Ampeg B100r

[zombywoof5050]

I like my B-100R and have not had any problems with it. I must say though that it's not really loud enough for me when playing with a loud drummer, even with just a trio (bass, drums, & guitar) in a small (10'x12') room, it was not loud enough for me, it started farting out when I pushed it too hard.

About the 'pop' when turning it off...if you plug a cable into the headphone jack before turning it off, it will disable the speaker and you won't hear it. If you use your instrument cable (which I think shouldn't hurt anything), just be sure and unplug your bass from the other end first to prevent sending a signal back into your bass (which may not be good for it, but I don't know for sure..better safe than sorry).

 

[Guiseppe]

well, it's freakin' loud for solid state then. Darn, I thought it was all tube

MarkyMark,
Take a minute, and pat yourself on the back for a "good" mistake. My stage rig is all tube, but the B100R I just got is incredible...all that warm booty that I love. If you're going to make the mistake to get S/S meaning to buy tube...you just hit the holy grail

Enjoy that amp - in 30 years of playing, it's the best combo amp I've heard.

 

[tonedeaf]

I just traded for one of these and I am loving it. I think the tone is great at all volume levels. This is by far the best combo I've ever owned. Probably not ideal for lovers of a more modern, hi-fi sound though. I've gotten it be ballsy and aggressive, and warm and smooth. Does the job for me! I don't see myself ever getting rid of this one.

 

[AMJBASS]

I traded mine for an Ashdown 1x15" combo, and a few weeks back I ended up getting the Ampeg back. There is just something about it that works in every situation I play. The sound is great! It is loud enough for all of my gigs except for concerts where I DI to the board anyway.

 

[Yamarc]

Does one of these have enough juice to play Coldplay/U2 type tunes for a crowd of 75-100 people at medium/low volumes? We play a little pub where 50-100 folks show up...I mainly need it for monitoring reasons, since I go to the board/PA for support.

Do you think it will suffice?

 

[MAJOR METAL]

Does one of these have enough juice to play Coldplay/U2 type tunes for a crowd of 75-100 people at medium/low volumes? We play a little pub where 50-100 folks show up...I mainly need it for monitoring reasons, since I go to the board/PA for support.

Do you think it will suffice?

It could work if your bandmates dont over do it with their amps PA.

 

[Yamarc]

We have a keyboard player with no amp, a "refined" drummer who is not too loud, an acoustic through the mains and an electric which doesn't run too loud either. The place we play is only about 60' by 40', so its pretty small too.

 

[AMJBASS]

I would recommend it for sure. The amp carries very well and is a LOT louder than you would think. Another amp I would recommend especially if you are using it for mainly monitoring applications is the Ampeg BA210. I just picked one up and it is really nice. It has a great growl and is very punchy.

 

[Yamarc]

I think I will try to use the brick walls and the rear ports to reinforce some of the low end...does this work for you guys?

BTW- I would get a B200R, but everywhere is sold out of them and I need one this weekend!

 

[barebones]

Does one of these have enough juice to play Coldplay/U2 type tunes for a crowd of 75-100 people at medium/low volumes? We play a little pub where 50-100 folks show up...I mainly need it for monitoring reasons, since I go to the board/PA for support.

Do you think it will suffice?

I used one of these for years with a fairly loud "Americana," country-ish/rock/rock-ish/country kind of band. In fact, the singer/guitarist in that band was one LOUD mofo just on his own. Played through a Fender Twin... Insisted he couldn't get "his sound" at lower volumes... The 2nd guitarist played a Twin, too, and he was no slouch in the volume department either. Drummer hit pretty hard...

All said, I always had plenty of volume to hear myself and to be heard by my bandmates. Live, I almost always ran a line to the P.A. for the sound out front, but I rarely put much, if any, in the monitors for myself. Only at the bigger theaters really.

I can recall two times when I ran this amp with no sound reinforcement at all. One time was in Tempe, AZ at a smallish but popular rock club whose name I forget, but they were known for their burgers and loud music. Some people around here might know which place I'm thinking of... Kind of in the downtown-ish area there....

Anyway... long room with a bar at the back. Probably could squeeze 100-150 people in there tops, although I kind of suck at those kinds of estimates. Maybe they could fit more... The amp filled that room up just fine all by its lonesome, even with Mr. Obnoxious crankin' the Twin as usual...

The second time was in Santa Fe, NM. Big theater there--only theater type venue in town, in fact--but we were playing in the little side lounge off from the main theater where they didn't have anything for a sound system. Kind of a wide cavernous room... maybe 200-300 top capacity. The amp struggled a bit in that room, mostly due to the layout and the fact that the turnout wasn't too hot. (I SWEAR it wasn't us--it was a Sunday night for crying out loud!) Probably would have been fine, regardless, if Mr. Gotta-Be-Loud-To-Get-My-Sound-Man would have come down a bit. Those big, echo-y rooms really require some restraint, I think...

I've always loved the tone of those B-100Rs. In fact, I love the little bro B-50R as well. Only reason I ever sold mine was I just felt like trying something different, which happens WAY too often for me. I would have liked to have seen a balanced line out on the amp instead of the 1/4", but that was always easily worked around.

Anyway, that's some of my experience with the amp. Good luck.

Matt

 

[rayzak]

Only reason I ever sold mine was I just felt like trying something different, which happens WAY too often for me.

Matt

Me too However, this one's been around for about 5 years now, and it's not going anywhere.

I came home with a Stingray and a B-100R. After having been through quite a few basses, even selling my beloved Stingray. I'm now back to square one.... Stingray and B-100R. The perfect combination, imho. I won't make the same mistake again.