VTypeV4

Whilst the Free thing isn't really my bag, Andy's Bass playing was always very interesting. He had a unique approach and as such, carved himself a niche to become a legend amongst bass community. RIP Andy.

Just need a V8 and we've got the same! I commentedd previously that the head versions of the TV have a balanced direct out however mine (and a number of others I've seen) don't.

I did a bit of an A/B with the Twin Valve this week and I love both of them so they're both keepers.. I love the traditional GP7 and 12-band SMX graphic Trace amps but there really is something special about the valve models.

I love my VM Jazz but it's totally different animal to the LX5. Totally agree with the above ^ An SS2 is on the bucket list..

Hey Tom, If I use it sparingly, it's great but much past 10 o'clock, it starts to get a bit harsh and fake. I have a cut around the 2 - 3 Khz on my EQ and as such tames the violent mechanical 'clank' which the enhancer can over-emphasize.. I might have a go at a sounsclip later.. Hope you're cool anyway dude.

I had a tinker with my LMB-3 this week.. I posted previously that I was never too hot on the feel of it's compression and it's lack of comprehensive controls to be a frustration however, I've had some truly excellent results especially with the Jazz bass. I put it in the FX loop on the Trace before the NE-1 which is also in loop and it seems to work great configured like this. With just a little tweak on the enhance allied to a low ratio (2.5:1 - I'm guessing as it's not labeled) and an intermediate threshold and I'm very happy with my sound. It's funny how perceptiions change over time isn't it? I've never really struggled with 'my sound' and for around ten years or more, I percieve it to have been pretty much variatiions on a theme. I first had the LMB-3 when I was about 17 back in 2000(ish) I used it all the time and needed it to achieve that particular result up until about 2003-4 but it slowly fell out of favour and even at that point, only ever used it's enhance function having never really gotten on with it's compressor. I have barely used it at all since '06 until this week after a chat with Neil. I think it's gonna once again become part of my frontline setup as with the particular config of Jazz, V4 and Goliath Jr, it's the right sound straight away. It works nicely with the Warwick too although that seems to need less compression possibly due to it's omni-present low-mid growl. I still use the compressor on the amp too as its super sweet and squashy as well as the pedal although I think it may be after the FX loop as I have to dig in a little harder to get it to kick in. So in a change from my previous 'No, I don't normally use a compressor' I'll go to 'Yes I do, in fact, I use two'.. Super smooth and fat without being squashed to death.

I have both copies of 'Valve Amplifiers' by Morgan Jones.. A great read, very in depth and an excellent sense of humour too.

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1425932268' post='2712500'] Most of the more complex stuff would take away from the point of a valve amp. Sure a DI output would be useful, but then you might as well just use any of the small valve-based preamps around instead of carting in 25Kg of 100W+ head, because without the output valves it will sound just the same. Lots of outboard compressors etc too. However the SS rectifier would be pretty much a given, and nice & easy to implement. Realistically you'd be looking at an amp containing 6 valves: 4 output, 1 pre-amp and 1 phase inverter - certainly not a complex build. [/quote] To be fair, I love my V-Type Trace Elliot and most of the stages (except for the over-drive interestingly) in that are valve hence it having 7x ECC83s. I like the fact its a 'one stop shop' with the exception of a parametric (taken care of by the NE-1) for every situation. It's a shame they never did a stand-alone pre-amp of the MK2 V-Type amps. Now that would be very useful actually, copying and building that front end with that glorious squashy compressor! Once again, ambition and talent are not currently in proportion with each other..

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1425893648' post='2711783'] That's quite a list! For my needs I'd be quite happy with <100 watts with just three big knobs and a bright switch on the front. A post power amp DI out would be cool, but I'd lean towards keeping that outboard for the soundguy acceptance factor (as a rule they seem happier dealing with a DI box than taking a line out from the back of an unknown amp). [/quote] Thats why it'll never happen! Ha! That MJW build on another thread would be the sort of thing I'd be into albeit way beyond me!

I'd love to build my own one day... 100 - 200w Class A/B output stage (4 x KT88) SS rectifier User adjustable bias 4 and 8 ohm operation All valve pre-stages ( a number of ECC81 and 83) Passive EQ (Fender style) Input gain and Master volume FX loop Compressor w / threshold + ratio Balanced DI out Muteable output stage with no-load-safe studio operation It'll never happen but the V4 has most of the above. I understand the theory (mostly) but have zero experience at a build level. I've changed caps, resistors, fuses and valves but thats as far as I've got sadly. If they break and things aren't apparently black it gets more in depth, I send the amp to a pro..

As suggested above, as long as there's no nasty noises you'll be just fine.. Don't expect to rule the world SPL wise or much response below 100Hz but I found quite an acceptable sound using one of these with a zoom 506.

We did a support for 'Dirty Vertibrae' this eveing.. Throughly enjoyabale all-round. [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0075_zpsceigqtr6.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0075_zpsceigqtr6.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

A ~50w kit (a bit like the above) with two EL34 / 6L6 / 6550 would be excellent and borderline useable for bass guitar. It'd probably be an advanced kit with the added complexity of grid bias, the risk of bigger voltages and the possibility of a more advanced pre-amp section too.. I like the idea of the little kits but they'd be of little use to me except for maybe the 36w variation..

The 'box of matches' kit looks a very handy thing to have, shame it's only rated for 30w tho..

Excellent..

Loovely amplifier.. Probably not the question everyone is going to ask but.. How are you finding the Celestion 3070s?

Yeah, I gave it a good wipe over with polish and squirted some contact cleaner in the valve bases for good measure.. I cleaned the outer wooden case too which also looks much better now. [URL=http://s778.photobucket.com/user/VTypeV4/media/DSC_0073_zpslniq6oc6.jpg.html][IMG]http://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy70/VTypeV4/DSC_0073_zpslniq6oc6.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I got Beavis back today too after it died the other week. I took to it rehearsal and it sounded weak and underpowered so decided to swap some valves out but that ended play after a bit of a fizz, whistle pop then silence. Game over. I took it to Neil who had Barry look it over and apparently it gave him a headache. Some new screen grid resistors, some new capacitors, and some new valves and it's back on fighting form. I had Barry install and re-bias for some second-hand KT88s I'd got knocking about. The Tung Sol 6550s that were in it were an old pair from a quad I'd bought for the V4 back in 2004 so they were probably past their best to be fair. I've had in on for a few hours this afternoon and it hasn't popped, spat or hummed so I'm happy it's back on form. Might take it on Monday to rehearsal..

Some pictures would be great.. I love the look of the MM Jazz.. I had a Japanese Marcus Miller Jazz and sadly never really got on with it. I was hoping it would magically do 'that sound' but found it too scooped and lacking low mids which wouldn't punch through a group mix live. Shame as it played awesome and looked lovely but I traded it for an American Jazz.. Fast forward ten years and I have the Squier VM which when played through the V4, the NE-1 and those lovely little SWR cabinets, it sounds just like I hoped the MM Jazz would. It's funny how we go down certain paths in an attempt to achieve one thing and it doesn't quite work out so we change direction (tonally, stylistically, or whatever) and wind up closer to the thing we started out trying to get to in the first place.. Hope you're happy with your new bass.

Very much lesser spotted Peavey CL400.. Also very cool (and heavy!) indeed.. Nice one.

As I may have mentioned before, I love glass bottles that glow!