Ampeg V4 Club

[P-oddz]

Wow, nice! Can you tell us the difference soundwise?

The most noticeable thing to me is a GRUNT that the vintage has, that is different than the reissue. It's not necessarily a dirty tone thing, just more authoritative (if that makes sense?). It's ridiculous to place weight and tone together, but truthfully, the best way to describe the tone difference is that it feels heftier than the reissue when playing.

EQ-wise, I run the vintage almost flat and love the tone. On the reissue, I have to do some EQ carving to get into similar territory, and run it at much more extremes (low switch engaged, mids punched up and bass rolled off a bit). The reissue is definitely a more crisp tone right off the bat, but has the advantage of the gain knob for some preamp drive. The vintage doesn't get that type of drive unless you are cranking it, but low/mid gain drive pedals pushing the amp sound sublime with it. The vintage will be my playing/writing/recording amp. The reissue will get the shows.

 

[jumbodbassman]

the re issue sounds really good. i agree the gain is nice feature. nothing sounds like my original 73 V 4b through a square back. HOLY GRAIL. .. still miss it

 

[lizardking837]

the re issue sounds really good. i agree the gain is nice feature. nothing sounds like my original 73 V 4b through a square back. HOLY GRAIL. .. still miss it

If you ever need someone to house-sit for you, just give me a call

 

[Arrow]

The most noticeable thing to me is a GRUNT that the vintage has, that is different than the reissue. It's not necessarily a dirty tone thing, just more authoritative (if that makes sense?). It's ridiculous to place weight and tone together, but truthfully, the best way to describe the tone difference is that it feels heftier than the reissue when playing.

EQ-wise, I run the vintage almost flat and love the tone. On the reissue, I have to do some EQ carving to get into similar territory, and run it at much more extremes (low switch engaged, mids punched up and bass rolled off a bit). The reissue is definitely a more crisp tone right off the bat, but has the advantage of the gain knob for some preamp drive. The vintage doesn't get that type of drive unless you are cranking it, but low/mid gain drive pedals pushing the amp sound sublime with it. The vintage will be my playing/writing/recording amp. The reissue will get the shows.

Thanks for your reply! Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[jumbodbassman]

heftier is exactly the word i would use.

 

[Lammchop93]

Just ordered a v4-b reissue on Reverb from Rise Against’s bass player. It’ll be here next week! I can’t wait!!

 

[JB1962]

Mine for sale in Talkbass Classifieds here:

For Sale - 1977 Ampeg V-4B Vintage Bass Amplifier

 

[Bill979]

 

[Jwood]

View attachment 3638254

Sweet Rigs of Doom sticker!

 

[Bill979]

You bet it is! It’s like a rig of death!!!

 

[Jonahlane]

Picked this ‘73 up this week! Loving the tone, but I have a couple questions:

Are there any differences between channels 1 and 2?

And also, I notice a fair bit of breakup going straight in with my Passive P, as soon as the volume knob hits 10:30ish. Is this normal?



It doesn’t have a ton of clean volume it appears, compared to my PF-50T.

Only other tube amps I’ve owned are the Pf50t and a 70s bassman ten.
I’m hoping to get an Ampeg 610 cab for it

 

[JimmyM]

Picked this ‘73 up this week! Loving the tone, but I have a couple questions:

Are there any differences between channels 1 and 2?

And also, I notice a fair bit of breakup going straight in with my Passive P, as soon as the volume knob hits 10:30ish. Is this normal?

It's maybe a tad off but nothing too unusual...usually the breakup point with them is right around 11:00. However, there's a possibility that one of your tubes has lost a little pizazz. It won't have a butt-ton more clean volume than a PF-50T but it should be pretty noticeable.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Picked this ‘73 up this week! Loving the tone, but I have a couple questions:

Are there any differences between channels 1 and 2?

And also, I notice a fair bit of breakup going straight in with my Passive P, as soon as the volume knob hits 10:30ish. Is this normal?



It doesn’t have a ton of clean volume it appears, compared to my PF-50T.

Only other tube amps I’ve owned are the Pf50t and a 70s bassman ten.
I’m hoping to get an Ampeg 610 cab for it

Yours is an early one, the channels are the same. But component tolerances and possibility out of spec can make the channels sound different.

Early distortion can be due to a small tube such as the phase inverter, the power supply caps not performing up to spec, the power tubes, the bias of the power tubes. These amps run hot. Often solder joints need top be reflowed. There are lots of other possibilities that could make it distort too soon.

As Jimmy said, the onset of distortion is often at 11, if you are well into it at 10:30, have a good tech go through the amp.

These amps can take a bit of work if they haven’t been serviced.

 

[Jonahlane]

Yours is an early one, the channels are the same. But component tolerances and possibility out of spec can make the channels sound different.
Early distortion can be due to a small tube such as the phase inverter, the power supply caps not performing up to spec, the power tubes, the bias of the power tubes. These amps run hot. Often solder joints need top be reflowed. There are lots of other possibilities that could make it distort too soon.

As Jimmy said, the onset of distortion is often at 11, if you are well into it at 10:30, have a good tech go through the amp.

These amps can take a bit of work if they haven’t been serviced.

Where I have it set in that pic is right on the edge of breakup. Does that seem normal?

 

[beans-on-toast]

Where I have it set in that pic is right on the edge of breakup. Does that seem normal?

Yes, but what would be with the tones at noon as well.

 

[JimmyM]

Where I have it set in that pic is right on the edge of breakup. Does that seem normal?

Yes, but Beans' suggestion to put the tone knobs at noon and then see where it breaks up is a good one. Cranking bass especially can bring it on a little earlier.

 

[Kevin Colt]

I have 2 vintage V4s and two VT22s. two are original 69s with ampeg co. callouts , and two are early Magnavox with small division callout on the rear. three of them need work. one VT22 is a combo with factory installed altec 517 8C 12"s and it sounds good. I think one of the coupling caps has drifted, it lights up the current limiter fairly bright but still works.

 

[Rocker47]

Hello!! I have recently acquired a 1973 V-4b and am absolutely loving the tone of this rig. The cab is a late 70’s B25B. With help from our Ampeg gurus I have learned a lot in a short time about this rig. I have replaced the 15’s with Eminence Beta 15a’s and, wow, what a difference. It came with what was beloved to be CTS speakers, but all the stamping lead me to believe that they were not. Nonetheless, they don’t sound nearly as nice as the Eminence. Thanks to @JimmyM for some good info about these amps! I am the third owner and it has just been recapped and re-tubed within the past year or so. Can I join this club? Thank you!!!

 

[BigBear77]

Can I join?

 

[Lammchop93]

View attachment 3671808
Hello!! I have recently acquired a 1973 V-4b and am absolutely loving the tone of this rig. The cab is a late 70’s B25B. With help from our Ampeg gurus I have learned a lot in a short time about this rig. I have replaced the 15’s with Eminence Beta 15a’s and, wow, what a difference. It came with what was beloved to be CTS speakers, but all the stamping lead me to believe that they were not. Nonetheless, they don’t sound nearly as nice as the Eminence. Thanks to @JimmyM for some good info about these amps! I am the third owner and it has just been recapped and re-tubed within the past year or so. Can I join this club? Thank you!!!

Interesting! There’s a b25b 2x15 near me for $300. Tempting...