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What head to replace a V4b?

R

Robert Sjea

Guest
Mar 19, 2008
198
4
#1
For those of us who love the tone and overdrive of the old Ampeg V4b but are starting to grow weary of its weight, what would be a good replacement? Would you recommend one of the popular heads discussed here with a particular pre-amp? I'd like to keep the total cost under $700. I play classic rock and blues and have an Avatar 210 and a 410. Thanks,
rjs
 
#5
Answer: because they sound baddass! :bassist::bassist:

But, I've had this same dilemma myself and I'm going to be bringing a power amp and sansamp to everything that doesn't include the easiest load-in *ever*.

Barring that, the only thing I've been thinking of is getting an Ashdown, or one of the V4bH heads they reissued, which only weigh 40lbs or so.

I'm really interested to hear what other people consider good, light weight options. I've tried mark bass (in the store only), and I wasn't able to get the tone I wanted, but I don't think mark bass is my thing. To each his own.
 
#6
cripula said:
Markbass LMII + a VT Bass pedal? 6lbs, and used would come in right at your budget.

(and don't sell the V4-B, you'll regret it!)
Click to expand...
Agreed on all counts, especially the selling of the V4B. Modeling has come a very long way and can easily be mistaken for the real thing on recordings and in a mix, but when you're playing, there's nothing that can recreate that sensation of air moving through a tube amp and electrons bouncing around in the tubes. It's why I went back to using tubes. I love the sound of my LMII and my VT pedal, but they ended up making me jones for the real thing.

Actually, to be honest, much as I like the LMII, you could use that VT pedal in any head or power amp and get an Ampeg-like sound. The LMII, even though it's very clean and doesn't do dirty at all, is very much in the ballpark of old Ampeg tube amps sonically IMHO. But the VT does both the clean and dirty sounds of an SVT or B-15 exactly, so really, you could stick it in any old POS amp and cop the Ampeg vibe.
 
#12
I've been on the fence about selling it, but I think I'll hang on to it, thanks to all the admonitions. I know I'd kick myself if I ever sold it. It's only during load in/out that I ever think about selling it. Got it for $650 in great condition, had it all checked out, got a new power cord to replace the slightly gnarled original, replaced the missing bass tone knob for a few bucks and have had no trouble whatsoever with it. The overdrive was revelation to me. I no longer have the 15 under it, but that sure was a beauty to look at. Thanks for all the suggestions and feel free to add more! [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 

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