Ampeg Rocket Bass Combos

[etnoo]

Depends how many times you pick it up. It's like a car tire.

This type of handle is the only weak part yet I’ve found. I’ve had similar in other combo and the rubber wear very fast at the point where it comes into contact with metal. I hope it won’t in this case

 

[Lowbrow]

I’m looking to buy a new RB to gig with in my band. We’re doing a mix of folk rock and some 70s nuggets but I’d like to get an amp that’s not only good for that but classic rock, blues and funk too. I own a V4-B with the 212AV and a good ole B-50R but I want something more powerful than the 50 and a little easier to lug around than the V4-B(definitely keep’n this rig for the bigger gigs and the 50 for practice). I’ve kinda got my eyes set on the RB-115 and the RB-210, however I’ve got no interest in bringing an extension cab to get the max watts if I’d even need it. Anyone have experience trying out both and which would gig better? The tonal differences between the two?

I’ve also been reading about the RB-112 and how it pumps it’s full 100 watts into it’s internal speaker - that brings me to this technical question: Does an amp that’s able to pump its full wattage into its internal speaker sound/feel different than the two models above that pump about half of their power into their internal speakers? Particularly the BR-115, this pumps 100 watts into a 15” speaker. Is that a different feel than 100 watts into a 12” on the BR-112?

I love the RB 112 but think you really ought to go with the 115 minimum for gigging with your standard electric guitar/drums/bass band. Haven’t tried the 210, but based on configuration alone I think that’s an even better choice.

 

[Lowbrow]

New Rocket Bass RB-112 soundclip: Direct out + Mic (Shure 58) w/ EZ Drummer loop.
Amp EQ: Bass -1/2 notch; Mid flat; Treble +1 notch.
SGT engaged: GRIT exactly 9 o'clock, Level full.
Amp volume 10 o'clock

BOSS PQ-3B parametric in amp effects loop adding a hair ~2.8k & ~900hz

Fender CIJ Precision, EMG GRZ pickup, 2-week old DR Sunbeams, pick.
Presonus Studio One Producer DAW, no DAW EQ or track processing.

 

[JimmyM]

New Rocket Bass RB-112 soundclip: Direct out + Mic (Shure 58) w/ EZ Drummer loop.
Amp EQ: Bass -1/2 notch; Mid flat; Treble +1 notch.
SGT engaged: GRIT exactly 9 o'clock, Level full.
Amp volume 10 o'clock

BOSS PQ-3B parametric in amp effects loop adding a hair ~2.8k + ~900hz

Hey man, have they fixed the insanely high output you get with their post-EQ DI's in the models made by LOUD?

 

[Lowbrow]

Hey man, have they fixed the insanely high output you get with their post-EQ DI's in the models made by LOUD?

Can't say as I have not used one of those amps .. but I will say that this one is directly controlled by the amp volume knob so no, not insane, in fact just like it ought to work IMO. And for silent recording you can always stick a mini stereo jack in the phones out.

 

[iagtrplyr]

New Rocket Bass RB-112 soundclip: Direct out + Mic (Shure 58) w/ EZ Drummer loop.
Amp EQ: Bass -1/2 notch; Mid flat; Treble +1 notch.
SGT engaged: GRIT exactly 9 o'clock, Level full.
Amp volume 10 o'clock

BOSS PQ-3B parametric in amp effects loop adding a hair ~2.8k & ~900hz

Fender CIJ Precision, EMG GRZ pickup, 2-week old DR Sunbeams, pick.
Presonus Studio One Producer DAW, no DAW EQ or track processing.

Lb, excellent playing, my friend. That's the way, in my ears, an amp should sound like it you're going for that grittier tone. Do me a favor if you would and post this at the Combo Club. I have a couple of anti-peg buddies there, and while your piece probably won't change their minds, it'll let people hear how great these RBs sound.

I'm about ready to noodle around and am trying your SGT settings. To mark the occasion, I even added a Fender footswitch so I can listen to the amp both ways. Also, thanks for the detailed layout of your rig. Good to know for those of us interested. If I post something again I'll do the same.

 

[jeff7bass]

New Rocket Bass RB-112 soundclip: Direct out + Mic (Shure 58) w/ EZ Drummer loop.
Amp EQ: Bass -1/2 notch; Mid flat; Treble +1 notch.
SGT engaged: GRIT exactly 9 o'clock, Level full.
Amp volume 10 o'clock

BOSS PQ-3B parametric in amp effects loop adding a hair ~2.8k & ~900hz

Fender CIJ Precision, EMG GRZ pickup, 2-week old DR Sunbeams, pick.
Presonus Studio One Producer DAW, no DAW EQ or track processing.

