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Ampeg combo not producing full stingray bass tone.

#21
Inconnu said:
I know what you mean and no, your combo won’t give you a sound as full and precise as an SVT.
I use an SVT and got a 1x15 combo for lighter duty. The only way I found to get it closer to my sound is to stick a SansAmp RBI in front of it.
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I use an Ampeg 15" cab powered by a Sansamp pre going into a power amp on stage. My Spector sounds full and growly through that.
 
#23
I run an EBMM HH stingray through a BA 115 I donated to my church. No where the punchiness of any of the amps I usually use. Just the nature of the beast. It's a good amp for what it is. I bought the stingray for the growl, I've got a ric that when I play through the Ampeg it's a similar situation. As noted, a couple posts above, some people don't like the tone of MusicMans, and for some... rics. For me, there are certain songs that they're both well suited.
 
#25
Hounddog409 said:
he has a combo amp in the closet. highly doubtful the strings are the cause.

I have Slinky's on a Jazz and TB. Never had a muddy E string.
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As an Ampeg guy, I can tell you that the BA115 doesn't live up to it's name. On top of that, whoever said that EB strings are the worst was right on the money. Bad strings are the first thing I thought of.

OP, you will likely never get the sound you want out of that amp, but at least get yourself some decent strings. Quit worrying about the sound from the amp and just play. You aren't going to be using that amp to play anywhere of any size. I play exclusively through my iPad at home, sound is not great, so what. It sounds good enough to practice with and when I am playing out, I have equipment that makes my basses sound like they should.
 
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#27
Could just be a kind of dark bland sounding amp. Once I jammed on a basic B-something Peavey combo, sounded nothing like my sound... but my band members at the time (light rock genre) loved it. I was like- that's nice but I didnt get a Mesa rig for nothin'.
 
#28
BobKos said:
To the OP - I am a Fender Jazz guy for sure. I own a couple dozen various branded basses. I have my amp set up where I like it. I can play ANY bass I own and with minor tweaks on the bass sound good. EXCEPT for a Stingray H. I have tried many Stingrays and have found the following to be true in my situation. 3 band is worse but 2 band too. If I try to play one I HAVE to screw around with my amp settings to get decent tone out of it. Then when I'm done with it I have to put my amp back to where all my other basses sound good. Those other basses include Musicman basses too. But a Stingray H in my hands sounds terrible and I MUST work the amp to get it even remotely acceptable.
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#29
Yes Bobkos that is exactly what I mean. My jazz basses and precision S sounds awesome thru the ba115 but as soon as I plug the stingray in it's like the amp doesn't capture the full sound of the stingray. And as for the closet thing. I thought it actualy made my P abd J basses sounder fuller by placing the amp in the closet but the strings is different. I'm thinking if I was playing the stingray thru a good 410 cab and good amp it would sound a lot different. I am thinking of getting an Ampeg head and the 410 hlf cab. Or possibly the GKMB410 500 watt combo. The GK definateky seems to bring out the highs better. But I want it to be able to get that cliff Williams ACDC deep fat but tight and growly type tone also.
 
#30
How much better would the newer Ampeg 210 v2 combo sound with my stingray and jazz too get better highs for slapping and just a tighter punchier sound other than just mud that comes from the ba 115 100 watt. I shoukd say muddy slows and low mids and that's about it.
 
#31
growler571 said:
I have to agree on the fender solid state and the Ampeg solid state combos somewhat as well also. To me they sound like they are choked off in the low end department somewhat. I true like the rumble combos brightness though. The 200 and 500 combo soynded pretty good in guitar center with a P Bass but I was noticing they didn't quite want to produce the full low end. It was slightly choked off it seemed but not bad. The rumbles did soynd pretty damn good for their price I thoyght, but I have the 40 watt and u might as well not bother. It's good for hearing your bass to tune it at home but that's about it. Pretty thin sounding
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I lived with a 2 EQ Stingray for better than 20+years. MIDS were never it's forte. I agree the Precision Bass speaks in that arena. Maybe you're just playing the wrong bass? Just sayin..
 

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