Last week one of my students asked me an opinon about a his first real amplifier. He used to have a tiny Ibanez 10w
So we went to the store and I told to the clerk: I want to test this Ampeg BA 115HP and this Hartke HyDrive 112C. I suppose the right choice was among these two amps. I played a Yamaha BB 414 for testing all amps.
First Ampeg, naturally. Sitted in front this one I told to my student put all in the middle, flat eq and bass also in flat but the amp didn't responded, well at this point should be sound loud, we are talking about 220w... Something strange was happening suddenly I call to the clerk and I told him hey the first knob is wrong! check it out, so he took it off using a all his force as possible. A non recommended scene for a student seeking for his new amplifier.
I told them these china people don't have quality control... what the hell? it is an Ampeg!
Well, I continue with the test... and I asked for more hi freq volume, 'cause you know this amp and others from the BA series have in the back an independent hi freq volume. Nothing happened even when the knob was close to 9 o'clock I told them please turn it off, I was disappointed.
It's time for non my favorite one but well if you wanna sell it later, will be easier. Same bass and flat eq, I said well here let's open the volume, and when the volume was on 1 or 2 o'clock the speaker started to farting... oh no! Please turn it off... where are the 250w?
I told them let's test that Marshall 150W mmmmm could be... After repeat the same process I found out the amp was loud but nothing clear, and just using the clear channel obviously. Hi freq was not clear, and the sound very dirty, like an excessive sustain.
No, "we want a amplifier where you can listening your bass as it is" then we could use the e-tuners and overdrives... The sales manager told me "Test this one, it is from Canada" at these time the store was closed and we were alone testing the amps yet. I said: Traynor, what about these brand?
He told me Yorkville bla bla bla, so ok, ok, let's give a chance to this one.
Without special features like tuners, nor effects included. Just a simple bass amplifier, a 15" speaker, one driver, when the volume was close to 11 o'clock this thing was loud and clearer than the others. 200w @4ohms for a guy looking for a new amp... great. Good materials, light, seems so serious and I told them this is the right choice over those.
I'm surprised about it. This is the amp he bought:
http://www.traynoramps.com/products....&cat=64&id=387
