Fenderhutz, I use a Micro VR with two of the 210 cabinets, and ironically I also use almost the exact amp settings as you. My master may actually be a bit higher, and I don't have the limiter on. Never had a problem with clipping or buzzing, and I'm using G&L basses through it. Hmmm...[/QUOT
I was using the Micro-VR with 1 210 cab and loved the tone as I am also using a G and L so I ordered the second cab, with the active turned off and limiter turned on.....every knob set at 12 including the gain and volume I got an incredible crack everytime I hit an E, G, F...... its not even distorted like the video posted on youtube....its a loud power surging crack, I sent back the new cab and swapped it out for another and its worse.....love the sound but with the second cab added I have to turn the gain down so much to get rid of the crack that I can get more volume from 1 cab but its not loud enough to gig along side my band mates (2 of them have marshall stacks) Hopefully they come up with a fix
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Ampeg Micro VR issues poll with new video
- Thread starter fenderhutz
- Start date
Any update? I've been waiting for the "fixed" version to ship but ended up getting one ordered today. I traded my first one last year for a '67 Bassman (couldn't pass that up 
) and really miss it for some styles. I do like my MB200 for its "modern" tone though. I have two of the SVT210AV cabs...
) and really miss it for some styles. I do like my MB200 for its "modern" tone though. I have two of the SVT210AV cabs...
My "fix" was them sending me a PF350 and 2 PF 115HE cabs to replace my Micro VR and 210AV cabs.
They supposedly have had a "fix" since last July/August. All they do is decrease the gain (it seems anyway through discussions I had) stage by a couple db so it can't distort anymore. They were telling people to send them in and they would fix them on a case by case basis.
It's sad to hear people are still getting the run around on a design defect.
Edit: Link is live again.
I took it down for a while.
They supposedly have had a "fix" since last July/August. All they do is decrease the gain (it seems anyway through discussions I had) stage by a couple db so it can't distort anymore. They were telling people to send them in and they would fix them on a case by case basis.
It's sad to hear people are still getting the run around on a design defect.
Edit: Link is live again.
I took it down for a while.
Wow, thanks for posting FH. That's nothing like what my "proper" sounding dual cab rig sounds like. As I previously posted, I'm running gain and volume minimum 2 o'clock all the time with limiter and cut buttons out (off). Similar tone settings as you and running the mid over 12 o'clock. With 18 volt active basses and tried also with a passive Precision at the same settings and all it is is clear, pounding and LoUd!!. Just some smooth SVT breakup if you pluck it hard, but it's a "natural" controllable tubish breakup.
I push my amps hard and had problems with my 4Pro "hitting the rails" and had my SVT7 Pro limiter cut it off a few times. The micro doesn't do any of this. It just puts up with the abuse with nary a complaint. Touch wood.
It's a first release head with 2nd release cabs.
I've found Ampeg service and conversations with Dino exceptionally helpful, especially if you provide them with proof like your sound clips or pictures for visual defects.
Best wishes for finding your ideal rig. OH
I push my amps hard and had problems with my 4Pro "hitting the rails" and had my SVT7 Pro limiter cut it off a few times. The micro doesn't do any of this. It just puts up with the abuse with nary a complaint. Touch wood.
It's a first release head with 2nd release cabs.
I've found Ampeg service and conversations with Dino exceptionally helpful, especially if you provide them with proof like your sound clips or pictures for visual defects.
Best wishes for finding your ideal rig. OH
Wow, got it less than 24 hrs after I ordered it - $250 shipped
. Anyways I was surprised to see it is a rev A00 - I thought the "new tolex" version was B00? My old one was a pealer for sure but this one is perfect. Seems to work fine too and I'll get to jam some blues with it tonight - only gonna use one cab for now though.BTW what's with these having a gain PLUS a master? You can't get any usable crunch with the gain up and the master down like you'd expect
.
Oh, and in that video he never did one cab with the limiter off so we could see if that sounded different than two cabs with the limiter off?
BTW what's with these having a gain PLUS a master? You can't get any usable crunch with the gain up and the master down like you'd expect
I haven't really experimented with the master down and lower volumes but I'm getting a nice smooth SVT like crunch with gain and master both over 2 o'clock and everything else over noon to some degree.
I wonder if boosting the tone knobs will give you some crunch without having to crank up the volume. My gain and limiter are always in the out position.
Good luck!
I'd guess you have the -15db button pushed in. That cuts gain down to where it would be tough to get any crunch. But I have no problem getting a good mild or medium crunch out of mine with the gain cranked and the master low and the button in the out position. The master just turns up and down the overall volume and leaves whatever gain setting you have alone.
Nope, -15 button out. I do however only have passive basses and get the "peak" light to barely flash with the gain all the way up. My original Micro-VR acted the same way.
