Hello all! I said I would post a review after my tour and here it is! So let's get started...
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
No pic no rig right?
This was taken on my phone after a gig in London. Sorry about the quality.
I wasn't really in the market for a new amp. I had a MarkBass CMD102P which was very good. It wasn't until I tried a Squier Jag through a Tiny Terror that I thought "Maybe I could use something with a little dirt in it.". That did it and set me thinking that perhaps a Tiny Terror would be in my life in the near future. The next time I went to the guitar shop I took my Mustang with the intent of trying out a Tiny Terror, but they had sold it unfortunately. I did try out the AD200B and it just didn't grab me though, so I shelved that idea. Then I remembered the portaflex series. I got to try the PF-500 out and left the shop with it that very day with a matching 210. Got £100 off for buying the two together as well! (PMT in Bristol, nice bunch in there!) It's not as good a deal as some of you Yanks have had, but I was pretty pleased with that. It probably helped that I had bought a Jag SS in there the previous week mind! The reason I picked the 210 over the 115? They didn't have any 115s for me to try so I just went with what they had.
Unfortunately, the day that I bought the rig I had a gig and I wasn't going to take new and un-tested gear out with me. Too much to think about when my band already has to set up a myriad of cables for in ear monitors (read:
I have to set up a myriad of cables). At home though, I was really pleased with the sound, but it was a little bright. I thought it was just because I had changed the strings on my bass, but further reading here makes me think that the speakers were also not worn in yet. One thing that slightly peeved me though, was the US mains cable in the box. I know the amp can run off varying voltages, but would it really be that hard to have someone put the correct mains cable for the destination of the amp?
Design
I was always keen on the styling after just seeing the pictures on the Ampeg site and here I was not disappointed in real life. It's just so damn pretty! Much more attractive than the MarkBass imo. The flip top is an awesome idea as well and has had many compliments from sound guys and other bands on my tour. Fitting the amp to the lid proved to be a little fiddly to do on my own. I probably should have waited till someone else was around, but I was impatient and wanted to see what it looked like! Casters are also a very nice addition. I hadn't had any gear with casters before and they just make it a lot easier to move it around, providing the surface is flat. As soon as there are any medium sized bumps, the thing will stop. Side handles would also be nice. While I do understand why they were omitted, they would make carrying it a little bit easier. The top handle is only good for short lifts. Bear hug it or use the casters if you want it to go any sort of distance.
The finish of the cab is really pretty. I love the black diamond tolex. But I will say this: It marks very easily! Mine has lots of little dings and scuffs from just 5 1/2 weeks without cover from just loading in my car with minimal other gear before the tour. I know that Ampeg haven't released a cover for the cabs yet, so if you're planning on shoving it in a van with lots of other gear, get one custom made! I got mine from:
AmplifierCoversOnline.Com
They're really good there. I gave them the dimensions and they made it up in a few days, delivered just in time for my first gig of the tour. (I'm really bad at ordering things in advance
)
Sound
As already mentioned, I liked the original sound on it's own, but it was a little bright. The tweeter didn't seem to be having a massive effect on it though. I can safely say that it is much warmer now. The speakers have burnt in nicely and I have found that it fits in my band situation exceptionally well. For my Mustang, I tend to the run the controls as follows:
Compression: Off
Gain: 1:30
Bass: 2:30
Mid: 9:30 - Position 3
Treble: 10:00
Master: 10:00-12:00 (depending upon the situation)
Tweeter: Off
It sounds really nice like this with my gear in my opinion. The drivers have enough high end with the tweeter off and like this it sits well in my band where there's also a cello to compete with. I don't want to invade the sonic space of that particularly, so dialling the highs down a bit works wonders. The compressor is also really nice. I haven't experienced one not in the studio before and it is a nice option. However, with my current band, I don't think that it's for me. We tend to go as quiet as a whisper then to full fuzz strummed bass chords (think Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky, Sigur Ros). I'm getting really rather good at controlling the dynamics of quieter parts and my Bass Big Muff does a good job compressing my signal when I get super loud. Also, with these settings, when I dig in with my fingers a little the clipping light comes on slightly and you get that warm edge to it. Then if I really dig in with a pick it becomes a lot warmer and really doesn't sound dissimilar to a tube amp imo. My band also really like my tone now. Just before our first practice with it, my band mates were kinda wondering why I had gone and bought a new amp. They thought my MarkBass was good enough. Then when it came to a loud practice they finally understood! It just sits really nicely!
The DI on this amp is also really nice. The -40dB pad is essential if the gain is around the so-called "sweet spot". It can be super hot. A nice feature might have been a DI output level control, but this'll do the trick. As previously mentioned, we use in ear monitors in my band because we have to listen to a click as the guitarist is looping live. Through my in ears (ME Electronics M6), the amp sits really well in our mix and I was actually able to hear myself a LOT better than when using my old MarkBass. I think it's the slight overdrive you get from the amp. It really helps to bring out a few harmonics that are (for me at least) really important in picking yourself out.
Overall
After having lived with the amp for a two week gigging schedule, I'm mightily impressed. The sound is solid and the controls don't get moved if you flip the lid! It's also plenty loud enough for me. I normally play venues that are about 75-150 capacity and I always have PA support. But even in band practice, I get told to turn it down if the volume knob is getting close to midday!
If you're looking to get one or both of these products I'd say don't hesitate
My only advice would be to get a cover, or else your tolex will get ruined!
Hope you guys enjoyed this and it I also hope that it has been useful for someone/anyone!
Cheers,
Mike
Basically it would be like a BT15C cab :
