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Reviews
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Date of last review
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6
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10376
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Mon October 5, 2009
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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120% of reviewers
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$564.00
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8.8
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supersize
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Description:
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Solid state reliability and tube warmth combined!
The B200R draws upon the legacy of the famous Ampeg Portaflex Flip Top from the 1960s, combining the sound, feel, and tone of this classic amplifier with solid-state technology for lightweight, maintenance-free reliability.
The B200R features a 12AU7 preamp tube; 220 watts of power driving a custom-designed, 15" Eminence speaker; and a piezo high-frequency component for additional punch and tonal clarity at the upper end. Four bands of EQ plus Ultra Low, Ultra Mid, and Ultra High switches let you fine-tune your sound with ease and efficiency. Also features a balanced XLR output with level control.
Ampeg B200R Rocket Bass Diamond Blue Series 1x15 220 Watt Bass Combo Amp Features:
* 220W
* 12AU7 preamp tube
* 15" custom driver
* Piezo tweeter
* 4-band EQ
* Ultra Low, Ultra Mid, Ultra High EQ switches
* XLR output
Inspired by a '60s classic with features for the 21st century.
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Author
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sickest beast
Registered User
Registered: April 2006
Location: niagara falls, ON
Posts: 309
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Review Date: Mon May 22, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $740.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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tone, simplicity, single pre-amp tube, line-out
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Cons:
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weight
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well the diamond blue series amps are known for their amazing tone, so imagine a b-100r with a touch of tube warmth, and enough power to play some decent sized gigs.
i was looking for a compact sized combo (1x15, 2x10) with enough power to play medium sized gigs in a power-trio. i play with a very loud guitarist and drummer. i play with a pick using a very trebly midrange growl tone and this amp pulls it off perfectly. I have no problems hearing myself over a 60 watt all tube guitar amp running 2 12s.
the post-preamp line out with adjustable level was the perfect touch to this already powerful amp.
im just so happy with this amp. it's a pleasure to play every time.
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|| ampeg club #485 || big cabs club #111 || mesa boogie club #118
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lowendblues
Registered User
Registered: October 2004
Location: Midwest
Posts: 361
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Review Date: Wed May 24, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $595.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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compact, great sounding, very retro looking, came with pop out casters.
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Cons:
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None.
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I bought one of these sight unseen, looking for the ultimate combo for home and small gigs. Im not disapointed. A larger combo 22.25"W x 22.50"H x 14.25" deep, coming in at 69lbs. Has one 12AU7 tube in the preamp section a XLR line out on the front control panel with a knob to adjust the signal level going out to the board or phones. Very cool amp. It has two speaker connections on the back. One for the amp and just the internal 4Ohm custom designed Eminence speaker, and another for the speaker and the 1" high efficiency tweeter. The tweeter is not at all overbearing like some can be. Simple, very nice I think. 
I recommend.
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Avatar club member #139 / Rickenbacker club member #188 /Ohio Bassist club #107 /Carvin club member #112
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markjazzbassist
wishing i were willie weeks...
Registered: April 2005
Location: Bay Village, Ohio
Posts: 7957
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Review Date: Sun July 9, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $650.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Great Tone, Great Value, Looks Really Cool Too
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Cons:
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None
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This amp is great. I play a passive jazz bass with it and it gives me a great vintage vibe. The tube preamp thickens the tone up a bit for a great sound. The amp has casters which is nice since it's a little heavy. The DI is really great too since you can adjust the level. The EQ section is versatile and the Tweeter ON/OFF options are great too. I highly recommend this amp.
If you dig old school vibe, this is the portable amp for you. I found the wattage to be decent, but it was not enough for larger gigs.
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Bassist for Kate Voegele
My Website
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ricky
Registered User
Registered: April 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 9
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Review Date: Mon April 28, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $250.00
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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warm tone
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Cons:
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heavy
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There was a wiring problem with some of these as some reviews have documented. I was luck enough to pick one up from a guy who had it this fixed.
Very nice flatwound and gut string upright tone for country or blues at a moderate volume. Awesome looks and vibe. It is a nice step until I have an xtra $1500 for a new reissued Portaflex B-15.
