Do you always use 2 cabs? Have you used the V12 into a single 8 ohm 4x10?
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New Ampeg Venture Series
- Thread starter Jtown690
- Start date
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,943
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I am super stoked to say that I now have a VB-88 in my possession to add to the "Venture review" - which I know is very overdue, but we are working on getting past some bottlenecks in the amp/cab testing phase of things. In the meantime, I've been getting to know the V12, VB-112 and VB-115 a bit better, and I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with the VB-88. We have an outdoor (county fair) gig next week, and it should be perfect (with the V12).
First off, having it delivered was fun. Here is how it arrived:
And here is how I took it home (well, to the band practice room, actually):
Some of you may know that this is not my usual ride (Hyundai Veloster Turbo, but it would fit in there easily, as well - I can put a full 8x10 in the VT). The VT is getting a new turbo and some other upgrades, so I'm using my daughter's Forester.
Okay, once I got it unboxed and hanging out with its family, I snapped some more pics:
First off, this thing is dang sexy! It really looks great in person, and the dimensions are quite nice. Much easier to navigate/schlep than a full 810. You can see my Heritage SVT/810 in the background.
Tone-wise, it really impressed me right out of the gate. I had previously mentioned that the VB-112/115 remind me a bit of the 212AV and 410HE, in terms of the clarity and tightness (though the Venture cabs seem to go deeper). Well, the VB-88 most definitely evokes the full 810 "fridge" tone, but it does have its own character. I have not directly A/B'd the VB-88 to an SVT-810 yet, but I most definitely will.
Compared to the VB-112/115 stack, the VB-88 is immediately more full, more present in the upper lows to low mids, and "bigger" sounding. The character is very different from the 112/115, and I think that is kind of the point. My first impression is that its somewhat between the tone of an SVT-810 and a 410HLF. I really like both the VB-112/115 stack and the VB-88, and they are just different flavors of Ampeg.
First off, having it delivered was fun. Here is how it arrived:
And here is how I took it home (well, to the band practice room, actually):
Some of you may know that this is not my usual ride (Hyundai Veloster Turbo, but it would fit in there easily, as well - I can put a full 8x10 in the VT). The VT is getting a new turbo and some other upgrades, so I'm using my daughter's Forester.
Okay, once I got it unboxed and hanging out with its family, I snapped some more pics:
First off, this thing is dang sexy! It really looks great in person, and the dimensions are quite nice. Much easier to navigate/schlep than a full 810. You can see my Heritage SVT/810 in the background.
Tone-wise, it really impressed me right out of the gate. I had previously mentioned that the VB-112/115 remind me a bit of the 212AV and 410HE, in terms of the clarity and tightness (though the Venture cabs seem to go deeper). Well, the VB-88 most definitely evokes the full 810 "fridge" tone, but it does have its own character. I have not directly A/B'd the VB-88 to an SVT-810 yet, but I most definitely will.
Compared to the VB-112/115 stack, the VB-88 is immediately more full, more present in the upper lows to low mids, and "bigger" sounding. The character is very different from the 112/115, and I think that is kind of the point. My first impression is that its somewhat between the tone of an SVT-810 and a 410HLF. I really like both the VB-112/115 stack and the VB-88, and they are just different flavors of Ampeg.
Guitar Center Report: (including VB-88 take)
(but mainly about Venture for FRFR modeling)So I've been stalking this thread to see if a Venture cab is a suitable FRFR-ish cabinet for my Quad Cortex, where I'm usually using either an SVT model, or captures from B15, or Bassman, or Sunn, all with type-appropriate cab IRs in headphones, but also through a Phil Jones amp / extension cab setup I have. I have to extensively EQ my Quad Cortex output using the global parametric out to feel anything like a bass amp, and it's lacking even then. My biggest beef with Phil Jones is that the cabs are tuned pretty high it feels, and are kinda boomy around 125-150hz, plus they never feel like they're moving air. Kinda unsatisfying from a bass amp perspective, even with 13x 5" drivers in my setup.
