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Double Bass Ampeg BA115T vs. Ampeg BA115HPT

O

onemother

Jan 10, 2007
15
0
#1
Hello there,

I'm poised upon buying the Ampeg BA115T (100 W), but am wondering if it's worth pumping in the extra $250 or so to get the Ampeg BA115HPT (220 W). Obviously, bigger is better in this case, but bucks are an issue.

BTW, I'll be playing an upright through it mainly in small jazz (3/4 piece) settings and in small salsa/son settings (5-6 pieces). Do you think 100W would be enough in these bands?

Also, given the music setting I just described, would anyone suggest a $650 alternative to the Ampeg BA115HPT? Just curious.

Thanks in advance.

Doug
 
#2
I think the consensus is that for DBs, bigger is not better, and that usually speaker sizes from 8"-12" are preferred. 15" speakers get too muddy and undefined for the upright. Look at other threads in this forum and you'll see what most of us are happy with - it usually isn't Ampeg.

For $650, you'll probably look at getting a used Acoustic Image Combo amp. That's probably your best bet.
 
#3
Also, perceived loudness from a 100 watt head can vary based on the speaker, 4 ohm v. 8 ohm, efficiency ratings, all that tech jazz. I am not a techie. But with only 100 watts for DB, those factors probably increase in importance.

And like 220 watts is not twice as loud as 100.

There might be some good threads on the newbie page for these topics. I am like the last person that should be 'splainin' it to anyone.
 
#5
I may be showing my noobness here, but I miked my bass (SM57) through my Ampeg BA115, Wasn't the greatest sound, but then again, It was the first week I played the thing also, so it may have been me. I haven't tried it since as I need to get the bass repaired. I was playing blues and folk rock at the time. Hope this helps.
 
#6
I actually used an Ampeg combo amp for a while w/ DB, mostly in a jump blues & swing band. It was an Ampeg B3158. That model is no longer made, even though this was less than 10 years ago. It had a 15" driver and an 8", bi-amped, solid state. Like hdiddy said, and as odd as it may seem, the 8" produced a more natural sound for all my basses than the 15". I didn't fully appreciate this at the time to be honest. I betcha I could get a much better sound out of it now if I still had it, knowing what I know now.

I traded it in for an SWR Workingmans 15. Never got that puppy dialed in either. Sold it too.

Getting a separate head and speaker cabinet might be worth considering too. It would give you more flexibility down the road to mix and match / upgrade either component.

[ Don't check my profile though. I currently own two combo amps ... ]
 
#7
Thank you all for your input. I guess it helps to examines one's assumptions (i.e., big=good) before making big decisions. Now I have to go back to the drawing board. Good thing that I discovered talkbass.com as a resource.

But before I give up my original notion, does anyone out there know of any combos with 15" speakers that work well with a double bass? Polytone mini-brute? GK 15" Back line? Or is a 15" speaker for DB just not in the cards?

Thanks again for your help.

D.
 
#8
onemother said:
Thank you all for your input. I guess it helps to examines one's assumptions (i.e., big=good) before making big decisions. Now I have to go back to the drawing board. Good thing that I discovered talkbass.com as a resource.

But before I give up my original notion, does anyone out there know of any combos with 15" speakers that work well with a double bass? Polytone mini-brute? GK 15" Back line? Or is a 15" speaker for DB just not in the cards?

Thanks again for your help.

D.
Click to expand...

Although I seem to favor 12's these days, I for one think the right 15' can sound good w/ DB.

I have a newer (04' I think) Polytone Min-brute IV which I think they now call the Sonic Circuit. Not really a hi-fi sound, but nice and warm especially at lower volumes. If you want something louder in a 15" combo you can't beat these:
http://www.traynoramps.com/products.asp?type=1&cat=61&id=370, http://www.traynoramps.com/products.asp?type=1&cat=61&id=371 for the $.

They are both way under $650 and well worth the $
Link Removed. Yorkeville/Traynor makes great high quality, rugged stuff for not a lot of dough.

BG
 
#9
Actually, to contradict my first post, I saw Ugonna Okegwo playing through an Ampeg FlipTop head - but I forget what cab he used. It saw him playing with Roy Hargove and Clark Terry at the Jazz Gallery in NYC around New Years a coupla years ago. He got a really nice sound out of it, believe it or not. But I think he's probably more of the exception rather than the usual case.
 
