Ampeg v4 vs v4b

[catcauphonic]

My bands drummer has an early 70s v4 w/4x10 cab that I'm lucky enough to get to use for rehersals and gigs. It sounds amazing. I also read a lot about the v4b, as well as the v4b reissue. Are these basically all the same inside?

I would appreciate answers that don't get too technical, but am interested in knowing the difference(s). Thanks!

 

[B-string]

The V4 (VT-22 in combo form) has some effects built in the V4-B does not. Those parts and pieces have a place on the boards in the V4-B, but they were not installed.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Also, the reissue is different from the V4B. Different tubes, different transformers. Call the reissue an updated modern revision based on the original.

 

[Tim1]

Read Tom Bowlus' review in the latest Bass Gear Magazine issue 16. There is also an extra report in "From the Bench" at the end which directly compares the V4 with the V4B.
You can read a free flipbook version online, but I reckon we should support Tom and his mates and buy the downloadable version .

 

[waltdogg]

The three main differences between the 70's V-4 and V-4B are the V-4 has selectable input gain for each channel's input while the V-4B has fixed input gain and a treble bleed fixed on its inputs, the V-4 has a switchable bright circuit while the V-4B has ultra-hi and ultra-lo circuits, and lastly the V-4 has reverb while the V-4B does not. They feature the same tubes in both amps (minus the V-4's reverb driver and recovery tubes not found in a V-4B), I'm almost 100% certain they feature the same tone stacks and output sections are the same. There are also the later 70's master volume and distortion channel V-4s. No experience with them. No experience with the new V-4B either. But I've owned several V-4s and V-4Bs from the early 70s and one late 70s V-4B.