• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Myster Ampeg cab (pic inside)

BoomBoomOGTL

BoomBoomOGTL

Jul 19, 2012
603
792
York SC
#1
I'm trying to work a deal w/a local seller who's not knowledgable on what he is selling.

He sent me a couple of pics of a bass cab he's including w/an old Ampeg bass ampand I don't know the cab (although I'm not too familiar w/Ampeg either). Seller claims the cab has wheels and a towel bar but couldn't describe the speaker configuration...

I know the pics are terrible, I've done my best to inhance them!, but can anyone lend a clue as to what this might be?

Thanks.

cabfront_zpse034e9c4.jpg

cabrear_zps233dac52.jpg
 
#10
Ampeg V4B. Those are replacement speakers, the original used Altec-Lansing 421A speakers. The one I used was outfitted with JBL K145's. I gigged with it powered by an SVT from 1972 to 1983, five to seven days a week. This was in the days of no FOH support, so I was the entire bottom end for the band (the bass drum was miked). This combination would smoke the 8x10 fridge easily with low mid punch and projection.
Was great for outdoor venues and arenas with poor PA support. The high end was attenuated, but it worked out in the band. I supplied the BASS, the guitarist and keyboard were the upper mids and treb frequencies with less overlap.

These days extended range cabs used as stage monitors with total FOH support are the norm.

This thing is a monster with the right speakers. If you are competing with two Marshall stacks this will slay them with the SVT.
By the way, I was playing in a funk/R&B band with this setup.
 
#11
220 miles and 4+ hours later...here's the mystery cab exposed (and bonus new amp that came with it on top)

Thanks for everyone's input on what this cab might be. I believe it is a V4B for the win! The cab was just gravy as I was really after the amp

It's 'rough', but it works. Front grill is MIA. The orig. lable is still there but the serial number, date and model number is illegible.

Rigfront_zpsc0ca9f94.jpg

Rigback_zps1fe3c0d4.jpg


Are those 15" EVs in there?

15speaker_zps3affc8a7.jpg


I'll talk about the amp in another post later but this one will be in the top 5 of modern craigslist finds and I worked for it...
.
.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Revv and carsbybigd
#13
It does look like it WAS an EV. :(

You don't really need these modern huge excursion drivers in that thing - the cab design does a lot of the work. You want something that has some decent bandwidth.

That's a Magnavox era SVT... looks just like mine. You'll want to wire a pair of 8 ohm drivers parallel so your SVT sees 4 ohms.
 
#14
I played through two of those V4B 215 cabs with Altec 421A's. I powered them with a '70 Blue Line SVT. Big Warm Bottom. BTW I used this set-up from early '70 to late '76 for concerts all over the place and never had even one malfunction or even a hickup. I only stopped using it because of the weight and difficulty in moving them around.

If I had to do it all over again I would have used the non-folded Ampeg/Altec 421A 215's instead, or at least one of them instead of 2 V4B's. I believe this would have given me better midrange projection.

Giorgetto
 
#18
SVT has road wear but seems to be all there. It was DOA when I got there to demo it unfortunately. Major bummer after the present owner told me it worked and I drove 2 hrs to check it out. It powered up but no 'thump' or even hiss when standby was flipped. It had been sitting for 13 years. I took a gamble and made an offer (commensurate for a dead amp and beat to crap cab) on the 2 items hoping I or my tech could get the amp running for not a lot of dough...

Upon getting it home, I saw one of the pre tubes was broken and popped in a spare 12AX7 and the amp was working again. I didn't play w/it too much as I'm now bringing it to my tech today for a checkup before I start demoing buildings with it....
 
#20
SVT has road wear but seems to be all there. It was DOA when I got there to demo it unfortunately. Major bummer after the present owner told me it worked and I drove 2 hrs to check it out. It powered up but no 'thump' or even hiss when standby was flipped. It had been sitting for 13 years. I took a gamble and made an offer (commensurate for a dead amp and beat to crap cab) on the 2 items hoping I or my tech could get the amp running for not a lot of dough...
Click to expand...

If the amp were mine...judging from the pics, I wouldn't just get it running again. It seems like a worthy candidate for complete restoration. It looks like you have GE power tubes too.


I know I'm not alone in being curious as to what the whole deal set you back.

I have a feeling there's going to be a great gnashing of teeth.
Click to expand...

I can almost see it now..."Hey man, if you give me 150 for this cab, I'll throw in this junker amp for free."
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back