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NAD: Ampeg V4BH

Lovep

Lovep

Mar 17, 2011
1,606
3,060
Indianapolis, IN
#1
I found a deal on a V4BH (2005, made in USA) on Reverb--shipped from California to Indiana. I was nervous about the shipping, but the amp arrived on time. The box was sitting on its side..not a good sign about how the amp was treated across the country.

Good news: The cosmetically, the amp is in mint condition. I was so glad I was able to find a used V4B in such great shape. I recently bought on the last new 410HE earlier in the year, so I was eager to match it up with the amp.

Bad news: The amp sounded great but would cut out a bit after playing for a few hours. I spoke to the seller (which was great, BTW) and he agreed to cover the cost of any repair. I took it to a local tube amp repair shop in Indy and they diagnosed it as several failed solder joints on the circuit boards. A week later, the amp sounds even better and it doesn't cut out anymore.

Thankfully, the issue is resolved and I can enjoy this baby over the weekend!
V4BH.jpg
 
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#6
These are great sounding amps. Tonally (and I believe also electronically) they're more like a 100w SVT than a V4. Isn't the preamp supposed to be the same as the SVT Classic?

My only complaint about these amp is that I could never get quite enough volume out of mine, but that was with a LOUD prog rock band. My tech checked it and said it actually measured closer to 50w than 100w. My other 100w tube amps are all considerably louder.

Replacing the stock tubes actually helped a bit, especially the driver tube, even though I purchased mine brand new. I guess the stock driver tube in mine may have been weak, or poor quality. But it still didn't give me quite the volume I needed with my band at the time. I guess the stock tubes in yours (at least the driver and output tubes) have probably already been replaced by now. If not, they probably should be.

I did use mine with a particularly inefficient (and rather boomy/muddy sounding) cab at the time, the SVT-410HLF. That's the slightly taller, ported SVT-410, which is very different sounding than the sealed SVT-410 under the V4BH in your pic. I'm sure a more efficient, and less bass-heavy cab will help a lot. The 410HLF had a rather extreme low frequency extenstion and was insanely mid scooped. I've been told that later versions of the 410HLF aren't quite as bad, but I've never bothered to find out. I eventually gave up on using the V4BH with my band, but I've used it quite a bit for recording with excellent results. I now use it with different cabs though, and with much better results. I got rid of the 410HLF, it was BY FAR the worst sounding bass cab I've ever owned, or even played through (for MY taste anyway).
 
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#7
When I see someone has bought something like this, I'm always full of respect for their enthusiasm.
It's just too big and heavy for today's standards, and You can get ''that'' sound on many other different ways. Anyway, I appreciate the enthusiasm and cool factor of the rig :thumbsup:
 
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#8
_Obra_ said:
When I see someone has bought something like this, I'm always full of respect for their enthusiasm.
It's just too big and heavy for today's standards, and You can get ''that'' sound on many other different ways. Anyway, I appreciate the enthusiasm and cool factor of the rig :thumbsup:
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It’s not just “the sound”, but tube amps also have a feel, a sag that can be somewhat mimicked with some compression but it’s never the same. Also, to my ears, the harmonic richness of a tube amp, plus a big ass output transformer is something truly special. These aspects influence how one plays. The amp, bass and the player become one. Everyone going digital modeling should try a tube amp at gig volume so they can understand what it means to play through one of these beauties. Then take that learning and adjust your digital chain to match. It will never be 💯 but at least you come from a place of knowledge and understanding.
 
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#9
Manny Bernardez said:
It’s not just “the sound”, but tube amps also have a feel, a sag that can be somewhat mimicked with some compression but it’s never the same. Also, to my ears, the harmonic richness of a tube amp, plus a big ass output transformer is something truly special. These aspects influence how one plays. The amp, bass and the player become one. Everyone going digital modeling should try a tube amp at gig volume so they can understand what it means to play through one of these beauties. Then take that learning and adjust your digital chain to match. It will never be 💯 but at least you come from a place of knowledge and understanding.
Click to expand...

