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Ampeg B-100r Rocket Aficionados

#161
bass dan said:
I may hold out for one of the pf115 cabs. My only concern is that the cab is 23 inches wide and the v4b is 24 inches. I know it's no big deal if the amp hangs a little over the edge......but that drives me nuts.

I also thought about getting another b100r and use a splitter to run both but I already have the v4b and would like to use it. Plus I'm still kinda confused about splitting the signal. If I understand it right the splitter will cause my signal to be weaker to the 2 amps as opposed to just plugging straight in one amp. My fishman has a 1/4 output and a tuner out, I thought I could use that to split the signal between 2 amps but I'm not sure.
Click to expand...

I use a Fender pedal tuner to split my signal when I run the B-100R and my B15. No loss of signal through either jack - just that one shuts off when the tuner is engaged (which it should).

You could always get a pair of those new PF cabs, and set them side by side. That way the V4 wouldn't over hang them ;)
 
#163
bass dan said:
I may hold out for one of the pf115 cabs. My only concern is that the cab is 23 inches wide and the v4b is 24 inches. I know it's no big deal if the amp hangs a little over the edge......but that drives me nuts.

I also thought about getting another b100r and use a splitter to run both but I already have the v4b and would like to use it. Plus I'm still kinda confused about splitting the signal. If I understand it right the splitter will cause my signal to be weaker to the 2 amps as opposed to just plugging straight in one amp. My fishman has a 1/4 output and a tuner out, I thought I could use that to split the signal between 2 amps but I'm not sure.
Click to expand...
a preamp or buffer pedal can be used to boost your levels to where they'd be smacking both amps good.
 
#165
Mines a reissue......vb4 Classic. I think it's just like the v4bh. That one is 24". Should have just got another b100r since I like it so much but the lure of all tube Ampeg pulled me in.

I can't believe how loud the v4b classic is. Great tone but I think the Mesa 4x10 is just too deep and low for my taste. I know a 15" speaker wont put out nearly the volume as the 4x10 but even so I played a gig in a fairly large room with a really loud band and loud crowd with no pa support. I had my gain at about 1 o'clock and the master at noon and it was booming. I had a guy play my rig for a couple songs and I went to the back of the house and could'nt beleive how well you could hear it. So I'm thinking I could crank the v4b up thru a 15" speaker and be pretty darn loud and if I like it enough get another 15" speaker down the road.

The question is will the v4b classic and a Ampeg 15e get me in the same ballpark as the b100r? I guess I'll have to get one and judge for myself.
 
#166
Dan - I've got both the B-100R and the V4BH and I run that through an SVT-215E. The V4BH will get you in the ballpark when paired with a single SVT-15 cab, and it sounds really good. To my ears- it's more SVT'ish than the B-100R/B15'ish but you can dial it in pretty close. The width of the V4BH/Classic should also match up with an SVT-15E, so it wont overhang or look "off", and you can add another down the road if you want.
 
#169
I own a V4BH/Ampeg Classic 1x15 cab, and a B100r.

I agree...the V4BH/classic 15 combo is superior as it handles the "peaks" better IMO (being all tube). The B100r looks damn cool though and is easier to transport. Both wins. The V4BH is a real gem though...too bad the 100 watt rating scared some people away. It is plenty loud for bars and for bigger shows the DI on it is really nice (and quiet). In fact, the amp itself is/was not much more money than the Ampeg DI that seems to garner so much money on ebay (and it only has 1 tube in it).

OTOH, I picked up a 1/4" to Low Z cable for my B100r's line out and have yet to have any noise issues running into the PA.

You could live and be happy with either amp...I just got GAS and was fortunate enough to be able to buy both.
 
#173
I got mine about 5 years ago off of a guy on CL for $100!! I have never had any issues with it and it gets pretty loud as far as I'm concerned. I put some side handles on it and that makes it easier to haul around. I also put a kickback stand on the bottom. Great amp!! I saw a ba115 on CL the other day for $300 I think and I thought about getting it but I'd rather wait for another b100r to surface, I doubt I'll get the same deal as the first one though
 

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#175
I wanted to get a second one but they wanted $400 for it. It seems that the word is out on these amps locally. I couldn't justify the price of a new combo for second one of these. One of those new portaflex heads should have been the B300P! Take a proven winner, up the power and add an extra cab.
 
#177
I have a V4BH, B-15R, I just sold my B200R, and I had a B100R before that. Can't go wrong with any of them as long as you know what you're getting into.

I sold the B100R because I wanted the louder 200R which also had a balanced output (the 100R has a 1/4" out). Great sounding amp, and cheap as anything on the used market. Awkward to carry. Not real loud.

I sold the B200R after two years because of the awkward carry and the rattle. Great sounding amp and also cheap on the used market. Also awkward to carry. Loud enough for most settings. Real nice sounding DI. Delicate tolex.

The B-15R sounds great, but it's heavy; I have to load the head and cab separately into my truck. When it's all put together and rolling on the dolly it can be a little top-heavy and tipsy. Great tone, but a little choked because of the sealed cab. I can't use it in a loud rock band, but I can use it just about everywhere else. Probably my favourite amp for upright and flatwounds on a p-bass. Could easily be the sexiest bass amp ever made.

The V4BH sounds great and is real versatile. It's probably the ideal all-tube head for the bass player who is working clubs on a regular basis and wants tubes front to back. It's not as heavy as the SVT, not as loud as the SVT, but it seems to be the perfect amount of power without having much left over. Like all of these amps, you can get it to cop that vintage B-15 tone.
 
#178
At the risk of resurrecting zombies, I wanted to say thanks for such an informative thread!

When this amp showed up on my local CL this past weekend I didn't know much about it and was hesitant to pay the full asking price. But, after reading through this thread, and especially after seeing the posts by stiles72 (great comparison video on YouTube) and JimmyM, I was convinced that this combo was worth checking out. So glad I did!

Mine is a US made model (not that it necessarily seems to matter with these) and, except for a few minor signs of wear, is in great shape. I'm a huge fan of the Ampeg sound, especially the classic B-15, and this thing delivers so nicely.
 
#179
I really should re-do that B-100R video but I'm not real savy when it comes to online audio & video. Since both amps were set more or less flat, it just didn't really do either of them justice IMO. They really sound much better when you start twisting some of those knobs.
 
#180
I just plugged my B-100r in today after sitting for a couple yrs..and it Sounds Sweet. I normally play thru a SWR SM-500 and a mesa deisel 2x10 which sounds amazing too but this just has that nice warm tone.
Obviously the SWR can do a lot more but for a combo amp this little Ampeg is great. I got this B-100r in 2000? i think back when they were still made in the USA :)
 

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