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Just got a new Ampeg BA-115 V2, volume very low?

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Craig Williams

Craig Williams

Feb 13, 2019
240
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Thailand
#1
Just got my new amp and plugged my Fender Jazz bass into it. The sound is nice but just has very low volume? Lacks any punch even with the mids dimed. With volume dimed and all EQ knobs at about 9, I would say equivalent to a 40w practice amp. I can sit right next to it and play comfortably. Its meant to be 150 watts and I have heard guys say suitable for small to medium room? This would struggle in a rehearsal room.

It should be uncomfortably loud sitting next to it on full volume right?

I got a Fender Rumble 100w and it would be shaking the walls at half volume. Volume and both PU turned up full on the bass. I have the -DB cut switch off. I tried my guitar on the amp with a different lead and about the same levels so its not the bass. I have contacted the shop but its the weekend here and would rather avoid sending it back as its a long way.

Is there any thing I need to do or can check or may have overlooked?
 
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#4
Craig Williams said:
Just got my new amp and plugged my Fender Jazz bass into it. The sound is nice but just has very low volume? Lacks any punch even with the mids dimed. With volume dimed and all EQ knobs at about 9, I would say equivalent to a 40w practice amp. I can sit right next to it and play comfortably. Its meant to be 150 watts and I have heard guys say suitable for small to medium room? This would struggle in a rehearsal room.

It should be uncomfortably loud sitting next to it on full volume right?

I got a Fender Rumble 100w and it would be shaking the walls at half volume. Volume and both PU turned up full on the bass. I have the -DB cut switch off. I tried my guitar on the amp with a different lead and about the same levels so its not the bass. I have contacted the shop but its the weekend here and would rather avoid sending it back as its a long way.

Is there any thing I need to do or can check or may have overlooked?
Click to expand...

Did you try it out before with your Fender Jazz bass before you bought it? or was it a online purchase?
 
#5
It was an online purchase but from a very reputable dealer here in Bangkok. they are the only dealer in Thailand and I live in a fairly remote area. I am an Aussie living in Thailand. I have a Fender Jazz Bass, its not a toy one. Re loose leads, connections etc I been playing guitar and bass 40 years so I know to check the obvious stuff. Was hoping to get some feed back from someone has this amp. I thought maybe there might be a break in period or something but I guess not.
 
#6
Craig Williams said:
It was an online purchase but from a very reputable dealer here in Bangkok. they are the only dealer in Thailand and I live in a fairly remote area. I am an Aussie living in Thailand. I have a Fender Jazz Bass, its not a toy one. Re loose leads, connections etc I been playing guitar and bass 40 years so I know to check the obvious stuff. Was hoping to get some feed back from someone has this amp. I thought maybe there might be a break in period or something but I guess not.
Click to expand...

Oh ok, yeah I see what you mean. I ran into an issue like this when I was first started playing bass. I have a Fender Jazz bass also low volume before I converted it to active with EMG's. It was long ago but if I remember correctly it had something to do with an adjustment on the amp head but I can't remember what it was exactly. Sorry, I know this doesn't help you at the moment. If I remember what it was, I will post back.

Did you check out any of the Video's on line that demo this amp? Might be something you may have missed? Hope you find what it is or someone will chime in with what it may be!
 
#7
Drummerboy2 said:
Oh ok, yeah I see what you mean. I ran into an issue like this when I was first started playing bass. I have a Fender Jazz bass also low volume before I converted it to active with EMG's. It was long ago but if I remember correctly it had something to do with an adjustment on the amp head but I can't remember what it was exactly. Sorry, I know this doesn't help you at the moment. If I remember what it was, I will post back.

Did you check out any of the Video's on line that demo this amp? Might be something you may have missed? Hope you find what it is or someone will chime with what it may be!
Click to expand...

I don't think so bro. I got a Fender Rumble 100 and it is plenty loud on that. I recently had three basses and sold the other two so don't have another one to try. But like I said I plugged my guitar in and even that on full is not anywhere near ear splitting. At best similar to a 30w practice amp on full
 
#8
Craig Williams said:
I don't think so bro. I got a Fender Rumble 100 and it is plenty loud on that. I recently had three basses and sold the other two so don't have another one to try. But like I said I plugged my guitar in and even that on full is not anywhere near ear splitting. At best similar to a 30w practice amp on full
Click to expand...

Yeah, too bad you didn't have another bass to try cause that will tell you everything. Did you try another cord/s? Just process of elimination.
 
#9
Craig Williams said:
Just got my new amp and plugged my Fender Jazz bass into it. The sound is nice but just has very low volume? Lacks any punch even with the mids dimed. With volume dimed and all EQ knobs at about 9, I would say equivalent to a 40w practice amp. I can sit right next to it and play comfortably. Its meant to be 150 watts and I have heard guys say suitable for small to medium room? This would struggle in a rehearsal room.

It should be uncomfortably loud sitting next to it on full volume right?

I got a Fender Rumble 100w and it would be shaking the walls at half volume. Volume and both PU turned up full on the bass. I have the -DB cut switch off. I tried my guitar on the amp with a different lead and about the same levels so its not the bass. I have contacted the shop but its the weekend here and would rather avoid sending it back as its a long way.

Is there any thing I need to do or can check or may have overlooked?
Click to expand...

