Ampeg Micro VR versus Rocket Bass

[Jason Stock]

Most are not going to agree with me, but that is fine. I own (and still have) an Ampeg SVT7 Pro and 410 cab. I have had other 410's and 810's and heads (Ampeg, SWR, peavey) over the years.
I have never had a problem with my Ampeg MicroVR and 210 (my mini fridge as I like to call it) I gig with it in my 3 piece and have used it in 4 piece settings as well. Practice at the studio all the time. It serves me very well.
Some things to note. Is it over priced, perhaps but I am not complaining and that is your choice to make. Is the built in DI in it not very good. Absolutely, but I have a Sansamp Tech21 that I use for my DI so problem solved. Is it underpowered? Well that depends on your band and stage volumes. As I own my PA system, I always have PA support and could feed it to my monitor or my other players' monitors. As two of us are now on IEM's, it is not an issue at all. I have done outdoor shows with it and no problems at all (again, I have proper PA gear and use IEM's now)

It is really coming down to what kind of power and volume you need from "your amp" and the sound that it is "your sound" and how to achieve it.

 

[shaginwagin]

Most are not going to agree with me, but that is fine. I own (and still have) an Ampeg SVT7 Pro and 410 cab. I have had other 410's and 810's and heads (Ampeg, SWR, peavey) over the years.
I have never had a problem with my Ampeg MicroVR and 210 (my mini fridge as I like to call it) I gig with it in my 3 piece and have used it in 4 piece settings as well. Practice at the studio all the time. It serves me very well.
Some things to note. Is it over priced, perhaps but I am not complaining and that is your choice to make. Is the built in DI in it not very good. Absolutely, but I have a Sansamp Tech21 that I use for my DI so problem solved. Is it underpowered? Well that depends on your band and stage volumes. As I own my PA system, I always have PA support and could feed it to my monitor or my other players' monitors. As two of us are now on IEM's, it is not an issue at all. I have done outdoor shows with it and no problems at all (again, I have proper PA gear and use IEM's now)

It is really coming down to what kind of power and volume you need from "your amp" and the sound that it is "your sound" and how to achieve it.

See, this is exactly what I was talking about.
The vr gets reviews that vary wildly from “it could never work for me” to “it’s my go to” haha.
Different strokes I guess. 700 bucks was too much of a gamble for me. But hopefully someday I’ll get me a mini fridge.

 

[butterfingers1]

I wonder why it is seen as «mini». A 210 is a 210 you would think. Yet it is obviously different, it’s the only head/cab setup that ever interested me, always preferred combos.

 

[GritGatsby]

If the plan is to gig seriously, get the Rocket. If the plan is to futz around at home, the VR is pretty cool. The 210AV cab can't handle really big low end at stage volume (or even rehearsal volume IME), and the DI on the head clips ridiculously easily. Like, well below stage volumes. Which made it unusable.

For what it's worth, I also mentioned this DI issue in another Micro VR thread, I was experiencing the same.

Since then I played a pretty large venue, the FOH was taking a look and they just padded the input. They were very happy with the result, made a point of telling me, this solved the problem and the signal they were getting was very good, and that I should just mention to person doing sound going forward.

I voted Micro VR simply because, I like mine. I live in NYC, don't have transportation, so the portability of the Micro VR probably means more to me than most. But I also think it sounds great.

 

[butterfingers1]

A modern Rocket Bass 500W stack costs the same as the 200W VR 2 210. Besides being (really) cute, there must be more to choose the VR.

 

[sloppy_phil]

I wonder why it is seen as «mini». A 210 is a 210 you would think. Yet it is obviously different, it’s the only head/cab setup that ever interested me, always preferred combos.

It's the "mini-fridge" which is accurate; the full Ampeg 810 is known as the "fridge". This 210 is the miniaturized version of its big brother in both look and power, hence the colloquial "mini-fridge"

@GritGatsby I also live in a big city with no car, so I really appreciated the VR's form-factor. I still purchase gear with the knowledge that most of the time I'll have to put it on a handcart and bring it on public transit. Glad the DI pad worked for you, but I also found that there was a weird and horrid sheen/warble on my sound coming out of the DI (I tested it with headphones at home more than once). Kinda the sonic equivalent of a plastic slip-cover on a sofa! I am happy it's doing the trick for you, but after two years of owning it, I found the VR completely unusable outside the home. Clearly YMMV!!

 

[Hot Rats]

I gig mine regularly in a 3 piece blues band and a 7 piece Tex-Mex band and a 4 piece country band. Outside and inside. There have been times where it has been on the edge of not being enough and I've needed ear plugs, but for the most part it handles the gig fine. I push it pretty hard. in O'clock, I set the Gain at 2, bass at 3, mid at 10/11, treble at 11 and master at full on with a P-bass. Then I control the overall volume with the bass' volume knob. I have sat in the audience a few times listening to other people play it and I've been satisfied with the sound/volume.
Context matters and I don't have to contend with volume wars. The musicians I play with in all the bands are sensible, seasoned musicians and we all play loud but not unprofessionally so. For me it works, and all the guys love it and compliment it. Plus, it all fits on my motorcycle and I grin every time I am cruising to a gig knowing I get paid to do this.

 

[GritGatsby]

It's the "mini-fridge" which is accurate; the full Ampeg 810 is known as the "fridge". This 210 is the miniaturized version of its big brother in both look and power, hence the colloquial "mini-fridge"

@GritGatsby I also live in a big city with no car, so I really appreciated the VR's form-factor. I still purchase gear with the knowledge that most of the time I'll have to put it on a handcart and bring it on public transit. Glad the DI pad worked for you, but I also found that there was a weird and horrid sheen/warble on my sound coming out of the DI (I tested it with headphones at home more than once). Kinda the sonic equivalent of a plastic slip-cover on a sofa! I am happy it's doing the trick for you, but after two years of owning it, I found the VR completely unusable outside the home. Clearly YMMV!!

Ah see, this is a good point. I have never tested the DI myself directly, but I certainly will plug it into my interface now to check it.

Thanks for the tip, this is why TB rules.