If your gig is Candlestick Park, circa August 1966, then I agree you'll either have to find a new gig or head to the studio for the next few years!
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Ampeg Rocket Bass Combos
- Thread starter kranahan
- Start date
If your gig is Candlestick Park, circa August 1966, then I agree you'll either have to find a new gig or head to the studio for the next few years!
Hey all. Fascinated by this discussion. I was under the impression that you usually need roughly four times the wattage of your guitarists amp ( he has a 50 watt Mesa ) to give enough headroom to produce a clear low end signal. Currently I am using a Peavey Max 115 which gives 200 watts into the internal speaker. Now I am even more keen to try the RB-115 to see what it can do in comparison. Cheers
Hey Brent. Yeah, the 4x-more-amp-rule is a safe one if you're new at the game, but as you're finding out, cagey veteran players can coax all kinds of great sounds with what's at their disposal. Wattage is far from the only requirement you should use in determining what you end up with. That 100-watt 115 combo could probably get you through all of your small-medium gigs, and if you add a second 115 extension cabinet plus DI out to the PA, you could probably handle even more than that. Your playing style, the music you play, how loud the rest of the band is, the venue itself, are some of the many factors you have to pay attention to.
Thanks for the great input. It is brilliant to be able to tap into everyones collective knowledge from the other side of the world. Thanks again.
I'd add here that more experienced players tend to be less apt toward maxing out their volume potential (I'm talking about the guitarist with the Marshall half stack). This makes this rule somewhat moot if the goal is a listenable mix and the bandmates sane.
Sanity is tough to find with one particular breed of cat.....the Drummer. I always try to work with Drummers who have taken this Valuable Course. "Professional Drummers"!!! Drummers who realize that they can make SEVERAL DOLLARS while, at the same time, Earning Respect and Dazzling the Ladies! Bow Ties are Optional.
Welcome aboard- Remember- “it’s not just a bass place…it’s a safe place!”
Go find the 115 and give it a hard drive if you’re able. I like mine a lot, I also prefer 15” speaker with bass. I had to sell my Mesa/Boogie Diesel 115 cab when I moved West to Arizona from Vermont seven years back.
Let us know what you think! And what’s your current set up?! Did I miss it?
Check in at the The Combo Club
for more combo related chatter.
Hi 68-Tele Bass. Thanks for your reply & also everyone else for their input. Our trio plays a wide variety of material but predominantly 50's, 60's & 70's. Drums, bass & guitar, we all sing. I have a Peavey Max 115 & have a veteran ( like me ) Hohner
" The Jack " headless bass which is active. Lately I have been using a P bass copy that a friend made for me. It is an awesome beast. He even wired his own pickups ( it is active & has two sets of standard style Precision pickups ). I do not use any pedals or effects & am very keen on everything being highly portable these days. Maybe we should trade our vintage JBL three way PA cabs for a nice light BOSE system. That would be nice. Might need more gigs to pay for it though ! Take care all.
" The Jack " headless bass which is active. Lately I have been using a P bass copy that a friend made for me. It is an awesome beast. He even wired his own pickups ( it is active & has two sets of standard style Precision pickups ). I do not use any pedals or effects & am very keen on everything being highly portable these days. Maybe we should trade our vintage JBL three way PA cabs for a nice light BOSE system. That would be nice. Might need more gigs to pay for it though ! Take care all.
Active custom parts P with 2 hand-wound pickups?? That sounds cool- Now we pester you for a pic or two- Bwahahahaha!!
I’ll start- here us that 15” Mesa/Boogie cab I had to sell:
The lefty Squier Tele is my wife’s. Not sure where the piñata ended up. They sell them in the supermarkets here in the states!
C-Note
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Hey all. A bit slow getting this up but the awesome P bass copy & the Hohner are up for all to see. Cheers & thanks again to all
Here's a little something that should help everyone out......
https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-to-make-your-live-bass-sound-better-than-ever
How to make your live bass sound better than ever
Hide this from other members of your band.
Volume or low-end - take your pick
"In a perfect bass world, you could play as loud as you want with tons of low end, and it would be great. I’m sorry to say, this is rarely if ever the case. Boosting volume and low end can overdrive your preamp, strain your power amp, tax your speakers, and sound like crap.
Have you ever wondered if you could blow a 600-watt-rated cab with a 200-watt amp? Sure you can - crank the volume with lots of lows and mids, and kiss your cab goodbye. Boosting EQ adds gain. Take that into account when adjusting your sound."
https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-to-make-your-live-bass-sound-better-than-ever
How to make your live bass sound better than ever
Hide this from other members of your band.
Volume or low-end - take your pick
"In a perfect bass world, you could play as loud as you want with tons of low end, and it would be great. I’m sorry to say, this is rarely if ever the case. Boosting volume and low end can overdrive your preamp, strain your power amp, tax your speakers, and sound like crap.
Have you ever wondered if you could blow a 600-watt-rated cab with a 200-watt amp? Sure you can - crank the volume with lots of lows and mids, and kiss your cab goodbye. Boosting EQ adds gain. Take that into account when adjusting your sound."
There's a saying that applies and it's based on a paper some audio physics expert wrote whose name I can't remember...small, loud, low...pick any two.Here's a little something that should help everyone out......
