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Ampeg V4 Overpowering Guitars in band, need advice

#62
kastro64 said:
I'm not sure if you're dull or just trying (and failing) to be funny. Either way move along. Thanks for the input. Maybe read the full post next time whiz kid.
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This kind of response will not win you any support on your issues. Save the quick sarcastic comments and instead put up a smiley face. You wouldn't want to develop a reputation for being a loudmouth.

Having a second opinion by a different tech is a good suggestion. Also, checking out the amp with other cabs is a good idea.

Have you thought of a Tech21 VT pedal or an Ampeg pedal? You can blend in the drive and crunch you need at a much lower volume.
 
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#63
rodl2005 said:
If I understand it correctly. .. The op is trying to get the SAME TONE outta the amp but at a lower volume.
It's a vintage all tube amp. Doesn't quite work the same if you simply turn down. Sure that's an option. ..But i think he's stated his answer a few times.
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Also states attenuators are out as well so it kinda makes this a really hard to answer question without sounding like troll.

The only other answers (if exclude "turn it down" are going to be:

Try a different cab (probably not going to help).

Try a different head (probably not going to happen).

Try a different speaker cable or put new jacks in the back of the cab you may be vibrating things enough to cause intermittent contact here (assuming non-speakon here). You can also try setting the head on something other than the cab, if you don't already, to eliminate the jacks on the head as the culprit.

Try different settings on the amp (hopefully the OP has exhausted all these options before posting)

Get the amp serviced (says it has already been done, but it is a very valid response still, as a tech can get it wrong).

Have everyone else somehow get louder.


But the OP doesn't sound too open minded to some of those so... The trolls will appear.

PS to OP: I hope the cab swap works because any other outcome definitely sounds like you're not going to like it.
 
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#64
alaskaleftybass said:
This kind of response will not win you any support on your issues. Save the quick sarcastic comments and instead put up a smiley face. You wouldn't want to develop a reputation for being a loudmouth.

Having a second opinion by a different tech is a good suggestion. Also, checking out the amp with other cabs is a good idea.

Have you thought of a Tech21 VT pedal or an Ampeg pedal? You can blend in the drive and crunch you need at a much lower volume.
Click to expand...

1. I'm going to take my head and try some other options over the weekend so that might help, if I still notice it happening, I think I'll take it to a different tech.
2. I looked at the Sansamp and possibly a vintage microtubes. That might give it some oomph.
3. Wasn't trying to be a jerk but I felt I needed to set the dude straight. He wasn't the only dude trolling me, and I was confused because its a perfectly valid concern in my mind. Its whatever.
 
#65
Something is wrong here. Generally, those amps don't start breaking up till they hit around 11:00 on the volume. I'd get a second opinion from someone locally who knows how V4's operate. As for the 410he, no way in hell it should be farting out at those settings. You should be able to turn that amp up all that and have all the breakup come from the amp and not the cab because a 410he can easily take 400w without farting out. Have you tried the amp with another cab or the cab with another amp?
 
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#66
JackANSI said:
Also states attenuators are out as well so it kinda makes this a really hard to answer question without sounding like troll.

The only other answers (if exclude "turn it down" are going to be:

Try a different cab (probably not going to help).

Try a different head (probably not going to happen).

Try a different speaker cable or put new jacks in the back of the cab you may be vibrating things enough to cause intermittent contact here (assuming non-speakon here). You can also try setting the head on something other than the cab, if you don't already, to eliminate the jacks on the head as the culprit.

Try different settings on the amp (hopefully the OP has exhausted all these options before posting)

Get the amp serviced (says it has already been done, but it is a very valid response still, as a tech can get it wrong).

Have everyone else somehow get louder.


But the OP doesn't sound too open minded to some of those so... The trolls will appear.

PS to OP: I hope the cab swap works because any other outcome definitely sounds like you're not going to like it.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried this with a different speaker cable or with head off the cab. Will give it a shot. Def non-speakon. I've tried a ton of different EQ already, posted about 3. The biggest reason I don't think its the head is bc the tech is highly highly respected in my community and is known to take his time with work. Dan Russell. Is it possible? Surely, but I'd like to limit that to the end. Especially since it was serviced less than 6 months ago. I would have everyone get louder but then you get the singer/diva guy that shows up to practice sometimes start to complain that he cant hear his vox -_-.
Sorry you feel that way man, but I think I've been pretty open minded all around about options. I may have shot down "Turn Down", but its not that simple. I wish it were.
 
