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Early '70s Ampeg V-4B Impressions

#81
You know, I made quite a point out of getting rid of my last big heavy cab (127lb 4x10) and going to a lightweight neo rig with a Shuttle 6.0. As I lugged my new-to-me Ampeg V-4B from my desk at work out to my car in the parking garage and then into church, I found myself seriously questioning the intelligence of buying a 61lb. bass amp.



Then I played it.



I was absolutely floored by the tone. I was blown away at how warm the tone was and how the bass just seemed to flow into every little corner of the room (300 seat chapel). Ultra-lo/hi off, mid switch at 1khz, treble & mid knobs flat, bass at about 1:00. MIA P-bass V > pedalboard (nothing on) > V-4B > Avatar B210 Neo. Even with the volume at only 9:30, I found myself barely touching the strings at times and still getting an incredible tone.

Even this small rig at low volume has an amazing warmth. It spoke with authority and harmonics just jumped out of my P-bass. I got a chance to play a bit after practice by myself, I would have to say that my P-bass sounded a bit aggressive... but that's a P-bass, right? ;) That same sound fit amazingly well into the mix though, and it had a tone that I can only describe as "rich." Like others have said, the amp started to break up at around 11:00-11:15 and by straight up 12:00, it was well into tube saturation. It was a little more harsh than I was expecting, but definitely not a bad sound.

I've never really paid attention to tube amps, was always happy with my solid-state tone. But now having played this amp, I'm absolutely convinced that those little glass tubes can make an amazing noise. Will I still dig the clean, modern, punchy tone of my Shuttle? For sure. But to have the warm, slightly squishy sound of a vintage all-tube amp... Wow. Just.... Wow.

:bassist:

5sg.

P.S. I'll get some more/better pics of the amp itself this weekend.

IMAG0318.jpg
 
#83
fivestring, what you just said above is EXACTLY the impact this amp had on me. I used nothing but solid-state prior to owning my V4 (don't have the V4B,sounds just as good I hear). Now all I use is tube amps for the most part, however I do own a LMIII which I think is a pretty warm sounding SS head.

It's just something about the compression and harmonics for me that a tube amp puts out.
 
#84
I have a 76ish V4B. It replaced a B25, which replaced a 73 SVT. I had a b25 cab, but I replaced it with a very efficient LDS custom 1x15 that matches the width of the V4B and has matching grill cloth. With the eminence 3015, it weighs like 5 pounds. Ok, little more than that, but my wife can carry the cab easily and she has tiny arms!

Just took it in to get it checked out for the first time. Tech said it was the cleanest 70s amp he'd ever seen on the inside :). My wife asked about when I was gonna get something different (been moving basses around quite a bit :/). I said I wouldn't.. If I sold this one, I'd just buy another!

Great head and great tone. Worth the weight!
 
#85
Gort said:
There ya go...a perfect example of different strokes for different folks, the squishiness just isn't my cup-o-tea any more.

:cool:
Click to expand...

"Any more?" As in, you used to use tube amps? Just curious, but why did you switch away? I'm pretty sure I won't use my V-4B all the time, my two amps sound quite different and the all-tube may not be right for everything. It will also depend on how I feel about lugging my 61lb amp. lol

dubstylee said:
fivestring, what you just said above is EXACTLY the impact this amp had on me. I used nothing but solid-state prior to owning my V4 (don't have the V4B,sounds just as good I hear). Now all I use is tube amps for the most part, however I do own a LMIII which I think is a pretty warm sounding SS head.

It's just something about the compression and harmonics for me that a tube amp puts out.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you got what I was talking about... I didn't think I did a very good job of expressing the thoughts in my head. ;)

Also...

