Ampeg B100r - just tried one....

[billoetjen]

Hi,

I've heard/read many, many outstanding reviews of this combo and figured it was just so much self-delusion and hype. It's pretty rare in my neighborhood to see one of these. So, when I was with a friend at Daddy's Junky in Vermont, I scoped out the bass section. A little blue vintage-looking tolex caught my eye and I decided to investigate. So I plugged in a Fender Jazz (not my favorite) with round wound strings (my least favorite) and ran the amp flat at low and high volumes.
It sounded great at low volume and simply jaw-dropping turned up loud. It's gotta be the voicing of the single 15" driver, but this rig definitely beats my BA115HPT for tone. I have to admit it.
It won't reach anywhere near the volume that the 115HPT can, but for tone, wow, wow. I mean wow. It's the bass sound I always hear in my head. Now, couple it with a P and flatwounds and it would be frightening.
Just had to share that and apologize to all the other reviewers who I had previously dismissed.

 

[loendmaestro]

I wish my full rig sounded as good as my B100R. I used to gig with it because it sounded so good, but every time I scuffed or tore some of the blue tolex a little part of me would die inside.....

 

[JxBass]

It's one of my all time favorite combos. Great, great tone and loud for 100 watts. My only complaint is that 65 lbs is pretty heavy to carry with a top strap handle.

 

[rayzak]

My favorite combo as well.

 

[GKR1]

Same here, nothing comes close for the price, tone, and looks. BDDI in front of it and sounds out of this world.

 

[stiles72]

I wish my full rig sounded as good as my B100R. I used to gig with it because it sounded so good, but every time I scuffed or tore some of the blue tolex a little part of me would die inside.....

+1

 

[TUEP]

I miss mine!

 

[JimmyM]

I hear ya about the blue checker. However, amps were meant to be played, and if you get a decent cover and are careful, you can keep it relatively undamaged. My cabs have some scuffs on the bottom, but I've managed to keep them relatively damage free.

Anyway, apology accepted, Bill If I didn't have a B-15 already, I would definitely have a B100R. Unless you go boutique, it's the closest thing to a B-15 out there these days, although the Micro VR also seems pretty good at copping that tone despite it being a 210.

 

[Rob Martinez]

I love my B100R! It used to be my "small" rig, now it's my "big" rig. For my band, it is more than loud enough. It gets amazing tone and looks the part too.

 

[Nedmundo]

I was the backup bassist in a rock musical this fall, and I used the primary player's B100R for rehearsals and the one show I played. I loved the classic tone with my Jazz V, and started to GAS for a B200R. But then I plugged the J5 into my Roland Cube 100, and set it to the "Flip Top" model, which I'd barely used before. Thankfully, it sounded nearly identical to the B100R, and now that I have a taste for that tone, I use that model frequently.

 

[Jonyak]

I just bougth one today brand new for $400 canadian.

I tried everything else out in the store and for its price this just hands down beat everything.

 

[Rob Martinez]

I just bougth one today brand new for $400 canadian.

I tried everything else out in the store and for its price this just hands down beat everything.

Congrats! I think you will enjoy it, great combo!

 

[6jase5]

I've got two of them and when I'm not in the mood to grab the svt, they work perfectly. For rehearsal and small shows, they just can't be beat.

Glad to hear that we have another converted soul.

 

[riker1384]

Is there any cabinet that sounds like the B100R?

Also, since everybody is gushing about the VT Bass pedal, how does a VT into a modern amp sound compared to a B100R?

 

[JimmyM]

If I had the choice of a B100R or a VT into a more modern 100w combo, I'd take the B100R just because it looks a lot cooler. But if I had a more modern combo already, I'd just buy a VT.

Tough to find cabs that sound like the B100R these days because most 115's are as big as 410's. But Link Removed makes beautiful replicas of early B-15 cabs, and that would be your best bet.

 

[pinhead]

But Link Removed makes beautiful replicas of early B-15 cabs, and that would be your best bet.

Wow, they do look like nice cabs!

 

[JimmyM]

Wow, they do look like nice cabs!

Ya, I have one...top notch work by a guy who really knows what he's doing. Made some signficant improvements to the original cabs.

 

[lowend1]

Is there any cabinet that sounds like the B100R?

Also, since everybody is gushing about the VT Bass pedal, how does a VT into a modern amp sound compared to a B100R?

Just keep an eye out for a toasted B100R - and just use the enclosure

 

[stiles72]

Just keep an eye out for a toasted B100R - and just use the enclosure

Also, orphaned Portaflex cabinets show up on now and then on Ebay. The tolex may be rough but adds to the vintage vibe. If you want new, I would go to Mark at Vintage Blue.