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New Cab Day, 70's Ampeg V4-B, Boom!

bobyoung53

bobyoung53

Aug 29, 2004
24,098
60,626
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Auburn, Mass
#1
I've always loved the bottom out of these original V4-B cabs from the 70's, and have never owned one although I have played through them, 2 15's in a (I guess) folded horn configuration. The seller is going to hold it for me until I can get back to the USA. I think this will sound good with an SVT head and another SVT head with an 810 SVT cab if I ever play again in a room big enough:laugh:. It's in pretty good shape for it's age with very little torn tolex.


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#3
Funk With Me said:
This things are sick. :cool:

The original speakers are no match for an SVT (6x6550) head. I had a friend back in the day who had one of those with an SVT head and he blew speakers several times. The amp wasn’t cranked up when it happened, they just couldn’t hang.
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They're supposed to be rated for 240 WRMS, same as the old Ampeg SVT cabs. I think they had two different brands of speakers in them too, if it has the old CTS speakers in it then yeah they probably won't last. I don't think it's going to get a lot of use anyway, maybe both cabs with one head will be better.
 
#5
One cab for a V4-B; two cabs for an SVT. That's how it worked back then, that's how it works now. Problem solved. :thumbsup:

I have utterly no use for that much rig these days... but I'd love to experience it on a big festival stage, just for a little while :bassist:
 
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#6
gitfiddl said:
One of the drawbacks of a folded horn, whether it's a long path horn or a simpler W-bin like this one, is that you can't hear the driver(s) scream for mercy as they are being tortured to death like you can with a direct-radiating cabinet,
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Good thought, thanks. Maybe I'll try it with my Dual Showman head first. I don't even know what it's got for speakers yet either.
 
#7
rickdog said:
One cab for a V4-B; two cabs for an SVT. That's how it worked back then, that's how it works now. Problem solved. :thumbsup:

I have utterly no use for that much rig these days... but I'd love to experience it on a big festival stage, just for a little while :bassist:
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Yeah, I don't think I'll use it all that much, haven't been on a big stage for a long time. I've always wanted one though.
 
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#11
gitfiddl said:
One of the drawbacks of a folded horn, whether it's a long path horn or a simpler W-bin like this one, is that you can't hear the driver(s) scream for mercy as they are being tortured to death like you can with a direct-radiating cabinet,
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Folded horns sound great 2 blocks away. What will you do to hear on stage?
 
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#13
rickdog said:
One cab for a V4-B; two cabs for an SVT. That's how it worked back then, that's how it works now. Problem solved. :thumbsup:

I have utterly no use for that much rig these days... but I'd love to experience it on a big festival stage, just for a little while :bassist:
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Well, id do both for the V4, and one for the SVT. That way the V would get the extra oomph like the SVT through the one. But, whatever.
 
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#15
I bought one out of the Selmer plant back door in Elkhart IN in the late 70's. A demo I was told. Brother of a friend worked there. Story was Gene Simmons tried it out. Anyway it turned out to be a prototype loaded with single 18 in a folded horn. I played it with a V4B in clubs for years. I didn't have a problem hearing myself but I imagine the people in the bathroom got an ear full. Sadly I sold it at a garage sale about 15 years later. For $100. Life happens:woot:
 
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#16
bobyoung53 said:
I've always loved the bottom out of these original V4-B cabs from the 70's, and have never owned one although I have played through them, 2 15's in a (I guess) folded horn configuration. The seller is going to hold it for me until I can get back to the USA. I think this will sound good with an SVT head and another SVT head with an 810 SVT cab if I ever play again in a room big enough:laugh:. It's in pretty good shape for it's age with very little torn tolex.


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I think you would call this a W Bin, which is a form of folded horn but a very one.

This is probably a cab where an HPF is critical. AFAIK driver excursion will increase drastically as the horn begins to unload. What do you think @Stumbo

Spec sheet is available here: file:///C:/Users/SANDYB~1/AppData/Local/Temp/V4B%20brochure.pdf

No mention of frequency response, but two are recommended for use with an SVT.

The SLM era specsheet is here: Ampeg V4B folded horn cabinet

-3dB is at 80hz, -10dB is at 70hz so once it starts rolling off it's steep. You probably need the HPF pretty close to 80hz if your going to goose it with a lot of power.
 
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#17
that was my first decent amp after struggling with a Bassman all through high school. It would definitely rattle the rafters. Very efficient in big auditoriums. Did a bunch of shows on 1/4 volume and was way too loud in the back of the room and not audible on stage. In the smaller rooms where it didn't have room to open up it was more manageable, I guess. Could have been peeling paint in the parking lot. Moving that fridge was a trip, as was most of our other gear. We were probably using Voice of the Theaters for Vocals and the keyboards used Hammond B3s and Leslies.
 
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#18
Nice!

That "horn" is pretty efficient in its sweet spot, you dont need 300 watts. I had one back in the day with a matching V4B 100 watt head and it killed. It cant do what modern front loaded cabs can do, but it has its thing.

Be sure to give it a once over. It should have altecs (make sure they are not loose!). Post some photos.
 
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#19
Roxbororob said:
Nice!

That "horn" is pretty efficient in its sweet spot, you dont need 300 watts. I had one back in the day with a matching V4B 100 watt head and it killed. It cant do what modern front loaded cabs can do, but it has its thing.

Be sure to give it a once over. It should have altecs (make sure they are not loose!). Post some photos.
Click to expand...


Thanks I'm not sure when I can get back to the States, hopefully within a month, I'm actually on hold now with AA. I do plan on opening it up when I get it home.
 

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