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Ampeg V4B RI vs Vintage...Pros and Cons?

Vintage V4B or Re-issue?

  • Ampeg V4B Reissue

    Votes: 54 77.1%

  • Vintage V4B

    Votes: 16 22.9%
  • Total voters
    70
FIREpunkMEDIC

FIREpunkMEDIC

Jun 2, 2017
149
170
#1
Hey everyone!
After much searching I have narrowed in on an Ampeg V4B. I'm looking for experiences good/bad/indifferent with either or both! Played through a 4x10he. Playing 90s pop-punk/power pop. (Bands like Chicago heroes the Methadones, if you like good power-pop type stuff check 'em out..)

Playing in a rock band at decent volume typically doing bar and club gigs. Nothing real big.
 
#3
Bassndrums73 said:
If you’re gigging regular you want something reliable. A lot of players like the vintage stuff and say it sounds better or else they are reminiscing for the sound they had in the past. I want something I don’t have to spend money on to keep it working so I bought a new V4B RI. It sounds great and for me it was the right decision. I love it.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Thanks for the input, I'm in that boat with you as well plus some of the more "modern" features they put on the Re-issue. However if there's a tonal difference that makes the reissue worth the sacrifices I'm open to that too. What style do you play BTW? Some have cautioned about 100w not being enough for bad but I'm fairly certain it's just fine.
 
#4
Note the vintage amp has two volume controls. Basically it has two channels that are mixed together before the tone stack.
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Some number of knobs on the reissue, but one is a gain knob and the other is a master volume. No idea how well it works with this amp to turn down the master and crank up the gain for a little preamp drive. Maybe someone who owns the amp will comment.
ampeg-v4-b-head-_1_BAS0007102-000.jpg


I believe the biggest advantage to the reissue is it is significantly lighter, and if you buy a new amp you get a warranty.

People say the old V4s worked at pretty high voltages. They were designed for 7027As which are closely related to 6L6GC, but are supposed to handle high operating voltages better. Not a lot of companies making tubes that are good choices for the old amps. The JJ 7027A will be way over spec in the amp and is not really recommended. I have read the Tung Sol 7027A and 7581A are good choices.

The reissue was designed to run on 6L6GC.
 
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#5
FIREpunkMEDIC said:
Hey everyone!
After much searching I have narrowed in on an Ampeg V4B. I'm looking for experiences good/bad/indifferent with either or both! Played through a 4x10he. Playing 90s pop-punk/power pop. (Bands like Chicago heroes the Methadones, if you like good power-pop type stuff check 'em out..)

Playing in a rock band at decent volume typically doing bar and club gigs. Nothing real big.
Click to expand...
RI

Because that's the one I have
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20200914_195023.jpg
 
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#6
I’ve had a number of the vintage amps. If you aren’t up for oddball tubes, extra wide chassis, and fixing the occasional problem (after getting the amp up to spec to begin with) I would go with the reissue. There is a BGM review where they bench tested a reissue against a 74 and they were nearly identical in response and function. Plus a built in DI on the reissues. You pay a premium for the new amps, but for most people is the better option.
 
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#7
JeezyMcNuggles said:
RI

Because that's the one I haveView attachment 4012620 View attachment 4012619 View attachment 4012618
Click to expand...

I love that purple P bass. :cool:

I’ve never used the reissue so I can’t compare, but I have a late 70s model. I bought it for $600 and immediately put it to work, and work it did. We were gigging a lot at the time. It served me flawlessly for a couple years. The width does make it an odd duck. This one was modded to use kt77/el34 power tubes before I bought it. I guess that’s a thing to do with the older ones. It’s a pretty easy mod for a good tech.

The main thing I wanted to say here is that it is a dependable workhorse.
 
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#9
If aren't into maintenance or mystique, buy the RI. It will work for sure. I can't tell you if there is a sonic difference between the two and I seriously doubt anyone else can either. For instance, the two channels on my '72 V4B sound very different from each other. I can tell the difference, but I could live with either one if need be. Same with any sonic difference between a new amp and old amp.
 
#10
Unless you're a "vintage guy" (nothing wrong with that), or you can find a vintage one at a great price like @Funk With Me, just get the RI. (vintage or RI, if I saw any V4-B in good shape for $600, I'd grab it)

The RI is just more practical; lighter weight and narrower footprint. They've been around a while now, and there haven't been any real issues with them.

I had my tech (also a bass player) go over mine when I fist got it. He gave me a hard time for not buying a vintage one - he prefers the vintage, point to point wiring and all that, but in the end, he was impressed.
Either way - it's always good to know a competent tech.
 
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#14
Is an apple to orange comparison. There are completely diferent amps. I wonder why they called V4 and V4 ri ?
...it looks the same , is true. The article posted above comes to show the differences in detail. If sounds good for you go for the new one. I don't know how well is built but is clearly a better designed amp.

 
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#17
I've had the V4B RI for a few years and it's been 100% reliable.

As Beans says above, it's way lighter than the old one. And it's WAYYYY better balanced! I had a V4 and it sounded great, but, damn, for a 100 watter, it's awkward to carry. All the weight at one end...
For me, it's not quite enough power for my loud rock band, and we ain't that loud, so, I mostly use a AD200B.
 
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#18
Vintage amps often have things like the "death cap" that hooks you up to line voltage. Modern amps are generally a lot safer - we've learned a few things over the decades about how to do things better. If you buy any vintage amp, make sure someone who knows about such things goes over the amp and makes sure it's safe.
 
#19
to reiterate what others have mentioned, the old V4/V4b amps were like 26+ inches wide so they overhang just about any cab other than the V4 cabs they were 'designed' for. im not saying looks are everything, but that would drive my OCD to Monk levels. they chopped down the newer version to fit the more common 24" form factor.
that being said the only time i played through a modern one was at a bar gig and i thought it sounded terrible. ive only heard good things about them so ive written that off as a fluke
To me, 100 watts is an awkward size. not loud enough to be a 'Big' amp (with out crazy distortion) and too cumbersome to be a portable jammer. thats why i say go SVT and call it a day... i could also see the argument for it being the 'perfect' size too though. so, really, ive said nothing. viva TB!!!
 
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#20
rodl2005 said:
I've had the V4B RI for a few years and it's been 100% reliable.

As Beans says above, it's way lighter than the old one. And it's WAYYYY better balanced! I had a V4 and it sounded great, but, damn, for a 100 watter, it's awkward to carry. All the weight at one end...
For me, it's not quite enough power for my loud rock band, and we ain't that loud, so, I mostly use a AD200B.
Click to expand...

Would you recommend holding out with the OB1-500 until I can grab an SVT then? Just curious, last thing I wanna do is run short on power.
 

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