The Doom Room: ILF Edition

[deathmonkey]

HNNNG do i ever want a v-4. I played out of one for a bit at our studio and fell in love. I just always fear the horror stories of them breaking down all the time. The one i played works when it feels like apparently.

My dad apparently had 4 back in the day. FOUR. And he sold all of them. Why couldn;t he have kept 1 or 2?

Man that sucks you couldn't inherit at least one of those V4s! I'd never let pops hear the end of that haha.

They are totally badass tho, really love the early 70s models. I haven't had any issues but like you said, they're prone to trouble. Mine runs almost hum free and the reverb actually works and sounds fantastic. I think the horror stories are a combo of age and the ridic weight. Through the years of being lugged around, most of 'em take real beating. Pair that with the fact they utilize that super high plate voltage and most guys run 'em loud and hard at all times.

Luckily we have a local guy who works on old Ampegs and Sunns and the like. Gonna take mine in for a cap job sooner rather than later along with getting old toggles and jacks replaced. With V4s (or any amp really) it's all about prevention but it's esp important with those Vs. I've seen some catastrophic tube failures in earlier models. They tend to take the whole power section down, transformer and all. That would be a goddamn nightmare! This amp is so pristine inside, I'd hate to see it burn up.

its not soo much they run high plate voltage, its more likely the high screen voltage coupled with a lack of good modern 7027 model tubes with original specs to them. Beyond that the upside down tube thing, close packed tubes, and the general execution is not great. Ampeg designs are very nice but the execution was not so great IMO.

Believe you me, My dream dunwich build has been kicking around in my head for a while as some crazy updated V-4.

Holy Schnikes, There is a dude in NJ that worked at ampeg in the 70s and runs a music shop now. THe shops been on my radar for as long as the amp has been.

Man that's a bummer...had my dad sell an LP Custom that was supposed to be mine one day...he still has an original pretty much mint JCM 800 2203 with matching cab, that gets played maybe...twice a year...and I get to just watch it sit there when I visit, if I do ever come up on it, it will not be for at least 30 years and under some depressing circumstances.

All my dad kept was a 53 or 54 Gibson hollow body. So much of it needs work because he was a young kid when he had it and did dumb things like swap out the neck and throw out the pickguard that would cost a small fortune to restore now.... but it is still one of the coolest guitars. I know your pain.

[fallen]

A Tele is one of the next things on my list for sure. One with dual humbuckers and a tuneomatic if possible. Along with a Jag and a doublecut and a ton of other things.

[Ancient Astronaught]

I should clarify that it's uncomfortable sitting down. I haven't actually tried it standing up yet.

Also, I've found less cramping in my fretting hand thumb since moving over to the Telecaster. I've been wondering why that is so. Any idea? The neck shape seems pretty similar to the Ibanez Artist. The only difference is the smaller frets and more curved radius.

It should be an easy fix since the nut was never glued in properly. I can actually take it out. There is little to no glue residue, so it obviously wasn't done properly. The only thing holding it in place is the shear tension from the strings. So it's literally a matter of buying a new nut, cutting it to size and glueing it in. Easy peasy—for someone with experience (not me).

I think its the fretboard radius that makes it easier for me to play, its the curve that follows the natural curve of your hand, a flat fretboard is actually worse for your fretting hand in my experience.

Oh no Well they don't usually put a whole lot of glue in there, but there should be enough to atleast find residue in there. Alot of times you can actually order a precut fender tele nut so all you would have to do is take out the old one, put a lil glue in there and slap in the new one.

[AngryGoldfish]

A Tune-o-matic bridge doesn't look right on a Telecaster for me. I'm just so used to the two traditional styles that anything else feels alien and out of place.

[AngryGoldfish]

I think its the fretboard radius that makes it easier for me to play, its the curve that follows the natural curve of your hand, a flat fretboard is actually worse for your fretting hand in my experience.

Oh no Well they don't usually put a whole lot of glue in there, but there should be enough to atleast find residue in there. Alot of times you can actually order a precut fender tele nut so all you would have to do is take out the old one, put a lil glue in there and slap in the new one.

I want to have it cut by my tech because I use heavier gauge strings. That's what caused the nut to snap at the edge in the first place.

The radius is more comfortable than I'd thought it'd be, but I think I'd like slightly bigger frets.

[Holy Schnikes]

its not soo much they run high plate voltage, its more likely the high screen voltage coupled with a lack of good modern 7027 model tubes with original specs to them. Beyond that the upside down tube thing, close packed tubes, and the general execution is not great. Ampeg designs are very nice but the execution was not so great IMO.

A modern day 7027 is basically a 6L6 with different pin arrangement right? There's some stout current production offerings that ran fine in my first V4 but it's def limited. Not sure what I'll do when time comes for a new quad.

