Ampeg V-4B All-Tube 100W Classic Bass Amp Head Black

I play with a 7-piece band. I've owned my V4B since 2018, but have only gigged with it a few times, and that was in medium size rooms with only 4 players because of COVID. Usually I use two Gallien-Krueger 700 RB II heads and two G-K 410 NEO cabs, or a Hartke LH500 head and two Hartke XL115 cabs. I always spread my rig out; one or two cabs on one side of the stage and another one or two behind me. We had a large outdoor show last night in Greenville SC with all 7 members of the band and I decided to use my V4B head. Since we had a professional sound company for our FOH sound, I decided to use my V4B paired with two G-K MBE cabs (one 15" and 2-10") on the other side of the stage, and the two Hartke XL 115 cabinets behind me. Those 4 cabinets had a combined load of 2-ohms, which this head will handle. Diversity is something I really like about this head; you can use one cabinet or four! There is no substitute for speaker surface area! My bass for this show was a Gibson SG, and I used a Boss EQ peddle. Now for the good stuff: I had the controls at 12-o'clock, except for the Master volume; it was at 11-o'clock. After the tubes were nice and warm, the deep bass sound this head put out was creamy, articulate and very responsive. It made me ask myself why I haven't used this head very much before? During a break and after the show, I had several people come up to me to tell me how good the bass sounded. And I have to agree! As a matter of fact, I just ordered another one before I wrote this article. I don't think anything will happen to my first V4B, but as you may have guessed, I like spare gear. Bottom line: This amp will play any show you're likely to play, and it will do it with the best bass sound you've ever heard. $1500.00 for a 100-watt head is expensive, but it is well worth it, and it will make you as deaf as an SVT without the weight. Save your money or sell gear and get one before they stop making them again. You won't regret it!

I had this amp as a kid. I bought it from Strings-N-Things on Union Ave. in Memphis, TN for $200 in 1987. It was the exact same setup, but had 2x12" speakers. I play guitar, and it worked great for a pedal platform. I mean you could not hear anyone on stage but you if you wanted it that way. I don't think I ever mic'd the amp. I know it says bass amp, but now that it comes as head only; you should be better off than I was using it as a guitar amp. The headroom was enormous. I don't think if ever really distorted. It might have gotten a little edgy, but never into the VOX AC30 range of break up.

Without a doubt it is the most fun in an amp I have ever had! I've gone through them all: 60's Bassman, Marshall MKII Super Bass, Gallien Kreuger and an Ampeg B15 - the V4b has the power of the Marshall and the tone shaping of the GK in one amp. I prefer the crunch (grit) of the V4B to my old Marshall (which was an unreliable, noisy one trick amp). The V4B's tonal variations are really impressive. All in all this is my favorite amp in a long succession of amps.

This is one amazingly good amp. It's only 40 lbs which for a tube bass amp is light. That was one of of the reasons I got it. I don't want an amp as heavy as the SVT classic. I'm running it through an SVT 212 matching cab with a couple different Fender basses a Jazz and a P and it's like they both are different basses. Previously playing thru an SVT 7pro which is 1000 watts of solid state and 15 lbs. The trade off is worth it. I don't really need much more power than the V4B gives me. Easily heard with 2 guitars drummer and vocals. Maybe not enough volume for loud metal bands. The controls are simple to dial in a delicious tone for many styles of music. Cool look to it also. It sounds great in the mix playing with a band-warm rich and punchy with sweet natural distortion if you desire just crank the gain. Bravo Ampeg you knocked it out of the park with the V4B

The problem with the re-issue V4B is it has no real volume. The 70's amp saw at least 525 volts to the power tubes. The re-issue only gets 450 volts. It certainly does not have the tone, clank and agressiveness the original has. It really is a joke that Ampeg calls this a re-issue. Buy the original,and install 6550 power tubes and have the amp biased. Put a few $100 into it and it will last forever and blow away any re-issue.

Powerful! The warmth and depth keep you playing.