Ampeg Rocket Bass Combos

[Yahboy]

Just got a nice new RB 112, in the Ampeg box unopened and unplayed.

To me it seems to have a brittle high frequency element that I didn’t note in the store on their system.
Regardless of what I do on the Amp eq it doesn’t really go away, like it is baked in.
It does lessen a lot it I turn down the tone on my P Bass and if I use my tilt eq on my Diamond compressor.

Could this be it is just a brand new speaker? I would describe the sound as extremely tight as well.

I have only played it at low volumes so far, so the sound might fatten up as I increase the volume.

No hiss or anything like that just a lot more high frequencies than I was expecting…

You would swear that it has a overpowered tweeter in it, but of course it is just the 12.

Playing music through the Amp also comes across with a strong high frequency emphasis as well.
Not terrible but not very balanced to my ear.

Could it be that I do need to play it in?
Only have a small window to return,

I can get sounds I like with the tone down.

Thoughts?

Ultra Hi button engage ?

I own 2 version of RB112 with different driver, early Eminence and current Lavoce .

The Eminence has more airly upper mid than the lavoce. but both unit has no bright voice or zing at all.

Eminence driver RB112

Lavoce driver Rb112

 

[JimmyM]

Just got a nice new RB 112, in the Ampeg box unopened and unplayed.

To me it seems to have a brittle high frequency element that I didn’t note in the store on their system.
Regardless of what I do on the Amp eq it doesn’t really go away, like it is baked in.
It does lessen a lot it I turn down the tone on my P Bass and if I use my tilt eq on my Diamond compressor.

Could this be it is just a brand new speaker? I would describe the sound as extremely tight as well.

I have only played it at low volumes so far, so the sound might fatten up as I increase the volume.

No hiss or anything like that just a lot more high frequencies than I was expecting…

You would swear that it has a overpowered tweeter in it, but of course it is just the 12.

Playing music through the Amp also comes across with a strong high frequency emphasis as well.
Not terrible but not very balanced to my ear.

Could it be that I do need to play it in?
Only have a small window to return,

I can get sounds I like with the tone down.

Thoughts?

Brittle high end is something I don’t think exists in my RB110. But you shouldn’t have to play it in. What are your amp settings? Fiddle with them a little. That’s what they’re there for. And definitely make sure the ultra hi is off.

 

[999Brent]

Brittle high end is something I don’t think exists in my RB110. But you shouldn’t have to play it in. What are your amp settings? Fiddle with them a little. That’s what they’re there for. And definitely make sure the ultra hi is off.

I am not sure what it was, all I know is that it has completely gone now.
Sounded fantastic at practice today, first time I used the DI and IEM’s with it, really liked what I heard.
Actually preferred the tone of the RB112 over my Aguilar Tone Hamer 700 with SL212 cab, I was expecting to be a little underwhelmed, but was very impressed.

Can’t say I am a big believer in you need to break in speakers, never had to before, but in this case, that is what I am putting it down to.
Either that or I have gotten used to it….
Certainly nothing brittle now….

 

[henryjurstin13]

.........

Costs more than the BA amps but they spent a few bucks improving and lightening it, too, not just making it purdy. The most Ampeg sounding budget combo I’ve played since the beloved but weighty B100r.

.......

After reading quite a bit of this thread.... I was thinking this is a pretty bold statement. @JimmyM - queston: Is this purely based on the RB110 only, or do you have the same affection for the 112 and/or the 115 models as well? The B100R is held is high regard by quite a few, and this makes your statement quite the compliment.

Side note: I grabbed a Rumble 800 last year, and wanting to "ampeg" it up a lil... has me researching again. Thinking about a SGT-DI into the effects return, or trading all around for a RB or a Venture/cab....

 

[JimmyM]

After reading quite a bit of this thread.... I was thinking this is a pretty bold statement. @JimmyM - queston: Is this purely based on the RB110 only, or do you have the same affection for the 112 and/or the 115 models as well? The B100R is held is high regard by quite a few, and this makes your statement quite the compliment.

Side note: I grabbed a Rumble 800 last year, and wanting to "ampeg" it up a lil... has me researching again. Thinking about a SGT-DI into the effects return, or trading all around for a RB or a Venture/cab....