#11
onemother said:
Hello there,

I'm poised upon buying the Ampeg BA115T (100 W), but am wondering if it's worth pumping in the extra $250 or so to get the Ampeg BA115HPT (220 W). Obviously, bigger is better in this case, but bucks are an issue.

BTW, I'll be playing an upright through it mainly in small jazz (3/4 piece) settings and in small salsa/son settings (5-6 pieces). Do you think 100W would be enough in these bands?

Also, given the music setting I just described, would anyone suggest a $650 alternative to the Ampeg BA115HPT? Just curious.

Thanks in advance.

Doug
Click to expand...

I use a BT-15c (2 - 15" ) speakers in an Ampeg cab in a 19
piece swing band and the tone and volume cant be beat
but that is only my opinion. I use an underwood pickup so
I guess its to each his own. Good luck , Tom
 
#12
bikerbassplayer said:
I use a BT-15c (2 - 15" ) speakers in an Ampeg cab in a 19
piece swing band and the tone and volume cant be beat
but that is only my opinion. I use an underwood pickup so
I guess its to each his own. Good luck , Tom
Click to expand...
A friend, and one of the best bass players I've ever heard, uses a small 1-15" cab and he always sounds great. I completely agree about to each his own.
 
#13
I owned, and as I mentioned earlier in this thread still have a B-15N (C)
At the time I purchased it in early 80's it was a very fine amplifier. Personally, I'vd played through a number of different new incarnations of the Ampeg "single 15 in a box" and they just weren't up to the standard of the original and that's including the Portabass line. Ampeg just keeps redesigning their offerings every couple of years. Their "Meat and Potatoes" amp are the SVT line and mabey the B-15R.
I did get a chance to play through a B 100 R and thought it sounded good with upright. The problem is that it weighs 65 lbs.

Ric
 
#17
onemother said:
Hey Bribass,

Do you play your DB through the Polytone?

Also, have you ever heard a DB player using one those Traynor amps you cite? How did it sound?

Thanks.

Doug
Click to expand...

Yes, w/ that amp (c.'04 Polytone Sonic Circuit) I mostly play DB. I also have an old Mini Brute IV c. 1983 that's still in service, but the new one has a bit more wattage and a tweeter. They're fine compact combos that are very warm sounding. Ray Brown (a DB giant) used one until he passed. They were good enough for him. That said I wouldn't want to push one too hard w/ BG playing Blues or R&R w/ a very loud drummer. Would probably trash the speaker. They're fine for a small club on DB. I think they sound better on the floor unlike some other amps.

I've used both of those Yorkville/Traynor amps (the older models are Yorkville, same co.) supplied as backline for different out of town gigs I've played. They both sunded great for DB. Clear and focused, but warm. They can get pretty darn loud, especially the 200 watt model. And they are not all that big or heavy for combo 15's. A BG student of mine bought the 200 watt one for his Rock cover band and he loves it. I think they make one w/ 2 10's if you prefer. I love their stuff. All of it comes w/ a great two year warranty. I have a great small Yorkville PA that has been trouble free for years and the same goes for my little 50 combo w/ a 10.
Do a search on TB w/ bribass and Yorkville and you'll see all my numerous posts touting their gear.

BTW- you should take a minute and fill out your profile.

Hope this helps, Bri
 
#18
bribass said:
Yes, w/ that amp (c.'04 Polytone Sonic Circuit) I mostly play DB. I also have an old Mini Brute IV c. 1983 that's still in service, but the new one has a bit more wattage and a tweeter. They're fine compact combos that are very warm sounding. Ray Brown (a DB giant) used one until he passed. They were good enough for him. That said I wouldn't want to push one too hard w/ BG playing Blues or R&R w/ a very loud drummer. Would probably trash the speaker.
Click to expand...

In the mid '80's I used a Polytone Minibrute playing Blues and R&R on BG. It worked well until the mid '90's when my roommates two year old son got a hold of the speaker cover and speaker. I was still able to use it for practice though.
 
#19
clink said:
Your experience is different than mine. It's possible that different bass/pickup combinations may work with that amp. I have heard that the B15 can work.

To each his own.
Click to expand...

Clink,
Actually, it's been several years since I used the B-15 on a local concert! It sounded good then, but I'm not going to dump my current rigs an go back to using the B-15 full time either. Walks down nostalgia lane can be fun ocassionally, but they can also be deceptive. There are a variety of amplifier heads and cabinets that sound infinitely better now and are a lot lighter.

Ric
 

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