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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
#21
FIREpunkMEDIC said:
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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It really depends on how loud you typically play. The lowest wattage amp I would use for a cover band would probably be my AD200B. The bench tests I have seen say 165-170W clean, but it's noticeably louder than all of my 100W tube heads.

Although the weight of the modern V4B is very attractive, I am not really too interested since I own a two vintage SVTs. The RI 4VB is less than half the weight of a vintage SVT, but I like plenty of clean headroom. If I was more into pushing the amp into output drive, I could see some potential benefits in getting a V4B. Also I have a couple of other tube amps that really excel at output drive that are just a bit heavier than the V4B.

If you can afford both the OB1-500 and V4B, and can justify owning both, that may be your best option. I would expect each amp to have a fairly unique sound and feel. SVT and V4B are supposed to be very similar, just different levels of power.

I don't really shoot for a signature sound and I like variety. When I get bored with the sound of one amp, I go to my collection and pull out another. Then I am excited to play again. Consider whether this approach will work for you, or not.
 
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#22
Wasnex said:
It really depends on how loud you typically play. The lowest wattage amp I would use for a cover band would probably be my AD200B. The bench tests I have seen say 165-170W clean, but it's noticeably louder than all of my 100W tube heads.

Although the weight of the modern V4B is very attractive, I am not really too interested since I own a two vintage SVTs. The RI 4VB is less than half the weight of a vintage SVT, but I like plenty of clean headroom. If I was more into pushing the amp into output drive, I could see some potential benefits in getting a V4B. Also I have a couple of other tube amps that really excel at output drive that are just a bit heavier than the V4B.

If you can afford both the OB1-500 and V4B, and can justify owning both, that may be your best option. I would expect each amp to have a fairly unique sound and feel. SVT and V4B are supposed to be very similar, just different levels of power.

I don't really shoot for a signature sound and I like variety. When I get bored with the sound of one amp, I go to my collection and pull out another. Then I am excited to play again. Consider whether this approach will work for you, or not.
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Great advice, right now we have one guitar player and really watch volumes, but thats because right now its really more or less rehearsing. Maybe one day we will get back to playing out...am I right? Anyway, I'm a sucker for tube amps and really don't care much about weight. Its not like we are on tour playing every night, and I'm a firefighter so carrying weight is just natural to me! Haha! Cheers!
 
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#23
FIREpunkMEDIC said:
Great advice, right now we have one guitar player and really watch volumes, but thats because right now its really more or less rehearsing. Maybe one day we will get back to playing out...am I right? Anyway, I'm a sucker for tube amps and really don't care much about weight. Its not like we are on tour playing every night, and I'm a firefighter so carrying weight is just natural to me! Haha! Cheers!
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IMHO you would probably really enjoy an SVT; it's a very manly amp worthy of a firefighter. I am getting up to that age, where lifting mine are a bit more of a challenge than I am looking for :wideyed:. But they are basement queens, so no big deal except when I need to move them to the work bench.

So if you think you might need the extra power, maybe hold off till you can get an SVT.
 
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#24
I have both amps. I like the tone on the old one a little better... slightly. Go with the modern hands down. Weight and size matter and will make your life better. The old ones are heavy are super wide (not a standard size) and don’t fit many (almost none) speaker cabinets They even hang over the sides of the classic Ampeg fridge (810). Maybe I’m shallow, but that bothers me.

IMHO - the best sounding bass rig ever made is the 1970’s Ampeg V4B head with the matching V4B 2x15 folded horn cabinet (I have one). The cabinet is huge and heavy and glorious! And right behind it tone-wise is the new V4B RI with a Ampeg 810 cabinet. I suggest the Ampeg 810 AV. Blue/silver grill cloth.
 
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#25
FIREpunkMEDIC said:
Great advice, right now we have one guitar player and really watch volumes, but thats because right now its really more or less rehearsing. Maybe one day we will get back to playing out...am I right? Anyway, I'm a sucker for tube amps and really don't care much about weight. Its not like we are on tour playing every night, and I'm a firefighter so carrying weight is just natural to me! Haha! Cheers!
Click to expand...

I've got this amp.
20160429_164158.jpg

Fender Super Bassman. It's 300w, sounds as good (or better'n) a SVT-VR (IMHO) & is 20lbs lighter in weight.
I was planning on getting a SVT-VR and was steered to give the Fender a try. I haven't looked back. Love it!

As @Wasnex says above, it really depends on how loud you play.
It's very hard to recommend re volume.
I find the V4B to sound superb, and it's MOSTLY fine for volume.... but.... I can't stand not having enough ooomph when needed. I've found the V4B to be JUST not quite enough a cuppla times, and altho it sounds glorious when it's power tubes are pushed, I need it to be clean AND loud, sometimes.
The Orange AD200B is just right for most of my gigs.
The Super Bassman is mostly too much, but that's not a problem, and it sounds great at any volume
 
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#30
Pdaddy1978 said:
Oh my stars and garters!....
A gorgeous Ampeg...and....2 white Pbasses?
You sir, are my hero. :)
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Thanks!

@JimmyM kindly steered me to the Ampeg V4b. Very musical sounding amp, and I love the fact that as it has no fan, it runs dead quiet (buzzing, humming, whirring, and other such extraneous auditory annoyances set my teeth on edge).
 
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#33
I didn't watch the "inside look" video [for the reissue] in its entirety but I skimmed enough to see the guy had issues with the QC and construction. That mirrors my layman's impression of newer Ampeg from a different model; there were problems my tech couldn't easily (i.e. cost-effectively) fix and I wound up not trusting it.
Not the case with my vintage V-4B; my tech was able to get that thing running, no muss no fuss. Alas, the weight is a real drag and the width does look goofy.
I'm genuinely happy for those who have had good luck with their reissue models; the weight, size, newness and not least of all built in DI certainly do tempt me.
 
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#34
Jefenator said:
I didn't watch the "inside look" video [for the reissue] in its entirety but I skimmed enough to see the guy had issues with the QC and construction. That mirrors my layman's impression of newer Ampeg from a different model; there were problems my tech couldn't easily (i.e. cost-effectively) fix and I wound up not trusting it.
Not the case with my vintage V-4B; my tech was able to get that thing running, no muss no fuss. Alas, the weight is a real drag and the width does look goofy.
I'm genuinely happy for those who have had good luck with their reissue models; the weight, size, newness and not least of all built in DI certainly do tempt me.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, the whiny guy. Notice that he ended up keeping it.
 
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#35
No idea about the new one but the old ones were bullet proof with good tubes.
I had a vintage V4B from age 17 to about 50. NEVER once had service and it had the factory tubes. Always worked perfectly and always gently cared for.
Didn't gig it all that much and had it at the same time as an SVT-CL. V4B sounded best for any style of playing IMO
The pre-amp out in the studio was also one of the best DI's I've ever recorded.
As per @Wasnex, 100 watts was not enough clean headroom for all occasions. I do remember having incredible tone with a quietish 3-piece rock band with a 2x15 loaded with Altec 421's though.
 
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