Purely on the RB110’s knob voicings and quality of tone. The BA110 v1 always had a little harmonic distortion, v2 was cleaner, and the RB110 sounds cleaner still and I like the EQ better.

 

[One Way]

My RB110 is a winner, too.

 

[bordinco90]

So I got to play a Rumble 500 combo today at my local music shop. Compared to my RB210, the Rumbles build quality is lacking IMO. I feel like the RB210 has a more solid build to it and just a better build quality in general. Yes the horn on my RB has some hiss, but I was relieved that the "white noise" that I was hearing when the treble on the RB was turned up, also happened on the Rumble as well. The lows on the Ampeg are absolutely wonderful. My 4 and 5 string Ibanez basses sound fantastic through the Ampeg. I do miss the gain knob on the RBs, but they way Ampeg tapers the volume knob is great. On the Rumbles that I've owned in the past, once the volume reaches noon, it really doesn't get much louder after. I feel like the Ampeg is quieter at the same volume knob levels than the Rumbles due to the fact that it does not have a gain knob, but once you get past 12 o'clock on the volume knob on the Ampeg, it gets really loud. Overall I'm relieved and can't wait to use this amp during a gig in a couple of weeks.

 

[bordinco90]

Can someone tell me what the best cab to pair with the RB210 is? Thanks!

 

[Yahboy]

Can someone tell me what the best cab to pair with the RB210 is? Thanks!

How about another RB210 via effect send/return .

 

[bordinco90]

How about another RB210 via effect send/return .

That would probably be a good idea and really loud! I'm going to gig with the amp in a couple of weeks and that will cement my decision to keep the amp. I'm just not thrilled with the white noise when the volume is turned up past noon, but the amp does sound great and handles bass frequencies better than the rumbles.

 

[henryjurstin13]

I've been reading & reading through this thread a lot.... I bought a Rumble 800c, but I'm just not loving the lowend. I feel like it's got very big bass, but gets muddy very quickly.... and I'm starting to think that I would've been a lot happier with a RB115. Anyone have advice other than go play one? (local spots don't have much inventory right now)

I've got other rigs, but I was really excited to get a light combo that could handle a gig/drummer. I've been looking at the SGT-DI, Venture heads, PF-115HE cab, and the RB-115.

 

[bordinco90]

I've been reading & reading through this thread a lot.... I bought a Rumble 800c, but I'm just not loving the lowend. I feel like it's got very big bass, but gets muddy very quickly.... and I'm starting to think that I would've been a lot happier with a RB115. Anyone have advice other than go play one? (local spots don't have much inventory right now)

I've got other rigs, but I was really excited to get a light combo that could handle a gig/drummer. I've been looking at the SGT-DI, Venture heads, PF-115HE cab, and the RB-115.

That's the issue I've had with rumbles. They do get really loud, but once you start going past noon on both the gain and master volume, you have to start turning the bass down due to muddiness or speaker farting. Plus there is not much volume after half with the rumbles. Maybe try a RB210. I really like the tone of the 210, just not the annoying white noise. I haven't played through a RB115, but if its anything like the RB112 I've owned, it may not be enough with a drummer. My RB112 was almost there though.

 

[henryjurstin13]

That's the issue I've had with rumbles. They do get really loud, but once you start going past noon on both the gain and master volume, you have to start turning the bass down due to muddiness or speaker farting. Plus there is not much volume after half with the rumbles. Maybe try a RB210. I really like the tone of the 210, just not the annoying white noise. I haven't played through a RB115, but if its anything like the RB112 I've owned, it may not be enough with a drummer. My RB112 was almost there though.

Someone here posted about stacking a pair of RB112... that looked like a nice option too. Maybe I'm stuck on needing a 15" speaker to get that "B-15" type of tone....?

Venture head & a used PF-115HE looks like it could be pretty nice (and not too heavy!).

 

[Yahboy]

That would probably be a good idea and really loud! I'm going to gig with the amp in a couple of weeks and that will cement my decision to keep the amp. I'm just not thrilled with the white noise when the volume is turned up past noon, but the amp does sound great and handles bass frequencies better than the rumbles.

