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GC score (Ampeg content)

R

ricguy

Supporting Member
Jul 22, 2006
312
145
Syracuse, NY
#1
I had a slow day at work a couple of weeks ago and was perusing the Guitar Center website, looking at Used Gear, when I came across an Ampeg B-1 combo amp. It looked to be in nice condition in the pic, so I called the store in Mass. about it. They said they still had it and were willing to ship it to my local GC, so I took a chance on it and bought it for $283 inc. tax & shipping.

What a great little amp! Excellent tone, handles my 5-string like you wouldn’t believe (shakes the house!) and has some cool features like a foot-switchable Solo channel and a jack for Mid-contour voicing on the speaker input panel.

The amp needed re-biasing and some cold solder joints re-flowed, but after having that done by a tech and doing full detail job on it myself it looks and works great.

For better or worse someone replaced the original speaker with a Peavey 1208 SPS BWX. After viewing the specs on that driver, I’m guessing it was a significant improvement over the original speaker.

If you’re not familiar with the B-1, it’s a 2-tube driven, 150W @ 4-ohm, single 12” + horn ported combo amp made in the early to mid-90’s. Weighs around 70 lbs. The amp chassis is a removable single-rack space unit. See the pics.

Definitely the coolest combo amp I’ve ever owned. Count me happy.
002.JPG 004.JPG
 
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#7
Bugeyed Earl said:
I played through a B1 that belonged to another bass player at a show in the late 90s. I thought it sounded great and have kept my eye out for a used one, but they're pretty uncommon.
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I've had one on my "want list" for years too; figured I have to try to find a used Mesa M3 combo instead, which are pretty scares and have been discontinued too.
 
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#13
ricguy said:
Yeah, I don't know how that happened. When he told me the shipping cost, I wasn't about to question it. I guess it was my lucky day!
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My guess would be the size, distance and account. The small dimensions reduce the billable weight because it takes up less space on the truck.
The distance between New York and Mass is not that far. Being a business they also have an account which reduces cost.
 
#14
I also own such a combo since 20 years. It has wheels and the ventilator (yours too?) is crazy loud. Mine is also in like new condition. Soundwise it isn't bad - but can't compeed with my AER Bass one (29lbs, 10").
I think they came out in 1992 and they were only available since 1993. Cost was 2599 DM (around 1300 € or 1470 USD).
 
#15
ricguy said:
When he told me the shipping cost, I wasn't about to question it. I guess it was my lucky day!
Click to expand...

GC must get crazy special rates on shipping.

I buy electronic parts from DigiKey just about every week and pay a flat rate of $8, overnight, delivered before noon. If I was paying for it, the cost would be well over $50. Granted, your amp is heavy but ground rates help lower the price. Shipping an SVT head from the west to the east coast, ground, can cost $100 even with a favored rate. So you did very well.
 
#18
To me, the 2512 and 2012 sound alike. Xmax is similar so both will go equally low before fartout. The 2512 has greater thermal power handling (250 watts vs. 150 for the 2012 if I remember correctly) and weighs one pound more. For a combo, I'd go for the 2012. Prices on new ones have come down from the peak a few years ago too. Good luck! Bob
 
#19
ricguy said:
I had a slow day at work a couple of weeks ago and was perusing the Guitar Center website, looking at Used Gear, when I came across an Ampeg B-1 combo amp. It looked to be in nice condition in the pic, so I called the store in Mass. about it. They said they still had it and were willing to ship it to my local GC, so I took a chance on it and bought it for $283 inc. tax & shipping.

What a great little amp! Excellent tone, handles my 5-string like you wouldn’t believe (shakes the house!) and has some cool features like a foot-switchable Solo channel and a jack for Mid-contour voicing on the speaker input panel.

The amp needed re-biasing and some cold solder joints re-flowed, but after having that done by a tech and doing full detail job on it myself it looks and works great.

For better or worse someone replaced the original speaker with a Peavey 1208 SPS BWX. After viewing the specs on that driver, I’m guessing it was a significant improvement over the original speaker.

If you’re not familiar with the B-1, it’s a 2-tube driven, 150W @ 4-ohm, single 12” + horn ported combo amp made in the early to mid-90’s. Weighs around 70 lbs. The amp chassis is a removable single-rack space unit. See the pics.

Definitely the coolest combo amp I’ve ever owned. Count me happy.
View attachment 614792 View attachment 614793
Click to expand...
 
#20
I received my B-1 combo in 1992 (plus additional cash) as a replacement from a music store in NJ for a Gallien-Krueger MB-150S-112 combo amp that failed on a gig. Gained about 40#s along with unquestionable reliability. Playing through it again this weekend.
005.JPG
 

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