Ampeg bass cab conversion

[Securb]

I have an old Ampeg V4 guitar cab I was going to sell until I found vintage G12H speakers in it. The speakers are going to go into my Marshall cab, so I think I won't get much for the shell. My thought process is to convert it into a 4x12 for my bass player. He plays a vintage Ampeg head through 4x10s I am thinking the 12s might give a bit more bottom. I have a line on 4 Celestion PULSE12 bass speakers; I am going to restore the grill and add castors. Is there anything else I am missing in converting this for a bass player?

http://celestion.com/product/157/pulse12/

Here is the cab in its current state.

This is Mike's head.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

The tough thing with bass cabs is the dimensions are usually different (and much more of a factor) than in a guitar cab. Its certainly worth a shot though.

V4s are my favourite bass amps actually

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

That's very cool of you. I don't enough about bass cabs and speakers to help but he will have the best of both worlds in any case.

 

[Securb]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

I put on the new casters today. The new grill, metal logo, and speakers are on their way. I can't wait to hear this baby.

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

It might sound tighter than the usual 4x12 bass cab but here's the deal... it shouldn't sound any tighter than a 4x10 bass cab and a lot of guys love that. I think it will sound deeper than a 4x10 but with bass, of course, you gotta fill the room with bodies for the bass to resonate through the "water" in the room.

 

[Bass_Medic_05]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

Hmmm, nice, like to hear a demo when you finish up or at least let us know how it turned out!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

plenty of bass players played through 4x12 cabs, hell i think the g12h-30 with the 55hz cone was supposed to be a bass speaker. with the right speakers i bet it sounds great

 

[Bass_Medic_05]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

no doubt a perfect blend

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

The V4 also came in a bass version (V4B), which is not very different from the guitar version at all. But the matching speaker cab was a 2x15 folded horn type, not a 4x12. That said, my V4 guitar head and matching cab were used for both guitar and bass since new in 1976. The speakers are still original, and still work fine. It's not the greatest bass tone, but it does work just fine. It probably sounds better if you put actual bass speakers in the cab. However, for the amount that you will spend loading that thing up with the bass speakers, you are probably better off buying a more modern single 15 cabinet or two.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

The V4 also came in a bass version (V4B), which is not very different from the guitar version at all. But the matching speaker cab was a 2x15 folded horn type, not a 4x12. That said, my V4 guitar head and matching cab were used for both guitar and bass since new in 1976. The speakers are still original, and still work fine. It's not the greatest bass tone, but it does work just fine. It probably sounds better if you put actual bass speakers in the cab. However, for the amount that you will spend loading that thing up with the bass speakers, you are probably better off buying a more modern single 15 cabinet or two.

I believe the main difference between V4 and V4B was reverb.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

I believe the main difference between V4 and V4B was reverb.

Outwardly, yes. But inside, the "tone stack," as my tech calls it, is a bit different, to provide better shaping of bass notes, as opposed to guitar notes. Probably just a few different caps.

 

[Securb]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

The grill and logo are done the speakers are on their way. I am really getting pumped to finish the project up.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

That looks so much better. Did you go to Fliptops for your parts? Did you end up going with the speakers you mentioned earlier?

 

[Securb]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

That looks so much better. Did you go to Fliptops for your parts? Did you end up going with the speakers you mentioned earlier?

Yeah, I went to Fliptops. I am going with the Celestion Pulse 12s. 200 watts each, Kevlar loaded paper, I think they are up for the task. Mike plays like a cross between Geezer and Lemmy with a RAT Distortion, I feel that this is going to match up nice. The speakers should be here this week.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

That looks great and looking forward to your thoughts on the speakers.

 

[Securb]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

The speakers just landed today. I am going to try to pop them in before practice on Sunday. I have a ton on my plate but I am dying to hear Mike play through this cab.

 

[Securb]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

This got weird. I took an ohm reading off the cab and it was reading at 3ish ohms. I thought my meter was broken. I then tested it on one of the new speakers and it was dead on. I opened the cab and there was a wiring nightmare in there with broken connections, tape and every wiring faux pas you can think of. This cab is going to be a total rewiring job.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

How many ohms are the new speakers?

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[Securb]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

They are 8 ohm. I wired them series/parallel so it is an 8-ohm cab. I was going to give it a test but I will let Mike pop the cherry on her at practice on Sunday. This was a fun project to do.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Ampeg bass cab conversion

Nice! I like series parallel. Though you could run it as a 2ohm and give it some serious thump as a bass cab.

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