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Good cab for Ampeg V4B

S

skallywagz18

Jan 16, 2009
13
0
#1
Hi, I seem to be on an endless search for the right cabinet for my early 70's V4B and would appreciate any recommendations.

I've played this through a variety of 4x10 cabinets and nothing seems to match up very well. Right now I'm using a BSE 410HLF and I don't like the sound. I feel like this amp doesn't work well with modern ported cabs - at least for the sound I want. I've played it with some non-ported cabs and I thought it sounded great, but I can't get all the low end I want out of something like a 410HE. Playing live shows I feel like it starts blending in with my guitar players loud-crunchy Marshall JCM900.

I realize that a 8x10 would most likely do the trick and sound awesome, but I refuse to play one of these. Quite honestly I'm surprised at the amount of people that use these just due to the sheer size and power. The day I start playing Madison Square Garden, I'll get an 8x10 (and an SVT).

Anyways, please let me know of any recs.

The other problem I seem to have occassionally with the V4B (although I love the sound), it doesn't seem to do well at high volumes while playing chords. It just starts to get muddy. I've considered just giving in and buying a Sunn 2000S or something comparable and playing through something like a 410HLF. Completely different problem than above.
 
#2
This is a fairly common question, (a search will yeild many other threads), but to my ears, nothing sounds better than a big 2x15, like the discontinued Bergantino NV215, or even an older SVT215e, or the cab originally designed for that amp, which also happens to be a 2x15.
 
#3
I've been using a Redstar Audio 4x10 ... it has the mids of a sealed cabinet and the lows of a ported cabinet ... it works for me ... it's a 8 ohm box ... i've been using it for sports bars/ice house gigs ... any setting volume wise above 10:30-11:00, the amp gets too gritty/dirty for my tastes, for louder gig requirements I use a different tube amp ... but an 8x10 box just really makes the V4 shine tone wise
 
#4
I'd say +1 to a 215, but I go for a real deep thumpy (some say muddy)tone, and I never play cords or articulated stuff high up on the fretboard - so that might not be to your liking. An 810 is probably what you really would like...
 
#5
Early 70s SVT (squareback) or a 70s Ampeg B40. IMHO, and as a V4B user since the 70s - nothing sounds as good as these two (and I've tried lotsa stuff over the years). The V4B seems to like sealed, unported boxes with 10s best.
 
#7
I think any big, efficient cab will do. I'm playing my V-4B (90s version) through an EarCandy BassBomb 2X12 and it's loud enough for my band (too loud) and puts out a ton of bass. I couldn't compare it to an 8X10 because I've never played my Ampeg through one but I do think any "bigger" efficient cab (6X10, 8X10, 2X15 or high powered 2X12) would do the trick.
 
#8
lowend1 said:
Early 70s SVT (squareback) or a 70s Ampeg B40. IMHO, and as a V4B user since the 70s - nothing sounds as good as these two (and I've tried lotsa stuff over the years). The V4B seems to like sealed, unported boxes with 10s best.
Click to expand...

What a coincidence! Those are the two cabs I currently own. I've also played mine with some others (6x10, 1x15, etc)

By far my favorite cab with this head:
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