Also, I'm getting a "gating" effect when I turn down the volume on my bass. It sounds just like I have a noise gate in the signal path? I seem to remember my original Micro-VR doing this too but I'm not 100% sure. It's fine when the bass's volume is fully up. If this is actually a feature and not a bug i sure wish it was defeatable
.Jammed some blues with a couple guitarists and a drummer tonight - amp sounded great with a single SVT210AV except I wish I could get some crunch out of it without having the Master all the way up
. Maybe I need a volume boost pedal to get the preamp to overload a bit more? I had the bass and mid flat and the treble all the way down with my single pickup MM clone.
Don't know about any noise gating in it since I always leave my basses full up on volume, but I imagine that's possible. I love it but it is a $300 amp, after all. But when you turn your volume down on the bass, you greatly reduce your ability to get crunch out of it. Could it be you just need to turn your bass up all the way? Or do you play with an unusually light touch? What are your tone knob settings on amp and bass? Not trying to put the blame on you or anything, but your experiences aren't the norm so I'm spitballing here trying to figure out why. It's not going to be like turning an SVT up all the way, but you can get some righteous crank out of them.
I only noticed it when noodling around between songs with the bass's volume turned down.
It's all the way up when actually playing.
Quite the opposite
. Actually this particular bass has fairly low output compared to my others.
I think I mentioned that the amp's bass and mid are at 12 o'clock and the treble all the way down. Bass's tone is full treble.
With the gain at 3 o'clock and the master on full there is plenty of "crunch" - I just can't get any with the gain on full and the master turned down like I would expect. Maybe I'll get the schematic and see if I can hot-rod it a bit
. BTW I have a couple old "Tube Works" combos that also have MOSFET power amps and they sound great (AKA "tubey") "pushed".
Well I guess the obvious question here is how does it do with your hotter basses? 
Also, if you add treble, can you hear overdrive at all?
Also, if you add treble, can you hear overdrive at all?
I'll give it a try next time I have it set up. I seem to remember the original head I had just sounding like crappy solid state clipping when you got the "peak" light goin' but worth a try againWell I guess the obvious question here is how does it do with your hotter basses?
.
Looks like i get to check out this great Ampeg customer service everybody's talking about - this head really sounds like **** today at lower volumes. Cutting out, crackling, etc :-( . I figure I'm better off sending it into Ampeg than back to the online dealer?
With my grill cloth situation, I emailed Ampeg customer service and they got back to me the same afternoon. They shipped out another cab for me and I was given an R/A to ship the original back in the box. (They orchestrated it through a dealer warranty depot). Didn't cost me anything except time and gas.
I detailed the situation with photos, serial number, and release #. So the best you can document your problem with settings, gear, sound clips if possible, the better they can support your claim.
Good luck and cheers
OH!
Hey, found my posts on my original head with the same issue of not having enough gain to overdrive the preamp:Well I guess the obvious question here is how does it do with your hotter basses?
GK MB200 & Ampeg Micro-VR - Page 2 - TalkBass Forums
GK MB200 & Ampeg Micro-VR - Page 2 - TalkBass Forums
<Also to OldHack - thanks for the advice!
>
Update: This all started to sound like a low voltage problem to me so I flicked the 110/220 switch back and forth a few times (with the power off) and the problem seems to have gone away . I've played it a both low and medium volumes for a couple hours since and all seem well .
Still needs about 10db more gain to make the gain control useful with any of the passive basses I've tried
. Of course the manual says you should never peak out the preamp - but I wonder if the designer ever played a "real" SVT before 
. Once I'm convinced its OK I might bugger it up with more gain - Ampeg says on their website that they'll send you the schematic if you ask for it and I'm an EE in RL .
. I've played it a both low and medium volumes for a couple hours since and all seem well .Still needs about 10db more gain to make the gain control useful with any of the passive basses I've tried
. Of course the manual says you should never peak out the preamp - but I wonder if the designer ever played a "real" SVT before . Once I'm convinced its OK I might bugger it up with more gain - Ampeg says on their website that they'll send you the schematic if you ask for it and I'm an EE in RL .
I bought my Micro VR and one cab last May 30th from MF; A00 head and B00 cab. I just got a second cab from MF yesteday, also a B00 and both grills match. There really is a big difference in sound with the second cab. Settings are: Gain 2:00, Bass 2:00, Mid 12:00, Treble 11:00, Master 2:00. At these settings (using a Precision Bass) I don't hear any problems, but maybe these are on the conservative side. I think it sounds great; albeit, not as good as my SVT-VR and Berg NV610.
No, that's not on the conservative side by any means...that's slammin' it pretty good. Glad it's working out!