How to make your live bass sound better than ever
Hide this from other members of your band.
Volume or low-end - take your pick
"In a perfect bass world, you could play as loud as you want with tons of low end, and it would be great. I’m sorry to say, this is rarely if ever the case. Boosting volume and low end can overdrive your preamp, strain your power amp, tax your speakers, and sound like crap.
Have you ever wondered if you could blow a 600-watt-rated cab with a 200-watt amp? Sure you can - crank the volume with lots of lows and mids, and kiss your cab goodbye. Boosting EQ adds gain. Take that into account when adjusting your sound."
Here's a little something that should help everyone out......
How to make your live bass sound better than ever
Hide this from other members of your band.
Volume or low-end - take your pick
"In a perfect bass world, you could play as loud as you want with tons of low end, and it would be great. I’m sorry to say, this is rarely if ever the case. Boosting volume and low end can overdrive your preamp, strain your power amp, tax your speakers, and sound like crap.
Have you ever wondered if you could blow a 600-watt-rated cab with a 200-watt amp? Sure you can - crank the volume with lots of lows and mids, and kiss your cab goodbye. Boosting EQ adds gain. Take that into account when adjusting your sound."
Great link!! Any two, indeed
Mentioned is that a high-pass filter can improve your amp, and speakers efficiency. By dumping all sub sonic frequencies below a threshold, you have gobs of power going to where it’s going to be heard!
(Yes! Do NOT show this article to guitar player! )There has been robust trialing and reviewing such things at The Combo Club and a high pass filter seems to be worth looking into for recording as well.
I'm considering one of these. The 115 is interesting, but would it handle a low B string any better or worse than the 210?
Great Question!! I only have 4 string bass guitars. Getting a CV Squier VI around Xmas, but that will be E-E tuning.
Maybe some of our more adventurous/talented followers with a fiver can weigh in?? I’d imagine the 15” Eminence would handle the low B without issue.
Great Question!! I only have 4 string bass guitars. Getting a CV Squier VI around Xmas, but that will be E-E tuning.
Maybe some of our more adventurous/talented followers with a fiver can weigh in?? I’d imagine the 15” Eminence would handle the low B without issue.
Interesting Tuning. Are you going E BELOW B ? There's a common bit of Americana which applies in MANY situations. "Size Matters". I'll toss this out onto the floor as food for thought.
MANY players these days are "Victims of Marketing". How many Foot Pedals do you own? WHY do you own ANY? Because Manufacturers have had to scramble as the Covid Money dried up and Wood Supplies Dwindled....but they had to sell something....so they've successfully convinced Players that Foot Pedals are Necessary. The pedal cost the manufacturer $7 to make and they sell it for a Couple hundred bucks. Now THAT's a Sizable Profit.Now...the answer to your 15" question.
What size speaker has been in SVT Cabinets since the beginning of time? Why?
Didn't SVTs come about before low B strings were really a thing?
Interesting Tuning. Are you going E BELOW B ? There's a common bit of Americana which applies in MANY situations. "Size Matters". I'll toss this out onto the floor as food for thought.
Now...the answer to your 15" question.
SVT's , designed by Bill Hughes, came about when Bill was at Ford's Theater the Night that Abraham Lincoln was killed. At least that's the way HE tells the story.
My Favorite Speaker of all time is a 15" JBL D-140....when used in a Sunn Folded Horn cabinet. That SAME 15" speaker when used in a Fender Dual Showman cabinet sounds terrible. I've owned MANY 10's.....4 SVT Cabinets driven by 2 SVT heads was my main rig for quite some time.....and I loved it. And then the Skies parted and 12" Neo speakers were made....just as my Spine was becoming a thing of the past.
My first experience with 12's was in a GK 4x12 +2x10 Cab......quite likely the finest, most pure Bass cabinet I've ever heard. That Awakening stuck with me and I'd encourage you and everyone else to PLAY before you buy.....don't just order a Cabinet and Hope for the Best....cuz you'll forever Wonder if you made the right Choice.
A 2x12 cabinet is, IMHO, the way to go these days. I use 2 1x12's.....WITH 5 strings tuned to a LOW B and the Sound is warm, punchy and tight. I use ZERO Foot pedals and my tone controls change with every gig......they always have. I just had some dealings with a very nice chap who's in a Metal Band. Their goal is to be Loud. While rather Sad, we all have different preferences and Goals.
Life before Low B Strings? Yes. Taurus Pedals by Moog. 12's Handle those quite nicely. 12's handle B strings quite nicely.
Bottom Line. Go to your favorite Indie Dealer (not Guitar Center), bring YOUR Bass (no pedals) and A/B the 2x12 with a single 15...or two 15's.....Leave your tone settings fairly flat.....DO NOT Boost the 60 cycle EQ and scoop the mids cuz that only causes your amp to get angry with you.....and see what YOU like. Boosting the Bottom End serves absolutely NO purpose except to EAT power which could be otherwise MUCH better Utilized.
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Anyone who has actually played both the RB-115 and the RB-210, please feel free to chime in. Unfortunately, I don't have local shops that stock the 2 Ampeg models I'm considering. The fact that I haven't owned a cab with a 15" driver for at least 16 years might sway me to get the RB-115. Also, it's $100 less. 
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