Ampeg BA210v2 Availability?

[JimmyM]

But if the driver was bad, I would think it would make rattles on all notes and not just one. What he's got going on is sympathetic vibrations. I'm thinking that some of the padding on the inside has come loose and is flapping around there but it only makes noise on that note. You can take a speaker out and check the padding and reattach any loose pieces with a staple gun or double sided carpet tape. However, being new and all, it's something you shouldn't have to fix, plus if you do it and it still doesn't work, it could void the warranty, so the safe thing to do is exchange it.

One thing you could do that won't void the warranty is check and make sure all the screws in it are firmly screwed in. Pop the grill and check the speaker screws, too, and snug them up but don't overtighten, otherwise you can bend the speaker frame.

 

[iagtrplyr]

But if the driver was bad, I would think it would make rattles on all notes and not just one. What he's got going on is sympathetic vibrations. I'm thinking that some of the padding on the inside has come loose and is flapping around there but it only makes noise on that note. You can take a speaker out and check the padding and reattach any loose pieces with a staple gun or double sided carpet tape. However, being new and all, it's something you shouldn't have to fix, plus if you do it and it still doesn't work, it could void the warranty, so the safe thing to do is exchange it.

One thing you could do that won't void the warranty is check and make sure all the screws in it are firmly screwed in. Pop the grill and check the speaker screws, too, and snug them up but don't overtighten, otherwise you can bend the speaker frame.

Thanks for chiming in JimmyM. I called the store this afternoon and the owner, who I've known for a while, said he'd like to hear it first before deciding what to do, but if it is one of the tens he'd like to swap it out with a new one.

The sound is predominantly the open E string at 9:00 volume, but I'm sure at higher volume levels I'd hear it with other notes. You can detect the crunching sound when moving the cone in and out, unlike the other ten which is dead silent.

Back in the 80s, I worked in home audio and we used to get loudspeakers returned with that same sound. I'm guessing it was bad to begin with and QC missed it.

I'll let you know their findings. I still like the amp though and have no intentions on getting rid if it. I think it'll be plenty loud for different applications, and other than the tweeter being almost non-existent, I liked the tone I heard until pushing the volume.

Again, thanks for lending some thought to the matter.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Update from this afternoon: brought the combo back to my local dealer and he could only make the crackling noise intermittently, but still heard it. Then he went on a near rampage pushing the driver until i thought he was gonna push through it and all of a sudden we heard something dislodge. He guessed something between the cone and the magnet, I believe he said. Well whatever it was the speaker sounded fine after that. We ran a bass through it at all volumes and tone settings and it seemed fine. But he decided it was too new to have to go through that so he was going to make a call to the rep and get a replacement ten to swap for the one in question. So i brought the amp home and played through it for about an hour tonight without a hitch. No doubt, I still want a new driver, but I'm finally getting to hear what thing can do and, JimmyM, it is very nice. Don, the owner of Tegeler's Music, in Clinton, IA. mentioned this is by far the best-sounding amp in the fleet, and another customer who was lurking agreed it was definitely an Ampeg by its tone.

So I should have a new speaker in a few days and I'll continue on breaking this combo in. Lastly, it definitely has some guts when you open it up, and hose tens really punch. If you finally get the chance, JimmyM, please run one through its paces. I'd love to get your feedback on what I believe is a very nice-sounding amplifier.

 

[JimmyM]

Is there something bouncing around in there loose now? If you dislodged it, it's probably on the bottom and not causing any problems anymore, but it might at a later date, so you'll want to check inside when you get the new speaker. Have not got to try one yet, looking forward to it, sounds like a good one, though. Enjoy!

 

[10cc]

I've never seen one of these yet. This looks like something I could use. Low volume country gigs. From some of the posts it looks like it can get a little loud too. Wow forty something pounds. I need to go hear one live.

I will say last week I fooled around on some rumbles and they are not for me.

 

[iagtrplyr]

I've never seen one of these yet. This looks like something I could use. Low volume country gigs. From some of the posts it looks like it can get a little loud too. Wow forty something pounds. I need to go hear one live.

I will say last week I fooled around on some rumbles and they are not for me.

Hey 10cc! Like any amp, it's all a matter of your tastes and the famous "sound you hear in your head." The Rumble and BA210 satisfy what I enjoy hearing, though I tend to run through amps like changes of socks.

Definitely audition the BA210, 10cc, I think you will like it very much. Though they are still under the radar, I haven't heard or read a bad comment yet.

