Yours couldn't keep up with a drummer? Hmm. Well mine is on backorder so maybe I'll give Sweetwater a call and get something else instead. Anyone had any luck with the Ba300?
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Ampeg B-200Rs $280, Shipped
- Thread starter Bongolation
- Start date
Yours couldn't keep up with a drummer? Hmm. Well mine is on backorder so maybe I'll give Sweetwater a call and get something else instead. Anyone had any luck with the Ba300?
Just a further update for anyone curious about the B-200R. Played it all weekend, mostly low volume (level 2), and no rattles or buzzes, just good tone. Seems I lucked out and got one that does what it was intended to do. Too bad the quality control wasn't able to ensure they all were that way.
If you can still find one on the cheap (lots of places seem to be selling off remaining stock) that has a risk free return policy, and you like thick old school Ampeg tone, I'd recommend giving one of these a try. Just keep the packaging in case you end up with one that has "buzz kill".
If you can still find one on the cheap (lots of places seem to be selling off remaining stock) that has a risk free return policy, and you like thick old school Ampeg tone, I'd recommend giving one of these a try. Just keep the packaging in case you end up with one that has "buzz kill".
Mine still works right too and sounds GREAT. I'm considering ordering a Tuki cover for it to try and preserve the awesome styling. I am VERY pleased with my B200R so far. It definitely has killer classic Ampeg tone IMO, regardless of where it was assembled. It is a shame about the quality control issues, this amp could have become a classic if they had overseen the production more carefully. For now I'm feeling lucky I must have gotten a good one or at least a bad one that was fixed properly. For what I paid, it was quite a deal.
Well I sent the B200R back. Today I got a BA300 from Sweetwater and it arrived damaged. It plays and operates fine but there is a indentation in the grill and on the side of the cabinet. The box is in good shape so it does not appear to be damage caused by shipping. I am waiting to hear back from Sweetwater about an exchange. I'm glad to hear you guys got good amps but I think I'm throwing in the towel on these newer Ampegs and going with something else. I love the warm, tube tone but the QC just isn't good. Maybe I ought to cough up the coin and get a Mesa Boogie Scout.
I don't blame you. You have to find what sounds good to you, and that's what really matters. There is a lot of good stuff out there to try, but depending on your main gig you miight consider an older Ampeg which might do the trick. My V4BH made in USA is a super amp that I don't want to ever part with even though I am digging the B200R.
I bet the Mesa Scout is a great amp, and probably superior to the B200R but look at the difference in price. If you can afford Mesa I would do it, I've never heard one of their amps sound bad. Excellent quality equipment.
I bet the Mesa Scout is a great amp, and probably superior to the B200R but look at the difference in price. If you can afford Mesa I would do it, I've never heard one of their amps sound bad. Excellent quality equipment.
Wow, I'm always amazed to discover an old thread I started surviving both its original relevance and my interest in it.
Rock on!
Rock on!
I don't blame you a bit. I was very lucky and my B200R is fine, but Ampeg(or rather Loud) has done alot to damage their rep.
I think the QC & Customer Service is suffering. Maybe you can round up a used B100R on ebay or CL that is pre-Loud..(starting to feel like Pre-CBS days with fender)
Another product that seems to me to be the same idea as the B-200R is those new Fender TV amps. Haven't played one but reading the specs they might be alright.
My B-200R is still doing fine. Curiously, I'm still getting some buzzing but only at higher volume and only when hitting the D note on the E string at the 10th fret. When I hid any other D note there's no buzzing. Weird!
I'm not using this as a primary amp, it's being used a practice amp, for living room jams with friends, and small bars where we set up on a corner and play for a just few dozen people. For the purposes I bought it for, it's fine.
And I'll just add that the tone this amp produces is some of the best bass tone I've heard. Very warm, fat and rich sounding. If you can find one that works properly and for a fair price, this is definitely an amp to pick up.
