Ampeg Rocket Bass Combos

[Michael Eisenman]

So I’m about to downsize my Rumble 500. I don’t play big gigs anymore and need something I can take to a jam, acoustic hang, easily transport, and smaller form factor etc. So I’m looking between the RB112 and RB115. Is there much of a difference between the two? Can the RB112 keep up with a group? Back in the day I was using my Hartke B60(!) to practice with my garage band. Surely the 100 watt RB112 is a better amp than that Hartke was. But, the RB115 doesn’t feel like much of a downsize from the Rumble 500, which makes me feel like the 12 might be what I need. But hey, never hurts to have Larger speaker and a few extra watts. Right?

For a “jam, acoustic hang, easily transport, and smaller form factor etc.”, the RB-112 should be fine. Unless you add an external cab to the 115, the wattage is the same as the 112. Other features are the same, as well. I got the 112 for the DI and effects loop. The 115 adds only the external cab out (and some more surface area).

 

[iagtrplyr]

For a “jam, acoustic hang, easily transport, and smaller form factor etc.”, the RB-112 should be fine. Unless you add an external cab to the 115, the wattage is the same as the 112. Other features are the same, as well. I got the 112 for the DI and effects loop. The 115 adds only the external cab out (and some more surface area).

I would agree, the RB-112 is truly a Swiss Army knife. For reasonable volumes, like Michael said, it’s a strong representative of that Ampeg time we all love here. You can obviously get that from the 115, but in a larger size they you may not need unless you plan on adding extension speaker, then the 115 would be the better choice.

 

[thepapercut]

Thanks everyone. I have made up my mind and am going for the RB112. Luckily after one day on CL I found someone local who wants to buy my Rumble 500.

 

[evs]

A perfect scenario would be if a RB210 could match the output of my Rumble 500 but with the sound character of the RocketBass series (more of an Ampeg sound). Their specs are similar anyway but I’m mostly concerned with the RBs being more soft and we all know that watts on a paper and sound/volume on stage are completely different things

I have had both at the same time.
Both get to the same perceived volume.
I have played hundreds of rehearsals and gigs with these amps.
Both are able to keep up with drums in a rock band.

In an initial A/B test, the Rumble will likely seem louder because it has a more mid-forward sound.
The Rocket is deeper and clearer.
I find that on a gig, I tend to bump the mids on the Ampeg to about 2-3 o'clock, and lower the bass and treble a bit.
On the Rumble, I was leaving the mids in the noon position.

Both great amps for those wanting a simple, capable and great sounding combo solution.

The differences come down to tone.
They sound more alike than different.
I personally love the feel and tone that the ampeg has in it lows.

Can't go wrong either way.

 

[Yahboy]

Couple days ago, i try full level on SGT and 7 o'clock on grit knob along with dial back a little on both Bass and Mid knob, increase the treble knob to 1 o'clock , only ULTRA HI engage. Both my Pbass (Ti flat ) and Jbass (EB Cobalt flat ) just sound great with No Upper MID Shy worry anymore on this RB112 than my previous EQ setting.

 

[Rama777]

Hi Rocket owners!! I am planning to upgrade to either an RB210 or a 115 from my BA108. There is one of each available in the area. I tried them both and definitely favored the 210. However, there was quite a hiss coming from the 210 at high volumes. I see in this thread that it seems pretty common and is not bothersome when playing. Be that as it may, it bugs me enough that I’d take the 115 instead which was pretty much dead silent. We tried a new, higher quality cord and it changed the hiss quality but was still rather loud, mind you much more so at high volumes but that’s where I tend to hang out. I was using my bass and though it was silent on the 115, I figured perhaps there was something about my pickups that for some reason didn’t play nicely with the amp. I live rather far away and later discovered that there’s a horn kill switch. I called the shop and asked him to experiment with another bass and a new cord. He said the hiss was still there after turning the horn off, though it was quieter. He did say that even with the horn off, the 115 was absolutely still quieter. I see that some of you have turned the horns off on your 210s. So my question is, should that make the hiss practically disappear which would indicate some kind of defect with the one I played, or is it still inherently hissy at high volume compared to all the other models that seemed to me to be relatively silent?

