Is it the front panel that scratches easily? The chassis? That might drive me crazy. Thanks!
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New Ampeg Venture Series
- Thread starter Jtown690
- Start date
Is it the front panel that scratches easily? The chassis? That might drive me crazy. Thanks!
The metal enclosure all seems to be coated in the same kind of finish, which scratches. The most at risk area is the bottom since the feet are so small. The front and back are totally fine as far as that goes, not the same material.
I’ve pretty well come around on the build quality other than the scratching. The knobs are really nice actually, and the little metal switches and plastic rockers are fit enough for purpose, they just weren’t what I was used to.
Most importantly, I am definitely getting sounds out of it that I really like.
Looks like V3 has hit the Proaudiostar “used” deals already at $419. Especially at that price it’s def a winner. Link as of today https://www.proaudiostar.com/ampeg-venture-v3-used.html?utm_source=Google_Shopping&gad_source=1
There still doesn't seem to be any demos of this series online, beyond the standard Ampeg marketing material. Any one able to video themselves in the wild with these going? Would also love to see comparison videos with the existing Ampeg amps / cabs (PF, SVT).
I agree 100%! I am really shocked that more people haven't bought these amps and making videos all over YouTube. This "cautiousness" is very interesting to me and I believe that people are still leery of spending the money on these amps due to the problems with the Portaflex amps, and money. I think people may be spending money more carefully and in other ways. Regardless, hopefully some videos beyond the marketing ones like you said will come out and provide us with honest instead of tainted opinions of the amps. -Bill
I live one hour from NYC, one hour from Philadelphia. The Ampeg Venture gear has yet to appear in local GC. I imagine that's the status of Venture gear availability across much of the States, and why you may not be seeing many user reviews yet.
I recently purchased and used the new Yampeg Venture V3 at a small bar gig. I like it a lot, but I admit I'm not your typical user. I have a pretty extensive pedal board with many tone shaping pedals, then I used the Ampeg as a pre-amp into a small 100 watt tube amp. I've compared it to a lot of other small amp heads and this is the one I like best for its tone and features. For the last few years I had been using two of the original Rumble 350 version 1 (1 for my bass and 1 for powering vocal monitors). They've been pretty good and reliable, but I always felt I was missing something in the midrange. Something got my gas going and I went on a hunt trying and re-trying many newer and older small heads mostly class D. I don't always have the luxury of bringing my tube amps and this little head comes pretty close to capturing that vibe although not with all the girth that the full tube head adds. At first I was concerned that it didn't have enough volume to keep up with a medium to loud drummer and guitarist by itself. I was almost ready to send it back, but then something made me try placing my pedal board in the effects loop and Ta Da! There was that great tone and plenty of volume for my needs (not as loud as the Rumble, but loud enough and great tone).
So I'm still in the honeymoon phase, but having just gone thru quite a few amps, I'm pretty confident this is a keeper. I tried to upload a recent practice with my oldies band using mostly just the Venture V3 (thru Hartke cabs and Zoom recorder)
My V12 arrived today. I’m playing out of town for a week, and it’s in my backpack in the airport lounge. What a time to be alive…
Let us know how it performs and also what cabs you are using.
So far, my only opportunity has been a rehearsal space (the gigs have been silent stage IEM).
Initial thoughts, after about 3 hours of play time: it’s great.
I was using a pretty beaten up front ported 2x10 GK RB210 cab that I hired from the studio. The tweeter was shot, so I pulled it out.
Gain was set just backed off from where the peak light flashes, around 1 or 2 o’clock. The EQ I always adjust to the room and cab, in this case I just needed to bump a little mids. The sweepable mids control is really useful!
I noticed that almost all the power in the master volume happens after 2 o’clock. It massively jumps after that, all the way up, there wasn’t a point on the pot where it didn’t offer significantly more. It makes me wonder if it’s using a more extreme curve taper pot than a standard audio log taper. I’d say at 2 o’clock, it’s about 25% power. I had it about 3 o’clock, which was about 50% of the perceived volume.
