Ampeg BA-115 issues

bassmeknik · #1 01-25-2011, 10:36 AM

I have owned Ampeg bass amps for 36 years (still have my 1974 SVT bought new) and have used a BA-115 for small venues for 5 years. I recently opened the amp to replace a power switch and decided to remove the woofer so I could test the tweeter and just do a general inspection of the innards.
The tweeter was blown and the rest made me want to write this thread.
The first let down was the woofer was screwed to the baffle with 8 sheet metal screws (no T-nuts and machine screws here). THIS IS POOR QUALITY SORRY Ampeg......
I googled up the LeSon tweeter that was inside and was NOT impressed to see that this part was often referred to as a POS and having a blown up one in my hand I was not surprised to learn that Ampeg no longer uses this device and is using another (low end) tweeter that I was equally unimpressed with in their combo amps.
The next step was to call Ampeg directly to see if they were going to be civil and give me info relating to the tweeter and amp or just refer me to the parts web site. I am very pleased to say the tech at Loud Technologies provided me with the info I desired to make an informed choice about a suitable replacement. THANK YOU AMPEG (I is hard to believe I am saying this with my experience with the company(ies) over the years the SVT was and is a maintenance hassle but a magnificent amp)
These (the small combos) are inexpensively designed amps not top line Ampegs like the SVT line. Without getting into a lengthy discussion about the drop in quality in the Ampeg line over the years (It is true from my perspective) the customer service to ME has been VERY GOOD over the years and this most recent experience illustrated more why I use there products so faithfully.
I will be choosing an after market tweeter with superior specs and upgrading the single capacitor to a real crossover. I am a Parts Express nut and will probably choose a tweeter and build a crossover to match the specs of the chosen tweeter with an eye on the woofer specs. Any one have an opinion on what tweeter to use and suggestions on x over frequency/ alignment etc? I like 12Db/octave Linkwitz-Riley alignments due to convenient phase compensation (reverse tweeter leads to acheive proper phase alignment) and reasonable cost when home built.
The tweeter is the question... what suggestions anyone may have will be read, digested, and appreciated. Thanks

By the way I am being budget conscious in that I need to keep this upgrade to less that $50 it IS a small amp. Typical x overs of this type will cost me about 20 to 25 so I would like to keep the tweeter under 25 also.
By the way I forgot to ask Ampeg for T/S parameters on the woofer, anyone know/have them care to post them?? Thanks again

stiles72 · #2 01-25-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmeknik

The first let down was the woofer was screwed to the baffle with 8 sheet metal screws (no T-nuts and machine screws here). THIS IS POOR QUALITY SORRY Ampeg......

I would say that's pretty standard fare for most comapnies. The only speaker cabs (PA, guitar, bass, etc...) that I've ever owned that had a woofer attached withT-nuts and machine screws was my '63 B15. Every other speaker I've had was just screwed to the baffle.

C.Linton · #3 01-25-2011, 12:55 PM

The tweeter is not a big issue with me as I will just disable the one on my BA-115 first chance I get.

jjk2007 · #4 01-25-2011, 01:19 PM

I had one and gave it away to a friend in need of an amp. It wasn't very loud and the tweeter started having issues within a few months. Sometimes it would work fine, and other times it would crackle and do some strange things. I enjoyed the tone of it, but not the rest of the "surprises" that came with it.

**ddbassGA** · #5 01-25-2011, 02:55 PM

Got one w same issue. I just disabled the tweeter but asked in another thread yesterday if there is a better replacement than that cheesey OEM one?

tjh · #6 01-25-2011, 04:43 PM

"The first let down was the woofer was screwed to the baffle with 8 sheet metal screws (no T-nuts and machine screws here)."

yup ... most are just screwing speakers to the baffles .. but were they sheetROCK screws, or sheetMETAL ... ??

**ddbassGA** · #7 01-25-2011, 05:46 PM

I actually took mine apart last night. The woofer screws were good heavy screws, neither sheet rock nor sheet metal screws. Not inappropriate.

**Matt Lake** · #8 01-25-2011, 06:02 PM

My BA115HP speaker is just wood screwed in also, and there was no insulation in the enclosure. It was a real buzzing box until I insulated it. A friend gave me a 1990's PEAVEY cabinet to put my JBL D140 into and it had T-nuts to bolt the speaker down, Inside cross bracing, corner bracing, heavier construction and insulation. No rattle or buzz to this speaker enclosure. I'm afraid Ampeg has become overrated and PEAVEY has become underated!

tjh · #9 01-25-2011, 07:20 PM

Matt, dont you think that has a lot to do with the times, etc ... everything back in the 70's, 80's, 90's seemed to be built better .. not many MDF, chipboard, or particle board cabs around then ... I actually remember a Fender cab I took apart back in the late 60's was SOLID WOOD, not even plywood ... I was surprised to see the Avatar cabs that I took apart had sheetrock screws holding in the speakers, but then for the money they performed very well ... actually, Peavey has always seemed to get plenty of loving when it comes to durability, everytime somebody asks on here for something low buck and solid ...

bassmeknik · #10 01-25-2011, 07:44 PM

After looking around this is very close to the original and made by the same company (Foster/Fostex) that supplied tweeters to Ampeg after the LeSon tweeters were discontinued.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/psho...number=270-050

Any tweeter with at least 30 Watts RMS and response down to 3000hz should do as the amp is only 100 Watts RMS. I am even going to cheapen up my original crossover concept as it would appear unnecessary. I am reminded that stage bass rigs cannot be "hi-fi" by definition. They are specific purpose amplifiers designed as such with response limited for good reason.

I liked the crispness that the tweeter provided so I am going to replace with as close to OEM in as many respects as possible.

**ddbassGA** · #11 01-25-2011, 09:46 PM

So would this Eminence be overkill?
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=290-532

ezstep · #12 01-25-2011, 09:55 PM

I had one for practice. I tried to gig with it, but it was difficult. The tweeter did "hiss" a bit with an active bass - not so much with the passive bass. I kept it a couple of years and sold it to a church. I simply cannot recommend one if/when someone asks.

bassmeknik · #13 01-26-2011, 05:21 AM

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=290-532

This tweeter is nicer than the one I picked out and would do nicely however this one has about 8db higher sensitivity so you might have to incorporate an L-pad to quiet the tweeter and balance its output with the woofer (that has approx. 97db/1W1M compared to the tweeters 105db/1W1M)

Definately not overkill but more than most players would need (crossed over at 4 to 5Khz and with about 6 to 9 db of L-pad this thing should NEVER blow out in front of 100 Watts RMS)

**Matt Lake** · #14 01-29-2011, 06:19 PM

TJH - Matt, dont you think that has a lot to do with the times, etc ...
Yes, You're probably right. If I opened up a new Peavey, It's probably made in China and probably has it's speaker just screwed down too. I guess I was being a little cynical.

Bassmeknik - Would adjusting the tweeter control on back be enough to protect the tweeter?

Jerrold Tiers · #15 01-29-2011, 09:54 PM

For what it's worth, the screws used in Ampeg, were specially made to hold in wood, to not split it,..........basically designed to hold speakers..... which they do.

NOT sheetrock or sheetmetal screws at all. If you didn't look closely you might think they were though.