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Ampeg V4 DI HELP!!!

R

rxbandit79

Feb 20, 2008
32
0
Tempe
www.listentoladylike.com
#1
Alright... I don't know if this is possible, but I'm tired of letting the sound guy at venues set my tone that comes through the monitors to the crowd.

I'm running a '73 Ampeg V4. My question is, is there a way to go direct out of the head, into a direct box to go to the mixing board? (rather than plugging the bass into the DI and then re-routing the bass to the head input...)

The back of the head has "EXT. AMP" inputs and an extra "EXT SPEAKER" input. Can I run a cable from one of the EXT AMP inputs into a DI and out the the mixing board?

Basically, if possible, I want to be able to get the tone from my amp, and not rely on the sound guy to set my tone for the audience.


I used to have an Ampeg SVT Classic, which as you know, has a Direct out on the back of the head... but, these vintage amps don't have this luxury...

Please let me know if there is anything I can do
 

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#5
One of those special speaker-level DI boxes (mentioned in the Live Sound thread linked above) will sample directly from your amps power section, but you also have the option to connect most any standard DI boxes input to your V4's "Ext. amp out" jack to operate your DI box with the V4's preamp-level signal. (most all regular DI boxes will accept both instrement OR line-level inputs)

You might find you really prefer the sound of either of these methods over the other. I'd think using a regular DI box connected to your V4's preamp output would probably give a much cleaner sound, especially when attempting to use this particular amp at higher volume levels...

If you push your V4's volume level to produce an overdriven tone (like I do with my V4,) you'll probably find many soundmen dont like overdriven DI inputs and they'd be much more open to actually using the cleaner sounding DI option.

ps: I really dug your bands tunes.
 
#6
I use a Countryman Type 85 between the head and cab. Like the other one mentioned it can handle speaker or line level signal so you can use it without harming the OT of the head.

I used it at this show if you want a live sample:
 
#7
The OP sent me a P/M about my suggestion of conecting his V4's "Ext. amp" output to a standard DI box's input. I had to admit I'd never actually tried this before but was confident it would work just fine. I told him I'd use my gear as a guinea pig and post the results.

Today I warmed up my trusty 1972 Ampeg V4 (always with a cab attached of coarse) and connected a guitar cord between its "Ext. amp" jack (NOT the ext. speaker jack!) and the input of my old fairly inexpensive Horizon brand "Active-line" DI box. I then connected the DI boxes XLR output through a mic preamp and into a stand alone digital recorder to simulate a soundmans mixing console.

It worked great. The recorded tone was warm, woody and very Ampeg-ish. I'll admit my V4's Ext. amp output did cause just a bit of hum, but I wouldn't be surprised if a speaker level DI box through this same amp at high volume would too.

I have no Idea if a speaker level DI box would sound and work better or not (I've never tried one) but this method did in fact work and sound very-very nice indeed.

ps:
There's a rotary knob/pot (labeled Ext. amp) directly above the Ext. amp jack on my V4 that I expected to control the output level, It didnt seem to make any diference on mine. I'm not exactly sure what this knob is supposed to adjust, but I'll probably do some research about that.

One thing thats really uniqe about the V4/V4B Ext. amp jack is that it also can serve as a input to connect an external preamp source to the V4's power section... :eek:
 

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