in as good condition as my last one, but I shall love her just the same.

SxM3m6a.png
 
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#812
Here's a pic of my 1973 Ampeg V4B on top of my Fliptops sealed 4x10 cab. It's on your left as you are viewing the pic. The cab is 27" wide and matches the V4B head perfectly. Even the cups on the top of the cab fit perfectly for the feet of the V4B. The cab is loaded with four Eminence B-810s. The rig sounds fantastic!

Click on the pic to enlarge...
 
#814
lyla1953 said:
I was taught that tubes are hot because thats how they are designed for optimized performance within a specific design temp range (both internal and ambient) given their intended use. Cooling below the design range isn't good just the same as too hot above the range isn't good. While the type of harm may be different on either side of the optimized operating range - it's still having a negative impact on the tube OR the amp in theory. In other words - don't mess with what the factory builds.
Does anyone have any real evidence that adding fans to these heads actually extends tube life?
Click to expand...

The way I see it, keeping the air moving around them can only help.

I mean, there are fans in the SVTs...

hey Jimmy, are there fans in the new V-4Bs??
 
#820
Hi there,

just a quick question. I was wondering which center frequencies are to be found in the tone control of the original v-4b. The old manual just mentions the center frequencies for the midrange selector. But what about treble, bass, ultra hi and ultra low?

In the manual for the reissue Ampeg states:
  • Bass: 40 Hz
  • Midrange: 220, 800, 3000 Hz
  • Treble: 4 kHz
  • Ultra Low: 40, 500 Hz
  • Ultra High: 8 kHz
So can I assume it's the same frequencies as with the original v-4b or did Ampeg change them with the reissue?

While were at it: Does anyone know about the Q factor for the EQ and the rocker switches of the original v-4b?

Thanks!
 

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