I've had luck test driving Subway cabs at GC Hollywood bringing in my Quad Cortex and using whatever head they have there handy as a FX return power block only. Some of the Subway cabs are known for being flat-ish. I did this with a 1x15, and a 2x10 Subway, and while it was noticeably better than my Phil Jones setup, it wasn't as good as I'd hoped. I was DEFINTELY using the Quad Cortex global parametric EQ on the output stage to try to make a bridge between what the amp model chosen plus IR, and the cab, to what my brain thought it should sound like. The answer is it was close, but still a little boomier and midrange heavy than I'd hoped for by default. Maybe getting the cab into a different part of the room, plus more time with the parametric could have made things better with Subways. One additional comment for our Mesa designer that we're lucky to have here...I realize that Mesa is the superior product from a build standpoint, and I know it was designed as a system with the head and it EXCELS in that use case.
I knew my local GC had a 410 and a 212 Venture cab, and was hoping to maybe go to GC Hollywood and maybe find a VB88 as well. GC Pasadena had a VB88. So I had 3 cabs to try. First time I've EVER walked into my local GC and been like "this is JUST what I'm looking for!"
I will just say out of the box, no global EQ, the Venture cabs sounded more like I expected. I made sure tweeter was at 0db on cab. With +4 at 40hz and a +4 shelf starting around 1K, it definitely sounded like a bass amp first, then I could jump around in my amp models and decide if the characteristics I expect to hear with each head model to jump out at me...an SVT breaks up in one way, a B15 has that middy bump and fuzz...a Sunn has a metallic clank breakup to my ear, and they were all making it though, even with the “correct” brand/cab style IR loaded. Turning off the IR had the Venture cabs sounding incredibly bright…just like the QC would in headphones. It wasn't a dumb exercise to think you could change up an amp/sound from song to song and your voice would change. Fender Bassman capture with Fender 412 IR sounded pleasantly middy/thumpy. The VB88 impressed the most of course. It's smaller than I thought...but for weekend warriors it's probably perfect if you want a bigger sound. I'm gonna have a hard time NOT splurging on it even though I should get the 410 or 212.
My one concern is, how are the Venture cabs going to hold up after being knocked around for 10 years? It's clear they're using very lightweight/fast growing ply to build these, I can only assume they are VERY strategically braced internally to kill vibration nodes. Hopefully mechanical strength was another aspect they very much had on their minds. They're so, so light, it's a little scary to consider how bad they COULD be inside if Yamapeg was slacking.
Anybody seen a pic of the insides of a Venture cab?
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@tombowlus
Being sane would have me getting a 12 and a 15 like you, but the mini fridge would be so fun, and my memory has it sounding more like I want.
When I played with the 88 briefly, it seemed like it might do better on real lows than the 115. What would you say to this statement?
It seemed like they were really leveraging the larger box for lower tuning with the 88, but I only had short tries on either of them.
Being sane would have me getting a 12 and a 15 like you, but the mini fridge would be so fun, and my memory has it sounding more like I want.
When I played with the 88 briefly, it seemed like it might do better on real lows than the 115. What would you say to this statement?
It seemed like they were really leveraging the larger box for lower tuning with the 88, but I only had short tries on either of them.
I picked up the optional grill cover for my VB-410. Totally unnecessary but sometimes you just have to treat yourself. I've been using it with a Messenger Jr. and it's a great combination.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,943
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
So, before I fired up the VB-88 for the first time, I first played a bit through the 115/112, which was already set up (and dialed in on the V12) in our practice room. Playing through the 115/112 definitely put a smile on my face, and I reflected on how much this rig has grown on me. Minor tweaks on the V12 definitely make and audible difference, and the way I had it dialed in, the 115/112 were actually putting out impressive amounts of "low lows," while maintaining that clarity and articulation I had mentioned previously.
When I switched to the VB-88, right away, it sounded bigger, more full, and very present/punchy in the upper lows to low mids. Very thick, but also fairly clear. I turned the Treble up a bit more on the V12, and the 88 responded nicely. However, in terms on the "low lows," even on a 4-string, the 115/112 stack felt like it was going deeper and had more "seismic rumble" than the 88. To be clear, other than the deepest notes, the 88 had more apparent low end (and low mids) than the 115/112. It might be that the 88 goes just as deep, but I am not noticing this, because the middle lows through low mids are so much stronger on the 88.
On actual gig use, I did find myself cranking a good bit of Bass on the V12 with the 115/112, and while I still did boost the Bass on the V12 with the 88, I didn't boost it as much as I did with the 115/112 stack.
Speaking of gig use, my band played at our local county fair last night, and the V12/VB-88 killed! It's a great-looking rig, to boot!
