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Ampeg B-50R is a fine machine

#61
Adrian Juras said:
Agreed. Its probably my favorite modern Ampeg Combo. Great tone. I just did a session with mine yesterday and it sounded great recorded!
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it's really amazing how much these inexpensive combos sound like the real thing when mic'ed. just got a micro vr stack and it's incredibly difficult to tell the difference between it and my vintage svt/810 with a mic on it and going through the pa.
 
#64
JimmyM said:
for those having trouble finding a b50r, a ba112 is a very nice consolation prize imho. my favorite of the ba line.
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I agree. Actually, before I found out about the B50R, I bought a BA112, wanting a 50 watt combo for practice and gigs. Then I got my B50R, which I love, but I am also quite enamored of the BA112, which is a work horse. Sounds great and is well built.
 
#65
lsabina said:
I can't believe I did this, but I just purchased a second B-50R for my use. Two days before Christmas I was killing time by searching used gear at Guitar Center and the store in Cleveland had a B-50R for $199! It looked great, and so the next day I called and bought it! It came today--plays great and now I'm ready if I need more power (I'll be selling my pre/power amp rack set-up soon).
Also--with all the flack that Guitar Center gets on these forums, I can honestly say that the Cleveland store was great to deal with. They gave me a great shipping price and the packing job was superb! Kudos to them.
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Got my Lehle P-Split II today. Easy to use--now I have both B-50Rs running. This is going to be fun!
 
#67
I gigged with my B50R and Hofner Icon Club bass last Saturday night, and WOW! We all know this already, but what incredible tone this little amp puts out. I got compliments from audience members who aren't even musicians on how great the bass sounded!
 
#70
I compared my B-100R with a '77 B-15N and a '66 B-15N last week. The B-100R was close tonewise, but it's not just quite there with the originals.

I wonder if my B-100R would benefit by adding internal dampening (not sure if it's in there already). Seems like this would take out some of the midrange "boxiness" that's present in the sound (I'm always cutting the mids on the EQ).
 
#71
I bought a B50R from someone here when I got back into playing and I love it. I only use it for home practice but I'll never part with it. I always regretted selling my B100R a few years ago but this one is lighter and more compact.
 
#72
stiles72 said:
I'll often pair my B-100R with my '63 B-15, and I split the signal with my tuner pedal. I usually mic the B-15 for FOH, and then use the B-100R to add in any extra stage volume I may need if things start getting loud and edging out the Portaflex.

PortaflexFinished058.jpg
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That is the coolest rig I've seen in ages.

I will never sell my B100R--it's one of the best purchases I have ever made.
 
#73
stiles72 said:
I'll often pair my B-100R with my '63 B-15, and I split the signal with my tuner pedal. I usually mic the B-15 for FOH, and then use the B-100R to add in any extra stage volume I may need if things start getting loud and edging out the Portaflex.

PortaflexFinished058.jpg
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Wow, I may be able to have that same setup in the near future!

Okay, what's up with the green lucite logo? Did you change the bulb inside the amp?
 
#77
PolkaHero said:
I compared my B-100R with a '77 B-15N and a '66 B-15N last week. The B-100R was close tonewise, but it's not just quite there with the originals.

I wonder if my B-100R would benefit by adding internal dampening (not sure if it's in there already). Seems like this would take out some of the midrange "boxiness" that's present in the sound (I'm always cutting the mids on the EQ).
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I recommend doing what I do....run a VT Bass pedal through it.....it really rounds out the sound and adds some warmth and presence to it.
 
#78
Man...I can't say enough about this little amp. I did two gigs this week with it. One was in a jazz guitar, bass, drums trio setting at a very large banquet hall, and the other was in a piano, bass, drums trio in a high-ceiling chalet type large room for a wedding cocktail hour. I know we were just playing standards and such, so high output wasn't needed for the music. But the amp had to carry through the room(s)...and it did. And with a great tone too. Just praising its virtues, again...
 
#79
I'm reviving this thread :)

I too have a B50R and absolutely LOVE it!! I play through it almost every day. I've had it for over ten years and it's a little beat up. I didn't realize what I had until about a year ago. I just thought it was another cheap combo. Boy was I wrong about that. My ears and exp on gear have grown by leaps and bounds this past year out of 14 years of playing and I now realize what I have in the B50R. I've always appreciated it but not to the extent that I do today. It was my first bass amp so I ripped the heck out of it. Anyhow, she still plays like a dream but I'm having some issues with the input jack. There are times when it starts to cut out and or get really staticky and I have to go over and jostle the input jack a little a and or move the instrument cable a little then it's all good again. I love this amp and I'll never get rid of it so I'm wondering how can I fix this issue/problem with the input jack? Anyone have some suggestions? I haven't tried tightening the bolt that's around the top of her input jack so I'll do that when I get home tonight. Any other suggestions??
 
#80
If the nut has been loose and you've been doing the jostle trick for a while, there's a good possibility one of the jack's solder joints has busted loose. First, though, just try tightening the nut and spraying some DeOxit inside.

I love my B50r, as well, it has set the standard for tone in my ears. About 12 years ago a girl I was dating bought it for me as a birthday present.:bassist:
 

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