I recently landed a new gig playing old country/bluegrass/The Dead/J.Browne type stuff after being in the same band playing originals along the line of Alice in Chains/STP/PJ type rock for nearly 10yrs. I currently play thru an SVT pro 4 but need something smaller and more portable now. I've been looking at ampeg V4's and B25's but could use some direction as to some good options for this new journey. Id prefer an all tube amp but might could be swayed, idk. Thanks in advance!
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New Ampeg V4B Reissue. Super amp! That's if a good 100w of all tube power will suffice for you.
Otherwise I'd go for the Fender Super Bassman
Cabs - Ampeg SVT212AV or Fender Bassman Pro neo 115 or 410,610 or 810
Otherwise I'd go for the Fender Super Bassman
Cabs - Ampeg SVT212AV or Fender Bassman Pro neo 115 or 410,610 or 810
That's part of my dilemma, I'm not sure if 100W tube will be loud enough? I had an acoustic SS 200w head that was having a hard time keeping up on a few gigs but seems like tube watts are louder for some reason. Maybe that's not the case tho
The V4B RI will be "sorta" as loud as about a 300w S.S. amp but sobe of that volume might well be quite overdriven.
I like CLEAN tube power mostly. ..hence my Super Bassman suggestion. It's the best amp I've ever known.
I like CLEAN tube power mostly. ..hence my Super Bassman suggestion. It's the best amp I've ever known.
Very good point. As much as I love tube overdrive it's really not what I'm looking for here. I'll definitely check out super bassman. Thanks for the input!
The kind of cab you have has a lot of influence on the volume too.
I've been using my ampeg classic 1X15 but have considered a 2X12. We've been playing smaller outdoor venues mostly ranging from 75-150 people. What would your recommendations be for amp and cab?
Wow. .... so many to choose from.
I mentioned a few in my 1st post above. The new SVT212AV is supposed to be great.
I love my Fender Bassman Pro 115 and the other Bassman cabs are beauties too
I mentioned a few in my 1st post above. The new SVT212AV is supposed to be great.
I love my Fender Bassman Pro 115 and the other Bassman cabs are beauties too
Now you have one 1x15 cab. With two 1x15 cabs you should be allright (with a V-4B for instance).
A 2x12 cab will also give you more volume and it sounds great too.
Those are perfect solutions, IMO, regarding Ampeg.
(there are more options of course)
Agree with Rod, although the Super Bassman and V4B are not smaller and more portable than what you have today. I wouldn't count the V4B out. I find that amp to be surprisingly loud through the right cabs (I use 412s now). For the type of band you're talking about, it would be perfect for me. I like both amps for different reasons though. The Super is huge, warm and fat sounding with lots of tone shaping options - crazy power on hand too. It can stay clean at very high volume or be dirtied up with the second channel. It's amazing.
The V4B is 24lbs lighter, much simpler to use (for me anyway), dead quiet (no fan) and perhaps a sweeter tone than the Super. Cheaper too, if that matters. My favorite trick though is that it stays clean enough, long enough to keep up with the old school country and blues we play. But when we start to get into the Allman Brothers/Skynyrd, etc stuff later in the night our volume creeps up and that head starts overdriving in a magical way. I've never liked buzzy distorted bass tone - but my God the nice, warm, rich, creamy power tube overdrive is heavenly. The drive from the second channel of the Super is amazing too - a different flavor of awesome.
So it's a toss up between the two for me.
I've never been happier with cabs as I've been with my 212AVs. Super warm, well balanced, light weight (for ceramic loaded cabs). They have really great low end, but remain tight. I guess they were going for a ported cab that paired well with tube amps and they achieved that beautifully. Kills my GAS for anything else.
The V4B is 24lbs lighter, much simpler to use (for me anyway), dead quiet (no fan) and perhaps a sweeter tone than the Super. Cheaper too, if that matters. My favorite trick though is that it stays clean enough, long enough to keep up with the old school country and blues we play. But when we start to get into the Allman Brothers/Skynyrd, etc stuff later in the night our volume creeps up and that head starts overdriving in a magical way. I've never liked buzzy distorted bass tone - but my God the nice, warm, rich, creamy power tube overdrive is heavenly. The drive from the second channel of the Super is amazing too - a different flavor of awesome.
So it's a toss up between the two for me.
I've never been happier with cabs as I've been with my 212AVs. Super warm, well balanced, light weight (for ceramic loaded cabs). They have really great low end, but remain tight. I guess they were going for a ported cab that paired well with tube amps and they achieved that beautifully. Kills my GAS for anything else.
B25 would require a super efficient cab, and even then you'd have to desire lots of overdrive. One of my rehearsal systems has an Aguilar CTM-30 (30w bass amp).
What you just described is basically what I want. Sounds like the V4B is the direction I'll head first. The Super Bassman sound killer too but it's a little pricey and, as was stated earlier, the same size and weight of what I've got now. I like the sound of the 2X12AV cabs but I'd really like a lighter cab if I can retain my tone w it. Have any of you guys tried cabs w neo speakers? I've personally never used them but their weight has me looking. Thanks for the input and direction, the Fender Super Bassman will prob be in my future as well just a little more distant.
That's what I was afraid of. Thanks for letting me know. I'm not sure a 30W would be loud enough but I bet it's a great practice/small rehearsal amp!
For volume worries, add bigger cabs/more speakers. A 6x10, 2x15, or 8x10 should mop up just fine with the V4B or many other tube heads.
I have a Traynor YBA200 into a Kasino 2x15s that I loaded with Eminence Legend CB-15's. Freakin beastly and I only have the volume up halfway. With my super hot P bass I could feel the air from the speakers blowing my shirt around (I was about 3 or 4 feet from the cab). A 6x10 or 8x10 would be stupid loud, that would be my suggestion before worrying about watts.
I have a Traynor YBA200 into a Kasino 2x15s that I loaded with Eminence Legend CB-15's. Freakin beastly and I only have the volume up halfway. With my super hot P bass I could feel the air from the speakers blowing my shirt around (I was about 3 or 4 feet from the cab). A 6x10 or 8x10 would be stupid loud, that would be my suggestion before worrying about watts.
I think it is a good call - can't imagine that amp not holding up for old country/bluegrass/Americana with the right cab. Would easily be my #1 choice. I like the NEO cabs from Fender and GK, but honestly they're not that much lighter than the Ampegs and I pretty strongly prefer the 212AV tone. I would go for 2 212s, 412, 610 or 810.Big cab setups allow you to maximize the volume potential of the V4B.
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Burwabit
Likes guitars that tune good and firm feelin women
I play V4B into 212AV about 2-3 times per month at bar gigs and I could not be happier. Ended my search. Doesn't hurt that it looks cool too. I use a little angled, folding stand to get it up closer to my head.
(gratuitous pic)...
(gratuitous pic)...
Burwabit
Likes guitars that tune good and firm feelin women
Once I did this just for the hell of it. Definitely no volume issues there. I actually prefer the 212AV though.
Nice. The 2X12AV doesn't look as big as I thought it'd be. Thanks for posting the pics. I was throwing around the idea of the 1x12AV but I don't think it's gonna move enough air. Will prob go w the 2X12. Everyone who's commented says they love theirs and it looks like they're not that heavy, only about 65lbs.