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Ampeg Micro-VR reliabilty

H

HolyGrowl

Jan 28, 2008
99
0
#1
Hi folks,

I was just wondering what are your experiences with this head as far as reliablity goes.

I bought it along with the small cab and like it very much so far. To the point of considering buying an extra cab and sell my big heavy rig.

I used it last night on a folk/rock gig. The band consists of a singer/acoustic guitar, a drummer and a backup singer. No PA support and this little kit performed flawlessly with enough power to fill the little pub. The head didn't run hot at all with gain and master at 1 o'clock.

Now.... being that it's manufactured in china, with maybe some less quality parts, (the jacks are plastic and the power cord socket is a bit lose) I just wanted to hear either your good or bad experiences with reliability to help me make my mind.

Thanks
 
#2
Mine's got somewhere around 50 gigs and several rehearsals on it, and so far so good. I seldom get the gain or volume much above about 11:00, so I'm pretty easy on it, but it's been a workhorse for me for the 6 or 7 months I've owned it. Obviously, YMMV, but I don't haul a backup around with me.

Blooz :bassist:
 
#3
I've been using the micro-vr with 2 of the matching svt-210av cabs.
usually i run gain wide open with -15db engaged and adjust overall with the volume.
i find i get the best sound and volume out of it this way, and it doesn't distort or clip.
i keep the limiter on even tho it doesn't peak, i guess it's better to use it just in case, since it's there..

love it how its SO light!
the sound is definitely a lot fuller with 2 cabs.

i don't have loose parts on mine, but maybe u should tighten it or something if u can?

Link Removed
 
#7
I had some QC issues right out of the box, scratchy pots and some loose connections,those were easily fixed.
The head is a workhorse and and has kept up with two loud guitars, keys, and drums. with P.A. support and without. I'm not even using the full 200 watts and and it cuts through the mix just fine.
 
#8
Thanks for the pointers guys. I opened it and found out that there are no screws holding the socket so I can't tighten it. It's more like some plastic clips that prevent the socket from coming out. They just are not as close to the frame to prevent a bit of moving of the socket but like I was thinking, nothing critical.

It also allowed me to check out the different components and build quality. I'm not an amp technician by all means but everything seemed well assembled and tight.
 
#9
IMG_1585.jpg


IMG_1584.jpg


IMG_1583.jpg


IMG_1582.jpg



Don't remember where I read the cabs are sealed but they're in fact ported.
IMG_1581.jpg
 
#11
Hey guys,
The 210AV cabs are sealed as Tom mentioned. We did have a number of cabs that came in from production that did in fact have ports in them but I was under the impression that those did not go out through our sales channels. Obviously that's not the case as you can see with HolyGrowl's cab here. Everything that I have seen thus far has been sealed though. As they should be.

-Dino
 
#15
Well I don't know if it would be considered a collector's item and how many of them ported version have actually been put out on the street but the other one sure is sealed!

IMG_1586.jpg


All I know is I like the little rig very much and sold my big Aguilar and Mesa rig and my goal is to add two other 210AV and another Micro head to have a modular 8X10 rig.
 
#16
HolyGrowl said:
Well I don't know if it would be considered a collector's item and how many of them ported version have actually been put out on the street but the other one sure is sealed!

IMG_1586.jpg


All I know is I like the little rig very much and sold my big Aguilar and Mesa rig and my goal is to add two other 210AV and another Micro head to have a modular 8X10 rig.
Click to expand...

Well, hey! Since you have one of each, can you tell us how they sound compared to each other? :D
 
#18
in a way, it kind of tickles me to see non-production stuff getting released to the public. reminds me of how everett hull used to sell jess oliver's prototypes behind his and ampeg dealers' backs. of course, loud didn't cut the dealers out of the loop like everett did, but it's kind of the same thing.
 
#20
Hou said:
Can that little rig really play loud?
Click to expand...

This far I used it with one cab on a folk/rock gig in a 100 person venue and a indie-rock band rehearsal. On the first gig it was more than enough to hear myself on stage and just enough to fill out the venue with no PA support. At the rehearsal, with 2 guitars and a drum it was just a bit underpowered. I could hear myself, I would've liked to be louder but it was ok but the other musicians said they weren't hearing the bass enough.

Now with two cabs, I have a gig tomorrow with a big country band (2 guitars, pedal steel, drums, violin) and I will report back on sunday to let you guys know how the rig performed.
 

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