Took my V-4B/2x10 setup to a different practice tonight... 15 piece "show" band - corporate type gig, everything from 80's to broadway, motown, classical, etc. The sound guy didn't notice the "new" amp (how, I don't know?!), but he caught me afterward and commented that he thought he was going crazy because my bass sound was "different somehow. Same volume but bigger." I pointed out the Ampeg and told him he wasn't going crazy, explained the tube amp and that I was quite happy to hear he noticed a difference! He was happy he wasn't going crazy.

The drummer knew I had a different amp since he was sitting right next to it. He said "no offense to your other amp" (lol) and then commented about how he liked the sound of this one better because it had more mids and that he could hear it better, that I was "more present." (I had the same settings from my earlier post.)

Next Sunday before our Christmas concert, I should have some time at volume to directly A/B with my Shuttle. I'm certainly not expecting to get the same sound with it, but I'm looking forward to comparing and seeing if I can find a setting on the Shuttle that's at least somewhat close to the Ampeg.

Round two and I'm not the only one the V-4B is impressing!

5sg.
 
#86
Just for fun, took some shots with the cell phone since my camera battery was dead (of course, right when I want to use it).

5sg.

The tubes:

IMAG0378.jpg


IMAG0373.jpg


I'm using the original sizes of these as wallpapers

IMAG0332.jpg


IMAG0349.jpg


And a somewhat unsuccessful shot of the tubes glowing (it's a cell phone shot, I'll probably try again with my real camera next time ;))

IMAG0382.jpg
 
#88
Jim C said:
Jimmy,
I bought my V4B from the original owner approx. 35 years ago and it is serial #36473. It has a black grill and kill button switches for off/on, standby, and polarity (not rockers) and no name plate.
The amp is really clean with original tubes. Could this be an unmodified transitional amp? It is for sale in the TB classifieds and there was a post suggesting that the grill cloth was replaced although if looks as though it is an untouched survivor.
Click to expand...

Dude, mine is exactly the same grill cloth, black and no sign of ever having a nameplate on it. The rest of the amp is identical as well. Long separated twins? To those whom say that they never have black cloth, is it possible they did for a brief time? I am in Canada, so what are the chances that he and I have the same grillcloth if it were replaced... slim?

I'll take mine off and check for staple holes too, I need to tuck the Tolex back in behind the cover anyway.
 
#89
96tbird said:
Dude, mine is exactly the same grill cloth, black and no sign of ever having a nameplate on it. The rest of the amp is identical as well. Long separated twins? To those whom say that they never have black cloth, is it possible they did for a brief time? I am in Canada, so what are the chances that he and I have the same grillcloth if it were replaced... slim?
Click to expand...
mine's totally black,no name plate,but it's a later model with white rocker switches
 
#93
#94
96tbird said:
Dude, mine is exactly the same grill cloth, black and no sign of ever having a nameplate on it. The rest of the amp is identical as well. Long separated twins? To those whom say that they never have black cloth, is it possible they did for a brief time? I am in Canada, so what are the chances that he and I have the same grillcloth if it were replaced... slim?

I'll take mine off and check for staple holes too, I need to tuck the Tolex back in behind the cover anyway.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this post.
I never did pull the front panel as the new owner didn't care and I was afraid that something might get scratched taking it apart. Ironic in the the new owner for mine lives in Canada.
 
#95
I am the lucky guy who bought JimC's v4b. The grill cloth issue is very interesting to me but not a factor in buying the amp. I have been playing this amp through my Berg NV412 and it makes all of my basses sound great. Vintage ampeg heads seem to be very rare here in western Canada and I have never ever played one before. I can now hear why they are so revered by users. :D
 

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#99
Here's my new baby atop my SVT cabs:

IMG_20110109_234207.jpg


Any idea what year she is? All white toggles, no polarity switch, so I suspect late 70's, like '78 or '79.

She sounds pretty good, but needs a thorough run-through, matched tubes, both power and pre amp sections.

Any input on tube choices? I was thinking of going with all JJ's, and keeping the three good GE's as back-ups. (I also need a good tube tech around Waco, TX if anyone could help there too, lol.)
 

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