The thing that seems very different to SVT’s is the Ultra Lo minus setting. While on SVT’s it feels like a subtle cut that can really clean up the amp if you’re driving it hard, on the V12 it seems like a significant low cut or HPF.
The SGT I had set so that with the drive all the way off, the volume was the same when switched on/off, and then increased the drive from there. It adds a real bloom to the sound that does a great job of getting the feel of an SVT.
I didn’t play around with the comp, I didn’t really need to. When I’m playing it next, I’ll be putting it through its paces. I imagine there will be a certain range of usable settings.
Initial thoughts, after about 3 hours of play time: it’s great.
I was using a pretty beaten up front ported 2x10 GK RB210 cab that I hired from the studio. The tweeter was shot, so I pulled it out.
Gain was set just backed off from where the peak light flashes, around 1 or 2 o’clock. The EQ I always adjust to the room and cab, in this case I just needed to bump a little mids. The sweepable mids control is really useful!
I noticed that almost all the power in the master volume happens after 2 o’clock. It massively jumps after that, all the way up, there wasn’t a point on the pot where it didn’t offer significantly more. It makes me wonder if it’s using a more extreme curve taper pot than a standard audio log taper. I’d say at 2 o’clock, it’s about 25% power. I had it about 3 o’clock, which was about 50% of the perceived volume.
The thing that seems very different to SVT’s is the Ultra Lo minus setting. While on SVT’s it feels like a subtle cut that can really clean up the amp if you’re driving it hard, on the V12 it seems like a significant low cut or HPF.
The SGT I had set so that with the drive all the way off, the volume was the same when switched on/off, and then increased the drive from there. It adds a real bloom to the sound that does a great job of getting the feel of an SVT.
I didn’t play around with the comp, I didn’t really need to. When I’m playing it next, I’ll be putting it through its paces. I imagine there will be a certain range of usable settings.
That's the opposite of the 7ender HRD I had years ago. Most of the available volume on it was within the first 30%, or so, of the volume control.
I def agree from experience with the V3 with both #1) the low cut being rather extreme (to the point I would never use it, though it is a sound I’ve heard used/not like it’s not for anyone) and #2) the taper on the master is very unusual. Lots and lots of the volume is late in the dial, which may mean people are at 80% when they would’ve been at 45/50% on another amp they’re used to. I think this might lead people to an incorrect assumption about these being less powerful than they are, when it’s more just the way this amp is designed.
I can see from the spec sheets that the bass cut setting is actually the same specs as the bass cut on the Herritage 50th SVT. Looking at the block circuit diagram, it appears the bass cut on the V12 is much later in the circuit compared to the SVT, hence why it would have a more exaggerated effect. It’s a setting I think could actually be very useful, and will just require adjusting the bass pot to rebalance it.
I have been playing with my new Venture V3 for a little over a month now and it is an amazing amp. I have played it with a 8ohm 1X15 cab (GK CX115) for small venues with no PA support for the bass combination and also with a 4ohm Berg CN212 for bigger venues sometimes with PA support and it hasn't lacked volume, tone and reliability. I play the amp with the B15 switch set to, and it is where for me it sits the best with my personal preferred tone I am aiming for with this amp.
- Sep 3, 2006
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When I read all the posts about lack of volume at 80% THIS is exactly what I was thinking.
For example, on the V12, I can’t imagine that they would release a 1200 watt amp that is lacking in headroom. I wonder how many tried it at full pot rotation, or just set it up compared to their other amps and decided it was lacking? Inquiring minds and all that.
Exactly. I'd say:
2 o'clock is 25%
3 o'clock is 50%
4 o'clock is 75%
5 o'clock is 100%
I haven't played many amps that still have more power to give past 3-4 o'clock. In fact IME many don't have any more power past 12 o'clock! The pot taper gives the illusion of "I've still got heaps of headroom on tap". If you're at 3 o'clock on your volume pot and you're worried you're driving it too hard, you've got to adjust your mind to think that 3 o'clock is the new 12 o'clock.
"you've got to adjust your mind to think that 3 o'clock is the new 12 o'clock.”
If that means I have to start staying at work until 8pm you can forget about it.
If that means I have to start staying at work until 8pm you can forget about it.
