Finally got a V-4!

[coreyfyfe]

This is the later 70's:

This is my early 70's (sounds like what you were describing): [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Check out www.ampegv4.com for a ton of information.

 

[whitespike]

That's it!

 

[whitespike]

I got the cabinet yesterday! I'll post pics soon. I plan on recovering the grill cloth back to silver...

 

[coreyfyfe]

Talk to the gents at fliptops.net they should have everything you need for replacement stuff, and if you decide not to recover it yourself they do great repro grills. They did a custom B40 sized grill for me for like 60 bucks.

 

[rllefebv]

Congratulation and welcome to 'MY FAVORITE AMP'!! I can certainly understand the 'not loud enough' comments that some folks have, but for myself and others, it is plenty...

If you look at coreyfyfe's picture of the early '70s one, well that is where my volume was set for last night's gig, (input pad was set for -6db)... This is with a passive P into a Musicman HD-115 single 15 cab, (Treble and bass at 2 o'clock, mid switch at 1000 with the knob at 12 o'clock)... Two guitars, harp, and fairly loud drummer and it sat well...

For me, the effective volume limits out between the second notch and straight up, (10 o'clock and 12 o'clock), but I never need to go there anyway...

With an efficient 2X15 cab, it could go from over-the-top grind to a pretty modern sound. The Musicman cab is pretty efficient, but old school sounding, which is what I am going for. I would love to score a matching V4 4X12 cab to replicate the rig I was using in the early eighties... I'll keep looking, (and lusting after johnk_10's rigs!!!)

-robert

 

[johnk_10]

i'm going to be listing one of my v4 cabs and two V4 heads in the talkbass classifieds later this evening (i'm keeping the v4B head and two V4 cabs). i really hate to part with them but i'm running out of room in my house to store them.

 

[dubstylee]

Congrats on the V-4!! I am a huge V-4 advocate, and it is by far the best tone I've ever had. I run an FSR Jazz strung with flats through it, or a Highway One Precision strung with flats. It sounds simply amazing. . .

 

[whitespike]

Ric and P-bass with flats for me. Very happy with it. I think it'll be loud enough for my purposes. Do you think the vintage SVTs and V-4s sound similar? It's been a while before I've had an SVT, but I think I like this better than I did the SVT.

 

[johnk_10]

while SVT's can be adjusted with eq to sound somewhat similar, i think that the V4's 7027A's have a different tone and response that makes them two different animals, but tone-wise, response and power-wise, a vintage SVT's tone is something to behold in and of itself.

 

[GregC]

I haven't gigged with a V-4, but I've tried a couple out (and as a result, have one coming my way this week ) through modest-sized cabs and they got fairly loud. Maybe the folks for whom it didn't cut it wanted a really clean tone or didn't have the right cab? I can't help thinking it'd get stupid loud cranked through, say, an NV610.

 

[whitespike]

I recorded witht he V-4 last night and I'm about to wet my pants! This thing is rad. I love how farty it can get at higher volumes.

DO any of you like using the reverb? I found I really like just a pinch of it. Not enough to tell when the full band is playing, but it just adds some more sonic goodness to some songs.

 

[whitespike]

Is the speaker cover and the cover on the amp head easy to recover DIY?

 

[whitespike]

I have my V4 working perfectly now with new speakers. Next, I want to recover the speaker grille and the grille on the head.

The speaker looks easy enough, but how do you take off the panel on the head?

 

[JimmyM]

I have my V4 working perfectly now with new speakers. Next, I want to recover the speaker grille and the grille on the head.

The speaker looks easy enough, but how do you take off the panel on the head?

Should pry off with a screwdriver. They use those plastic tabs that are on the cab.

 

[johnk_10]

actually, on a V4, there are 5 or 6 hex head screws that hold it on, accessed from the inside of the head cab.

 

[JimmyM]

actually, on a V4, there are 5 or 6 hex head screws that hold it on, accessed from the inside of the head cab.

No kidding? You know, come to think of it, I never did take my grill off my V4B head. Sorry...thought it was the same as the SVT.

 

[SUNNydayr.]

I have the later V4B in minty shape with original tube complement and have found tone heaven paired with my Sunn 200s loaded with JBL K140's. I have a SVT-HD with an 8x10 and if I had to give one up it would be the SVT. I use a Y cord between the two channels and it is just incredible. The topping on the cake was recently getting a Rickenbacker that I got along with. If I could find another V4B and Sunn200s local I would jump right on it to run with the Ric. Glad you are enjoying your V4!

 

[rbonner]

Way neat. I'm jealous. I need some vintage stuff. I just never thought it was worth anything when I was young or I would have kept it all. Now some of it is priceless. Like my Mosrite BG-1000 ONLY 19 MADE? What would that be worth restored? The music stores drove the trade in prices on used to nothing so they could make a buck. It's not fair. BOB

 

[whitespike]

So is it easy t get the head grill off then? WHat do I do?

 

[johnk_10]

So is it easy t get the head grill off then? WHat do I do?

its pretty simple. you remove the back, then the four large philips bolts on the sides. carefully pull out the floating chassis. then you'll have access to the five 1/4" hex head screws. i use a long 1/4" nut driver to get to them easier.