Ampeg Micro-CL question

[roset]

Just bought myself an Micro-CL stack from Ampeg, never tested one before but tought it was an interesting little stack. BUT, this is by no means a clean sounding stack, sounds like my EBS tube amp slightly overdriven.

Is it supposed to sound like this or is it a faulty head they sent me?

Tested it with my 73 jazz bass, my custom bass with Nordstrands and my active Ibanez, still OD at any given volume. Tried it with different cables fro Fender CS, different speaker cables and two different EBS Classic 112 cabs, but no difference in the sound, still slightly overdriven at any given volume.

[roset]

Any Ampeg Micro users out there who knows?

[CL400Peavey]

What kind of setting are you using? Gain, eq, master, limiter?

[roset]

No gain knob on the CL, only on the VR. Bass,middle and treble tested on all settings. Volume havent gone past 3, just in case. No fx used, only bass-cable-amp

[CL400Peavey]

Are you using the -15db input?

[roset]

Tried both inputs with the two passive basses

[JimmyM]

While not THE cleanest amp I ever heard, you should have some clean range in it. Been a little while since I played one, but I do remember the distortion starting around the 11:00 mark with a stock Precision. That's typical with non-master Ampegs, as distortion when you crank is considered a feature on Ampegs.

[roset]

It's a slight OD that starts around 0,5 in volume, doesn't seem to thicken when the volume is pushed. I don't mind the sound though, think it sounds really great. BUT, if the head is broken it's not that great... Tried one in a store now, it was a lot cleaner,but sounded weaker and not as "fat" and gritty

[JimmyM]

In that case, that's a really tough one to call. Maybe go back to the store you tried it at and try it again and compare and contrast, then make your decision to keep or swap out accordingly.

[daveman50]

Have you tried the speakers with a different head? Could be a speaker issue.

[roset]

Really like the sound in my head. Tried the cab with a blackheart BH15h, sounded ok.

[daveman50]

Originally Posted by roset

Really like the sound in my head.

hopefully it's more or less the same sound that's coming in through your ears.

[roset]

Hehe, more or less...Depends if you ask me or my drummer

[Immigrant]

I really have to push mine beyond the limits I intended for it's use for it to OD. But, I bought it for use parked behind my recliner and the volume has never been past 11 o'clock. That's pretty darn loud if the bass's volume is dimed.

Now I don't know if I want to push it hard to see what will happen (fun) or remember that I bought it for quiet, relaxing, play while watching TV use only (not as fun).

Decisions.

[roset]

I like the gritty tone, but if it`s broken and will turn into a fuzzbox within the next months I´m not so sure....

[roset]

A little soundclip

[roset]

Any more inputs? No reply from Loud/Ampeg customer service

[JimmyM]

I listened, and I'm just not sure what to make of it.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I listened, and I'm just not sure what to make of it.

+1

Try a different cab?

[roset]

As said beford, different cabs, same sound