If you get second RB210 to chain, suggest remove the horn on the upper unit, leave the horn on the bottom unit.

 

[Yahboy]

I've been reading & reading through this thread a lot.... I bought a Rumble 800c, but I'm just not loving the lowend. I feel like it's got very big bass, but gets muddy very quickly.... and I'm starting to think that I would've been a lot happier with a RB115. Anyone have advice other than go play one? (local spots don't have much inventory right now)

I've got other rigs, but I was really excited to get a light combo that could handle a gig/drummer. I've been looking at the SGT-DI, Venture heads, PF-115HE cab, and the RB-115.

If you has no budget issue, suggest get the Venture rig.

Once you own either Venture V3 or V7 head, you can buy both VB112 and VB88 one each.



Honestly, shame that Yamapeg dint do anything for RB115/210 mactching extent cab after several years the RB line announce.

 

[bordinco90]

If you get second RB210 to chain, suggest remove the horn on the upper unit, leave the horn on the bottom unit.

I leave to horn off all the time. It's just too much hiss and does not add to the tone at all IMO. I just tested the DI on my RB210 and it has the same white noise as the amp. I tried using my Radial PRO48 DI and absolutely silent. Strike 2 for the RB lol! I really feel that it's going to sound great at my gig in a couple of weeks.

Quick question. Did your RB112's DI hiss and have white noise as well?

 

[Yahboy]

I leave to horn off all the time. It's just too much hiss and does not add to the tone at all IMO. I just tested the DI on my RB210 and it has the same white noise as the amp. I tried using my Radial PRO48 DI and absolutely silent. Strike 2 for the RB lol! I really feel that it's going to sound great at my gig in a couple of weeks.

Quick question. Did your RB112's DI hiss and have white noise as well?

Never experience with Di, but the hiss are barely to hear ( Ultra hi engage +treble at 2 o'clock ) before the volume knob pass 2 o'clock.

 

[bordinco90]

Well I finally got a chance to put the RB210 through its paces last night at a gig. I set it on our band's cable box to point at my ears. All the worries I had about the white noise completely vanished at the gig. I could not hear any sort of white noise from the amp even between songs. I played through my new Sire P5 and I sounded great all night! My settings were as follows:

- SGT on, but with the grit all the way down and level turned up. Just used as a clean boost to get more volume.

- Volume at 1 o'clock

- Bass a hair above noon

- Mids at 1 o'clock

- Treble at noon

I also had a monitor, but I didn't have any of my bass guitar through the monitor and we did have PA support. The amp was REALLY loud and kept up with a drummer easily. I could hear myself great on stage and the speakers were not straining at all. Ampeg really designed the RB series to handle bass really well. I've owned a Rumble 500 in the past and it would fart out at loud volumes. Not the Ampeg though! I'm thoroughly impressed and the RB210 is a keeper for me!

 

[Gervais Cote]

Well I finally got a chance to put the RB210 through its paces last night at a gig. I set it on our band's cable box to point at my ears. All the worries I had about the white noise completely vanished at the gig. I could not hear any sort of white noise from the amp even between songs. I played through my new Sire P5 and I sounded great all night! My settings were as follows:

- SGT on, but with the grit all the way down and level turned up. Just used as a clean boost to get more volume.

- Volume at 1 o'clock

- Bass a hair above noon

- Mids at 1 o'clock

- Treble at noon

I also had a monitor, but I didn't have any of my bass guitar through the monitor and we did have PA support. The amp was REALLY loud and kept up with a drummer easily. I could hear myself great on stage and the speakers were not straining at all. Ampeg really designed the RB series to handle bass really well. I've owned a Rumble 500 in the past and it would fart out at loud volumes. Not the Ampeg though! I'm thoroughly impressed and the RB210 is a keeper for me!

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The Ampeg Rocket Bass series from the 112 combo and up never ceases to impress me. Nice setup !

 

[bordinco90]

The Ampeg Rocket Bass series from the 112 combo and up never ceases to impress me. Nice setup !

I agree. What impresses me about the 210 is that it will not fart out and has a nice rich bass sound even at higher volumes. Almost every other amp that I've owned specifically the Fender Rumbles start compressing when pushed then farting out.