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Inexpensive Ampeg-ish Recommendation for Gigging

#41
brianrost said:
You could easily get a solid state Ampeg head and suitable Ampeg cab(s) used for $1000 or less.

Honda Fit....well, that car has a deceptive name :roflmao: With the seats down, measure the rear space before you shop for cabs. If you can fit a 1-15 Rumble, then you should be able to fit a 1-15 or 2-10...but you really need two and that might not fit. You can always put the head in the front passnger seat.

Probably too big for your car, but I've been seeing used Hartke 4-10s for under $200 each.
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I've fit a guitar 4x12 plus a drum set in my car. I'm not sure I could fit every 4x10, but I got a pretty gigantic (newer) Acoustic 1x15 in there. No fridges, though, and I can imagine an Ampeg 4x10 that doesn't fit. The SVT 2x12 would fit. I could easily fit a couple of 2x10s and a solid state head in there.
 
#43
J-Mags said:
I've been playing a Fender Rumble 200 1x15 combo with my punk band, and it's been pretty good, but the guitar player in my band has switched from a 1x12 to a 4x12, and I'm not always cutting through. I also am thinking I might want a more Ampeg-ish sound. I've grown accustomed to walking into the door to gigs in one trip, and while I'm not going to resent another trip to bring in an extra cab or something, I'm certainly not going to be buying any SVTs or 8x10s.

I'm looking for a rig that approximates a classic thick Ampeg rock sound, doesn't weigh too much and fits in my Honda fit. I've been playing music forever, and I know that there's no substitute for the real thing, but I also know that there are a zillion substitutes that sound kinda like the real thing, which is probably good enough for me. I don't want to deal with more speakers than a 2x12 or a couple of 2x10s if I can help it. We're not that loud, but 135 watts into a 15 is marginal.
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All tube 100W with sealed 210, can be used with a sealed 410 as well.

E8BA39AD-8619-4CA2-AEFF-8745C5A1B17C.jpeg
 
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#44
tpaul said:
What about adding an extension cab to the Rumble (I think they give you an ext. Output) and throwing an ampeg or sansamp pedal in front of the amp for flavor? BDDI gets pretty ampegish and gives you added flexibility.
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I'm considering getting a 210 for the Rumble. I have a Vintage Microtubes that I sometimes run to make it more ampeggy, but it generally makes it more microtubey.

Gibson Victory said:
Still have a Version 1 of the BA115 that I use every day, even though I have lot’s of SVT stuff. No slouch for sure, and I believe the current version is even better, allowing an external speaker, and some other features.
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The bass player for my old band had an older BA115. It definitely sounded more Ampeg, but my Rumble objectively sounds better. The BA115 tended to lose the low E.
 
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#45
Warning! SVT 410s are heavy, awkward to carry upstairs by yourself. I practically gave one away a year ago, the 15E is about 35 pounds lighter. Also they came with two thicknesses of plywood, mine are 3/4, the lighter (1/2,5/8?) are noticeably easier to carry around
 
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#46
The volume war sucks. What's the old saying: light, loud, cheap. Pick two.

I got caught in a bit of this. I use a 210 (light and cheap) when I can because it is easier to move around, but I picked up an old Peavey 1516 (loud and cheap) to use when I'm going against 2 half stacks. The thing is 4 ohm and loud, but it weighs about 80 lbs. I take a hand truck when I break it out. But it does its job well.

As others have said an extension cab for your combo and a DI (Ampeg or Sans Amp) would be where I would start. With the DI you can get the tone you are looking for and then send some to the PA for a little extra volume.
 
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#48
matty1039 said:
The volume war sucks. What's the old saying: light, loud, cheap. Pick two.

I got caught in a bit of this. I use a 210 (light and cheap) when I can because it is easier to move around, but I picked up an old Peavey 1516 (loud and cheap) to use when I'm going against 2 half stacks. The thing is 4 ohm and loud, but it weighs about 80 lbs. I take a hand truck when I break it out. But it does its job well.

