Ampeg VT40

[Turdus]

Does anybody own one? If so, could you please post your thoughts?

I imagine they are heavy, but I'd like to know what kind of tone they produce.

I owned a VT22 many years ago, and recall that it was heavy, and kind of dark sounding.

[tomteriffic]

A VT40 is a V-2 in a 4 x 10 combo format. I had one once, way back when they were new. It was the first version (pre distortion circuit/mater volume). It was louder than hell and was the only amp ever to get me arrested.

As a gainiac amp, you don't want it, if it's the non-master version. I've got a V-2 and a 4 x 10 cab now and the breakup is more like what they used to say about the original Hiwatts: "A blizzard of nails". And you won't get there until it's pretty dang loud to begin with. Mine's actually pretty bright, but the flexibility of the tone controls makes it so you can achieve pretty much any tonal balance you want.

Ask the folks who were at the final MWJ amp shootout. One of these can sterilize you at 30 yards, but it's not a gain monster. It's just louder than hell.

[JohnnyThunders]

Tom's amp was very very loud! Sounded excellent also.

[GusS]

i have a vt40. mine breaks up around 11 o clock.

if youre a les paul/marshall or a fender guy you wont like it.

[Jimbilly]

I have a '72, that I was told belonged to Nokie Edwards (Ventures), I've owned it 21 years now, it was my first real amp.

It's fairly clean at lower volums, but it get's pretty loud (40w) at 10 to 11 oclock (as stated above), but I don't think it's amazingly loud.

It nails early '70s Keith Richards tones at distortion volumes w/out any pedals. I like it with a TS-9 at lower volumes. From 11 oclock to all the way up it just gets more distorted, and not much louder. It's always seemed to me to be very focused and loud right in line with the speakers, -moreso than other amps. I've run mine on top of a 4x12, -it was pretty monstrous and sounded great to me. The weight isn't bad at all for a 410 combo, it's big, but not unbearable.

They use 7027A power tubes, which are much less common than 6L6's etc, but are still available at about twice the price of 6L6's. Supposedly you can have VT-40's changed over to 6L6s, but I'm told it changes the tone.

[pesocaster]

I have a '72, that I was told belonged to Nokie Edwards (Ventures), I've owned it 21 years now, it was my first real amp.

It's fairly clean at lower volums, but it get's pretty loud (40w) at 10 to 11 oclock (as stated above), but I don't think it's amazingly loud.

It nails early '70s Keith Richards tones at distortion volumes w/out any pedals. I like it with a TS-9 at lower volumes. From 11 oclock to all the way up it just gets more distorted, and not much louder. It's always seemed to me to be very focused and loud right in line with the speakers, -moreso than other amps. I've run mine on top of a 4x12, -it was pretty monstrous and sounded great to me. The weight isn't bad at all for a 410 combo, it's big, but not unbearable.

They use 7027A power tubes, which are much less common than 6L6's etc, but are still available at about twice the price of 6L6's. Supposedly you can have VT-40's changed over to 6L6s, but I'm told it changes the tone.

I've played this amp...... it is killer!!!!!

[Jimbilly]

but for some reason it sounds better when Peso is playing through it than when I'm playing through it...

It's a unique and very cool amp, don't pass it up if it's a decent price.

[pesocaster]

but for some reason it sounds better when Peso is playing through it than when I'm playing through it...

It's a unique and very cool amp, don't pass it up if it's a decent price.

thanks Jim .... too kind...... but .... No you can't borrow my new T-51 ha ha ha ha ha ha

Like most older (and some newer) Ampegs.... it's hard to loose.. Bang for buck...

[GusS]

Like jimbilly, after about 11 or 12 o clock i dont hear a noticeable increase in volume, instead it gets more and more saturated. I love the meaty rasp and the sustain/feedback when cranked. I like it much better with single coils than buckers.

you can use 6L6GC's straight in with no ill effects, it's almost the same tube. However JJ/Tesla and Sovtek have been making 7027s for a while and they cost about $20 per tube vs about $15 for a 6L6GC.

Thanks again for bailing me out that one time w/ the 7027s jimbilly!

[Jimbilly]

Gus: I'm glad you got good use out of those, I probably should have kept them for spares, but what-the-heck, I can't ALWAYS be selfish.

I still have one nos RCA, I should buy a match for it while they're still available. I've heard the new production Sovteks are very good, anybody here try those? They're on sale one place for about $40 a pair (7027s).

[Turdus]

Thanks for the input. A lot of you know who Tommy Keene is. In the late 70's, he played in a band called Razz. When I saw them I am pretty sure that both he, and the other guitar player, used these. Tommy has always had great tone. Something recently jogged my memory about that show, and thus my interest in the amp.

[riffpowers]

Never played one, but they seem to be another of the stoner rock classic amps, along with the sunn model T and the matamp GT's.

So I would expect them to be LOUD, dark, not lacking in bottom end and clean until cranked up to earthshaking levels.