Loved & gigged my '70's V4B a lot and so I tried a few SS ampegs in the '90's. No luck at all w/the SVTIII (my bandmates made me get rid of it!) or the 350 something or other... even worse. I haven't owned one since but am always happy to see SVT's in the backline. They can't be all bad seein' as how they still sell plenty of them!
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Has Ampeg made a BAD bass amp
- Thread starter dereksilloway
- Start date
I have the B2RE and by all accounts it is sterile and generic. At the same time I go straight from my BDDI into the effects loop into my hartke 4 10 and then it really sounds great--I always get compliments on my tone (not playing!!) so for the 150 I payed for it great deal! But by itself, yeah its not very good! I would be pissed if I payed 600$ for it which is what it ran for new I believe ---!
Back in the day, I was convinced by a bass player/salesman to buy an SVT 400T + 410/115 fridge cabinet. It was supposed to sound monstrous when bridged with a banana jack. Boof boof... click clack... click clack. This rig was really big and heavy, unfortunately the tone was anything but. 
My vote goes for the SVT 350. I'm not sure why they made those, considering all the good amps they've made through the years.
The B2RE is fine for what it is, a SS amp with a graphic EQ. I've been using mine for years now and with a little compression+OD out front it does the job well. I wouldn't pay $600 for a new one, but I didn't so that's ok. 
ChuckTrucks said:
Is not a "bad" amp imo, it sounds fantastic, but, sure, there've been problems, growing pains. But, I know many that will attest to it being an awesome amp.
To me its the definition of a bad Ampeg amp, they don't need to be frying left and right or sound like white noise to be considered bad. Amps aren't supposed to have problems and growing pains, its not a child, its an amp.
Another vote on the B2R. Having spent most my teenage years with an old GK 400RB which is rated at 200watts in 4ohms. I thought moving onto the B2R would be a sizable upgrade, being that it's rated at 350watts and all. Man, I couldn't have been more wrong. That's when I learn that not all manufactures' rating systems are the same.
When you go to the lumber store to buy 2x4's, you can spend more and get premium quality boards that are awesome.
Or you can save money buying 2x4's that are warped, have knots and are already starting to crack at the ends.
You can also spend more buying really nice hothouse Tomatoes at the grocer,
or save some money buying absolutely horrid alternatives.
I could go on and on with more similar examples,
but suffice to say that different models of Ampegs are kinda the same way... Big whoop
Or you can save money buying 2x4's that are warped, have knots and are already starting to crack at the ends.
You can also spend more buying really nice hothouse Tomatoes at the grocer,
or save some money buying absolutely horrid alternatives.
I could go on and on with more similar examples,
but suffice to say that different models of Ampegs are kinda the same way... Big whoop
SVT350, what a terrible sounding amp! Looks great on an 810, but sounds like a$$.
Don't have much love for the 3Pro either, but could've just been the one I had.
Don't have much love for the 3Pro either, but could've just been the one I had.
Ampeg had a guitar amp back around 1970. It was a tube 4x12 comb sounded great, died alot.
They recalled them all and gave the owners back 100% of the purchase price in cash.
Most of the folks I knew and knew of, went for the VT-22
They recalled them all and gave the owners back 100% of the purchase price in cash.
Most of the folks I knew and knew of, went for the VT-22
Mine sounded sterile with a passive Fender MIM J. When used with an actve Ibanez, it sounded darn fine. The guy I sold it to loves it.
+1 Have several amps including the 350 and it sounds really good through my 2x15 cab.
I still don't understand why people talk of Ampeg like it is a entity of itself? It is not like G-K , Peavey or Carvin that has always had the same owners or designers?
Had a B2R once as well. My weak speaking voice was louder than that amp plugged into (2) 410's. Also what is it about Ampeg preamp clip lights coming on so early in the gain range ? Then moving to China, yada yada yada. I gave up on them quite some time ago.
