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Ampeg B-100r Rocket Aficionados

#81
I recently took my Fender '51 P RI to a jam where a friend had his B15N set up -- his is about a '70 model, so somewhat different from my '63. I plugged the '51 into it, and damned if it didn't fill the room with the warmest, most present bass I can remember. It wasn't a sound, it was a feeling. Oh yeah, that's why everyone loves B15Ns!

It's a shame they are so heavy and fragile and underpowered -- and expensive. =sigh=

In any case, it reminded me that the B100R was a compromise.
 
#82
I abused the crap out of my B-200R when I used it. I played it in a really abrasive, heavy band. It held up until my guitarist bought a half stack. I ran it through a 2x15 and was back in business. I specifically remember dropping it down a flight of stairs (almost crushing my guitarists sleeping brother) and it never skipped a beat.

I would never engage any of the hi,mid or low filters, I found they either muddied the tone or sucked out some noticeable power. I was able to get a great grindy bass tone with very little EQ tweeking. If i remember correctly, I would run my treble, hi and lo mids at about 1oclock, and bass at about 11oclock with the Gain up nice and high.

I must have gotten lucky with my B-200R, mine seems to be well made and solid. I've never had a problem in the 4 or so years I've owned it. Hell, I used to let a couple buddy bassists of mine gig with it when I wasn't using it.

I could have done a LOT worse for my first real bass amp.
 
#83
My B200R purchased last summer still works fine, and sounds great. It's never rattled or anything. I don't push it to the point of making it explode, but it's easy way louder than a B100R before it approaches what seems to be it's limit. Too bad about the QC issues when they came out, it was a great idea for a logical step up from the B100R if production quality had just been consistent.
 
#84
lpdeluxe said:
I recently took my Fender '51 P RI to a jam where a friend had his B15N set up -- his is about a '70 model, so somewhat different from my '63. I plugged the '51 into it, and damned if it didn't fill the room with the warmest, most present bass I can remember. It wasn't a sound, it was a feeling. Oh yeah, that's why everyone loves B15Ns!

It's a shame they are so heavy and fragile and underpowered -- and expensive. =sigh=

In any case, it reminded me that the B100R was a compromise.
Click to expand...
It's quite a good compromise, though. B-15's can be heavy, especially those from 69-79. And though I've seen some sweet deals on beaters, the nice ones are expensive. But fragile? Hardly. Really, they only require slightly more care than your average amp. I used my B-15 pretty hard for the first few years I had it and it always worked perfectly. It's only since I got it restored that I've had any trouble with it ;) But that was minor and she's running like a top now. Just blew it out tonight for 4 hours.
 
#85
bassvi said:
My B200R purchased last summer still works fine, and sounds great. It's never rattled or anything. I don't push it to the point of making it explode, but it's easy way louder than a B100R before it approaches what seems to be it's limit. Too bad about the QC issues when they came out, it was a great idea for a logical step up from the B100R if production quality had just been consistent.
Click to expand...


My B200R (purchased a short while after yours as I recall) is likewise still going strong. Granted I'm only using it as a practice amp, but the vibration/rattle issue so many of these had is nearly absent in mine, save only when I hit a D note at the 10th fret of the E string, and even that only happens on some of my basses. Some basses, like my Rics and Jazz basses, never make it buzz. It seems to be the P-basses and hollow bodies.

Love the tone this amp makes, still can't believe what a deal we got. :bassist:
 
#86
Groover said:
Defenetely a much more 60's vibe with the B15N.. almost sounded as if you switched to a Gibson EB0 or EB3 bass, which leads me to one question...... I wonder if turning the mids down just a tad more and plucking bass up more towards neck while on the 100r would get even closer to the B15N?
Click to expand...

Interesting you mention that - when I use the B-100R live, I play a Gibson T-bird and pluck more towards the neck. I do dial up the bass and cut the mids with the ultra mid cut and by turning down the low mid knob and that helps give it more "umpfffff" like the B-15.

Lync said:
I also have (and dig) both but there is just an inherent fatness you get with the B15N which cannot be replicated with the B100r.

Thing is, for most of us, the B15N is not loud enough for the band environment.
Click to expand...

