Ampeg Rocket Bass Combos

[skycruiser]

I have the Rocket Bass amp myself and I too notice and appreciate that quality sound that you get from these amps. This is the kind of sound that Ampeg (and now Yamaha importantly) is trying to produce.. A satisfying bass sound that many players may find recognizable.

The player like myself that plays at home and needs an amp that will sound good and hold up to serious and sometimes intense playing and practicing, might like the Rocket Bass because of its great bass tone. Plus the amp has very useful controls that all produce very noticeable changes, even with movements of small increment. But most applicable I suppose is that the amp has a great base tone, adjusted any way. It is quiet and sounds great at all eq settings and at all drive levels. The distortion circuit, SGT, is great and not over the top, fizzy, or buzzy. It produces a great tone that makes the amp sound even more tubelike. Even maxed the distortion is tight sounding and useful.

The home player might really dig these combos. The amp sounds quiet and clean at all eq and volume levels. The light weight is really almost unbelievable. People will find the super light weight to be highly interesting and great. This amp is user friendly.

Nice review. I've had my RB112 for several months now and mainly use it at home. I took it out to a casual practice a few times and it was nice that it was so easy to transport. It also sounded fine at practice. But overall I'm having trouble getting rid of what seem to be a bit of a "nasal" tone out of the amp. Tried several basses with the amp and they all have this similar characteristic nasal tone. I don't recall this type of thing with my old Acoustic B100 I had before the RB. The weight made that amp very impractical to move around to practice but I find myself missing the tone of my old amp. I'm wondering if I need some fine EQ fiddling to deal with this. It could possibly be in my head, or just a coincidence that the basses I have tried (and the strings etc.) have that tone. I tend to shuffle through a lot of basses. My current feeling on this amp as of right now and with a few months of play, is that I don't really like the tone.

Anyone else notice this about the RB amp and if so, what can be done to tame it?

 

[Lowbrow]

Nice review. I've had my RB112 for several months now and mainly use it at home. I took it out to a casual practice a few times and it was nice that it was so easy to transport. It also sounded fine at practice. But overall I'm having trouble getting rid of what seem to be a bit of a "nasal" tone out of the amp. Tried several basses with the amp and they all have this similar characteristic nasal tone. I don't recall this type of thing with my old Acoustic B100 I had before the RB. The weight made that amp very impractical to move around to practice but I find myself missing the tone of my old amp. I'm wondering if I need some fine EQ fiddling to deal with this. It could possibly be in my head, or just a coincidence that the basses I have tried (and the strings etc.) have that tone. I tend to shuffle through a lot of basses. My current feeling on this amp as of right now and with a few months of play, is that I don't really like the tone.

Anyone else notice this about the RB amp and if so, what can be done to tame it?

Engage the Ultra Low switch, which will cut the nasal 500hz. Leave the Bass knob at noon, boost treble very slightly and raise the Mid knob to about the 2:30-3:00 o'clock position. By engaging the Ultra High, you'll find that the Mid knob now controls higher midrange frequencies, which will likely be less nasal than what you've experienced.

 

[skycruiser]

Engage the Ultra Low switch, which will cut the nasal 500hz. Leave the Bass knob at noon, boost treble very slightly and raise the Mid knob to about the 2:30-3:00 o'clock position. By engaging the Ultra High, you'll find that the Mid knob now controls higher midrange frequencies, which will likely be less nasal than what you've experienced.

Thanks, I'll give that a try tonight! I honestly haven't fiddled with those much except to try them out and decide I didn't really like what they did to the tone. Figured it was just a way to get a more scooped sound.

 

[Lowbrow]

Thanks, I'll give that a try tonight! I honestly haven't fiddled with those much except to try them out and decide I didn't really like what they did to the tone. Figured it was just a way to get a more scooped sound.

It is -- but the scoop can work for you in ways that are unexpected sometimes - in this case dragging down the 500hz while allowing the mid knob to alter other more desirable freqs.

 

[Nico_1111]

Last question… 2 items in my cart at sweetwater. RB 112 and b-stock RB 210 with only a difference of $130.

Take a chance on the b-stock Rb210? 2 year warranty with sweetwater applies regardless or just stick with the RB112. Not sure the reason its b-stock…could be a return, cosmetic, hopefully not worse..

Is the 210 overkill for home use? I won’t be playing any gigs any time soon but in case of jamming with a loud drummer?

Ready to pull the trigger on one of these..

 

[Rama777]

It is not overkill! I have the 210 for practice. If I had to swap it with the 112 all the sudden, I’d be super bummed out..

 

[iagtrplyr]

Last question… 2 items in my cart at sweetwater. RB 112 and b-stock RB 210 with only a difference of $130.

Take a chance on the b-stock Rb210? 2 year warranty with sweetwater applies regardless or just stick with the RB112. Not sure the reason its b-stock…could be a return, cosmetic, hopefully not worse..

Is the 210 overkill for home use? I won’t be playing any gigs any time soon but in case of jamming with a loud drummer?

Ready to pull the trigger on one of these..

Go for it. For the price difference you have not only a fine at-home practice amp as long as you watch your volume, but you know have a gig-ready Combo that others have said can go it alone as well as be used with an ext cab.

I trust Sweetwater to sell you a decent amp, regardless of condition. If ya don’t like it you can always send it back.

 

[Yahboy]

Last question… 2 items in my cart at sweetwater. RB 112 and b-stock RB 210 with only a difference of $130.

Take a chance on the b-stock Rb210? 2 year warranty with sweetwater applies regardless or just stick with the RB112. Not sure the reason its b-stock…could be a return, cosmetic, hopefully not worse..

