Ampeg B-100r Rocket Aficionados

[barroso]

That's true. This is a nice looking combo. In its classy blue and silve outfit. Honestly the 100w only, make this not a superpowerful amplifiers, but I still find it useful for most of the duties of an amateur bass player. It's simple and easy to operate and has a really warm Ampeg sound. In brief, that's still a lovely amp.

Who agrees?

 

[JimmyM]

Closest thing to a B-15 on the market today.

 

[coreyfyfe]

Closest thing to a B-15 on the market today.

Yup. Two albums that come to mind are Glassjaw's EYEWTKAS and Saves the Day's Sound the Alarm. Same bass player, using a blend of a clean DI and an overdriven amp. He used a 60's B15 on one, B100R on the other. You'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.

 

[main_sale]

Another B-100R fan here. I've had mine for close to ten years now and it has been absolutely 100% reliable. It's tone is excellent, especially for a SS amp. There might just be some kind of magic going on in there somewhere.

 

[rayzak]

Another B-100R fan here. I've had mine for close to ten years now and it has been absolutely 100% reliable. It's tone is excellent, especially for a SS amp. There might just be some kind of magic going on in there somewhere.

I've had mine for somewhere around 7 years and I couldn't sum it up any better. I love the sound coming out of that good lookin' combo.

 

[bassvi]

I want one!!!

 

[barroso]

Closest thing to a B-15 on the market today.

do you feel that the b-100r is more close to the original portaflex sound than the B-15r (all tube reissue)?

that's not the first time i hear about this...

 

[JimmyM]

do you feel that the b-100r is more close to the original portaflex sound than the B-15r (all tube reissue)?

that's not the first time i hear about this...

I haven't heard the B-15R in person, but I have a general rule with Ampeg amps...tubes are always better than no tubes.

 

[z4string]

I ditched my BA112 and searched one out. Got a used one (made in the USA !) for < $300 and I get tons of compliments on how good it sounds. I mainly use it for rehearsal and recording but it will do a small gig and hold it's own.. By far the best 100W combo made today, and it looks as cool as it sounds. It gets the b-15 vibe, but I'm still looking for an old B-15 at a reasonable price.

 

[stiles72]

I bought a used USA/SLM B-100r by chance one day when I got a call to fill in with a local band that plays a lot of '60's material, and I was amazed at how it sounded - especially for a SS amp. I recently acquired a '63 B-15NA, and in my opinion, the B-100r is closer to the original than the B-15r. The B-15R has it's own magic- but I think the way the B-100R is ported on the back gives it the extra depth that is missing with a lot of other amps.

 

[totallyfrozen]

Question for you all:
Please be 100% honest--and if you don't know, just say so--or don't post--either way.
OTHER THAN the patriotic value of supporting American commerce, are the Made in USA B-100R's actually "better than" the foreign made B-100R's. I did my 8 years as an Army combat medic so I understand and value the loyalty and patriotism to our country; however, I'm really asking about SOUND QUALITY and BUILD QUALITY.

Has anyone here actually laid hands on both makes of the Ampeg B-100R and can give me an unbiased opinion?

I'm looking at getting one of these amps. I've heard them live and I've researched them. I love the sound and the size. Do to my locale (Alaska), it's not likely that I will find an "older" Ampeg B-100R available around here. I believe these combos have been made over seas for several years already. Are the "new" amps the same as the "older" amps?
If not, why? (please be specific)

Thanks, in advance, for your time.

 

[Groover]

I have a B100R (Made in USA), and a B200R (Made in China).

I'm keeping the 100, but done with the 200. Not necessarily because of USA/China issues.

The "finish" quality (as in the tolex) seams a little cleaner on the USA (100R).

The reason I'm getting rid of the 200 is because of poor design, and that's done in the US. The amp chassis is Aluminum on the 200, whereas plywood on the 100.

The chassis on the 200 chassis vibrates and cannot be stopped. I've returned it twice (as in the one I have now is my 3rd one... yes, trying to give it a fair chance), and tinkered on my own to try and stop vibration to no luck.

That said, other than the tolex tidiness (and it's minimal too), I'd say the USA and China 100's are most likely close in quality.

Also, I've compared a 410HLF USA cab versus a China version... Again, the Tolex tightness seems the main thing visually (again, minimal), but in this case also the USA cab was heavier than the China, and I'm not sure why and not sure if being a tad lighter for the China is necessarily a bad thing for that cab.....

Although not straight apples to apples review for totallyfrozen, I still hope it helps.

 

[chunkstyle]

a very loud 100 watts...

 

[Bongolation]

I'm curious...

I've heard a hundred times here the old saw that the B-100R is "almost" a B-15, etc., blah...

So, for someone -- like me -- who has never used the B-15 and is not even clear on what one sounds like, but who has a B-100R (nice Yellville build), how does he get the closest approximation of "the B-15 sound" from it? The B-100R has a lot of fiddly bits to set up and a good deal of tonal variety.

Thanks for any insights.

 

[loendmaestro]

I wish I could get my big rig to sound like my B100R. I finally quit taking it to gigs cuz the beautiful tolex kept getting torn!

 

[RickenBoogie]

Sometimes wish I still had my B100R, but it's long gone. A B15R is really a huge step up, tonally though. Good as the B100R is, the tube version will just blow it away, imo. I have a V4BH, (same amp as the B15R), and an SVT15e, which is as close to the B15R as you can get. No comparison to the B100R at all. Again, I'm not knocking the amp, it's great. But in response to Bongolation's post, my point is, no contest.

 

[JimmyM]

I'm curious...

I've heard a hundred times here the old saw that the B-100R is "almost" a B-15, etc., blah...

So, for someone -- like me -- who has never used the B-15 and is not even clear on what one sounds like, but who has a B-100R (nice Yellville build), how does he get the closest approximation of "the B-15 sound" from it? The B-100R has a lot of fiddly bits to set up and a good deal of tonal variety.

Thanks for any insights.

That tone is built into it, but I generally just go for setting them flat and that gets me a tone very much in the ballpark of my early 60's B-15N. Yeah, Rickenboogie is correct that the tube heads are a big step up, but the B100R is a superb little SS combo that is very reminiscent of the classic tone.

 

[Lync]

I own a B100r, B15N, and a V4BH + SVT115 cab (or 610hlf) depending on the gig.

The B100r sounds good but doesn't have a lot of bottom. It does go louder than the B15N however (although the B15N has a sweeter tone).

The V4BH is my favorite out of all of them. You get tube heaven, but with modern perks like a DI.

The B100r could stand to be a bit lighter for what it is. I may throw a Neo speaker into eventually to see if that will help out.

 

[Bongolation]

I finally quit taking it to gigs cuz the beautiful tolex kept getting torn!

I've said here before that whatever the plastic covering is, it's the most fragile stuff I've ever seen covering an amp.

If I ever start using it, the first thing I'm going to get (or more likely make) is a padded cover.

 

[Bongolation]

I generally just go for setting them flat and that gets me a tone very much in the ballpark of my early 60's B-15N.

OK: Flat, boosts off. I can do that!

So, is the tone stack pretty flat on these? Amazingly, I've never used this more than a half hour or so since I bought it new for $269 a few years back at a Guitar Center sale. Great price, couldn't pass it up.

Mine sits here in the bedroom on top of a Invalid Link Removed both pretty much in storage as I have far too many amps & cabs to actually use (poor me, huh?). The BB, by the way, is a HUGE sounding amp at low volumes.