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The Ampeg V4B

#22
Sartori said:
As stated in the other thread, if you like overdrive, a V4B into two 8x10 cabs would be an awesome rig for metal. If you like clean, then no.

My doom metal band plays really, really, really loud. My head is only 180 watts. But I play through a big, loud 2x15 cab. And my sound in that band is always fairly overdriven, except in clean sections of songs. Clean headroom? No, none. Loudness? Oh yes. Tons.
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Perhaps i'm not being clear enough. it's modded for master volume, so now it has headroom
 
#24
Sartori said:
Still probably not much at high volumes. It's a function of the power tubes reaching the point of overdrive, not input gain.

However. For metal, I prefer overdriven sounds, so I see no reason it wouldn't be fine. Unless you want it to be super clean.
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I'm gonna be running an 87 Charvel 3B through this. as long as it gets me a Rex Brown/Mike Starr tone i'll be happy
 
#25
Pills Are Yummy said:
Perhaps i'm not being clear enough. it's modded for master volume, so now it has headroom
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No it doesn't. The addition of a master volume will allow you to independently control the pre-amp gain and the signal fed to the power amp, but it does not mean you get more headroom than without the master volume. A non-master amp is the same as one with a master volume control that's turned all the way up. Honestly I preferred my V4 without a master.

Anyways, as I said earlier in the thread, I think you'll be fine as long as you like a little distortion and don't need dubstep lows. My V4 through a flatback 8x10 was damn loud. And if you find yourself needing more volume, just add more cabs. The V series amps have 2/4/8 ohm output tranformer taps which make them very versatile when it comes to cabinet selection. You could run the 8x10 and a pair of 2x10s or a 4x10 and destroy small metropolitan areas with that head. And all that aside, any venue/sound guy that's going to allow your guitarist to crank his marshall stack that loud will either have PA support or zero patrons willing to listen to your band at which point it wont matter.
 
#28
Pills Are Yummy said:
I'm gonna be running an 87 Charvel 3B through this. as long as it gets me a Rex Brown/Mike Starr tone i'll be happy
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From 1987 to 1995 I ran my '72 V4B with my late 60's 8x10 using a cobalt blue '87 Charvel 3B. Sounded great! Never had volume problems other than being too loud. Both guitar players had Marshall cabs with Boogie heads. No problem. I was heard. So..............you will be happy!!:bassist:
 
#29
coreyfyfe said:
No it doesn't. The addition of a master volume will allow you to independently control the pre-amp gain and the signal fed to the power amp, but it does not mean you get more headroom than without the master volume. A non-master amp is the same as one with a master volume control that's turned all the way up. Honestly I preferred my V4 without a master.

Anyways, as I said earlier in the thread, I think you'll be fine as long as you like a little distortion and don't need dubstep lows. My V4 through a flatback 8x10 was damn loud. And if you find yourself needing more volume, just add more cabs. The V series amps have 2/4/8 ohm output tranformer taps which make them very versatile when it comes to cabinet selection. You could run the 8x10 and a pair of 2x10s or a 4x10 and destroy small metropolitan areas with that head. And all that aside, any venue/sound guy that's going to allow your guitarist to crank his marshall stack that loud will either have PA support or zero patrons willing to listen to your band at which point it wont matter.
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Spot on here. If you are playing shows where your guitarist is cranking it, chances are (and these are very high chances) you will have a PA or support of some kind. The V4/V4B is an amazing amp. I just got one and am loving this tone!
 
#30
I have been running one for years as a preamp. I hate to tell you this, but the tone you'all love is mainly in its preamp section.

You can safely run it as a preamp with no powertubes, and the appropriate resistors strapped across its outputs.
 
#31
George Mann said:
I have been running one for years as a preamp. I hate to tell you this, but the tone you'all love is mainly in its preamp section.

You can safely run it as a preamp with no powertubes, and the appropriate resistors strapped across its outputs.
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Sorry George, but the power section has the output transformer and the power tubes, and they make a huge difference in tone as compared to just the preamp. Run a DI from the speaker out of it and compare it to the pre out alone.
 
#32
JimmyM said:
Sorry George, but the power section has the output transformer and the power tubes, and they make a huge difference in tone as compared to just the preamp. Run a DI from the speaker out of it and compare it to the pre out alone.
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As I generally agree with you about the sonic effect of OPT's, I have found that the majority of the sonic character of this amp is imparted by the preamp circuit.

The rest is mostly phase shifts and distortions from the output.
 
#34
nashvillebill said:
Running without the power tubes will usually significantly raise B+, unless the power supply section is modfied to compensate.
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Yes. This is especially a problem for those with 30+ year old caps. With a fresh set of cap's, and a grounded safety cord conversion, most circuits can handle it short-term.

But this is not something that I would recommend for the laymen user. Therefore, I retract my original statement.
 
#37
I've been using my V4BH with my Simmons 2x15 as my primary rig for a few months now; and have yet to play a gig where it was lacking in volume. We play with PA support at local bars and clubs (200-400 people), and the sound man is always telling me to turn down.

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