Ampeg B-2RE - Recommended?

PunchLine17 · #1 07-02-2010, 01:17 PM

Looking for your opinions!

I'm in the market for a used entry to mid-level head for practice, rehersal and small gives (mostly direct to PA). I've come across a used Ampeg B-2RE locally and the guy is asking somewhere around $300. If I do get it, it will be paired with an Ampeg SVT 15 E cabinet and possibly a 2x10 eventually. Is $300 worth it for this amp or should I be looking elsewhere?

Cheers,

puremusic · #2 07-02-2010, 02:44 PM

This is not a bad SS amp it has good clean tone and a decent graphic eq. The only thing you will not get from this amp is the tubey sound that the SVT series amps are known for, but I know that you already know that. You can always add a sansamp if you desired that, I ran mine clean without any pedals and I was happy with it. Three hundred dollars isn't bad for the amp and I used mine to power a SVT 410 HLF.

TUEP · #3 07-02-2010, 02:56 PM

I have its twin, the SVT-350. Same amp different body and its a great head. I run a Behringer BDI 21 (Sansamp knockoff) to it, and it allows me to add that tubey kind of warmth, and a bit of overdrive to it. Great ss amp.

bertbassplayer · #4 07-02-2010, 02:59 PM

$300 is pretty normal for these things... I've even seen Guitar Center sell them used for that. I found it to be really underpowered even running at 4 ohms.

georgestrings · #5 07-02-2010, 04:22 PM

IMO, they're one of the crappiest amps Ampeg ever made, and not worth $300...

- georgestrings

RickenBoogie · #6 07-02-2010, 05:07 PM

I'm not a big fan either, and at that price, you *could* do better. But, it's not a rip off either.

PunchLine17 · #7 07-02-2010, 05:53 PM

Hey thanks for your replies. I will definitely at least try it out next week. I have been looking for a used Ampeg SVP cl preamp but they seem to be very hard to find in my parts unless I'm looking to buy through TB. I do like the idea of a tube preamp and the versatility of adding a power amp which can be used for some other equipment.

I guess right now money is the biggest issue. Isn't it always ? :P

TUEP · #8 07-02-2010, 05:57 PM

Actually I was playing a gig last week with mine and I was keeping up with my guitar player just fine. And he was running a Randall 220 watt head into a 4x12. I am just pushing a old 4x10 and I was told by many I was very dominate. I walked out with my bass, and was surprised at the head room and low end that it was delivering out at 20-30 feet. It was medium sized bar too. I am playing a old beat up MIM Fender 4x10 with sub-par speakers.

Sometimes we bass players forget that our sound doesn't really start to materialize until it gets out a ways. But I had no problem hearing me up close or when I walked out. The preamp is a tad thin for an Ampeg but a 30 investment into this Behringer Bass D.I (best thing Behringer ever made) and it adds more than enough thickness. I can get those nice SVT style growls and hit it like a ton of bricks. Its not just the pedal its the combination of the two. Cause the Behringer doesn't do that much for the Acoustic other than beef it up a bit. Even though its preamp might be a tad thin its still really nice compared to a lot of other amps. I love mine, I can get my metal, grunge, and hard rock tones with it.

I had a 300 Watt GK Backline and it was not as clear and articulate as this amp is.

MagicMan_841 · #9 07-02-2010, 06:10 PM

A lot of people bash the B2-RE, but I own a USA made one and it has always served me well. It has spent many nights out in my car in the heat or in the cold (I live in Quebec, where it get down to -30C in the winter, and up to +30C in the summer) and has never failed (My bro blew his asian-made SVT-classic a month after he got it). I run mine through one or two B-series 4X10 cabs and it is loud enough to keep up with a drummer and two guitars. I've gigged it and never had a problem. I have a VT bass that takes care of the tubey-flavor, but I've gotten decent tones out of it (albeit not very tubey, as other have mentioned). I think for the price these go used (I've seen some go for 200$ here on TB), you can't go wrong.

