Incoming! Ampeg V4BH

[Aussie Mark]

In our Stones tribute we've been working on getting our backline to look and sound somewhat authentic, to add a little to the visual element of our shows. My chrome grill SWR cabs have far too much bling for our image  so I've bought some seventies silver/blue Ampeg grill cloth and am making some faux panels to pop on the front of the cabs to look more "vintage". And, I found a 100w all tube V4BH head at the right price locally, so I'll also be swapping out the black cloth on that as well for the silver/blue.

The V4BH only weighs 40lbs, so I don't have to go all caveman with an SVT and a fridge to get the look and sound that will go nicely with this band. I'm keen to see what a stack of 2 or 3 of my Goliath Jr cabs will look like with Ampeg cloth 

That said, we're doing a show in 2 weeks time with the support of Universal Music to coincide with the release of the remastered Exile On Main Street, and the local Ampeg distributor is donating a backline of 3 x SVT VR heads and fridges for the show, so that might be fun too 

[OldManC]

Mark, if you're talking about the newer series V4, I think you might be very happy. I got a V4B Classic a few months back (which was later renamed V4BH but is the same thing), and I've been very impressed with it. I'm running it through an Ampeg 4X10 and a Goliath III 4X10 for a 4 OHM load and it sounds great.

[gearHed289]

Sounds cool! V-4B heads rock. I have a '74. Tone city! But mine weighs 65 pounds.  Kind of off topic, but I just tried an Orange bass terror - 2 pre-amp tubes, 500 watt class D power, 11 pounds - and it sounded VERY much like the vintage Ampeg. Total 1 trick pony, but it does what it does very well.

[Chris P.]

Cool! We need pics!

[Basvarken]

Kind of off topic, but I just tried an Orange bass terror - 2 pre-amp tubes, 500 watt class D power, 11 pounds - and it sounded VERY much like the vintage Ampeg. Total 1 trick pony, but it does what it does very well.

Hey Tom, I tried it too. The sound is very much like the AD200.
But I was really disappointed by the absolute lack of dynamics. The Terror Bass didn't respond at all to any difference I made on my bass. It didn't seem to matter if a fondled the strings or hit them really hard.

[Aussie Mark]

Thanks guys, yes it's one of the newer "blackface" series, from around 2006/7.  No pics, as it hasn't arrived yet, but here's a pic of the same model that I found via Google ....



40lbs was the clincher for me, as there's no way I want a 60-80lb tube head.

[lowend1]

The Orange amps of yore used a Baxandall tone circuit, like the old Ampegs. Likewise, if you switch your V4 over to EL34s, it starts to sound like an old Orange. Yeah them original V4s are pretty hefty, but you won't get all that power and tone without all that iron.

[nofi]

i had an original v4b i bought new. i remember carrying it on a city bus. no mas.

[Chris P.]

I wanted to buy the newer V4B a couple of years ago, but it was just discontinued. So I saved some more money and I went for the Orange. Great amp, sold it for the similar sounding Ampeg. But I like the sound of the new V4B.

[Basvarken]

I own an Ampeg V4B from 1972.
It's my favorite amp for recording.
But for gigs it the 100 watts aren't enough power to keep up with the band.

Ampeg should have made an amp between the 100 watt V4B and the 300 watt SVT (which is too heavy for my hernia)

[birdie]

A Hiwatt DR201 fits that bill nicely...not an Ampeg though.

[Chris P.]

I like Ampeg. Played with a tube-SVT on a festival last week. But I like the mid-ish amps like a Hiwatt and Orange more. So my DR201 is perfect:)

[Aussie Mark]

It's here.  Now to give her a workout at rehearsal tomorrow night!

[Chris P.]

Cool!!

[stiles72]

Nice score! Run mine through an SVT-215 for a "B15 on Steroids" sound