Ampeg B2RE head VS. B5R head

Bassinvader · #1 07-12-2011, 08:42 PM

Soooo i have the option between getting the Ampeg B2RE or B5R head. Either one for $250. Which one is the best sounding, value, and overall better choice? I've played both but still cant make up my mind. Also any problems with either?

JimmyM · #2 07-12-2011, 09:07 PM

Eh, in a blind test I doubt I could tell the difference. They're variations of the same amp as far as I'm concerned. Reliability is good with them. I like other Ampegs better, but for $250, they'd be pretty decent amps.

Bassinvader · #3 07-12-2011, 09:11 PM

so basically either one is good, depends on which variation i prefer?

JimmyM · #4 07-13-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassinvader

so basically either one is good, depends on which variation i prefer?

Good is in the ear of the beholder. Quite honestly, I don't like either of them. I love love love most Ampeg stuff, but there are some things they make that I don't. The B series solid state amps are one of them. But that doesn't mean they aren't good...that just means I don't care for them. If it were me, I'd look into the PF500 before I looked into the B2RE and its previous incarnations. But if you like the sound you're getting, no reason my opinion of their tone should be even the least bit relevant to you. They're all solid well-built amps, and tone is subjective.

brianmharrison · #5 07-13-2011, 12:03 PM

I had a b-5r head a few years ago and here is what I thought.
The equalizer and tone shaping sucked. The distortion channel was terrible. The octave effect was good and the fact that you could activate it from the footswitch. Lots of connections and 2 ohm stable for 500 watts. The DI is pretty good. The octave effect and 2 ohm stability (I had a 4 ohm cab) is why I chose the B-5r over the B-2re.

The b-2re has more eq options with the addition of the graphic eq, but is only 4 ohm stable and no octave effect.

My b-5r was ok. Never gave me any trouble. The tone was kind of generic I thought and it didn't matter what bass I plugged in, they all sounded about the same. I played both when choosing. Set flat they sound the same. If I had to make the choice between the two again, I would probably go for the B-2re because of the better tone shaping.

FWIW, I bought my SWR Bass 350 used for $300 and it is a pro level amp with much better tone shaping tools and the same output.