Ampeg B100R line out?

bigblue · #1 04-24-2011, 04:50 PM

Hi guys, after reading through some threads here trying to figure out my first bass amp purchase, I decided on a very mint Ampeg B100R from the SLM era of Ampeg. I am new to all this and am wondering how the line out on this amp works, if I wanted to use it to go into small PA would I just use a guitar cord from the line out of the amp to the mixer? Thanks!

JimmyM · #2 04-24-2011, 05:43 PM

to go into the pa, you'd use the 3-pin xlr out with a mic cord.

bigblue · #3 04-24-2011, 05:50 PM

Oh....dang, so then I would need to buy a DI? The line out on this B100R is just a 1/4 female jack. Please forgive my lack of knowledge, I am an old dude and technology escapes me. Last time I was around this stuff 4 track recorders with cassettes were high tech!!

JimmyM · #4 04-24-2011, 06:03 PM

oh gee, i always thought it had an xlr, but i just looked up the manual, and apparently it doesn't. well you can run to the board using the line out, but if you have to use a cable longer than 30' it's not recommended because it's a high impedance connection, which causes it to lose high frequency response as the cable gets longer. to me it's not an issue because i don't like those highs anyway, but it may be an issue to you and your soundman.

derridiandrift · #5 04-24-2011, 07:39 PM

The line-out on a B100R is a 1/4 inch jack. The B200R has an XLR out and a level control, and the output sounds really good, by the way. You'll need to buy a DI or an impedance matching line-transformer (much cheaper) unless you're running a very short guitar cable to the board.

lpdeluxe · #6 04-24-2011, 07:51 PM

When I was gigging with a B100R, I used a guitar cord > direct box > mic cable > mixer and never had a problem. It helps if you have subs in the PA.

stiles72 · #7 04-24-2011, 08:40 PM

If I'm not using a mic, I run a short 1/4 patch cord from the line out to a DI box, then run an XLR to the snake or mixer.

JimmyM · #8 04-24-2011, 09:58 PM

really, if you have a good mic, that's ideal for them. but it also may be more than you want to spend...they start around $250 for a good one.

OldFoamy · #9 05-07-2011, 10:24 PM

+1 to what everyone is saying. The line out is post-eq btw so if that is appealing to you, you may want to take the advice of stiles72 with a di box after the line out if you can get away with it.

I use a Groove Tubes Brick tube preamp/di with upgraded nos tubes that sends my unaltered bass signal thru to my mic'd B100R via its thruput, and sends my tube flavored direct signal to the soundman. I use both a mic and this because, one, I love the way this amp sounds even more with some tube blended in the mix, but mostly because I often have to lean on the p.a. quite heavily given the amps low wattage and I want the B100R sound to be up front and heard rather than it taking a back seat to the di signal.

I carry my own mic to use at gigs also, an EV RE20. I think it captures this amps character very well. Some soundguys don't appreciate it much, but hey...its supposed to be your idea of tone/sound reaching people, not his.