Just went from a Rumble 500 (2x10) to an Ampeg 1x15 and love it. I don't anticipate needing more power but in case I do, what are the best options? One cool thing about the Rumble series are the external cabs but the BA line does not have any. So is my only option a second BA115 connected via the Line Out and running them together?
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External options for Ampeg BA115 v2?
- Thread starter mbell75
- Start date
The BA-115 doesn't really have enough power to drive an external extension speaker, and the amp doesn't even have a speaker output jack, so yeah, you can't really plug another passive speaker into it. Running two of them together as you've described is certainly possible--you can use the line out or go from the effects send output on the first amp to the effects return on the second. Don't go from the line output directly into the bass input channel of the second amp...it's too hot of a signal for that. But...it seems to me that for the cost of two BA-115s, you could probably get something a bit more elegant...and maybe with more power, too.
Thanks. Well two BA115s would be $680, local GC has them marked down to $339. Looking at Ampeg heads and cabs, $680 wouldn't even get me a new head. Not interested in the PF as it looks as cheap as the BA line and Ive read of lots of issues with them.
I guess for less than $700, you might not be able to do much better with Ampeg gear...at least not buying it new. If I were going down that path, I'd try to find a used MB-500 head and pair it with some sort of single-15 T/S cab, with plans to buy a second 115 cab down the road, but that's just my own taste. Do note that while two B-115s will be noticeably louder, they're not going to be twice as loud as just one.
Thanks but I don’t like the GK sound at all. I used an RB Series amp with two GK 15 cabs at a rehearsal studio we used to go to all the time, didn’t like the amp or the cabs. Was using a Rumble combo the past 6 weeks but couldn’t dial in a tone I liked at louder volumes, too much thump and too vintage a sound. I mostly play with a pick and want a more aggressive and punchy tone and that’s Ampeg all day. I’ll probably just move on to a V4B and a cab if I need more when the time comes.
Or you could run both Ampegs from your board if you have a stereo pedal like a Source Audio Aftershock or a Y signal splitter. Lots of benefits of doing it like this.
Just FYI: I paid $100 for my BA-115 off of Craigslist, but it's the earlier model. (It was missing a couple of knobs that cost me $2 apiece to replace.) There's another one currently listed for $150; others have been listed recently for $200 and $175, but they don't appear to be moving at that price. In fact, I think the $150 one has been reduced from a higher price.
I haven't had a chance to hear or play on the new generation of BA amps, but I like my old ones well enough. A BA-112 is what I usually carry to jams or practice...it's plenty loud enough for what I do. And the form factor of the new ones will work better if you're planning on stacking them, which is what most folks would recommend. One kind of cool thing about using two complete amps is that you'll always have a backup with you. Edit: On the other hand, you'll be schlepping 90 lbs. of amp around.
If you do go ahead and get a second amp, post back up and let the TB community know how it goes. Happy pickin'.
I haven't had a chance to hear or play on the new generation of BA amps, but I like my old ones well enough. A BA-112 is what I usually carry to jams or practice...it's plenty loud enough for what I do. And the form factor of the new ones will work better if you're planning on stacking them, which is what most folks would recommend. One kind of cool thing about using two complete amps is that you'll always have a backup with you. Edit: On the other hand, you'll be schlepping 90 lbs. of amp around.
If you do go ahead and get a second amp, post back up and let the TB community know how it goes. Happy pickin'.
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Just FYI: I paid $100 for my BA-115 off of Craigslist, but it's the earlier model. (It was missing a couple of knobs that cost me $2 apiece to replace.) There's another one currently listed for $150; others have been listed recently for $200 and $175, but they don't appear to be moving at that price. In fact, I think the $150 one has been reduced from a higher price.
I haven't had a chance to hear or play on the new generation of BA amps, but I like my old ones well enough. A BA-112 is what I usually carry to jams or practice...it's plenty loud enough for what I do. And the form factor of the new ones will work better if you're planning on stacking them, which is what most folks would recommend. One kind of cool thing about using two complete amps is that you'll always have a backup with you. Edit: On the other hand, you'll be schlepping 90 lbs. of amp around.
If you do go ahead and get a second amp, post back up and let the TB community know how it goes. Happy pickin'.
Thanks. I may just swap this for a 210 since it has a speaker out and get a 1x15 cab to go with it.