My B-200R is still doing fine. Curiously, I'm still getting some buzzing but only at higher volume and only when hitting the D note on the E string at the 10th fret. When I hid any other D note there's no buzzing. Weird!
I'm not using this as a primary amp, it's being used a practice amp, for living room jams with friends, and small bars where we set up on a corner and play for a just few dozen people. For the purposes I bought it for, it's fine.
And I'll just add that the tone this amp produces is some of the best bass tone I've heard. Very warm, fat and rich sounding. If you can find one that works properly and for a fair price, this is definitely an amp to pick up.
What kind of buzzing are you hearing? I don't think mine buzzes, but when I crank it up in my basement there is alot of other stuff buzzing, so I keep checking it to be sure it's not the amp. I don't have anything like a chassis buzz, but get it loud enough and the speaker will start to beg for mercy. It's pretty loud at that point, and sounds much better tonally than my BSE115T cab. My Markbass combo makes some kind of buzz a little bit from the speaker sometimes but always seems to sound good at the gigs. I'm still liking the tone a lot from my B200R. For me it's an amp for a specific kind of gig, so instead of being smart and having one great amp that covers all gigs I've accumulated a bunch of different amps I choose from for each room or gig I play :scowl: The B200R's a keeper for me even though right now I've been doing bigger outdoor things and still using my large cabs. I figure it's time will come and if it still sounds as good as it does now, I'll look forward to taking it to the gig.
BTW, Kirk mentioned Mesa Scout as a potential candidate, if I had $1000 bucks to go for it with this amp looks just amazing:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=137841&d=1251400115
Wow.
BTW, Kirk mentioned Mesa Scout as a potential candidate, if I had $1000 bucks to go for it with this amp looks just amazing:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=137841&d=1251400115
Wow.
Yeah you're right everything else in the room buzzes and rattles at high volumes so it's something you have to listen for. The reason I know it's coming from the chassis is when I first got the amp my wife would gently push on it with her hand and it would stop. I tightend up the screws on the back and side and it stopped entirely, and now (as said above) it only buzzes if I hit a D note on the E string at the 10th fret. If I hit a D anywhere else on the neck it doesn't do it, so it's something weird about that frequency/string tension or whatever that still creates a vibration at higher volumes.
But again, so what? It's only one note at one place on the neck, I won't be able to hear it with a band, and when rehearsing I'm at lower volume anyway so it never happens.
I'm glad you guys like the amp and I'm glad to hear its working out for you. After going through 2 different new Ampegs, I'm going to give something else a try. I wish they would have worked out because they do sound really good but QC just isn't there with these models.
It's a lot more money but these new Fender Bassman TV models seem pretty nice. I would like to try one in a store though. The website has some soundclips and they sound really good on there but it's always best to try before you buy.
It's a lot more money but these new Fender Bassman TV models seem pretty nice. I would like to try one in a store though. The website has some soundclips and they sound really good on there but it's always best to try before you buy.
Yeah I really like the idea of those TV amps, but I too would want to try one first. If you're willing to spend that much, maybe try the Mesa Walkabouts too. I keep reading all the TB threads and the reviews all seem positive.
Well I decided to stop into Guitar Center to see if they had the TV amps and they didn't so I tried the Acoustic amps. These amps are really, really great for the money. I paid $350 out the door and it comes with a 3 year warranty. They told me I just bring the amp with the receipt and they'll give me a new one. Even if it only lasts 3 years, for $350, it's a bargain. I would also say that this amp is noticeably louder than any of the Ampeg combos I have tried and it supposedly only 200 watts. Either Ampeg is overstating their wattage or Acoustic is understating their wattage but this sucker is incredibly loud and stays clean without getting farty. Great amp for the money! It was hard to justify getting anything else after playing it.
Yeah I played one of those Acoustics too and totally agree, great old school tone and plenty loud for smaller gigs. The 100 watt version I tried seemed nearly as loud too.
