Anyone of you have experience with these amps?
I've been playing some years over a Ampeg SVP Pro preamp and I'd like to use something different.
I really like the Ampeg SVT Pro 4 simulation in the Ampeg SVX software. Especially the compressor knob. It really gives some ace compression Geddy tones..
An different option is a Ampeg V4B. I've heard they sound good with Rics. Is that true?
Phil, if you play any larger venues, the V4B, being only 100W, would need to be miked. That said, they sound wonderful. IIRC, Elys had a pile of them, but I doubt he would sell any and he is not responding to emails. V4Bs will be hard to find, no doubt.
The Pro-4 or Pro-6 will give you a lot more power. The Pro-6 has the same tube compliment as the Pro-3 (great with a Rick, BTW) but adds the compressor and a quasi-parametric eq. vs the graphic eq. of the Pro-3 and Pro-4. No experience with either of those.
It really depends on how much power you need, which way you may want to go.
I had a V4B and LOVED it. I actually liked the V4B better for a Rick than an SVT. As somebody mentioned, it's a LOUD 100 watss. I never had a problem with volume. If I didn't have to move it myself I'd still have one. I don't really care for the newer Ampeg pro series; I think they're quite limited and lacking in volume. Just my opinion.
For what it's worth, I've been playing clubs for over a decade with a reissue Ampeg V4B that I bought new in 1996. I've consistently gotten compliments on the sound from musicians who see us play live, and I really like the tone I get. It's not the same as the 70's models - I've had the tubes replaced by a knowledgeable luthier a few times, and he likes the amp, but says that it does have a chip board in it, so it's different from the 70's models in that way. It's 100 watts and has 4 power tubes (came with 5881's and now has 6L6's in it). Great tone, especially when you push the gain just enough to get a little tube distortion. It's loud enough that if I ever need anything louder, we use the PA to push it, as I don't know that I'd really want to stand in front of anything louder than my V4B. It has an XLR out jack on the back that works great for that. I use 4x10 and 1x15 cabinets.
I haven't even seen the reissue V4B on Ampeg's website in a while now, and with the move of the factory overseas that I've read about, I don't know if I'd opt for a new one now, anyways - probably not. But FWIW, I like my reissue '96 V4B a lot. I just recently got a Markbass rig too (my first new amp since '96), but mainly for it's lighter weight and for the second band I'm starting with an old friend (the Ampeg stack would be overkill for that project). I like the Markbass quite a bit too, but it's very different, and I'll keep playing my Ampeg stack as long as the guys in my rock band keep helping me load and carry that heavy 4x10 (it sucks getting old!). If you happen across one of the reissue V4B's from the past decade or so, think about giving it a spin.
I've never played through the V4B but I have had an SVT 6 and currently have an SVT3 and B15 Fliptop.
I agree with a couple of the other posters- The SVT6 is a fantastic amp- similar in sound to the SVT3 but heavier and the dual fans are LOUDER. definitely overkill for me- and I went back to the SVT3.
The B15, OTOH is my amp of choice when I don't need much stage sound.... which isn't too often. The V4B would be great.
anoukane wrote:What kind of cab is recommend for under a V4(B)?
Which one do u use?
Did you find one? Great!
With my V4B '96 Reissue, I use Ampeg Classic 4x10 and 1x15 cabinets. The V4B I have handles 4 ohms, so with two 8 ohm cabinets (= 4 ohm total), I'm getting pretty much all she can crank out of it. I like the sound a lot, but I have never experimented with any different cabinets (such as 8x10, 1x18, etc), so take that for what it's worth.