When my 3-pros were down, I did a show with my "big dumb rock show" band and had paired the B-15 head to a Fender 4x12 cab, then rounded out the bottom with a V4BH and a 2x15. Even on it's own, the B-15 head really shined- and that was in the midst of a pair of Marshall half stacks! Now that I have the B-15 cabinet finished, I wouldn't be afraid to take it out anywhere. When Jess reconed the speaker, he made it a 4ohm load which helps gets the most out of the amp.
 
#87
JimmyM said:
But fragile? Hardly. Really, they only require slightly more care than your average amp. I used my B-15 pretty hard for the first few years I had it and it always worked perfectly. It's only since I got it restored that I've had any trouble with it ;) But that was minor and she's running like a top now. Just blew it out tonight for 4 hours.
Click to expand...

I beg to differ. I ended up spending several multiples of the purchase price on mine, during the 20+ years I owned it. It ran hot -- it heated up my little studio pretty effectively in the winter. And the peculiar tube selection made them hard to find when the old ones went microphonic. The final blow was when one of the transformers went and no replacement was to be had at any price...the tech bodged a fix that placed the new transformer in the bottom of the speaker case, but that was pretty much the end of my relationship with it, and I began borrowing amps to gig with.

For those reasons I certainly agree that the B100R was a great compromise.
 
#88
I have a new made in China B100R and a used MIA B100R. Both are great, no issues.

I had a B200R, liked it, but for my uses, it was just too much power. I know, many will say there can never be too much, but I like t drive an amp and the B200R just had to be too loud to get the tone I wanted.
 
#89
JimmyM said:
But fragile? Hardly. .
Click to expand...

I have to agree. I can't attest to the 70's models, but my '63 is built like a frikkin' tank. This thing is so "over engineered" that its borderline overkill. But, that's probably why I'm still able to gig out with it even though it's 46 years old. Other than cosmetics and consumable items, the bones of it are all original. Hopefully the B-100R holds up just as well.
 
#90
LP, it sounds like yours had some sort of issue already when you got it. Mine never runs hot. Warm, yes, but never that hot. Have no idea what it was but I assure you it's not the norm.

As for build quality over the years, I've owned a 77 and still own a 64. Believe it or not, I think the 77 head is built a little more solid than the 64.
 
#91
Awesome thread! It's started to make me reconsider my current rig!

I have SVT-3Pro and SVT-410HLF and they sound like a thunder!
Ballsy, bluesy, funky, dirty and powerfull... but way too heavy, too big and too loud for my current needs.

I had a B-200R not so long time ago, but I had a "strange" one - chinese amp with USA made speaker (SLM logo) - I don't know was it better than new ones, but It had a nice sound.

What do you suggest? Should I try to come back to B200r or don't change my current rig? I want to downsize but NOT DOWNGRADE and there's that rule... if it ain't broke don't fix it ...
 
#92
bassforce said:
.... I have SVT-3Pro and SVT-410HLF and they sound like a thunder!
Ballsy, bluesy, funky, dirty and powerfull... but way too heavy, too big and too loud for my current needs....
Click to expand...

I'd stick with that. That is a solid combination and somewhat of a "standard" IMO. If you want smaller, get a good 210 cab to go with the 3PRO and if you can, keep the 410HLF aside for when you may need it in the future.
 
#94
bassforce said:
Awesome thread! It's started to make me reconsider my current rig!

I have SVT-3Pro and SVT-410HLF and they sound like a thunder!
Ballsy, bluesy, funky, dirty and powerfull... but way too heavy, too big and too loud for my current needs.

What do you suggest? Should I try to come back to B200r or don't change my current rig? I want to downsize but NOT DOWNGRADE and there's that rule... if it ain't broke don't fix it ...
Click to expand...

If you are looking for something smaller to take to gigs, I would look for a good USA B-100R on Ebay. I would keep the current 3-Pro rig even if you arent using it right now, just in case you might need it again down the road. USA B-100R's can be found for less than the hit you would probably take on selling your current rig, assuming you didn't get it for a steal.
 
#95
I'am looking for something smaller, because I don''t think that I would need such a big and powerfull gear in my current band.
Also I'm in debt. I was thinking about getting B200R - plenty of power in quite portable combo and enough money to pay my debt and maybe buy a Jazz Bass :D

But I'm not sure that this is a good idea...

Soundwise I always LOVED old Ampegs B15 from '60s so both B200R and 3pro would be a compromise...
 

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