AMPEG V4 question

[majewsky]

Hello!

Let's say I've got a chance to score an Ampeg V4 for... 200$ (easy... it's broken).

The problem is... I wont't have a matching cabinet. Would it pair well with other spekaers? If yes, with witch ones?

And what's with the tonal range thay can cover? I'll be honest I'm a big QoTSA fan an generally Josh Homee, but what's with other rock tones?

What do You think? Is it worth trying?

EDIT: Here's the URL if someone would like to see it. http://goo.gl/EPdLKj

 

[metlking]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

Is the seller willing to ship to Poland? That thing weighs like 200lbs! Not really, but its heavy!

 

[majewsky]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

I've just asked him and I'm waiting for reply.

I've got the strange feeling that the shipping would cost more than amp by itself...

Of course I won't buy it if the shipping costs would be HIIIGH, I'm just looking at it as a nice opportunity to have a good amp.

 

[everdrone]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

those can be very expensive to fix, I would not get it unless you want to own a few of those heads and have some for spare parts

also they weigh about 80 pounds so dont lift it yourself for any lengthy distances

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

I doubt it goes that cheap too.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

Do you work on amps.?
Are amps hard to get in Poland.?
At this point, I think speakers will be the least of your concerns.

No tubes = about 300 dollars.

The amp will need a cap job = more money

You have to be prepared for a nightmare. There are no gut-shots, so who knows what condition the PCB is in.

Not a single tube in it and it still hums.?

Could be really bad caps, or a bad tranny, or just a broken ground, or some other catastrophe.

With the cost of shipping. You need to be a decent tech to make this worthwhile. I would look for something closer to home...unless amps are real hard to come by, and you REALLY want a V4.
best

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

First off the VT-22 and V4 are my favorite amps on the planet to date... So I am a bit biased.

I think you should definitely buy it if the shipping is not crazy expensive... If it needs work maybe add another 200-300 bucks on depending on what it needs. Still a bargain, I see v4s locally and on ebay for 700-1100 !! I even saw a VT-22 combo for $800 ! I swear they used to be $400-$500

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

They were the most tonally versatile amp of their time, and they still are very versatile when put up against other "old-school" amps.

You can run them into a 2, 4, or 8 ohm speaker cabinet. You want a cab that is wired/rated to handle about 150 or 200 watts minimum.

$200 is a good price, but not if the thing is seriously busted. You used to be able to find them in the local classifieds for $200 to $400 in outstanding condition all day long, and as such, that was usually what people did instead of repairing them. We can thank QOTSA for ****ing that up for us long-time Ampeg lovers.

 

[majewsky]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

Marshalls and Mesas are easily optainable, but when You want to score a nice vintage amp (put meme here) You're gona have a baaaad time.

Actually there is one V4 on polish auction service and after currency exchange it's like... about... 1500$

So if it was expensive to repair I wouldn't like the sound I could easily sell it with nice profit.

I've made one amp for myself and also put a few mods on my Peavey. Parts are easily obainable in Poland so it's not an issue. I've also googled schematics.

EDIT Just checked my email. Seller said that international shipping is not an option US only

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

Ahh sorry to hear majewsky

I would keep looking for one though if you are truly interested. They are awesome amps and are probably just going to go up in price.

OR if you want that ampeg sound in a lower wattage head that is under 500 bucks check out the Ampeg GVT15H or the GVT52112/GVT52-212 50 watt combos!

 

[majewsky]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

It's ok. I just want to change my Peavey Classic 30 for something with more character. I know it's a pretty good amp, but it lacks something, You don't know what it is, but You know it's not there and it should be there.

I'm not biased exactly towards Ampeg. I just want nice rock amp, with it's own character that would go into stoner territory without big problems.

I'm thinking that maybe JTM45 with 55Hz Greenbacks would help (the guitarist from one of my favourite polish band uses one) and maybe Catalinbread SFT for that ampeg sound. Time will tell.

I should by learning to my high school final exams now... but naaah... Let's look for some nice amps!

EDIT I forgot to mention what band.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

I don't know...I say forget that Ampeg...or as we call them "Television Amps".
If you want a real "Vinatge Amp"...look for an old Fender or Traynor or Hiwatt (or a real Ampeg)
Those Magnavox era Ampegs were kind of on the junky side. They have a nice tranny set, but all those amps did back then.
The PCB grounding can be a pain to deal with, there cap values are no longer standard...that is an easy work around, but is is still another consideration.
I have re-capped a couple of V4,s and I own a 4B that is giving me 120Hz fits.
Those old rocker switches have not been available for a long time either, and can be another PITA.
There are better amps to be had...especially at those Polish Prices.
If I were in your part of the globe, I would just build a clone of whatever it is that you want. It will have all new parts and be hand-wired for easy, future maintenance.
good luck

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

I don't know...I say forget that Ampeg...or as we call them "Television Amps".
If you want a real "Vinatge Amp"...look for an old Fender or Traynor or Hiwatt (or a real Ampeg)
Those Magnavox era Ampegs were kind of on the junky side. They have a nice tranny set, but all those amps did back then.
The PCB grounding can be a pain to deal with, there cap values are no longer standard...that is an easy work around, but is is still another consideration.
I have re-capped a couple of V4,s and I own a 4B that is giving me 120Hz fits.
Those old rocker switches have not been available for a long time either, and can be another PITA.
There are better amps to be had...especially at those Polish Prices.
If I were in your part of the globe, I would just build a clone of whatever it is that you want. It will have all new parts and be hand-wired for easy, future maintenance.
good luck

Yeah cause an Ampeg is not a "real" amp..

