Need some help deciding

[pghjeeper]

Hey all I have been Ina quest for a new tube amp for the past few weeks. I bought a traynor yba1a mk II that I am using with a yba18a cabinet and also with my sons Marshall 1960 stack, he plays guitar. I got a smoking deal on a svt 810e and now I am looking for a head to power it.
A little background I play 80% rock, metal but I also have been expanding into learning some Motown, classical and other musical types. I primarily play one of my three Fender p basses using an ebs compressor. I'd like something that can play both clean and still be able to attain that geezer butler nib sound. I rarely ever play out but I still would like to have the option.
Here's what I'm down to
1.) Peavey vb-2
2.) Traynor yba200-2
3.) 1972 ampeg v4b
I like the modern features on the peavey and traynor amps, but when you crank the ampeg it's a thing of beauty, pure overdrive. So heres im looking for people's opinions on all three before I commit. I have a 500 budget and I have found each unit for under that, used. The traynor is the cheapest, then the ampeg with the peavey comming in right at budget. I would love to just get an svt but the cheapest I have seen them classics on guitar center is 699.00.

 

[JimmyM]

V4B. It'll put a hurtin' on you through an 810.

 

[MNAirHead]

If you sincerely like the ampeg sound --- why not start there and work your budget backward

It's likely that folks like jimmy can establish methods to create the sound - sometimes its not a holy grail amp... Sometimes it's knowing your common pa setup

Some will kill me for saying this...... I never use my peavey or ampeg tube amps - at front of house the stage is counter productive + schlepping sux

 

[JimmyM]

Won't kill you but I have different tastes. I can't stand not playing with an amp, and I find it counter productive NOT to have some sound behind me from my rig since I hate most monitors and we don't do IEM's. And I hate total isolation of all the instruments in a mix. But the schlepping does suck sometimes

And yeah, there are ways of getting a good facsimile of that sound with emulation, but tube amps are a thing of beauty and beats emulation in every way (sorry...I'm a fan of emulation but there's nothing like the real thing) so I'd never talk someone out of experiencing that, especially since he needs an amp anyway.

 

[MNAirHead]

Jimmy - are there out of favor amps that will deliver the end need

 

[pghjeeper]

Well I know the Ampeg will probably sound the best of the bunch but the stage mute, DI out and FX loop are nice to have. I will say I have heard the Peavey Distortion channel on tier VB amps, only on youtube and it sounded kind of fake, more like a pedal than tube O.D.

 

[slap5string]

Im a traditionalist - you have an Ampeg 810e - you need an Ampeg SVT head - period!
End of discussion! Now go get you a Classic, VR, or Heritage and call it a day! You'll thank me for it!

 

[pghjeeper]

Im a traditionalist - you have an Ampeg 810e - you need an Ampeg SVT head - period!
End of discussion! Now go get you a Classic, VR, or Heritage and call it a day! You'll thank me for it!

I agree and I would love to have an svt-vr but I really can't afford it. Now if you want to pitch in...I would really thank you for it! lol

 

[RickenBoogie]

The V4B is an amp of class, quality, and great tone. You could always use a DI pedal if you need it. tone first, to hell with modern options.

 

[B-string]

The reason it took SOOOOO long before I parted with my '73 V4-B? It is a awesome amp.
My vote and recommendation is the V4-B, hands down.

 

[pghjeeper]

Well with that being said I have a lead on the v4b for 450.00 it's all original and in great shape. There is also a local standard v4, not the distortion model with the reverb. It was originally a v22 but the owner bought a new cabinet from fliptop and made it into a head. He wants 390.00 for that one. Should I get the v4b or the v22/v4?

 

[JimmyM]

For all practical purposes it's the same amp. I tend to like the real thing better, though. Rehoused VT-22 heads just make me sad that the cab is gone.

 

[pghjeeper]

So the v4 and the v4b are the same
Except for the reverb

 

[JimmyM]

The EQ points are slightly higher in the V4 but for all practical purposes on a gig, it's the same. Still, I'd demand the V4B because it's made specially for bass players (I mean, come on...it has a B in the name ).