I found an older post from here on TB about a similar issue/s with their Ampeg amp like yours but V1. Hopefully it will give you more insight to what is going on with your amp.

www.talkbass.com/threads/newbie-question-ampeg-ba-115-seems-too-quiet.923660/
 
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#10
Yes I stated that in my original post......

I tried my guitar on the amp with a different lead and about the same levels so its not the bass. I have contacted the shop but its the weekend here and would rather avoid sending it back as its a long way.

You got one of these amps right? Like I am sitting in a small loungeroom with the thing dimed, it should be shaking the walls right?
 
#11
Drummerboy2 said:
I found an older post from here on TB about a similar issue/s with there Ampeg amp like yours but V1. Hopefully it will give you more insight to what is going on with your amp.

www.talkbass.com/threads/newbie-question-ampeg-ba-115-seems-too-quiet.923660/
Click to expand...

Sounds like a similar issue. Like this isn't underpowered with a band. This is underpowered in a small living room sitting right on top of it. The sound quality seems normal, no distortion or fuzziness etc just lack of volume, projection or punch. Sounds like a smallish practice amp volume. Looks like I am going to have to send it back
 
#12
Craig Williams said:
Sounds like a similar issue. Like this isn't underpowered with a band. This is underpowered in a small living room sitting right on top of it. The sound quality seems normal, no distortion or fuzziness etc just lack of volume, projection or punch. Sounds like a smallish practice amp volume. Looks like I am going to have to send it back
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about you having to send it back, thought it could have been something else and a quick/easy fix.
 
#15
Craig Williams said:
Just got my new amp and plugged my Fender Jazz bass into it. The sound is nice but just has very low volume? Lacks any punch even with the mids dimed. With volume dimed and all EQ knobs at about 9, I would say equivalent to a 40w practice amp. I can sit right next to it and play comfortably. Its meant to be 150 watts and I have heard guys say suitable for small to medium room? This would struggle in a rehearsal room.

It should be uncomfortably loud sitting next to it on full volume right?

I got a Fender Rumble 100w and it would be shaking the walls at half volume. Volume and both PU turned up full on the bass. I have the -DB cut switch off. I tried my guitar on the amp with a different lead and about the same levels so its not the bass. I have contacted the shop but its the weekend here and would rather avoid sending it back as its a long way.

Is there any thing I need to do or can check or may have overlooked?
Click to expand...

You don't accidentally have the input limiter button depressed do you? Typically says -10db or whatever next to it.
 
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#16
Craig Williams said:
Just got my new amp and plugged my Fender Jazz bass into it. The sound is nice but just has very low volume? Lacks any punch even with the mids dimed. With volume dimed and all EQ knobs at about 9, I would say equivalent to a 40w practice amp. I can sit right next to it and play comfortably. Its meant to be 150 watts and I have heard guys say suitable for small to medium room? This would struggle in a rehearsal room.

It should be uncomfortably loud sitting next to it on full volume right?

I got a Fender Rumble 100w and it would be shaking the walls at half volume. Volume and both PU turned up full on the bass. I have the -DB cut switch off. I tried my guitar on the amp with a different lead and about the same levels so its not the bass. I have contacted the shop but its the weekend here and would rather avoid sending it back as its a long way.

Is there any thing I need to do or can check or may have overlooked?
Click to expand...
Make sure that the 15 db cut switch is NOT engaged. That switch is meant for basses with active electronics. It will noticeably cut your volume.

I had an Ampeg BA 210 V2 a couple years ago. Sold it. Was not impressed. Weak output and developed an annoying rattle. Cheap, plastic volume/EQ knobs with cheesy feeling pots and I though the Scrambler circuit was a joke! I'm not bashing Ampeg... great amps! But their BA series leave much to be desired. Just my $0.02.
 
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#18
Guys appreciate the help but have stated in OP and subsequent posts I have the DB limiter disengaged.

I have seen at least 20 posts on forums saying these bass amps are LOUD and will easily cut it with a band in a small to medium room, I am in a living room on my own. Why I bought the thing, so many other manufacturers quote power outputs that would be realistic if you had two extra cabs and another head hooked up or something. Like the Peavey Tour TKO for eg they quote 400w out put, but with the combo / speaker as it is its only 150 watts at best.

Mind you I wonder reading some of the reviews and remarks on forums if they are not done by the manufacturers or the negative opinions done by their competition. Some of them seem to be written like an advertisement.
 
#19
When you say equivalent to a 40W practice amp are you talking about a guitar 40W practice amp? 40W in the higher frequencies can be deafening. Bass requires a lot more wattage and speaker surface area to keep up. Just wondering if expectations are a little off.
 
#20
MultiScaleMale said:
When you say equivalent to a 40W practice amp are you talking about a guitar 40W practice amp? 40W in the higher frequencies can be deafening. Bass requires a lot more wattage and speaker surface area to keep up. Just wondering if expectations are a little off.
Click to expand...

I am talking about a Bass practice amp. Like I said I have a Fender rumble 100w and it would have at least three times the volume and punch of this thing. And the Ampeg is a true 150w RMS rating. I know in the world of bass as a performing amp 150w is on the small side, but at full volume in a small living room it should be vibrating the walls. As another comparison I plugged my guitar into my 60w Roland SS amp and the Ampeg. I know guitar into a bass amp a different animal but to give you a comparison my 60w guitar amp is the same volume on 3 as the 150 watt bass amp is on full volume / EQ nearly dimed. That's not right surely.
 
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