Ampeg Micro VR on order!

[NortyFiner]

After spending months mulling over buying a new amp, I took advantage of GC's President's Day sale to order a new Ampeg Micro VR mini-stack. It is on backorder, but for 15% off, I am willing to wait for it. It hopefully will replace my Acoustic B200, with which I have had a love-hate relationship ever since I bought it.

Regarding the Acoustic B200: I like the B200's "vintage" tone, and really like its 6-band EQ. BUT, it is so bloody HEAVY, and it isn't home-practice-friendly, since it has no aux input or headphone jack. If not for those few things, the Acoustic would be a perfect amp for me.

Regarding the Ampeg Micro VR: it is admirably simple. It has what I consider necessary features, and leaves off the bells and whistles; I don't need onboard effects, amp modeling or other fancy stuff. It is lighter and more portable than my B200, for when I play away from home. I am just a small-time hobbyist; I have no need for more than 200W. It sounded great when I tried it in the store, but didn't have the money then to buy it. It also has aesthetic appeal; I like the classic Ampeg look on a neat little mini-stack.

I also considered the GK MB series combos and MB200 head (which I would have paired with a MBE210 or 212 cab), but I wanted more of a basic, "classic" bass tone than those amps seem to have. I also must admit, the recent run of threads here about problems with GK amps and customer service had some effect on my decision.

My expectations are high for my new Ampeg. I hope I am not disappointed.

Any thoughts?

[vinnydbass]

very cool man. i bought one in august. im really happy with it. i have an swr/hartke setup that i use for louder gigs, but the ampeg has proved to be quite useful on small bar gigs and jazz gigs. check out some of my more recent videos, there recorded from the micro vr!

www.youtube.com/joerobot32

[JimmyM]

i own a 1969 blue line svt/1973 810 as well as a 1964 b-15n, the king daddies of vintage ampegs. since i got the micro vr stack for christmas last year, sunday's gig was the first time i used either one of the tube ampegs (b-15n), and if i hadn't needed the second channel, i would have used the micro vr on that gig, too.

there are only two ways to be disappointed in the micro vr:

1. you don't want the sound of the world's greatest bass amp in a 35 lb. package.

b. you expect it to be as loud and powerful as a 300w tube head mated with an 810.

[jkramer5]

I got both the head and a 2 x10 cab just after Christmas. I love em both.

My only gripe about the head is the fan. It's loud. I bought the rig primarily for recording and the fan gets picked up by the mic. I thought about returning it but had already tossed the packing materials. I instead called the Ampeg parts dept and ordered a new fan. Unfortunately it was louder than the original. A call back to them and they sent me a replacement free of charge. It's no better than the original one. Oh well.

I "solved" the problem by making a longer speaker cable and moving the amp away from the cab and mic when I record it. The DI also sounds nice but it's a little hissy to use all the time for recording.

That said, I'm totally happy with it's tone. I too had considered a GK rig but after hearing the micro VR I was totally sold, it had the exact tone I wanted with very little fussing around.


Sound clips, direct with and without backing track if you're interested

[JimmyM]

i grew up with loud fans. i can't even tell the fan is on in the micro vr compared to the fan in my old svt.

[madmatt]

Have any of you guys used the send jack on a Micro VR to the return jack on another amp?
I was wondering if the VR tone would transfer to another amp with more wattage.

A side note: Every time I try to look at Ampeg's website about the micro VR, Internet Exploder locks up. Ever have that problem?

[jkramer5]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i grew up with loud fans. i can't even tell the fan is on in the micro vr compared to the fan in my old svt.

Ampeg Micro-VR fan

How nice, I'm not comparing it to the fan in your old SVT though lol I'm comparing it to the fans in the 3 computers, mixers, preamps, and other gear in this room that sit 6 to 8 feet closer to me than the head does that I can't hear at all in this room.

There's a Mcro-VR stack at a local store that is totally silent, I kow it isn't something that is across the board with em, however I've also read plenty of posts here and elsewhere that other owners have the same problem.

What puzzles me is that I have 3 fans here that are all noisey, with #2 sounding like an eggbeater lol.

I'm thinkng about drilling out the mounting holes in the amps back plate to add some rubber gromets. That's tamed the vibration noise in some HTPC and DAW workstations I've built.

I agree that for live use it's not even an issue. However if there's a mic and a quiet room involved it could be.

[JimmyM]

wow j, you're sensititive to fan noise! it was only slightly louder than the background noise

[jkramer5]

Taking into account that that is a youtube video where I have no control over the audio compression/degradation and and that the webcam mic that picked that up is no where as good as the mics I use to record the speakers, ya I guess I am sensitive to fan noise.

Ampeg is too because they sent me a free fan based on that video, the guy on the phone said, "WOW! that's the FAN!?" I didn't call all bent out of shape or anything, I just asked the parts guy if he thought this was ok or not.

[sockmonkee]

I got both the head and a 2 x10 cab last week and i love it. My only complain is that the legs on the head dont match up with the Cab. Does anyone know to fix this? Its not that big of a deal but it just bugs me.

[jkramer5]

Originally Posted by sockmonkee

I got both the head and a 2 x10 cab last week and i love it. My only complain is that the legs on the head dont match up with the Cab. Does anyone know to fix this? Its not that big of a deal but it just bugs me.

