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Ampeg BA115 enough?

#21
beelzelboss, I'm going to reply here to your PM, since I believe this kind of info can be shared with all TBers interested in this topic.

When you say, don't use the padded input unless your bass has supranatural output, what does that mean. I have two basses that run an 18v active system that really make it a lot louder, should I still be using the padded (which I'm going to assume is the -15db setting).
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My main bass also has a 18v active system. I never use the padded system. Why ? Because IMO, -15dB inputs have some (bad) influence on tone, and they alter many frequencies (most hearably the lows).

When I say, don't use the padded input unless your bass has supranatural output, I mean, use it if you have distortion even at the lowest volume level. Which should not be that common.
 
#22
beelzelboss said:
I play my five string through it and while it doesn't really pump out that low a ton, you can still hear it. The only way I have found to make it really pump out that low B is to turn the bass knob up
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You'll get much better results by using the normal input and not cranking the lows. Remember, pumping out the lows is not the way to go if you want to cut through (and actually, in most cases, you'll get the exact opposit of what you wanted).
 
#23
behndy said:
thanks Lee the Green Man!

yeah.... we do the music usually from the base up (HORRIBLE pun.... i know. it's early.) so i get first dibs on the frequency range i want, so i think i usually need a less I'M HERE amount of pushing.

think i'm gonna go pick this little guy up tomorrow. or at least get them to hold it for me.

woot.
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I think you'll really like it. Def the best in the price range.
 
#24
JayAmel said:
beelzelboss, I'm going to reply here to your PM, since I believe this kind of info can be shared with all TBers interested in this topic.



My main bass also has a 18v active system. I never use the padded system. Why ? Because IMO, -15dB inputs have some (bad) influence on tone, and they alter many frequencies (most hearably the lows).

When I say, don't use the padded input unless your bass has supranatural output, I mean, use it if you have distortion even at the lowest volume level. Which should not be that common.
Click to expand...

JayAmel, thankyou very much. I am going to go try that out now... Wait can't get upstairs. Damn knee surgery. I'll keep it in mind until I get around to playing again.
 
#26
behndy said:
Florideaboy, JayaMEL, &pHILTER - awesome! thanks for the settings info!

yeah... it was CRAZY loud in the store compared to most 100 watts combos i've played. i think i'm gonna go pick it up today. if i do, we have a practice/saving money by tracking all the bass session tonight so i'll get a chance to see how it hangs at moderate volume.

thanks!
Click to expand...

If you do so, let us know your thoughts
 
#27
JayAmel said:
My main bass also has a 18v active system. I never use the padded system. Why ? Because IMO, -15dB inputs have some (bad) influence on tone, and they alter many frequencies (most hearably the lows).

When I say, don't use the padded input unless your bass has supranatural output, I mean, use it if you have distortion even at the lowest volume level. Which should not be that common.
Click to expand...
absolutely 100% agreed. occasionally i use active basses, and i never never never NEVER use an active input.
 
#28
A buddy of mine picked up a BA115 and he loves it to death. I use a B100R, and we swapped combos for a couple of shows just to compare. IMO the BA worked just as well as my B100R- although the tone was a bit more modern. I was able to dial in some of the vintage character I like, but I think it's striving to be more of an "SVT" than a "B15". It was plenty loud for the gigs I used it on - mostly oldies and classic rock. My buddy prefered the BA because it was lighter weight and able to be kicked back. If it works for you - go for it!
 
#29
woof. just got done running it at practice. while i wouldn't wanna rely on the lil guy at an outdoor event, it holds it on in a closed room. very nice. super happy with it as a potential good FOH/practice/way easier to move around amp. thanks for all the input everybody!

only quibble so far.... it. hisses a bit. even with nothing plugged in it, when turned on it hisses. kinda in the high frequency. any thoughts?

lol.... and is the Volume knob s'posed to be a gain knob? seems to be the same exact sound if the Volume os a 7 and the Master is at 2 or if the Volume is at 2 and the Maste is at 7.

i go look for a pdf manual.

thanks!
 
#31
interesting thread... I used one of these for a handful of rehearsals and had a very different experience than most of the posters in here, but I'm glad it's working out for you. perhaps the one i was using wasn't firing on all cylinders, but I struggled to get any kind of volume out of it and god that hiss was horrible. my band isn't especially loud (2 guitars, one through an AC-15 one through a rivera pubster, both little amps), but i couldn't even hang with the drums on their own through this thing. even with all the volume or master knobs maxed i could barely hear myself... a crate 30 watt practice amp actually sounded better (again, with all knobs dimed, what can i say, i was poor at the time). but now i'm guessing the amp must have had issues. the other thing i didn't like about that amp was the single handle on top... that thing could be pretty unwieldy to try and carry with just one hand.

it's probably too late, but the new ultralight carvin combos look pretty promising... 250 watts into a few various speaker combinations (including a 3-way setup), and all in the 30 lb range. prices seemed pretty good too, might be worth a look.
 
#33
huh. you're talking about these - Invalid Link Removed ?

very interesting. if i end up needing a little more power i might check those out. i'd have to find someone around here who stocks Carvin tho.

at the price i paid, i'm REALLY happy with this hissy, gain-knob-less lil bugger so far.

woot!
 
#34
behndy said:
lol.... and is the Volume knob s'posed to be a gain knob? seems to be the same exact sound if the Volume os a 7 and the Master is at 2 or if the Volume is at 2 and the Maste is at 7.
Click to expand...

On the BA115, what should be called GAIN is called VOLUME (left knob) and what should be called VOLUME is called MASTER (right band).

Having the same sound means that you have no distortion, which is good and will help you get the best overall volume out of the amp.
 
#39
well.... huh.... that just makes way too much sense.

i'd been up about 48 seconds when i read your last post. i'll check when i get home see if there's a jingoistic sticker on it.

my grrL's japanese, and i've tried for YEARS to talk her into getting "Made In Japan" tatted on her.... someplace.

.... no luck so far.
 

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