That is awesome sound.

 

[Hotwater84]

New Rocket Bass RB-112 soundclip: Direct out + Mic (Shure 58) w/ EZ Drummer loop.
Amp EQ: Bass -1/2 notch; Mid flat; Treble +1 notch.
SGT engaged: GRIT exactly 9 o'clock, Level full.
Amp volume 10 o'clock

BOSS PQ-3B parametric in amp effects loop adding a hair ~2.8k & ~900hz

Fender CIJ Precision, EMG GRZ pickup, 2-week old DR Sunbeams, pick.
Presonus Studio One Producer DAW, no DAW EQ or track processing.

Duuuuude! Love that ampeg sound! this little thing is going to be a great recording amp.

 

[jeff7bass]

Duuuuude! Love that ampeg sound! this little thing is going to be a great recording amp.

I think it's like Ampeg PLUS sound. Ampeg with some modern crunch.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

New Rocket Bass RB-112 soundclip: Direct out + Mic (Shure 58) w/ EZ Drummer loop.
Amp EQ: Bass -1/2 notch; Mid flat; Treble +1 notch.
SGT engaged: GRIT exactly 9 o'clock, Level full.
Amp volume 10 o'clock

BOSS PQ-3B parametric in amp effects loop adding a hair ~2.8k & ~900hz

Fender CIJ Precision, EMG GRZ pickup, 2-week old DR Sunbeams, pick.
Presonus Studio One Producer DAW, no DAW EQ or track processing.

That sounds great man. Touch more low end though

Isn't it funny how drastically different two players can make the same amp sound? With about the same settings

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Yup, those settings don't do that for me. Hahahaha. I actually get a lot closer to your tone with my P, bass down a full notch, mids up 1, treble up half, but sgt off. Pretty darn close.

I don't dig the sgt circuit. But, sounds good with you.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Okay, I lied. Hahaha. I redid the "test run" video with the new mic + di. Bass tracks are a little loud in the mix, but who doesn't want more bass anyway? Sounds pretty great regardless, and...I already deleted the video off my phone so I can't fix it. Oh well, more bass it is.

Now,
Stay Funky My Friends

 

[Lowbrow]

Duuuuude! Love that ampeg sound! this little thing is going to be a great recording amp.

Honestly, the DI alone is just awesome sounding. If one were to do some post-capture tone sculpting (which I did not do in order to give a clear illustration of what you can get without it) you can really achieve anything you’re going for.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Honestly, the DI alone is just awesome sounding. If one were to do some post-capture tone sculpting (which I did not do in order to give a clear illustration of what you can get without it) you can really achieve anything you’re going for.

I agree with your thought here, Lowbrow. Maybe it's because I don't have a stellar bass mic, but I'm finding that with some tweaking, you can get a more-than-satisfactory sound from the DI, and I'm assuming in the world of a hobbyist who's looking to do a no-nonsense recording to impress his/her friends, the DI is more than enough.

 

[JimmyM]

I agree with your thought here, Lowbrow. Maybe it's because I don't have a stellar bass mic, but I'm finding that with some tweaking, you can get a more-than-satisfactory sound from the DI, and I'm assuming in the world of a hobbyist who's looking to do a no-nonsense recording to impress his/her friends, the DI is more than enough.

You don't need a stellar bass mic. You just need a mic, and you can let the DI fill in the bottom while the mic gives you that mic'ed speaker character.

 

[Soberglitch]

What has been everyone’s favorite EQ and SGT settings so far?

I’m liking a nice scooped sound with bass at 3 o’clock, mid at 10 o’clock and treble at 2 o’clock.

I haven’t found my perfect setting on the SGT so far and looking for some thoughts on that.

 

[JimmyM]

What has been everyone’s favorite EQ and SGT settings so far?

I’m liking a nice scooped sound with bass at 3 o’clock, mid at 10 o’clock and treble at 2 o’clock.

I haven’t found my perfect setting on the SGT so far and looking for some thoughts on that.