I have a tube amp and a class D. I played them all, and agree with everything You said about the digital modeling gear, just it's to big and heavy.
 
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#11
_Obra_ said:
I have a tube amp and a class D. I played them all, and agree with everything You said about the digital modeling gear, just it's to big and heavy.
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I understand, completely. Carrying the amp out of the repair shop and into my house took some effort, but I don't plan to gig with this amp. It will stay where it is in the picture (corner of my office) for the time being. When I move it around the house, I have it on a floor dolly, so it makes things almost effortless. BUT, for me, its worth the small investment. I have played a lot of amps over the years and the V4B sounds the best for my sound (mostly P-bass and flats).

Having said all that, if I were gigging a lot, I would prefer to only use my pedalboard...maybe a small Mesa Subway setup.
 
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#13
LSM07 said:
What's the difference between this and the currently-offered V4B? Is there a link to an explanation?
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I am not sure there is much difference in the sound. I can say that the V4BH has a better build quality. One example, it has robust side handles, which makes carrying the amp much easier. The V4BH feels like a 100w SVT-CL.

The V4BH preamp design is similar to the SVT-CL design (with the 5-position dial for the mid freq). The current has the 3-position rocker switch--which I think is more in line with the original V4B.
 
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#15
Deleted member 271037 said:
These are great sounding amps. Tonally (and I believe also electronically) they're more like a 100w SVT than a V4. Isn't the preamp supposed to be the same as the SVT Classic?

My only complaint about these amp is that I could never get quite enough volume out of mine, but that was with a LOUD prog rock band. My tech checked it and said it actually measured closer to 50w than 100w. My other 100w tube amps are all considerably louder.

Replacing the stock tubes actually helped a bit, especially the driver tube, even though I purchased mine brand new. I guess the stock driver tube in mine may have been weak, or poor quality. But it still didn't give me quite the volume I needed with my band at the time. I guess the stock tubes in yours (at least the driver and output tubes) have probably already been replaced by now. If not, they probably should be.

I did use mine with a particularly inefficient (and rather boomy/muddy sounding) cab at the time, the SVT-410HLF. That's the slightly taller, ported SVT-410, which is very different sounding than the sealed SVT-410 under the V4BH in your pic. I'm sure a more efficient, and less bass-heavy cab will help a lot. The 410HLF had a rather extreme low frequency extenstion and was insanely mid scooped. I've been told that later versions of the 410HLF aren't quite as bad, but I've never bothered to find out. I eventually gave up on using the V4BH with my band, but I've used it quite a bit for recording with excellent results. I now use it with different cabs though, and with much better results. I got rid of the 410HLF, it was BY FAR the worst sounding bass cab I've ever owned, or even played through (for MY taste anyway).
Click to expand...
Same here. The V4B had the best tone of any bass amp I ever owned, but it was under powered. I ended up selling it.
 
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#17
_Obra_ said:
When I see someone has bought something like this, I'm always full of respect for their enthusiasm.
It's just too big and heavy for today's standards, and You can get ''that'' sound on many other different ways. Anyway, I appreciate the enthusiasm and cool factor of the rig :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Nah. I play with a lotta bands that all play pretty loud and run sound. I admire your ability to convince yourself that there are "lots of smaller lightweight amps that sound exactly the same if not better than a V4B." I've seen lots of people that claim that and I've yet to hear one that does. I want to believe this as well. Please show me one.
 
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#18
deff said:
Nah. I play with a lotta bands that all play pretty loud and run sound. I admire your ability to convince yourself that there are "lots of smaller lightweight amps that sound exactly the same if not better than a V4B." I've seen lots of people that claim that and I've yet to hear one that does. I want to believe this as well. Please show me one.
Click to expand...
The one who seeks finds
 
#19
I can't accurately say about the volume of V4BH to V4B
I remember it to be a decent level.
Back then I used it with my NV215 mostly and the only time I struggled for volume was playing with a COUPLE of guitards that had 100w Marshall full stacks. And even though they were only on 2 or 3 on their master volume, they were ear splitting loud.
Even a SVT with an 810 would have struggled
 
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