Tell me if you've used one.

[sound of bass]

Yesterday I went to a local used music / instrument shop that is quite popular, decent gear with decent deals....been there before. I was shopping for a bigger watt amp 100 / 120w range, the sales guy took me right to an Ampeg, cant remember the model #, but it was 120w. I was excited, Ive heard alot about Ampeg on this site, but when I plugged in i could barely hear my axe (2007 Fender J), made sure all the dials were correct, gain was up, bass volume, etc. I had to max out the amp volume to be audible! Possibly something wrong with the amp? Could be. Then I noticed a Peavey TKO 80 1x15 sitting behind it, only 80 watts but what the heck.... Well,I was blown away by the tone and clarity! Not to mention the volume levels, it also features a 7 band eq. Ive heard good and bad about Peavey also but I couldnt let that amp go, at $160.00 it seemed a good value, the Ampeg was $269.00! Has anyone used this particular amp model? And your thoughts?

[spaz21387]

so that ampeg combo you are talking about was probably the ba112. which is actually 50 watts, And hisses bad. It does have that ampeg tone but wont keep up with a drummer. For practice with a drummer you have to go atleast 100 watts or run through a pa which is way lighter. but chances are where your practicing wont have a pa. The ampeg is good for bedroom practice and maybe coffee shop gigs but that would be it. And peavey is usualy regarded by most(especially guitarists) as crap. but I really like peaveys amps they are solid and sound great.

[odin70]

Originally Posted by spaz21387

And peavey is usualy regarded by most(especially guitarists) as crap

Guitarists like EVH and Joe Satriani ?

[elzeder]

Hi
Well i don t know what Ampeg your talking about but their small combos sometimes lack a bit of punch and presence, some will say its a common ampeg thing

As far as the TKO is concerned I ve owned it for more than 10 years and it has always done the trick, even on bigger stages it can serve as a decent monitor in your back if you have PA support.
The 80 W sometimes limit it a bit and it will overdrive if pushed too much for too long (2-3hour gig)

[craig.p]

Assuming the amp was faulty, and it sure sounds like it was (unless there was a faulty instrument cable involved in that and ONLY that particular test), I can't imagine they'd even allow something like that on the floor. You said the salesman "took you right to" that amp. Hmmm... To me, that's the most interesting part of this story.

Only other possibility I can think of is that you plugged into an effects return jack, but that's a real long shot, especially if the volume and tone controls were doing anything at all, but I'm assuming -- maybe incorrectly -- that effects return is downstream of volume and tone.

Strange story.

[Turock]

Originally Posted by spaz21387

so that ampeg combo you are talking about was probably the ba112. which is actually 50 watts, And hisses bad.

Hiss? Makes me wonder if you actually have any experience with these amps.

[Muckaluck]

I think Peavey has some great stuff. At band practice I play an older Peavey 1X15 combo with the black widow speaker in it. With the 7 band eq there are many tone shaping options and it can cut through a marshall stack.

I remember playing an Ampeg B-2RE at a Daddy's Junky Music once. It sounded sterile and quiet to me.

If you don't mind lugging them back and forth I think the Peaveys are great amps.

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by odin70

Guitarists like EVH and Joe Satriani ?

+1

[arginator]

Does the Ampeg have separate inputs for active and passive basses? If your bass is passive and you plugged into the active input, that may account for the lack of volume.

[Jim C]

Peavey TKO Bass Amps:

After the horrible nuclear war that planet earth experienced all things were destroyed and died with the exception of cockroaches and TKO amps; "getting it done from the begining of time to well past the end of it"

[skwee]

Originally Posted by Jim C

Peavey TKO Bass Amps:

After the horrible nuclear war that planet earth experienced all things were destroyed and died with the exception of cockroaches and TKO amps; "getting it done from the begining of time to well past the end of it"

Now, that's funny!

[B-string]

I always find it interesting that people get so offended and defensive if you don't say that "Ampeg" is the greatest thing since sliced bread? I use the quotes because it is always "Ampeg" by who. Ampeg is name that has been bought and sold many times folks. Some lame equipment HAS been sold just because the name "Ampeg" was legally printed on it. As a previous (Magnavox) "Ampeg" owner it offends me to see "SVT" printed on anything where it seems concurrent owners can fit the printing in. Gallien, Peavey, Hartkie all bear the name of the men that started and still own/run the product line. Just my mini rant and food for thought.

[logicman69]

I have a feeling Peavey used to be conservitive with their wattage ratings. I remember having a Mark IV in the store that said 200W @ 4ohms, but man was that thing LOUD!!! It easily kept up with any "500W" amp in the store.

[sound of bass]

Thanks for the attention with this matter. Whatever the problem was, It was not on my end,gear....wrong inputs etc. after at least triple checking. Im not knocking Ampeg, I have no other experience with them to judge, but Im super happy with the Peavey..after only 3 days, great tone, loud enough 1x15 8ohm. The only drawback is it weighs a ton! Im considering putting casters under it, otherwise Im impressed. Thanks for the help.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by B-string

I always find it interesting that people get so offended and defensive if you don't say that "Ampeg" is the greatest thing since sliced bread? I use the quotes because it is always "Ampeg" by who. Ampeg is name that has been bought and sold many times folks. Some lame equipment HAS been sold just because the name "Ampeg" was legally printed on it. As a previous (Magnavox) "Ampeg" owner it offends me to see "SVT" printed on anything where it seems concurrent owners can fit the printing in. Gallien, Peavey, Hartkie all bear the name of the men that started and still own/run the product line. Just my mini rant and food for thought.

if it wasn't for the rampant half truths and old wives' tales you see from people (mostly young kids) who you can just tell have never done a single gig with an ampeg tuber, i wouldn't care at all. honestly, the ba115 (which is a way more likely culprit in this scenario than the ba112) isn't what i'd call a great amp. good for the money, and has a certain personality to it, but definitely NOT what people should think of when they think of ampeg.

[sound of bass]

HA! Yes Jimmy, the BA115 it was...couldnt remember, thanx. It wasnt a tube amp though and Im really too inexpierienced with amps / models to make any judgement other than what my ears hear at the time and the Peavey matches what I hear in my head and it really does thump. First rehearsal with it tonight.

[Pickeral]

Being a fan of bright clear bass guitar, along with some bass of course, I've never been a big fan of Ampeg. They have the smooth lows down. I'm not sold on them for the clarity offered by Mesa-Boogie, SWR etc. I haven't heard SWR post-Fender but my older model sounds awesome, to me. When I'm forced to play thru Ampeg or once Carvin, I spend more time trying to "fix" the EQ than i should.

Each of us has a different version of "perfect tone".. It's a fun art of its own that I never totally realized until I recently had to play on foreign gear. Maybe the Ampeg sounded "quiet" to you because your version of good or loud is different than fans of the Ampeg. That certainly is the case for me.

Regardless, \m/

[73jbass]

I've always thought most Ampeg stuff was underpowered,especially the combos.

[jtc_hunter]

Those old TKO's are loud and dependable workhorses. Probably one of the best bang for the buck deals(used) out there. The only drawback-- they are very heavy.

[gregoire1]

Originally Posted by Jim C

Peavey TKO Bass Amps:

After the horrible nuclear war that planet earth experienced all things were destroyed and died with the exception of cockroaches and TKO amps; "getting it done from the begining of time to well past the end of it"

definately