#68
JimmyM said:
Something is wrong here. Generally, those amps don't start breaking up till they hit around 11:00 on the volume. I'd get a second opinion from someone locally who knows how V4's operate. As for the 410he, no way in hell it should be farting out at those settings. You should be able to turn that amp up all that and have all the breakup come from the amp and not the cab because a 410he can easily take 400w without farting out. Have you tried the amp with another cab or the cab with another amp?
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Hey Jimmy,

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I plan on testing out a 212av and maybe a 810e over the weekend to see if it helps, although my bandmates would probably not be too pleased to see a fridge randomly show up at the practice space. Whatevs. If that doesn't solve the issue, I suppose I can bring it to another tech but I have a lot of respect for the dude who worked on my head. Not that many out there that specialize in these things in my hood. Crossing my fingers its not that.
 
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#70
kastro64 said:
Yeah, that was one of the first things I messed with. I have it totally turned to the right at 0. BTW, do you know what the infinite level all the way to the right is?
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zing. 0 is zero attenuation. Infinity is max.

I have heard of attenuators going up in smoke when max is applied. See what you can do about disconnecting it if that works.
 
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#71
kastro64 said:
Yeah, that was one of the first things I messed with. I have it totally turned to the right at 0. BTW, do you know what the infinite level all the way to the right is?
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I think it might be the other way around.

I'm not sure. I don't play cabs with tweeters partly for this reason.

spaz21387 said:
I thought the ultra low could be the sensitivity. Maybe thats just the pad for the input? Jimmym would know more than me. My only ampeg v4b experience is with the reissue. The ultra low is where "sensitivity 2" would be on your v4.
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Yeah, the old guitar V4s, which is what he's using, don't have either an ultra low or a master volume. So a bit different than the reissue (the later 70s V4s and V4Bs did have a master volume, though).

Downunderwonder said:
zing. 0 is zero attenuation. Infinity is max.

I have heard of attenuators going up in smoke when max is applied. See what you can do about disconnecting it if that works.
Click to expand...
That makes sense.

OP, if you're going to play with overdrive (which is an awesome sound, honestly), and turning the tweeter all the way off works, you might want to see about disconnecting the tweeter circuit entirely, inside the cab.
 
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#72
kastro64 said:
Hello,

Having an issue at band practice. My setup is as follows:
90's Mexican P-Bass into early 70's Ampeg V4 into Ampeg 410he (sealed)

My bandmates play a Vox AC30 (2x12 combo, 30 watts) and a Vox AC15 (1x12, 15 watts) respectively.

When I turn up anywhere past 2, I am having a few problems.
1) The cab farts out when I have any mids dialed in, and breaks up (not in the good way)
2) I drown out my bandmates super easily over 2, and sometimes even before then.

I really enjoy the sound of my v4 (And have put a ton of money into it at this point), and don't really want to pursue the option of a different practice amp, or any sort of attenuator.

I was thinking about possibly getting a v4 2x12 bass cab, but have read that the bass should push roughly double the size air that the guitars do. Not sure how accurate this is. Would I be limiting myself too much by going down to that size?

Any advice would be massively appreciated as I want to get the most out of my setup!
Click to expand...


Maybe this can help:

Volume Wars – EQ in the rehearsal room | TalkBass.com

.
 
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#76
Jazz Ad said:
The phenomenon as described by OP sounds exactly like an instrument cable was used to connect the speaker.
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Many years ago when I moved up from combos to a head and cabs I did not know the difference between instrument cables and speaker cables and experienced similar problems to the op. If proper cables are being used try different ones, might be something as simple as a bad cable. As far as the volume I have to agree with matching the level of the drummer whether that's you turning down or the guitars turning up.
 
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#78
I remember a session once where we turned up an AC30 all the way, like everything dimed, to get a "crazy gritty lead tone". In the room with it it was so loud and cutting I thought I was going to throw up or faint. You should turn down a bit and not start this war...
 
#80
I would try a different/passive P-Bass just for the heck of it. Definitely make sure you're using a speaker cable and NOT an instrument cable to the cab.
Sorry but I read a lot of this last night and may have missed what bass you are using.
 
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