 

[Felix1776]

Hope you enjoy it! Haven't played one yet but looks like it'll be another good'un.

Felix, I was on a business trip with my band on our yearly cruises when you posted your review, so if you're still checking in, I have a word or two about the Scrambler...since I've had a BA112 v2 since it came out last week and just got a SCR-DI last week, I've gotten to know the new Scrambler circuit pretty well. It was designed to be butt-simple to operate instead of being the most versatile distortion circuit on the planet, but you can still get some harder distortion tones out of it with solid lows if you use the tone controls. When you increase drive, you're increasing highs and high mids by a very large amount, and the net result is a loss of low end. This is why distortion pedals for bass either have blends or tone knobs that let you add bass response to your tastes. Blend is great and tons of bass players blend clean and dirty signals, but it dulls the intensity of the overdrive the more you increase the clean signal. So when you want hard distortion out of the Scrambler, you'll need to dial up some more bass response. You'll likely lose the ability to switch it in and out instantly because it will likely end up being too overwhelming for your clean sound, but it will work and it sounds good to me.

Thanks jimmy. I started experimenting with a hardwire sc2 and same thing. Seems to suck the low end right out even with low drive.

 

[conan8]

Update on my Ampeg BA210V2. Sent back my first ba210 due to vibration issues. Received my 2nd damaged from shipping had a chunk taken out of the side of the amp, sent that back. 3rd amp came in good shipping order and was excited until I turned it past 3 on the volume, huge vibration issue and it sounded like the Scrambler was on. I could have the Scrambler up all the way and turn it off and it sounded the same; very disappointed so it went back.

Ended up with a Ampeg BA115V2 and really like it, figured the BA210 was not meant to be even though I really liked the sound it put out. When looking for a practice amp I tried the following; Ampeg BA (110, 112, 115, 210) Fender new Rumble (112 & 115) GK MB (115 210 212), TC electronics (112 & 115) and Mark Bass ( 112 & school bass 115?). It was a pain to find diff places that had these and took awhile but wanted a amp I really liked and didnt want to wonder what others sounded like. Personally to me I ranked the following to my taste:
1. Ampeg 210 & 115
2. GK 115 & 210
3. TC Electronic 15 & 12
4. Markbass 12 & 15
5. Fender 15 (really tried to like the new ones due to all the great reviews but was just missing something to me)

About the Ampeg was not really looking to get an Ampeg but just really liked it.
What I like:
The tone to my ears and taste, Low tone switch, High tone Switch, Headphones, Aux volume, Mute on horn, switches/knobs up front, wattage is sufficient enough for practice amp
What I dont:
no white piping ( its now all black), Scrambler - not really sold on this, cheap plastic knobs
Packaging of the amp very little protection in the box ( I think Packaging of items has gotten worse over the years, keep costs down at all costs)

Lastly funny story, I happend to be home when the delivery truck pulled up delivering one of the amps I sent back. The delivery man basically dropped the box when getting it out from back of the truck, then flipped it not carefully on its top on a small dolly. This is was not the amp that had damage to it. It makes me wonder if more amps get damaged in the delivery process? I do understand it is not the easiest job delivering packages all day long.

 

[Slackerprince]

I have a 210 on back-order from MF.
A few of these posts have me concerned about issues, but I'm thinking the new batch coming in may have some additional QC. Crossing fingers.
I think MF adds an additional box to the factory box on amps.
I did have an Acoustic B200 rolled off a UPS truck, and yes, it was damaged. This was from GC online, and I had to drive to a store to get it replaced.
I really never had an amp come from MF with issues, so I'm hoping for the best.
I did try the Rumbles, but as I've PM'd a few members, I noted that I didn't like the controls on the top/back of the amp. The light weight was nice.
C'mon Ampeg!

S

 

[Slackerprince]

FYI, Sweetwater says that rebate expires in 5 days.

S

 

[iagtrplyr]

Update on my Ampeg BA210V2. Sent back my first ba210 due to vibration issues. Received my 2nd damaged from shipping had a chunk taken out of the side of the amp, sent that back. 3rd amp came in good shipping order and was excited until I turned it past 3 on the volume, huge vibration issue and it sounded like the Scrambler was on. I could have the Scrambler up all the way and turn it off and it sounded the same; very disappointed so it went back.

