Ampeg b2re

happychicken · #1 02-01-2012, 11:35 AM

Hi all I have this amp and I hate it. My amp broke right before jig 2 years ago and I had to run to gc to buy something that night. That being said I thought I couldn't go wrong with ampeg, well I did. This thing sounds like a neutered ball of cottage cheese falling down a well. Anyway, just asking for opinions on what would be a good amp to replace this with for 500 or less used. I like a bright modern sounding amp, I am not so much into vintage sound.

Toastfuzz · #2 02-01-2012, 11:42 AM

Sounds like you'd dig Markbass stuff

Ewo · #3 02-01-2012, 11:42 AM

You could prolly find a used Markbass F1 for less than $500.

I like mine a lot; tone hound extraordinaire KJung says he's fond of the F500, which is the F1 with parametric EQ added.

Ewo · #4 02-01-2012, 11:49 AM

Might find an Aggie ToneHammer 500 at that price point, too.

You can search TB for threads on the Markbass F1/F500 and the Aggie TH500. The comments will give you a feel for players' reax to 'em. And I've had good experiences buying gear of all sorts through the TB listings in the BG forum.

happychicken · #5 02-01-2012, 12:47 PM

Thanks! I am going to look into markbass f1. I don't want to sound like a total hater either. I am sure the higher end ampeg stuff must sound much better. I just feel like I got the hose from a company with a rep for good stuff. Should I look at GK stuff at all? I saw a GK 7000rb very nice price.

stiles72 · #6 02-01-2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happychicken

I like a bright modern sounding amp, I am not so much into vintage sound.

IMO, Ampeg does "vintage" very well. Not to say it can't do a bright and modern tone - but personally I would look elsewhere if that's your thing. Maybe try a Hartke with their aluminum cone cabs.

Ewo · #7 02-01-2012, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happychicken

Should I look at GK stuff at all? I saw a GK 7000rb very nice price.

I used to have a 1000RB combo. Yep--it's good for a modern tone, also.

Sartori · #8 02-01-2012, 01:37 PM

To make the b2re sound less "neutered," turn the gain up and ignore the little light.

Lync · #9 02-01-2012, 04:32 PM

I have an Ampeg B2 and maybe they changed it when going to a B2r, but I think it sounds pretty damn good.

I don't use it often since I mainly run my Thunderfunk or Carvin BX500, but when I do bust it out, it sounds good to me. I run the master on 10 and control the volume with the pre (as I couldn't seem to make it any dirtier by cranking the preamp).

But, maybe if that was my only amp, I would think differently.

JimmyM · #10 02-01-2012, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happychicken

Thanks! I am going to look into markbass f1. I don't want to sound like a total hater either. I am sure the higher end ampeg stuff must sound much better. I just feel like I got the hose from a company with a rep for good stuff. Should I look at GK stuff at all? I saw a GK 7000rb very nice price.

You didn't get the hose...you just bought the most atypical Ampeg amp in their lineup. Some folks like it, but I prefer the PF500 in that price range. But Jerrold Tiers, who used to be chief enginner at Ampeg when owned by SLM, said they invented the B2RE and its descendants to give folks who didn't want the usual Ampegs an alternative. The PF500 suffers from no such identity crisis

happychicken · #11 02-01-2012, 05:10 PM

I did some reading on past tb threads and apparently there was a change for the worse when they went to B2RE model. Sorry my description of this amp's performance was over the top and maybe too negative.

Ric5 · #12 02-01-2012, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happychicken

Hi all I have this amp and I hate it. My amp broke right before jig 2 years ago and I had to run to gc to buy something that night. That being said I thought I couldn't go wrong with ampeg, well I did. This thing sounds like a neutered ball of cottage cheese falling down a well. Anyway, just asking for opinions on what would be a good amp to replace this with for 500 or less used. I like a bright modern sounding amp, I am not so much into vintage sound.

I have an Ampeg b2, b2r, and a b3 ... I love them ... I love the fat warm anpeg tone.

JimmyM · #13 02-01-2012, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happychicken

I did some reading on past tb threads and apparently there was a change for the worse when they went to B2RE model. Sorry my description of this amp's performance was over the top and maybe too negative.

No problem...that's what TB is all about...voicing opinions freely. One man's neutered ball of cottage cheese is another man's...um...non-neutered ball of cottage cheese.

BuckyBass1982 · #14 02-22-2012, 07:56 AM

I actually just acquired the Ampeg B2RE Saturday in a gear trade. I've only used it once at practice so far, but I was impressed. At the moment I'm only running 250 watts at 8 ohms (4x10 carvin RL). Still will bump up to 4 ohms at some point to get the full 450 watts.

It took some getting used to tone wise, since I've always used Peavey amps.... But I love the B2RE's tone. It was plenty loud to hang with a guitar player using a Peavey JSX tube 1/2 stack and a beastly drummer. I don't really see why it gets such a bad rap. I read about the fan being to loud. To me, it's not. Digging deep for something to complain about because it's not an SVT is what I think. My only complaint is there is no foot switch input for the effects loop.

pbassnut · #15 02-22-2012, 08:10 AM

I have a USA made B2-RE. I agree that it is kind of dry sounding. However, it does sound pretty good with my (tweeterless) Schroeder 1515L 2x15 cab and a P-Bass strung with flats. However, I mainly use it with various preamps (Alembic F-1X, Aguilar DB659 and Ampeg SVP CL) plugged into its poweramp in jack which bypasses its internal preamp and only uses its power section. It works great for this purpose. Check out some preamps with it and you might like it.

armybass · #16 02-22-2012, 10:12 AM

I agree,, I have the Ampeg B4R that everyone around here says is junk....but I dig it. That being said I run it in a rack with an older SVT IIP Preamp and and an older green faced SWR Grand Prix. You might just try running a preamp in front of it. I really dig the Ampeg B4R by itself but it serves double duty as a power amp for my pre's.