Yep, that sounds pretty scooped, alright

Mind you, I don't have one, but I've got several amps with the same EQ and I always set them bass 2:00-3:00, mids 2:00, treble 10:00. Doubt it'll help you if you're looking for more scoopage, but it's a good all-purpose sound for what I like to do.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

What has been everyone’s favorite EQ and SGT settings so far?

I’m liking a nice scooped sound with bass at 3 o’clock, mid at 10 o’clock and treble at 2 o’clock.

I haven’t found my perfect setting on the SGT so far and looking for some thoughts on that.

Bass at 10 o'clock, mids at 1 o'clock, treble at 1 o'clock

SGT sounds best off...unless you're Lowbrow. I guess I just don't have the magic touch.

 

[68Tele-Bass]

FLASH!!
(Lightening and monsoons here in the High Desert tonight!)

Played a lot the last couple of days with the RB-115. Dapper Bass DI/effects, Mooer “Shimverb” mini pedal set to spring reverb like this:

Dapper into ‘Peg effects loop, Mooer into Dapper Bass effects loop! The more I play around with this, the more I like it!

I went @Lowbrow for this- SGT at 9:00- EQ flat- mids bumped on preamp, and some gain as well I grabbed one of my Herco nylon “Hi, Ho, Silver” picks, and kicked it up to heck Yeah- played with headphones.

WOW - the reverb and the mid bump gave a nice “tic tac” tone…with great low end as well!
Kicked on the chorus. Nice!! ripped into Transmission by Joy Division. (One of the first songs I could credibly play on bass )

Then I added the Octave- dry at noon, -1 octave at 3:00, -2 octave at 9:00. Hmmm. I’ve never messed around with one before, but as I’ve read about- tracks better on the A string and higher. Sounded gnarly enough, so I played “Alison Gross” by Steeleye Span. Fun!!

Today played without the headphones, but with the same setup, but lower volumes.

Here’s where @iagtrplyr should take note- the Dapper Bass emits some hiss .
Only noticed with boost/comp, and possibly the chorus as well- I could easily tame it with the tone knob on Jbass, so no biggie- plus you have a high pass filter? No??

I’m not set up to record anything at this point so you’ll have to..imagine it…

This weekend, the wife is taking the boys down to Phoenix for ice hockey solo. I’ll have some time to give it a probed warm-up and break in at stage volume.

Stay Tuned! - Bonus- hockey pic of Boyz last Saturday.

Oh!! And then met Baxter at the Diamondbacks game later that very afternoon!!

Lost to Chicago Cubs (blown save in 9th after leading 2-1 Grrr!)

 

[jeff7bass]

FLASH!!
(Lightening and monsoons here in the High Desert tonight!)

Played a lot the last couple of days with the RB-115. Dapper Bass DI/effects, Mooer “Shimverb” mini pedal set to spring reverb like this:

View attachment 4341228
Dapper into ‘Peg effects loop, Mooer into Dapper Bass effects loop! The more I play around with this, the more I like it!

I went @Lowbrow for this- SGT at 9:00- EQ flat- mids bumped on preamp, and some gain as well I grabbed one of my Herco nylon “Hi, Ho, Silver” picks, and kicked it up to heck Yeah- played with headphones.

WOW - the reverb and the mid bump gave a nice “tic tac” tone…with great low end as well!
Kicked on the chorus. Nice!! ripped into Transmission by Joy Division. (One of the first songs I could credibly play on bass )

Then I added the Octave- dry at noon, -1 octave at 3:00, -2 octave at 9:00. Hmmm. I’ve never messed around with one before, but as I’ve read about- tracks better on the A string and higher. Sounded gnarly enough, so I played “Alison Gross” by Steeleye Span. Fun!!

Today played without the headphones, but with the same setup, but lower volumes.

Here’s where @iagtrplyr should take note- the Dapper Bass emits some hiss .
Only noticed with boost/comp, and possibly the chorus as well- I could easily tame it with the tone knob on Jbass, so no biggie- plus you have a high pass filter? No??

I’m not set up to record anything at this point so you’ll have to..imagine it…

This weekend, the wife is taking the boys down to Phoenix for ice hockey solo. I’ll have some time to give it a probed warm-up and break in at stage volume.

Stay Tuned! - Bonus- hockey pic of Boyz last Saturday.
View attachment 4341234 Oh!! And then met Baxter at the Diamondbacks game later that very afternoon!!
View attachment 4341233
Lost to Chicago Cubs (blown save in 9th after leading 2-1 Grrr!)

Hockey and playing rock bass are my two passions.