You're right -- that is a great-looking rig with decent visual balance of head/cab often missing w/ lightweight heads.So, before I fired up the VB-88 for the first time, I first played a bit through the 115/112, which was already set up (and dialed in on the V12) in our practice room. Playing through the 115/112 definitely put a smile on my face, and I reflected on how much this rig has grown on me. Minor tweaks on the V12 definitely make and audible difference, and the way I had it dialed in, the 115/112 were actually putting out impressive amounts of "low lows," while maintaining that clarity and articulation I had mentioned previously.
When I switched to the VB-88, right away, it sounded bigger, more full, and very present/punchy in the upper lows to low mids. Very thick, but also fairly clear. I turned the Treble up a bit more on the V12, and the 88 responded nicely. However, in terms on the "low lows," even on a 4-string, the 115/112 stack felt like it was going deeper and had more "seismic rumble" than the 88. To be clear, other than the deepest notes, the 88 had more apparent low end (and low mids) than the 115/112. It might be that the 88 goes just as deep, but I am not noticing this, because the middle lows through low mids are so much stronger on the 88.
On actual gig use, I did find myself cranking a good bit of Bass on the V12 with the 115/112, and while I still did boost the Bass on the V12 with the 88, I didn't boost it as much as I did with the 115/112 stack.
Speaking of gig use, my band played at our local county fair last night, and the V12/VB-88 killed! It's a great-looking rig, to boot!
View attachment 7011048View attachment 7011049
Can anyone share their impressions of the Venture amps' native clean voicing? I skimmed through the thread and watched several reviews, but everything gets buried in discussions of the SGT circuit. Are the Ventures relatively clean, clear, "quick" (I know, not everyone likes that descriptor) with the SGT off? I'm looking for something that can be a clean pedal platform most of the time and a stand-alone head with some character the rest.
@tombowlus, any update on when the Bass Gear review is coming out?
@tombowlus, any update on when the Bass Gear review is coming out?
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,943
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
FWIW, I have been mostly using the V12 with the SGT turned off, and I find it to be plenty clean, clear, and articulate. There are of course many iterations of the "Ampeg tone," but certainly one of those is a full, yet clear and quick, tone, and the V12 can do that quite well IME/IMHO.
Our main roadblock on the BGM review is on the Technical Review side, but I am hopeful that we are nearing the point where we can clear the bottlenecks and really get rolling. That being said, it'll still be a minute...
Thanks! Looking forward to the full review. FWIW, I'm looking at the V3; I don't need the horsepower of the larger units.FWIW, I have been mostly using the V12 with the SGT turned off, and I find it to be plenty clean, clear, and articulate. There are of course many iterations of the "Ampeg tone," but certainly one of those is a full, yet clear and quick, tone, and the V12 can do that quite well IME/IMHO.
Our main roadblock on the BGM review is on the Technical Review side, but I am hopeful that we are nearing the point where we can clear the bottlenecks and really get rolling. That being said, it'll still be a minute...
Thanks, again!
I feel the 410 and V12 with SGT off is a really great neutral clean sound.
The 410 feels “quick”, as in my fingers making large string movements in the field of the pickup magnet…I can feel those big DC transients in the air in front of the cab. The 212 had less of this. The 88 felt like the 410 in that way as well. My short few minutes with the 15 had the least.
I’m using it as a FRFR/Quad Cortex platform with the bonus of using the V12 alone when feeling lazy…and it seems to do both great. I’m currently trying to get the modeled QC amps/IRs sounding as good as the amp by itself…getting close.
Excellent point regarding the cabs used. I plan on using an Avatar 126 with whatever new head I get. I much prefer mid-loaded cabs to tweeters.
No, they were backline. cabs. I've been running it mainly into a single 1x12.
My PF 800 failed immediately and I've been leery of Ampeg ever since. But the Venture has me interested, given that it's reliable.
Hello, I'm thinking of expanding my BA210v2 with a VB-210 in order get some more output now I joined a band with more gigs. In the longer term I would like to play this VB-210 (either solo or combined with another VB-210 or -115) with a tube head, either the PF-50t or the V4B. I hear people raving about the tone of the PF-50t but I doubt it has enough power to cut through. This band is quite loud (rock/metal/pop) but with a collected drummer and guitar player so I don't need to battle a whole lot of audible ego.
