b100r - good deal?

[LeeP]

I saw a b100r for sale for $350. From the pics it looks to be in good shape. Is this a good deal?

[Rob Martinez]

Yeah, these went for about $500 new, and the fact that they are sought after and considered a great amp by most, I would get it if you REALLY want it. Or hold out and see if something comes up on ebay for less.

I have one and will not sell it. Great combo!

[Bongolation]

A few caveats:

The Made in USA ones are preferable. Some of the imports are OK, some have problems.

The covering is incredibly easy to scuff up, and the usual crummy CL-grade phone photo may not show this damage clearly if you're shopping used online.

If you get a nice one, they are great amps, though low-powered. Aside from the QC issues on some of the imports, the low power is the only criticism I've ever read of them here.

I bagged a 100% mint "used" USA one for $269 at Guitar Center a couple of years ago. It still had the plastic membrane and stickers on the control surface.

[ilovenofrets]

Agreed. They are only 100 watts, but if you don't need earth-shaking power, these sound REALLY nice. Played through one a few years ago, that warm and round tone was there! +1 for the USA models, more reliable than the import models. This has been said of pretty much all Ampeg stuff at this point.

[derridiandrift]

Fair price, not outstanding, depending on the condition. The above posts already spelled out the issue with the tolex. For that price it should be really clean. They are really nice sounding amps. Most of them rattle when you play them. The rattle can be controlled by tightening the screws and using soft shims between the chassis and the cabinet.

I have a B200r and I like it. Easily loud enough to get over the drums in a rock/blues band as long as the guitard isn't using a crazy loud amp. The 100 might not be loud enough. Sound techs have told me the DI on mine is pretty decent.

Good luck!

[JxBass]

They're no longer available new so if you want one it's a fair price, assuming the good condition and a USA model. One of my all time favorite combos. A loud 100 watts.

[Rob Martinez]

I will throw a wrench in this. I have an Asian made B100R and it is fantastic. I bought a used USA made B100R about a year ago, and sold it, as it was making crackling, popping, and fizzling noises at higher volumes.

I understand that generally, the USA models are better, but it is not always the case. Not in my experience at least. Today I cranked my Waterstone TP 12/32 12 string bass through my B100R, then my Hofner Icon Club bass, and the amp performed stunningly!

[loendmaestro]

Fair price.

Great amp.

Superb tone

Touchy tolex.

Love mine.

[bass dan]

My favorite amp to date. These are louder than you would think. It handles most small gigs and you can't beat the tone.

[Infidelity]

My favorite combo! It's a fair deal..

[tjh]

never had one, never played through one, always considered one ... how does one know country of origin on these ?? ... is it labeled??

... and does the 100 as well as the 200 have a balanced direct out?? thanks

[billoetjen]

I've tried them and the tone is fantastic. I was amazed. Ampeg really got this combo right.

[prd004]

Most everybody who has chimed in already hit the key points, but since I have one and love it I'll throw in my two cents.

Solid deal on a USA model, give her a test drive and if she works well scoop it up!

If it's an import I would pass, these are the "Loud Technology" Vietnam era Ampegs and have quality controll issues and aren't worth as much now, plus they will be worth even less in the future.

I'm a big fan of this amp, great sounds, great vibe. Not the loudest amp in the world, but for practice, studio, or lower volume rehersal/gigs these things rock!!!!!

I bought mine new from GC just after Ampeg went Vietnamese. I found an SLM USA version in a warehouse new in the box and got for around $560. Worth every penny.

[prd004]

PS The "good ones" have Made in U.S.A. silk screened on the controll panel. I would also check the serial plate to be dead sure. It should say Made in USA SLM Electronics

[stiles72]

+1 to what everyone has said about price and USA/import etc...

Even though it's 100 watts, it's going into a 4 ohm speaker so it's a "loud" 100 watts. I gig mine regularly in an oldies group and I've never had a volume issue. Best sounding modern Ampeg I've owned, and second only to my '63 B-15 Portaflex for big round tone.

[JimmyM]

sorry but i think you guys are nuts with this stuff about the usa models being better. the tolex might have been better, but most of the usa models were made with osb and the vietnamese models were made with plywood, which automatically makes the usa models not better imho.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

sorry but i think you guys are nuts with this stuff about the usa models being better. the tolex might have been better...

It wasn't Tolex, but unbacked textured soft vinyl. Tolex would have been a huge improvement. I think the US and import stuff was identical, and I'm sure that whatever was on the import stuff couldn't have been any worse than what was on mine.

Mine's magically unscathed, but it's only because I never go near the amp. I scuffed an unexposed area with my knuckle, if you can believe it.

but most of the usa models were made with osb and the vietnamese models were made with plywood, which automatically makes the usa models not better imho.

MDF and OSB are sonically less resonant = technically better than wood or plywood in speaker cabinets. MDF weighs a ton and is fragile, so it's a loser for mobile cabs, but OSB is remarkably strong and not that heavy (I've been doing a lot of work with it lately). In a cab this small, I don't think there's any significant difference except in production costs. Plywood's a bit stronger, but I doubt any of us would ever know the difference in real life in this amp.

The Asian Ampegs just had a lot of early production bugs, but the US ones didn't have perfect QC either.

[lowendblues]

Shoddy covering doesnt affect the tone. (Thats what its all about right?)

If I had one and really liked it , I'd just get it recovered with something better.

[billoetjen]

Originally Posted by stiles72

Even though it's 100 watts, it's going into a 4 ohm speaker so it's a "loud" 100 watts.

I agree that it arguably may be the best-sounding SS combo of all-time. But...

... the 100 watts is the power rating @ 4 ohms. It'd be 50 watts into 8. I think.

[Rob Martinez]

I guess I just got a good one. My Asian made B100R is as good or better than the USA made one I sold. Anyway, I saw there is a B100R on ebay for less than $300.