 

[Yahboy]

Hi Rocket owners!! I am planning to upgrade to either an RB210 or a 115 from my BA108. There is one of each available in the area. I tried them both and definitely favored the 210. However, there was quite a hiss coming from the 210 at high volumes. I see in this thread that it seems pretty common and is not bothersome when playing. Be that as it may, it bugs me enough that I’d take the 115 instead which was pretty much dead silent. We tried a new, higher quality cord and it changed the hiss quality but was still rather loud, mind you much more so at high volumes but that’s where I tend to hang out. I was using my bass and though it was silent on the 115, I figured perhaps there was something about my pickups that for some reason didn’t play nicely with the amp. I live rather far away and later discovered that there’s a horn kill switch. I called the shop and asked him to experiment with another bass and a new cord. He said the hiss was still there after turning the horn off, though it was quieter. He did say that even with the horn off, the 115 was absolutely still quieter. I see that some of you have turned the horns off on your 210s. So my question is, should that make the hiss practically disappear which would indicate some kind of defect with the one I played, or is it still inherently hissy at high volume compared to all the other models that seemed to me to be relatively silent?

I believe the RB210 you try at store has similar issue like my first RB112, the hiss get much notable once volume above noon. I return it and replace with RB115, yes, she is silent, but too boomy and has no in your face tone i able get from RB112.
After few months, I buy another RB112 without hiss issue and compare to RB115 , no output volume different between both, but low end spread wider on Rb115. Sold the RB115 and happy with RB112.

Wish you can try another unit of RB210.

* there are tiny hiss notable when i get close to the combo when SGT engage.

 

[Bass]

...I see that some of you have turned the horns off on your 210s. So my question is, should that make the hiss practically disappear which would indicate some kind of defect with the one I played, or is it still inherently hissy at high volume compared to all the other models that seemed to me to be relatively silent?

Hi Rama, my horn is turned off and the hiss practically disappeared.

 

[R2Bass]

Hi Rama, my horn is turned off and the hiss practically disappeared.

The same here. But the hiss is still present in the DI output unless you crank the volume knob up

 

[Yahboy]

Mic direct record using cheapo Zoom H1, place in front the speaker with 2 inch distance.

D std tuning on Squier CV50P , Fralin Split 51 pup, few months old Labella LTF4A , mute foam add ,tone wide open, plucking hand right above the pickups.

RB112
Ultra Hi engage, Volume at noon, EQ Bass 9.30 o'clock, MID 10.30 o'clock , Treble 2.00 o'clock.

First part without SGT engage, Second part with SGT engage Grit 10.00 clock, Level 3.00 o'clock.

On this bass, not much voice different between with and without SGT engage, but i dint notice the hiss when SGT engage with this mic record.

 

[Yahboy]

Vintera 50s P with stock pup, few weeks old Ti JF344, plucking hand right above the EA pickups.

RB112
Volume at noon, EQ Bass 10.00 o'clock, MID 10.30 o'clock, Treble 2.00 o'clock.

First part without SGT engage, Ultra Hi OFF, tone wide open .
Second part with SGT engage, same setting Grit 10.00 clock, Level 3.00 o'clock, Ultra Hi ON, tone around 85% range.

 

[Yahboy]

Bacchus BJB1RSM with Cort VTB-ST pup load, EB Cobalt flat 2814, tone wide open, plucking hand between both pup.

RB112
No SGT, Volume at 12.30 o'clock, Ultra HI ON, EQ Bass at noon, MID 11.00 o'clock, Treble 2.00 o'clock

First par, both pup run, second neck pup and last bridge pup.

 

[swagbotbilly]

Hi Rocket owners!! I am planning to upgrade to either an RB210 or a 115 from my BA108. There is one of each available in the area. I tried them both and definitely favored the 210. However, there was quite a hiss coming from the 210 at high volumes. I see in this thread that it seems pretty common and is not bothersome when playing. Be that as it may, it bugs me enough that I’d take the 115 instead which was pretty much dead silent. We tried a new, higher quality cord and it changed the hiss quality but was still rather loud, mind you much more so at high volumes but that’s where I tend to hang out. I was using my bass and though it was silent on the 115, I figured perhaps there was something about my pickups that for some reason didn’t play nicely with the amp. I live rather far away and later discovered that there’s a horn kill switch. I called the shop and asked him to experiment with another bass and a new cord. He said the hiss was still there after turning the horn off, though it was quieter. He did say that even with the horn off, the 115 was absolutely still quieter. I see that some of you have turned the horns off on your 210s. So my question is, should that make the hiss practically disappear which would indicate some kind of defect with the one I played, or is it still inherently hissy at high volume compared to all the other models that seemed to me to be relatively silent?

