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Ampeg B-2RE

J

Joey3313

Nov 28, 2003
2,446
31
37
#1
So I'm looking around for a different amp, and the B-2RE seems to be right about in my price range. I've been looking on eBay and there are several used ones that seem like a good idea.


And then I did a search here.

Underpowered was the word that I read a lot.

So, to anyone with experience with this head, how underpowered is it? I mean, I'm running a 200W Yorkville combo w/extension cab and it is having a bit of trouble keeping up without farting out. Would this head (rated at 250W for 8 Ohms) be louder than the Yorkville, despite being "underpowered"?

Thanks.
 
#2
Joey, I've got no experience with the B-2RE head and only know what I've read here on the forum, most of what has been said about it hasn't been positive.
I'd suggest trying to find a used G.K. 800 RB head. Their 300 "real" watts, and into enough speakers, will just about cover any gig. I've used a G.K. 800 for years and with the right cab it's NEVER been not enough.
If you want to go new, check out G.C.'s new Acoustic heads. The 200 watt head is $249.00, the 600 watter is.... I believe.... $449.00.
 
#4
I love Ampeg but not the B2RE. I don't know if I'd call it underpowered, but I'm just not knocked out by its tone. At that price range, I'd probably take a look at GK.
 
#5
I've been playing through one for the last couple years, and overall I am statisfied with it. I do agree with the term underpowered because amps with comparable rated wattage seem to be louder to me. The eq is easy to use and i am able to dial in any real sound i need and i've dropped mine once or twice and it still works. Plus, my crazy ex left it out in the rain and its still going strong.

I would give the amp a 7.5/10, but some of its competition beats it out, such as the GK...
 
#9
This is what my opinion would have been a week ago:

My first gigin amp was a B2 combo, the b2re with a b15. I've had it for about 4 years and have been happy with it. I play in rather loud bands and i have felt like im pushing it to go a bit further than it wants to, but overall its been pretty killer.

Since last week i finally got a new rig: LMII with avatar 210 and 112.
i didn't know i could sound so much better! The B2 worked well for a few years before i knew any better, so if you are looking for a cheap amp its not as bad as many say it is here. But, for just a little bit more i have found there are much better options.
 
#10
The thing is, I don't need a spectacular tone.


I need an amp that will be loud enough to compete with my band, and will have some sort of tonal variety.

One of my main beefs with the Yorkville is the sound. If I want a super bassy tone, I have it...that's about it. No matter how I try and EQ it, it always winds up farting once I throw some highs in. I know the amp isn't defective, it just isn't for me.

Essentially, I want something with some sort of midrange.


While the Hartke is nice, it requires me to buy another cab right away.

The Ampeg on the other hand, would allow me to do this in installments (head now, run with my current cab, add a second one later for the full 450W).
 
#13
I owned the B2R for a while. It's not as bad as everyone says, it just isn't what people expect. People see AMPEG and think TUBES, but there's nothing tubey about the head at all. The reason people think it's underpowered is because it seems to have a natural mid scoop.

Anyway, it's not terrible, it just isn't great either. If I was buying in that range again, I would take Jimmy's advice and get a GK.
 
#15
I have the older ampeg b2r ... it has less power than the b2re ... but for me even the older b2r has more than enough power ... and I love the tone.

The ampeg b2r is my favorite bass head of all time, and it has enough power to be heard above the band.
 
#17
i have a b2r (not b2re). The tone in my opinion is perfect for what i want. but i have a sort of tube wannabe sound. the volume however is just shy of what i need. i would go for a hartke 3500 or even the new marshall bass heads if you want more volume. im pretty sure both are rated higher and are in the same price range
 
#18
billystagger said:
i have a b2r (not b2re). The tone in my opinion is perfect for what i want. but i have a sort of tube wannabe sound. the volume however is just shy of what i need. i would go for a hartke 3500 or even the new marshall bass heads if you want more volume. im pretty sure both are rated higher and are in the same price range
Click to expand...

At 4 ohms, isn't the b2re rated at 100W more than the b2r? Surely that would help the volume issue.


This just turns into a big game of "what can I find on eBay". Currently, there are several b2re amps, hence why I seem so hesitant to go with any of the other options.
 
#19
My experience/My Opinions:

I'm a big fan of classic Ampeg tone & currently gig with a 3-PRO and a V-4BH among 4 other brands.
To my ears, all of Ampegs heads were designed to produce a signature tone...call it "the Ampeg tone" and it's reproduced to different degrees in all the variants they make or made- SS, hybrids, and all-tube versions.

If you like that tone (I do, very much), not too many other ways to REALLY get it, not by a sansamp, or a pedal, or any other brand of head-close, good or great, but not Ampeg.

And with regard to those who DON'T like what Ampeg does, cool!:cool: Now go away---:D

To this thread and the B2RE- I had occasion to play through one for a 2-week club gig, provided to me as backline, along with a GK 4x10 cabinet.
The music was plenty loud, classic and current R'nR, two guitars, bangin' drummer, (*hot chick singer!*)-

I REALLY dug using the B2RE, it was super easy to dial in the tone I like ( I repeat...that I like)- The unit was solid, simple, toneful and to the point. It held it's own on stage, no problems, great DI for FOH, and on one occasion when the house board was flaking, I played straight through, no support, and no problems. Plenty of volume, plenty of headroom, and damn good Ampeg tone, it's own signature, voiced different than a GK, Ashdown, or any other options listed.
And no, I didn't bring my oscilloscope to measure wattage output, I was way too busy working with the rest of the rhythm section and watching the ladies dance.
The amp was plenty loud, no one had issues hearing the bass.
It was well-built, despite the "Made in --------" label on the back that has caused so much heartache, despair, and trauma here!:D

So bottom line- You played the amp and like it? Don't worry about it.
Try and like something else? That's cool too.
No one else's opinions including mine have anything to do with what rig works for you.

Good luck/have fun.
 
#20
I run a B2R through 2 1x15's and love it..
I use the DI in it for recording and coudn't be happier with it.
For smaller gigs I just bring one of the 15's. Plenty loud.
I've had it for 8 years and never had a problem with it--a lot of that time was on the road also.
 

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