Regardless of tubes used, I've seen damage come about when they eventually die, an issue of circuit protection in those early models perhaps? I don't think they're properly equipped with it so shit can get ugly real fast. That's what I read/heard at least but it would explain the severe failures I've witnessed...

[Ancient Astronaught]

I want to have it cut by my tech because I use heavier gauge strings. That's what caused the nut to snap at the edge in the first place.

The radius is more comfortable than I'd thought it'd be, but I think I'd like slightly bigger frets.

Ahhhhh okay, I do that using the ghetto method. Cut off the last 2-3" of the thicker wound strings and use it as a file in the nut groove. Once you get the hang of it its super handy.

I could go for larger frets as well but these medium height sure are nice for solo work.

[new05002]

its not soo much they run high plate voltage, its more likely the high screen voltage coupled with a lack of good modern 7027 model tubes with original specs to them. Beyond that the upside down tube thing, close packed tubes, and the general execution is not great. Ampeg designs are very nice but the execution was not so great IMO.

A modern day 7027 is basically a 6L6 with different pin arrangement right? There's some stout current production offerings that ran fine in my first V4 but it's def limited. Not sure what I'll do when time comes for a new quad.

Regardless of tubes used, I've seen damage come about when they ecentually die, an issue of circuit protection in those early models perhaps? I don't think they're properly equipped with it so shit can get ugly real fast. That's what I read/heard at least but it would explain the severe failures I've witnessed...

yea the modern stuff is not much different then a 6l6GC with different pin outs.

There is a host of gremlins in those amps, sucks cuz they sound very nice!

[nightterrors]

Hey Nick, it won't let me PM you.

[AngryGoldfish]

I want to have it cut by my tech because I use heavier gauge strings. That's what caused the nut to snap at the edge in the first place.

The radius is more comfortable than I'd thought it'd be, but I think I'd like slightly bigger frets.

Ahhhhh okay, I do that using the ghetto method. Cut off the last 2-3" of the thicker wound strings and use it as a file in the nut groove. Once you get the hang of it its super handy.

I could go for larger frets as well but these medium height sure are nice for solo work.

That's a good idea. I used miniature files my mum had from years ago when she was a craftswoman. I think it was destined to eventually break, but I thought I'd get a little more use out of it before it did. I was careless with the guitar one night when I was feeling really low. I stretched the strings in frustration and snapped the nut.

[new05002]

Hey Nick, it won't let me PM you.

try again!

[Ancient Astronaught]

That's a good idea. I used miniature files my mum had from years ago when she was a craftswoman. I think it was destined to eventually break, but I thought I'd get a little more use out of it before it did. I was careless with the guitar one night when I was feeling really low. I stretched the strings in frustration and snapped the nut.

Tis tisn't it, my friend who went to a couple luthier / guitar repair schools taught it to me I have a rack ton of those files as well from when my dad did model trains, I've got a rack ton of mini tools that I inherited. Ahhhh yes the frustration break, i've done so many things like that before hahaha It'll be all right my friend, new nuts aren't that expensive and don't destroy the instrument forever.

[ridingeternity]

I too have been toying with the idea of a Tele, loaded bodies are around 300-400 on ebay and I was thinking of throwing a 28.5 Warmoth baritone conversion on one with an HH config but have been absolutely DYING for something with a tune-o-matic so was thinking of going with one of the Jag HH bodies instead. I still have a 70s fat strat body I need to do something with first though...just not into the single coil sound for what I do...have been contemplating throwing some Lace in there but man...nothing beats a full size humbucker in my opinion.

[AngryGoldfish]

A new nut might actually help with sustain and tuning stability. We'll see. It needed to be done anyway, or at least the old one glued back in before it broke.

[Ancient Astronaught]

I too have been toying with the idea of a Tele, loaded bodies are around 300-400 on ebay and I was thinking of throwing a 28.5 Warmoth baritone conversion on one with an HH config but have been absolutely DYING for something with a tune-o-matic so was thinking of going with one of the Jag HH bodies instead. I still have a 70s fat strat body I need to do something with first though...just not into the single coil sound for what I do...have been contemplating throwing some Lace in there but man...nothing beats a full size humbucker in my opinion.

The JAG's are 24.5" scale, you would need a custom 27" scale baritone conversion neck, which are pretty much impossible to find unless completely custom made. The tele could take a 28" baritone neck though with no problem. Why not cross both of your list and build a custom baritone Telemaster? Best of both worlds and built to your specs.

A new nut might actually help with sustain and tuning stability. We'll see. It needed to be done anyway, or at least the old one glued back in before it broke.

It very well could! I'm just glad your not giving up hope on it.