Just got an early 70's ampeg V4...any good tips?

[stingray666]

Just picked up an early 70's Ampeg V4 in real nice shape. If anyone out there has any tips/info on these I'd love to hear em'! It has a footswitch jack on the back, what's up with that? Can you jump channels? Let's hear it!

[jpervin]

Buy earplugs.

[AL30]

Originally Posted by jpervin

Buy earplugs.

Buy ear muffs

AL

[rhythmrocker]

If you haven't started already, begin weight training.

Also, take it to a tech (like Pete Cage) and do the following, as recommended to me by a very competent tech: get it re-capped, tubes checked, rebuild bias circuit, check components for noise/drift, clean/tighten jacks, pots, grounds; check hum balance pot (probably bad); inspect all wire leads as they enter PC board.

[stingray666]

Any tech recommendations in New England?

[swa]

Bob at DST engineering in Beverly Mass, does great work on old ampegs. He fixed my vt 40 a his house while I waited/ hung out. Great Tech and a really nice guy.

http://www.dst-engineering.com/Repairs.html

[paulg]

Funny, before opening this post I thought: "get ear plugs". Good sounding amp, just extremely loud. I'd say, get a good distortion pedal.

[Strat]

yeah...keep it unplugged - we now have a thing called a PA.

[stingray666]

I'm using it for bass so the volume should be fine....

[Red Planet]

Cool. They make great Bass Amps.

I had one I used through a 4x10 David Eden XLT Cab.

I removed the tolex stripped and stainded the cab a Dark Burgandy see through, and painted the face plate with a Granite spray paint, then Clear then hand painted the Letters back on, and more Clear then put Black Tele style knobs on it. It sounded cool and look amasing. Its down at Studio B in Adairsville Ga.

[Red Planet]

One thing I have found its best to do besides checking all of the above is redo all the solder connections in the board. I had two V4's with intermittent problems and after having Techs look at em I fixed bi reheating every solder connection.

[RDM]

Start here: http://ampegv4.com/
Parts can be found here: http://www.fliptops.net/

Let your neighbors know about your new family addition.

[zzmoore]

Originally Posted by stingray666

I'm using it for bass so the volume should be fine....

Sounds like a good idea. What speakers are you using?

[wgs1230]

The rubber shock-mounting on the V-series chasses is known to dry out and break up. You don't have to pay big money to replace it if you're willing to do the work: the big hardware chains sell larger rubber grommets (eg, for mounting toilets) which can be cut to size and work fine.

[Leonc]

Originally Posted by jpervin

Buy earplugs.

Boom. The very first thing that occurred to me.

You also may want to consider either throwing out everyone else that you live with, or throwing yourself out. Do it up front and save the aggravation .