Ended up with a Ampeg BA115V2 and really like it, figured the BA210 was not meant to be even though I really liked the sound it put out. When looking for a practice amp I tried the following; Ampeg BA (110, 112, 115, 210) Fender new Rumble (112 & 115) GK MB (115 210 212), TC electronics (112 & 115) and Mark Bass ( 112 & school bass 115?). It was a pain to find diff places that had these and took awhile but wanted a amp I really liked and didnt want to wonder what others sounded like. Personally to me I ranked the following to my taste:
1. Ampeg 210 & 115
2. GK 115 & 210
3. TC Electronic 15 & 12
4. Markbass 12 & 15
5. Fender 15 (really tried to like the new ones due to all the great reviews but was just missing something to me)

About the Ampeg was not really looking to get an Ampeg but just really liked it.
What I like:
The tone to my ears and taste, Low tone switch, High tone Switch, Headphones, Aux volume, Mute on horn, switches/knobs up front, wattage is sufficient enough for practice amp
What I dont:
no white piping ( its now all black), Scrambler - not really sold on this, cheap plastic knobs
Packaging of the amp very little protection in the box ( I think Packaging of items has gotten worse over the years, keep costs down at all costs)

Lastly funny story, I happend to be home when the delivery truck pulled up delivering one of the amps I sent back. The delivery man basically dropped the box when getting it out from back of the truck, then flipped it not carefully on its top on a small dolly. This is was not the amp that had damage to it. It makes me wonder if more amps get damaged in the delivery process? I do understand it is not the easiest job delivering packages all day long.

We sound like a couple of peas in the pod, Conan8. For me, I'd rather have the 210 for the power, but am beginning to seriously wonder if this current model is suffering serious quality control issues.

I talked to my dealer yesterday after not hearing anything for two days and was given no update. I was told though that there's no way Ampeg will do anything other than replace the defective amp with another new one. So I guess I'll wait until I hear the verdict.

 

[Felix1776]

I've had mine since late January. it hasn't been gigged yet but I haven't had an issue. I think it's a great amp.

 

[conan8]

Ampeg did seem to make the new BA210 available about a year later after the new single 10, 12 and 15 were put out. So maybe there were some issues they needed to resolve before they rolled it out? ( I could be wrong on this). With mass production it is just luck on everything you buy. I probably could have lived with the vibration issue with the first amp if I had bought it used but it was new and I am the type if it is NEW there should be nothing wrong with it at all.

Again the BA 210 is great sounding amp and I believe I just had bad luck and didnt want to deal with it anymore. But I am enjoying the BA 115 alot and have no regrets for this as a practice amp. Luckly I really liked both the 210 and 115 about even, so I am good.

 

[iagtrplyr]

210 update: my third new combo is on it's way and will be here early next week. The tech who looked over #2 amp was quoted as saying that the amp was a mess. He got to the point where he couldn't get anything out of the speaker evrn after shutting the power off and restarting. The store's owner told Ampeg I've been extremely patient, but if this one goes he'll have to do something else for me. We'll see how it goes. I'm hoping for an amp I can play for more than 30 days!

 

[Slackerprince]

210 update: my third new combo is on it's way and will be here early next week. The tech who looked over #2 amp was quoted as saying that the amp was a mess. He got to the point where he couldn't get anything out of the speaker evrn after shutting the power off and restarting. The store's owner told Ampeg I've been extremely patient, but if this one goes he'll have to do something else for me. We'll see how it goes. I'm hoping for an amp I can play for more than 30 days!

Yeah, that's getting ridonkulous. I've got mine coming on Monday.
I'll let you guys know what kind of shape, and how it sounds, when I get it.
Sorry for your hassles.

S

 

[iagtrplyr]

Yeah, that's getting ridonkulous. I've got mine coming on Monday.
I'll let you guys know what kind of shape, and how it sounds, when I get it.
Sorry for your hassles.

S

Good luck, 'Prince. May you not have to endure what a few of us already have. It's dumb stuff too. I believe the overall unit design is a good one, great tone, and more portable than the previous version. I'm hoping that three is a charm and I can enjoy all of the above. Please keep us posted and don't throw a single thing away for at least a month!

 

[Slackerprince]

Good luck, 'Prince. May you not have to endure what a few of us already have. It's dumb stuff too. I believe the overall unit design is a good one, great tone, and more portable than the previous version. I'm hoping that three is a charm and I can enjoy all of the above. Please keep us posted and don't throw a single thing away for at least a month!

Thanks.
I keep all my amp boxes in the attic, in case I move, sell it, etc.
Fingers crossed on this deal.

S