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Ampeg V4B 2x15 Folded Horn Cabinet Speaker Conundrum

#21
I had one of those old 'refrigerators,' too, along with the V4-B head, back in the '70s. Yes, it was a beast to transport, even with the built-in wheels and handle, but worth every grunt and groan! I wish I'd never let it go. Mine had the Altec 421a speakers, that eventually got toasted. I remember replacing them with Gauss 15"s...but that's no help. Today, I would consult one of my better-educated contemporaries (I'm in the 'over 60' crowd), elsewhere on TB. Last time I needed to replace speakers, those folks laid a ton of knowledge on me, and several are bona fide engineers. Ask around a bit. One may have already responded...I didn't read every message in the thread. Good luck! I envy you your find!
 
#22
Recone them,
ev 15B x4

ev 15B x4

The two on top are reconed EV 15b in a Sunn cab
Two on bottom are Original Cone EV 15b in Guild thunderbass cabs

I get kits from Sound speaker repair, they have kinda made reconing speakers a breeze, Did another Ev-15b as well as a JBL D120F (my favorite bass and guitar speakers respectively), both sound amazing. There is nothing like these old cast frame speakers
 

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#23
RECONE! :)
I have the same cab and it is a beast master! My 1974 has Altec 421A speakers though. The EVM15L started around 1975-76 I believe. I may try the EV route though. I have a pair sitting around. I think they went with EV due to the higher power handling and the ALTECs may have had issues.
 
#24
Ampeg (i.e. St. Louis Music) briefly reissued the V4-B cabinet in the mid-late 90's. It was listed in the print catalogs of the time. But I have never seen one in-person or on eBay for that matter! I believe it was constructed identically but loaded with Eminence speakers... since the original Altec/E-V models drivers were long out of production.

A V4-B amp head was also re-introduced at the same time, but it was engineered more like a 100 Watt version of a SVT Classic. The current V4-B seems to be based off of this amp, but styled like the 70's version.
 
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#25
RobbieNuke said:
A V4-B amp head was also re-introduced at the same time, but it was engineered more like a 100 Watt version of a SVT Classic. The current V4-B seems to be based off of this amp, but styled like the 70's version.
Click to expand...

The current V4B reissue is a different design than the V4BH. Similar in that it uses 6L6GC but the signal path is closer to the original V4B design than the 90s version.
 
#29
RobbieNuke said:
Ampeg (i.e. St. Louis Music) briefly reissued the V4-B cabinet in the mid-late 90's. It was listed in the print catalogs of the time. But I have never seen one in-person or on eBay for that matter! I believe it was constructed identically but loaded with Eminence speakers... since the original Altec/E-V models drivers were long out of production.
Click to expand...
I saw one in the Natick Ma GC some years ago, don't remember if it were new or used but it was definitely a reissue. I thought great as I really loved the sound of those cabs but that was the first and last new one I've seen.
 
#30
I used an SVT head with a huge Carvin 2X15 folded horn cabinet in the mid to late 70's. Different design than the Ampeg...more like a 301 with two side by side 15's.

It came with garden variety CTS speakers. I tried a pair of EV SRO's, but the CTS sounded better...more complexity and better high end.

That was a great cabinet, but I got tired of hauling it. We played at a high school and the gig was on the third floor...no elevators.
 
#31
I had one new with the Altecs. Used a Sunn 2000s head on it. It had ineffective rubber front feet that just came off when you moved it. I added a 1X board under the front much like the one that my previous Acoustic 360/361 had.

Next to it sat a flat back 8x10 with a Marshall Major head on it. Next to that a Leslie 147.
Yeah a lot to move. Sounded epic.

Why was I flipping gear all the time? Trying to find my sound. Little did I know that that quest should have been within. :)
 
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#34
throbbinnut said:
I wanted one forever to go with my V4B head, finally got a beat-up one a few years back, put some Altec 421As in it, new grill cloth, and new casters. Sounds amazing. Took it out of the house 1 time to practice, and I'll probably never do that again. Sounds awesome, but it's too dang heavy even for me.

Chris

View attachment 2133501
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Thanks for the pick, AND nice work on the refurbishment. Looks great. I know I wax nostalgic over mine, but the reality is I never heard it from the audience perspective. That cabinet must have focused a least 20 feet beyond where I was standing 99% of the time it was used. Today, most players are either playing with FOH systems or in venues where it would be like using a bazooka to kill a fly. And you said it about the massive size a weight... yikes!!
 
#36
denton57 said:
Ha! I would have come to your shows just to hear that rig. How awesome..
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It was a monster. Our instrumentation back in the early 70s in that band was guitar, bass, drums, and sax, so there was a need to fill a lot of sonic room, and it sure fit the bill. Most of what I’ve played in the last 30 years have been with larger horn/ vocal bands with a lot less space to fill, so there was no need to keep it.
 

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