• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Vintage Ampeg V4 problems with effects

Hey all...

Ok, so here goes...I love my V4, but seeing as it's old there is no effects loop input.

The problem is, when I crank the volume, using any kind of delay or reverb will cause the thing to squeal to all hell. I should note that I have to practice with the band in a very confined space....so maybe if I was able to get farther from the amp it might go away, I dunno. For what it's worth...the amp gets really loud before it gets to the point of squealing, but I don't know if it's loud ENOUGH for a show...I have yet to use it in a venue.

Anyway, do you guys know of any way to bypass the problem? Would it be possible for me to plug my bass right into the head and then have my pedal be connected to the output of the head and then have it go into the input of the cab? Is there something else I could do?

Thanks everybody.
 
Thing is, the ONLY time it squeals is when I use delay or reverb. I'm thinking its some kind of feedback issue or something.

I dimed the dials when I tested the thing out before I bought it, so I doubt it's a tube problem. I could be wrong though.

EDIT: It was my understanding that I needed an effects loop because...

When the amp is turned up, it gets overdriven because it's a tube amp...so the signal from the delay/reverb is basically theoretically in a bad "sequence"...like if someone sequenced their pedals incorrectly. SO that was my understanding of what an effects loop was for...so the distortion wouldn't affect the effects going into the amp. This would imply that it is NOT an issue with the tubes...imho.
 
Pedals aren't designed to be used in an effects loop, and you certainly can't put them between the amp and speakers. If you haven't had your amp checked up, now might be a good time.

Then *** is the effects loop for? lol

I only bought the thing about 30 days ago, I doubt it would have crapped-out in that short amount of time. I'm looking at several lists of what symptoms are for bad tubes, and I don't have any of them. The squeal can be controlled if I lower the volume/trebble/effects level...so I'm thinking it's just a feedback issue. I was just trying to find something else I could do besides those things to stop the squeal from going on, but I guess there's nothing else I can do lol.
 
Then *** is the effects loop for? lol
exactly. i hate loops, even for line level effects. i've used some loops that have either made effects sound exactly the same as in line or made effects sound worse. but never has it sounded better. so i usually just don't bother.

agreed that you have some other problem. reverbs rarely cause feedback unless you're insanely loud in a tiny room and you dump a buttload of reverb into it.
 
Then *** is the effects loop for?

that's my question as well. My little brother plays guitar and just set up his board to run all of his delay and modulation effects through the loop in his peavey head with no issues. They're definitely not running line-level, and I doubt it's different for guitars. He said it said something to do with those types of effects having a buffer and setting it up to run pseudo-bypass. I hope I'm not getting it off-topic. My peavey MK. III head has a power amp input, which I would have figured was for rack equipment. Granted, it doesn't have an effects loop so maybe it's the same thing?
 

Latest posts