I went down this rabbit hole with @R2Bass a while back, but I was starting to look into it again.

I'm hoping to drop off my 210 to a local shop and have them look at the DI issue while it's still under warranty. Hopefully I can do it next week...

My experience has been that there is definitely some noticeable hiss with the horn on in a quiet room, and with the horn on, it's still noticeable if it's just me and I'm not playing. But add someone else in the room talking etc. and I don't really notice it.

I would also like to hear from someone who has "de-horned" theirs. I leave mine off unless I'm playing through the aux (rare), and I wouldn't mind the weight savings...

 

[bordinco90]

Happy to report my RB-112 is still doing fantastic. To owners of the RB-112, how are they holding up? Have you gigged with yours?

 

[Gostdevil]

Sorry if I'm rehashing something already discussed with these, but I looked through and searched and didn't find anything. I've been curious about something with the Rocket series. Particularly a feature I've had an issue with on my SCR-DI. That is the lack of an output volume. I know the Rockets have a volume, but looking at the manual the diagram show it's basically an input/gain before the tone circuits and eq. I had the pedal a couple years ago and finally got rid of it because I just couldn't make it work for me. I looked at it's diagram afterwards, and it had the same thing. The volume was really a gain. When I turned it up to be louder I was over-driving the eq. Getting a clean-loud sound never really worked. It was replaced with a Mesa Subway +, with both input and output. I could go low gain, high output for loud-clean or vice-versa for some (light) grit. Well I bought an Ampeg pedal again and solved my previous issue by putting a Walrus Plainsman gain pedal after it as my output. Works great now.

I was wondering for those using Rockets, how do they do with clean-loud when the volume goes up? Does it behave like my pedal did and distorts quite a bit as volume goes up or does it stay clean? I wouldn't mind an Ampegish combo to take around at certain times, but my experience with the pedal worries me a bit.

Worst case I guess I could put the Plainsman in the effects loop.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

My RB-112 surprised me yesterday. We had an outdoor gig on a raised stage in the large courtyard (maybe 20’x40’) of a drinking establishment. Our guitarist and drummer are not shy, volume-wise, and we also had a keyboardist and a singer/harp player. I knew that I wanted a simple setup, and I had planned—and thought I would need—to send a DI to our PA system. Prior to this gig, I had used the amp only at rehearsals.

I ran a Tech 21 Q\Strip into the instrument input, and it worked great. I used my normal settings on the Q\Strip, and I lowered the bass (10 o’clock) and raised the mids (3 o’clock) on the amp. I had the RB’s volume at half, and it was plenty loud. I was told that the balance with the rest of the band was fine, and I also heard that we were a bit loud for the space. I’m very pleased with this amp.

 

[Lemur Bassman]

Came here to see these, as a person who had compared the Rumbles, BA's and Portaflexes in the past, prior finally decided that Ampeg is sound I'm after, and still a proud owner of the PF115HE and PF210HE cabs. Thanks for the weight comparison, BEADG63 and good job for conveying all of the dimensions, High Camp!!!

I own the Ampeg RB-210 and the Ampeg Portaflex ext. cab PF115LF; great sounding equipment! HOWEVER, at about 1 o'clock on the volume with this extension cab it starts to "cut-out" for a split second every now and then. Be aware of this!

 

[Michael Eisenman]

I own the Ampeg RB-210 and the Ampeg Portaflex ext. cab PF115LF; great sounding equipment! HOWEVER, at about 1 o'clock on the volume with this extension cab it starts to "cut-out" for a split second every now and then. Be aware of this!

Does the entire rig start to cut out, or just the extension cab?

 

[Lemur Bassman]

Does the entire rig start to cut out, or just the extension cab?

I called Ampeg and they said to first disconnect the cab and try it to see if it could be the 210 itself. I did on the same volume and it didn't cut-out. Then, Ampeg support told me that it could be the cable I am using to connect the combo with the cab (I haven't tried another yet but it could be), third...it could be the power cord (it does wiggle a little), he really didn't think it could be the cab. It wasn't the outlet either. Stay tuned!

 

[bordinco90]

So I had band practice the other day. I used my RB112 and it did really well. I did notice with my new P Bass with Dimarzio pickups, I have to bump the mids up to about 3 o'clock and dip the bass to about 11 o'clock. I also run the SGT with no grit and level up all the way. I also had my volume set at about 10 o'clock. It was pretty loud and I could hear clearly. That usually that means I'm too loud though!