Is the 210 overkill for home use? I won’t be playing any gigs any time soon but in case of jamming with a loud drummer?

Ready to pull the trigger on one of these..

B stock from Sweetwater mostly just cosmetic issue, but B stock from GC/MF , mostly a bummer !

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Take a chance on the b-stock Rb210? 2 year warranty with sweetwater applies regardless or just stick with the RB112. Not sure the reason its b-stock…could be a return, cosmetic, hopefully not worse.

My RB-112 was a Sweetwater demo, and I saved about $50. It arrived in non-original box (a huge, non-original box), but it was in perfect shape, with a full warranty. I had it delivered to my local FedEx office with signature required (as I do with anything of value), so it wouldn’t be left at my door for the porch pirates to grab.

 

[skycruiser]

My RB-112 was a Sweetwater demo, and I saved about $50. It arrived in non-original box (a huge, non-original box), but it was in perfect shape, with a full warranty. I had it delivered to my local FedEx office with signature required (as I do with anything of value), so it wouldn’t be left at my door for the porch pirates to grab.

My rep is pretty good with discounted prices on new, non b stock. My rb112 was $359.99+tax, $70 off the website price. Never buy direct with the website cart at Sweetwater.

 

[Nico_1111]

My rep is pretty good with discounted prices on new, non b stock. My rb112 was $359.99+tax, $70 off the website price. Never buy direct with the website cart at Sweetwater.

Thanks for this. I contacted my rep and his quote for the RB 112 wasn't as great at $392 before taxes it's still about 40 bucks off so I'll take it I guess. Went to go email him back to put the order in and its out of stock now...you snooze you lose lol. My bass is with my luthier anyway (he's backed up for 8 weeks) so I won't see it until mid sept. Now here I go checking sweetwater everyday until it comes back in stock..

 

[skycruiser]

Thanks for this. I contacted my rep and his quote for the RB 112 wasn't as great at $392 before taxes it's still about 40 bucks off so I'll take it I guess. Went to go email him back to put the order in and its out of stock now...you snooze you lose lol. My bass is with my luthier anyway (he's backed up for 8 weeks) so I won't see it until mid sept. Now here I go checking sweetwater everyday until it comes back in stock..

The only thing I really don't like about Sweetwater is the inconsistent pricing customers seem to get. I don't understand the system at all. Good luck finding one in stock. I didn't realize they are having stock issues on these amps, but there is a lot of that going on these days.

 

[SoulReflection]

Thanks for this. I contacted my rep and his quote for the RB 112 wasn't as great at $392 before taxes it's still about 40 bucks off so I'll take it I guess. Went to go email him back to put the order in and its out of stock now...you snooze you lose lol. My bass is with my luthier anyway (he's backed up for 8 weeks) so I won't see it until mid sept. Now here I go checking sweetwater everyday until it comes back in stock..

I have found Musicians Friend is good for 15% off if you hit them at the right time and are prepared to negotiate. But, I have bought quite a bit from them so YMMV.

 

[iagtrplyr]

The only thing I really don't like about Sweetwater is the inconsistent pricing customers seem to get. I don't understand the system at all. Good luck finding one in stock. I didn't realize they are having stock issues on these amps, but there is a lot of that going on these days.

Plus, I've gotten stale candy before too. Not a good deal...

 

[Mastermold]

I have found Musicians Friend is good for 15% off if you hit them at the right time and are prepared to negotiate. But, I have bought quite a bit from them so YMMV.

I stopped using them after they tried passing off a used bass as new. Not cool.

 

[SoulReflection]

I stopped using them after they tried passing off a used bass as new. Not cool.

That is certainly not good but I have found their return policy not bad. I understand they have a high employee turn over and their QC suffers because of it. Sweetwater is better in that area.

 

[Lowbrow]

That is certainly not good but I have found their return policy not bad. I understand they have a high employee turn over and their QC suffers because of it. Sweetwater is better in that area.

Sweetwater has been a lot better for awhile but they are slipping more lately prob since their change of ownership. It was nice. They are still very good with dealing with dissatisfaction so at least they cop to it!

 

[Nico_1111]

The only thing I really don't like about Sweetwater is the inconsistent pricing customers seem to get. I don't understand the system at all. Good luck finding one in stock. I didn't realize they are having stock issues on these amps, but there is a lot of that going on these days.

Yeah on top of that the rep was very short and just seemed like he wanted to rush me off the phone. Like I was being bothersome asking him simple pricing questions. I've only purchased a few things from them right before the pandemic hit (an orange amp and guitar case) but they were really good about helping me return the case for one that fit better. I get it, sales jobs are no fun and I'm not necessary a people person but it rubbed me the wrong way a little.

No big deal though. Still would rather purchase new from them versus GC or MF.

 

[TheDuff]

Thanks for this. I contacted my rep and his quote for the RB 112 wasn't as great at $392 before taxes it's still about 40 bucks off so I'll take it I guess. Went to go email him back to put the order in and its out of stock now...you snooze you lose lol. My bass is with my luthier anyway (he's backed up for 8 weeks) so I won't see it until mid sept. Now here I go checking sweetwater everyday until it comes back in stock..

You might want to check with a place like American Musical. I forgot about the 'Christmas in July' sale and missed out on a significant discount. The amp is, however, totally worth the regularly discounted price. It is a very cool and strong home use amp. Very loud during home use without hitting the limiter and cutting out when getting heavy on the gain and bass. Excellent sound and feel.

 

[57pbass]

Has anyone onboard ever changed out the 8 ohm driver with a 4 ohm driver in the RB-115 combo?
If so why did you install ?
Thank you.