When played too loud, the chassis emits a slight rattle or buzz, not heard over a drummer, but the whole thing vibrates, so don't leave a beer on top- or will slide off half-way through a tune like it did w/ me.
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http://myspace.com/rickyonbass
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Fotopulos
Registered User
Registered: December 2006
Location: Missouri
Posts: 3
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Review Date: Sun August 3, 2008
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $599.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Great sound. Plenty of volume. Highly portable.
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Cons:
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Rattles, but easy to fix (see review)
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There have been a lot of things posted about this amp, and I'll try to address as many of them as I can based on my opinion and experience.
First of all, it sounds great! I play '57 & '62 reissue P-Basses with Thomastik flatwound strings. I run the gain where it's barely/occasionally peaking in the red (just like the owner's manual says to do), and I push in the ultra low, mid cut, and ultra high buttons. Depending on the venue, I run the lows at about 7, the low mids at about 1, the high mids at about 3, and the treble at about 6 or 7. I leave the horn plugged in, and I run the master at anywhere between 5 & 8. I set the DI level at about 2 or 3. It's a pretty hot signal.
What I get with this setting is a sound that I would describe as being similar to that of an SVT (One of the good ones from the 70's). Plenty of lows. No overbearing, squawky highs, and no honky midrange. Of course, it's not as loud as an SVT, because it's not moving as much air, but I have yet to have a problem with not having enough volume, and I've used it for several outdoor gigs. Yes, it does need to be in the mains of you're going to cover a big room or a large outdoor area, but what amp doesn't? (Unless, you're a rock star with a wall of heads and cabinets behind you.)
I read all about the problem with the horn connection blowing fuses when you unplug it/replug it, so I had the guy at the music store try doing that before I bought it. No blown fuse. Just to be on the safe side, I always make sure the amp is completely powered down before switching. I'm not electronics genius, but I'd say that of the amp is off, there's little chance that it will blow a fuse. But as I said earlier, I leave the horn plugged in, anyway.
As for the rattles...yes, mine did rattle. I emphasize "did." I didn't notice the rattle until I used the amp at it's first outdoor gig. It was an easy fix. All I had to do was tighten all of the mounting screws for the chassis (three on each upper-back side of the amp), and all the screws that hold the back panel on. The were all pretty loose. A few turns of the screws, and no more rattle. I also tightened the handle screws for good measure.
Another poster mentioned the fact that the amp vibrates quite a bit. Yes, it does, because the lows thump on it. So...yes, anything you put on it will probably vibrate off. An open beverage container can, and probably will, spill into the amp. I don't put open beverage containers on amps with top mounted controls anyway. It's asking for a fried amp. I used to play with a guy who chewed tobacco, and he always left his spittoon cup on top of his Ampeg guitar amp with top-mounted controls. One time, he knocked his full (and I do mean full) spittoon over and it all poured in to the amp and fried it on the spot. So...I learned my lesson from seeing that.
Here's a little something else for you all to think about: I also have an Ampeg B100R. The other night, I experimented with running them both together. I plugged my bass into the B100R, then I ran from the 1/4 inch line out into the -15 db input on the B200R. I had to cut all the EQ's quite bit on the B100R to keep the gain down, but I basically left the B200R set like I always set it. What I got was massive tone. I think I'll use this setup again just for fun, but like I said earlier, the amp has plenty of volume on its own. By the way, try this at your own risk. I have no idea of doing this will fry your amp. I'm sure some knowledgeable poster will let us all know. It didn't fry mine, and I used it that way for a 2 1/2 hour show. If you do try this sort of rig, I would recommend not running them together by plugging the line out of the smaller amp into the 0 db input of the bigger amp. It caused too much gain and some distortion...and it was uncontrollably, ridiculously loud. I think that in the future I might try running them both with an ABY box without chaining them together to see what that sounds like.
One more thing...and this might sound like a no brainer...but you can pop off the back wheels and give your self a nice tilt-back amp. But then you can't easily see the controls. (However, it would negate the possibility of setting something on top of it that might spill.) I never really tilt mine back though, because I'm of the belief that a bass amp sounds best when the speaker is close to the floor.
So all in all, it's a great amp, and I'm completely satisfied. You get a great sound with a great volume, without having to lug around a giant cabinet.
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