I can guarantee my Magnavox '76 VT-22 (or any V4) would smoke any Traynor YBA-1 (Which I owned) or spiky Hiwatt!

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

It's ok. I just want to change my Peavey Classic 30 for something with more character. I know it's a pretty good amp, but it lacks something, You don't know what it is, but You know it's not there and it should be there.

I'm not biased exactly towards Ampeg. I just want nice rock amp, with it's own character that would go into stoner territory without big problems.

I'm thinking that maybe JTM45 with 55Hz Greenbacks would help (the guitarist from one of my favourite polish band uses one) and maybe Catalinbread SFT for that ampeg sound. Time will tell.

I should by learning to my high school final exams now... but naaah... Let's look for some nice amps!

the Catalinbread SFT is a very good emulation of the V4/VT-22 type sound IMO.. I had one and ran it last with the drive low and left it on all the time and it reacted with fuzz pedals just like the real deal. Made my EL84 Traynor YGL2 sound just like an Ampeg VT-22

I was even thinking of getting another SFT but for an extra 100 I grabbed an Ampeg GVT15H to travel around with since it is so light.

 

[majewsky]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

the Catalinbread SFT is a very good emulation of the V4/VT-22 type sound IMO.. I had one and ran it last with the drive low and left it on all the time and it reacted with fuzz pedals just like the real deal. Made my EL84 Traynor YGL2 sound just like an Ampeg VT-22

^THIS. I guess I will just have to build a clone. Actually it's the idea that crosses my mind for a longer time. I will have to listen to some yt clips, go to music stores and make some research whst suits me best and then just build it.
(I will probably make thread here which amp to clone and maybe some building thread. I just need to wait for the exams to end :disappoin Time will tell!)

And big thanks for support and suggestions about the Ampeg.

 

[dystrust]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

Yeah cause an Ampeg is not a "real" amp..

I can guarantee my Magnavox '76 VT-22 (or any V4) would smoke any Traynor YBA-1 (Which I owned) or spiky Hiwatt!

I've never seen the inside of a YBA-1, but the interior of a Hylight era Hiwatt is a work of art. I serious doubt that any Ampeg is up to that standard of wiring / build quality because very few guitar amps are.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

I've never seen the inside of a YBA-1, but the interior of a Hylight era Hiwatt is a work of art. I serious doubt that any Ampeg is up to that standard of wiring / build quality because very few guitar amps are.

I never take comments like that seriously.....My Dad can kick your Dads ass.......:1:

 

[majewsky]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

I've never understood the fight over the guts. PTP vs PCB. Tidy wiring or untidy. It's just have no sense. It doesn't matter for electrons, they will find their way no matter what.

Ascethic reasons are also funny, because how many people disassemble their amps? Amps are made to AMPLIFY gutiar signal and transform it via speakers to an acoustic wave

It may be complete wiring mess, but if it sounds good, it's good! The only PTP advantage might be the ease to mod. (But I didn't have any problems with modding my PCB Peavey)

Like someone said: "Make music, not arguments" (or something like that)

 

[zzmoore]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

There is a big difference between a PCB made by Andy Fuchs, or Mike Soldano, and those that are cranked out by Marshall and Peavey...to name just a few.
The C-30 is a Tri-Fold nightmare and everybody knows it. Yes, amps like that make music (depending on each player) as good as any other. But I have had my hands inside about 40 of them...including the 1x15 Trem model...and 25 of those 40 gave me jumper problems after re-assembly. x 1.000 and you have the experience of the rest of the world. It is a bad design.
The Marshall TSL was another sack of dog crap. Marshall lied to us for 3 years before they admitted their board was a conducting nightmare that made the amp impossible to bias, and also had major heat problems. Marshall's response.? SELL us a whole new board for 200 bux plus shipping. Couple that with the cost of labor, and like with the Peavey, you often have repair bills that approach or exceed the value of the amp.
It does not have to be about cork-sniffing...
Lead dress, whether it be a turret board spaghetti fest, a PTP rats nest, or a PCB Pads/Traces thin as an anorexic teenager, that lift at the sight of a warm day, has importance way above Harry Joyce and 90 degrees, or just making for easy mods.
But you are correct...if it sounds good and meets your needs, THAT is all that matters
I'm Done

 

[SongsForTheDeaf]

Re: AMPEG V4 question

I never take comments like that seriously.....My Dad can kick your Dads ass.......:1:

Lol !!

Ok fair enough that totally sounds like my comment.

Also I agree Hiwatts construction is definitely a work of art. I just never liked the sound of them to be honest but everyone has different preferences