I stumbled onto the Venture-series because I (woman) do not want to depend on bandmates to schlepp my stuff around. Hence the BA210, which replaced a dinosaur of a late 70's Yamaha which tone I love to death but weighs almost as much as I do. Being able to shave off more pounds by upgrading to Venture-cabinets would significantly increase my lifespan as an active player
I have zero experience with heads but I'm in the comfortable position to start thinking about a more serious rig. I've read up, but nothing beats experience, so can people who have gigged with either a PF-50t or a V4B tell me anything about what would be a safe choice with enough output that does not require you to have a master's degree in sound engineering right away? I'm willing to learn but I'd also like to be able to dial in something acceptable without having to fiddle with things on the millimeter.
I stumbled onto the Venture-series because I (woman) do not want to depend on bandmates to schlepp my stuff around. Hence the BA210, which replaced a dinosaur of a late 70's Yamaha which tone I love to death but weighs almost as much as I do. Being able to shave off more pounds by upgrading to Venture-cabinets would significantly increase my lifespan as an active player
I have zero experience with heads but I'm in the comfortable position to start thinking about a more serious rig. I've read up, but nothing beats experience, so can people who have gigged with either a PF-50t or a V4B tell me anything about what would be a safe choice with enough output that does not require you to have a master's degree in sound engineering right away? I'm willing to learn but I'd also like to be able to dial in something acceptable without having to fiddle with things on the millimeter.
It’s nearly impossible to tell you what is loud enough for you when you’re cutting the margins so close. Adding an extension cab to your combo would probably get you there, but a V4b may or may not work unless you get a fairly big cab.Hello, I'm thinking of expanding my BA210v2 with a VB-210 in order get some more output now I joined a band with more gigs. In the longer term I would like to play this VB-210 (either solo or combined with another VB-210 or -115) with a tube head, either the PF-50t or the V4B. I hear people raving about the tone of the PF-50t but I doubt it has enough power to cut through. This band is quite loud (rock/metal/pop) but with a collected drummer and guitar player so I don't need to battle a whole lot of audible ego.
I stumbled onto the Venture-series because I (woman) do not want to depend on bandmates to schlepp my stuff around. Hence the BA210, which replaced a dinosaur of a late 70's Yamaha which tone I love to death but weighs almost as much as I do. Being able to shave off more pounds by upgrading to Venture-cabinets would significantly increase my lifespan as an active player
I have zero experience with heads but I'm in the comfortable position to start thinking about a more serious rig. I've read up, but nothing beats experience, so can people who have gigged with either a PF-50t or a V4B tell me anything about what would be a safe choice with enough output that does not require you to have a master's degree in sound engineering right away? I'm willing to learn but I'd also like to be able to dial in something acceptable without having to fiddle with things on the millimeter.
Hello, I'm thinking of expanding my BA210v2 with a VB-210 in order get some more output now I joined a band with more gigs. In the longer term I would like to play this VB-210 (either solo or combined with another VB-210 or -115) with a tube head, either the PF-50t or the V4B. I hear people raving about the tone of the PF-50t but I doubt it has enough power to cut through. This band is quite loud (rock/metal/pop) but with a collected drummer and guitar player so I don't need to battle a whole lot of audible ego.
I stumbled onto the Venture-series because I (woman) do not want to depend on bandmates to schlepp my stuff around. Hence the BA210, which replaced a dinosaur of a late 70's Yamaha which tone I love to death but weighs almost as much as I do. Being able to shave off more pounds by upgrading to Venture-cabinets would significantly increase my lifespan as an active player
I have zero experience with heads but I'm in the comfortable position to start thinking about a more serious rig. I've read up, but nothing beats experience, so can people who have gigged with either a PF-50t or a V4B tell me anything about what would be a safe choice with enough output that does not require you to have a master's degree in sound engineering right away? I'm willing to learn but I'd also like to be able to dial in something acceptable without having to fiddle with things on the millimeter.
Between the PF 50T and the V4B, the V4B I would think would be louder. Both are kinda heavy, if that is an important factor.
This is coming from a guy who rocks a 7 lb. Head
Pf 50T 19.4 lbs. 50 watts
V4B 41 lbs. 100 watts
So the V4B is twice the weight but twice the output power.
As JimmyM said, you need to make sure the cabinet you use can handle the watts.