As others have said an extension cab for your combo and a DI (Ampeg or Sans Amp) would be where I would start. With the DI you can get the tone you are looking for and then send some to the PA for a little extra volume.
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As I said earlier, it's not much of a volume war, it's just a change in the way the pieces of the puzzle fit together. My personal preference is for sparer punk sounds, but it's not like the guitar player is out of line with his volume/tone. I am gonna see if he's interested in dialing the low end back just a hair, not because it's out of control, but because I think it would make him sound a little punchier and me a little more audible.
 
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#50
Maybe ask your guitar player to leave you room in the low end to play bass. Simple EQing goes along way....if that won't cut it and the volume battle has begun......ear plugs and enjoy finding your sound that fits the new mix. I've been using the Bergantino Forte and HDN 212 for over two years and have never had any volume wars Ive lost the battle in. I can also get mad volume and tones from an Ampeg 210 v2 combo amp but that weighs more than my amp/cab setup so it's been retired to being an open mic amp or the occasional meet and jam type stuff. Great sounding combo. Good luck and just more reason to try more gear.....
 
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#51
I'm leaning toward just getting an extension cab for now. I've always been a believer in surface area for playing rock. I think the guitar player has a Sansamp DI (not the VT, the regular one) I could borrow. Also, say what you will about the Vintage Microtubes, but if you spin the era knob, you can find an EQ that pops out in a mix. If there are real volume wars, I'll quit, but I'm not expecting any. Dude only has 20 watts (which can be loud, but not as loud as more watts) and his much-younger wife is the drummer, and she won't let us get away with anything.
 
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#53
J-Mags said:
I'm leaning toward just getting an extension cab for now. I've always been a believer in surface area for playing rock. I think the guitar player has a Sansamp DI (not the VT, the regular one) I could borrow. Also, say what you will about the Vintage Microtubes, but if you spin the era knob, you can find an EQ that pops out in a mix. If there are real volume wars, I'll quit, but I'm not expecting any. Dude only has 20 watts (which can be loud, but not as loud as more watts) and his much-younger wife is the drummer, and she won't let us get away with anything.
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Actually quite a good idea. It still may not be enough, but 200w into 2x15's is not a bad way to go.
 
#54
J-Mags said:
I'm looking for a rig that approximates a classic thick Ampeg rock sound, doesn't weigh too much and fits in my Honda fit. I've been playing music forever, and I know that there's no substitute for the real thing, but I also know that there are a zillion substitutes that sound kinda like the real thing, which is probably good enough for me. I don't want to deal with more speakers than a 2x12 or a couple of 2x10s if I can help it. We're not that loud, but 135 watts into a 15 is marginal.
Click to expand...

I play similar stuff and my band often has 3 guitar players, yes it's too many, yes they are too loud, so I know what you're up against. First job is to at least try and work with the guitar player on EQ, both of you will likely have to compromise a bit. You want to avoid a volume war (you will lose that battle eventually)

As a few people have suggested already take a look at a used Ampeg PF500 or 800 for a head, they are cheap, loud and do what you want.
Cab wise, if you can keep the guitar volume under control a 210 or 115 would be sufficient, but you'll likely have situations where you need more headroom so 2 2x10, a 410 or 2 1x15s would be your best bets (I've tried the 212s and was left wanting, YMMV). Take a look at GK neo cabs, they are pretty well priced, also some of the Markbass stuff is well priced used and light weight.

If you just want one cab then IMO it is best to avoid the old Ampeg stuff as it's generally enormous and stupidly heavy (i.e. the 410hlf is a total monster and getting on for 100lbs).
 
#56
Seriously though, just had an Ampeg shootout with a friend of mine between Ampeg SVT3, 4 and 5 Pro, SVP Pro with a Crown Power Amp, V4B and SVT-CL.

The Pros and the SVP Pro sounded pretty good... until we plugged in the tubes. Then you realise why we love Ampeg so much. :)
 

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