Really? Someone must have been off on a measurement somewhere, it's not like the cups in the cab are for another head or something.

Maybe take a tape measure to both and see if you can find a leg out of whack on the cab and move it?

[ShowKing]

You'll love the micro-vr + svt210.
I got the micro-vr with 2x svt210's.
Great tone, simple, with 2x cabs it's loud enough for the gigs i'm doing.
It has a D.I output, you'll be loud enough going through a PA system if you need it.
Tone is amazing! I don't feel the need of upgrading to another amp after getting this setup

[LowKee]

Oddly enough, I am about to buy a b200 to replace my micro-vr which just died on me. It was a great little amp though.

[vin*tone]

Originally Posted by jkramer5

I got both the head and a 2 x10 cab just after Christmas. I love em both.

My only gripe about the head is the fan. It's loud. I bought the rig primarily for recording and the fan gets picked up by the mic. I thought about returning it but had already tossed the packing materials. I instead called the Ampeg parts dept and ordered a new fan. Unfortunately it was louder than the original. A call back to them and they sent me a replacement free of charge. It's no better than the original one. Oh well.
...

If you get the specs on the fan I'll bet you'll be able to find a much quieter and more efficient computer case fan. A few of us have replaced our walkabout fans with noctua or Silenex equivalents. My W.A is now nearly silent.

Important specs will be dimension and air flow (voltage will probably 12V but check it). You want a replacement which gives a similar CFM figure with as low as possible dB rating. Google the part no. of the Ampeg replacement to get the data. The connection will be standard - no soldering required.

[jkramer5]

Originally Posted by vin*tone

If you get the specs on the fan I'll bet you'll be able to find a much quieter and more efficient computer case fan. A few of us have replaced our walkabout fans with noctua or Silenex equivalents. My W.A is now nearly silent.

Important specs will be dimension and air flow (voltage will probably 12V but check it). You want a replacement which gives a similar CFM figure with as low as possible dB rating. Google the part no. of the Ampeg replacement to get the data. The connection will be standard - no soldering required.

That's what I started with heh, it's a 24v 0.18A fan, 60x60x I can't remember the thickness. I couldn't find similar that seemed like it would be better so i called Ampeg and ordered the first replacement from them. Also the connector isn't the same as a standard PC fan, I can change that but just wanted to clarify that.

I've taken up enough of O.P.'s thread, I hope he gets and enjoys his amp, I love mine.

[Fabass73]

Originally Posted by jkramer5

Ampeg Micro-VR fan

How nice, I'm not comparing it to the fan in your old SVT though lol I'm comparing it to the fans in the 3 computers, mixers, preamps, and other gear in this room that sit 6 to 8 feet closer to me than the head does that I can't hear at all in this room.

There's a Mcro-VR stack at a local store that is totally silent, I kow it isn't something that is across the board with em, however I've also read plenty of posts here and elsewhere that other owners have the same problem.

What puzzles me is that I have 3 fans here that are all noisey, with #2 sounding like an eggbeater lol.

I'm thinkng about drilling out the mounting holes in the amps back plate to add some rubber gromets. That's tamed the vibration noise in some HTPC and DAW workstations I've built.

I agree that for live use it's not even an issue. However if there's a mic and a quiet room involved it could be.

You should contact this company called Digikey: http://www.digikey.com/?curr=USD
they sell electronic parts and they have every kind of fans you can ever think of.
I had the same problem with my WTX-500 from Eden, it sounded like an helicopter, so I contacted Eden customer support, they gave me the part number and the contact at Digikey, I contacted them and explained my problem, I asked them if they had a fan with the same spec. but more silent, and they found me one. Now I can't even tell if the fan is on or not. Hope that helps. Fabrice.

[Fabass73]

You should contact this company called Digikey: http://www.digikey.com/?curr=USD
they sell electronic parts and they have every kind of fans you can ever think of.
I had the same problem with my WTX-500 from Eden, it sounded like an helicopter, so I contacted Eden customer support, they gave me the part number and the contact at Digikey, I contacted them and explained my problem, I asked them if they had a fan with the same spec. but more silent, and they found me one. Now I can't even tell if the fan is on or not. Hope that helps. Fabrice.

[peterbright]

Don't notice the fan on mine. I'm running it through 2 of the 2x10's with a SA BDDI running into the effects return on the front end.

[doktorfeelgood]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i own a 1969 blue line svt/1973 810 as well as a 1964 b-15n, the king daddies of vintage ampegs. since i got the micro vr stack for christmas last year, sunday's gig was the first time i used either one of the tube ampegs (b-15n), and if i hadn't needed the second channel, i would have used the micro vr on that gig, too.

there are only two ways to be disappointed in the micro vr:

1. you don't want the sound of the world's greatest bass amp in a 35 lb. package.

b. you expect it to be as loud and powerful as a 300w tube head mated with an 810.

Say Hey Jimmy...
What's up, brah...
I've been mulling over getting one of these and now that I've read yer glowing endorsement of it, that's all I need. I have always been intrigued by this amp. It's perfect for my home practice amp. Hope you are well... )-(

[BZadlo]

Crap!
Now I want one...