rodl2005 · #10 07-02-2010, 06:22 PM

YEah as I've stated B4- I had one as my 1st Ampeg. Sold it for a 3PRO & then onto a SVTII.......!!!!! But a few weeks ago A/B'd my old B2R with my LMII & was surprised at the B2R's flavor. Aggressive mids & a real significant AMPEG flavor- sure it aint the TUBE SVT we've come to love- but it def. has a vibe about it!!! - Like the SVT3PRO U CAN et a lot more headroom outta it by running the Graphic EQ's on & it's level up.
I reckon -adding a VTBASS pedal & you'd have a nice rig.
Like the poster above- I had NO probs at all from MY B2R & neither has the ppl who bought it from me(a College).

Sure they aint SVT's but they do a darn good job at what they DO do.

Ric5 · #11 07-02-2010, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunchLine17

Looking for your opinions!

I'm in the market for a used entry to mid-level head for practice, rehersal and small gives (mostly direct to PA). I've come across a used Ampeg B-2RE locally and the guy is asking somewhere around $300. If I do get it, it will be paired with an Ampeg SVT 15 E cabinet and possibly a 2x10 eventually. Is $300 worth it for this amp or should I be looking elsewhere?

Cheers,

I have a b2r and I love it.

impactwrench · #12 07-02-2010, 07:11 PM

I had one. I sold it after I got a Backline 600 used for about $125. The backline has way more balls and much better tone. I can run it flat and it has punch. I used to have to turn the bass knob full up on the Ampeg. GK's seem much more intuitive. The knobs actually control the tone! IMO look for a backline 600 or better yet a 400RB. Not sure why but the 400RB-III I have now seems to sound better than the backline even though its almost the same amp.

PunchLine17 · #13 07-02-2010, 09:26 PM

Ahhh well looks like I won't be getting it after all....the guys just sold it today. Anyhow opinions seem to be split 50/50 so I'm not particularly sold on it as of yet, I guess I should still give one a try if I can find it in stores or in the used market.

Cheers!

TUEP · #14 07-02-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by impactwrench

I had one. I sold it after I got a Backline 600 used for about $125. The backline has way more balls and much better tone. I can run it flat and it has punch. I used to have to turn the bass knob full up on the Ampeg. GK's seem much more intuitive. The knobs actually control the tone! IMO look for a backline 600 or better yet a 400RB. Not sure why but the 400RB-III I have now seems to sound better than the backline even though its almost the same amp.

Right there you have the exact opposites in taste. He went from the Ampeg B2R to the Backline, and I went from the Backline to the Ampeg.

impactwrench · #15 07-07-2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUEP

Right there you have the exact opposites in taste. He went from the Ampeg B2R to the Backline, and I went from the Backline to the Ampeg.

Do you find your bass knob turned way up? I also seemed to have to put the equalizer in a V shape and kick it in also to get some grunt out of the amp. People say its power is over rated. That seemed to be the case with mine.

badboyb · #16 07-07-2010, 04:19 PM

i have had the b2r for about 8 years and have always been happy with it.
no complaints at all

TUEP · #17 07-09-2010, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by impactwrench

Do you find your bass knob turned way up? I also seemed to have to put the equalizer in a V shape and kick it in also to get some grunt out of the amp. People say its power is over rated. That seemed to be the case with mine.

At first I thought so. Honestly, I kind of felt like you did with the EQ situation. A couple weeks ago I was playing a medium size club and my 4x10 is a sad little thing. Loose joints, and 20+ old speakers. Anyway I didn't think I was covering much, but when I walked out about 20 feet I was really surprised how much headroom I had! I was covering more head room than my guitar player was with a 220 Watt Randall head and a 4x12 cab.

It is not as boomy as my old GK backline, but it covers more headroom. There is what we hear, and what the crowd hears.
The GK backline didn't carry the notes as articulate, in the same head room as the Ampeg does. And with the GK I found my lows almost all the way up, and my Master at 4 o'clock, and low mids and noon to cute through. This included cranking the Boost to noon also. So in reality I had to push the GK in the same weight class harder than I do the Ampeg in order to keep the same head room.