New Amp Day! Ampeg B2-48

[bray101]

Posted earlier about my Mesa Vintage Powerhouse 412 find yesterday on a road trip to sell some gear to a fellow TBer.

This one was at a Music Go Round. Anyone ever shop there? This one had great used stuff of all kinds. I was really surprised.

Looked down at my feet under some hardshell cases and happened to see this Ampeg B2 4x8 combo.

When I first started playing in high school, my buddy had one of these and I would always play it when I went to watch his band practice. Always loved the tone it had.

Fast forward a few years, and the studio where my band was recording its first full length had one in there. Turned out it was the same one, as my friend sold it to the guy who owned that studio. Always wanted one of these.

10 years later, takes me to yesterday and seeing this for dirt cheap. Felt like I stole it, and honestly, this one sounds immensely better than that other one I used to play on, I think. Could be time and nostalgia, but I don't know. All I am sure of is this thing sounds incredible. So much low end from 8" speakers. Unreal.

May be selling my Micro VR rig if anyone is interested. Haha

 

[JimmyM]

Cool find. Never played one but these seem very well liked by those who have them.

 

[Crusher47]

Congrats!

 

[bray101]

Cool find. Never played one but these seem very well liked by those who have them.

Yea. I've see a few over the years, but seems like the single 15" version is a lot more prevalent. The 4x8 is fairly rare I believe.

This one is really clean. Just took it apart to blow off some dust.

 

[bray101]

 

[experimental bassist]

Wow, congrats on a cool find.

I didn't know these even came with the four 8"s.

 

[bray101]

Wow, congrats on a cool find.

I didn't know these even came with the four 8"s.

Yea. If it wasn't for that one I saw when I first started, I may not have either. Haven't seen many since, either.

 

[Hnz]

I closed the deal with a seller of the very same combo! Very excited about it and curious to find out about how it sounds…
Got to still get over there and collect it, however. Can't wait!

 

[bray101]

I closed the deal with a seller of the very same combo! Very excited about it and curious to find out about how it sounds…
Got to still get over there and collect it, however. Can't wait!

You'll love it.

Super punchy, and those 8s can honestly rumble the floor on the low end.

 

[Classic69]

I had the stand-alone Ampeg Classic 4x8 cab; (SVT48HE) the same one used in your combo I'm sure.
SLM used special cones in the drivers I was told.
Great cabinet, I know that combo rawks-
Enjoy.

 

[Hnz]

OMG, don't make it worse guys!
CAN'T WAIT!!!

 

[bray101]

OMG, don't make it worse guys!
CAN'T WAIT!!!

Any update? Did you get it?

 

[Hnz]

OMG, I'm so sorry for not having updated yet!

Thanks for reminding me, Bray101. I DO have it indeed!

The day I collected it, I A/B tested it with my Roland DB 210 combo. The Ampeg definitely has more high mids, perhaps due to the 8" speakers. The Roland is more versatile and has more bottom end. Together with the DB115 active sub it remains my first choice for gigging. Not in the least because the Roland weighs 24 kg, whereas the Ampeg weighs 40 kg! I do like the sound, however. So it goes to our band's practice room - in fact it is already there. Tonight I will test it with the band!

 

[Hnz]

UPDATE: Yesterday I used the B2 combo with band practice. MAN, IT KICKED ASS BIG TIME!!!
I may be hooked on the Ampeg sound again! I just LOVED the sound coming out of the combo.
I had such a great time playing yesterday. And so did my bandmates; They really loved the sound too.
So now I got to find me another B2 combo for bar gigs and perhaps an Ampeg 1x15" ext cab...

 

[Classic69]

UPDATE: Yesterday I used the B2 combo with band practice. MAN, IT KICKED ASS BIG TIME!!!
I may be hooked on the Ampeg sound again! I just LOVED the sound coming out of the combo.
I had such a great time playing yesterday. And so did my bandmates; They really loved the sound too.
So now I got to find me another B2 combo for bar gigs and perhaps an Ampeg 1x15" ext cab...

Cool! My rig was a 3-PRO, 4x8 cab as mentioned and sometimes an added SVT-15E. I dug it!

 

[Hnz]

I bet that sounds awesome, Classic69! Like to try an extra 4x8 with my combo too!
Might be even harder to come by than the combo though...

 

[bray101]

Yep. They are definitely rare in the 4x8 configuration.

One just popped up on my local craigslist, however. $200

Seller is near Columbus, OH if that helps. You can look on their craigslist if you want to contact him.

 

[SirMjac28]

Congrats on a great combo it's one of the cleanest I've seen.

 

[Classic69]

I bet that sounds awesome, Classic69! Like to try an extra 4x8 with my combo too!
Might be even harder to come by than the combo though...

Yes, it sounded REAL good!
Unfortunately, that rig is no longer mine, sold in a clearing-house operation when I relocated. Too bad! It was all SLM-made Ampeg too.
I even had the very sweet OEM cover for the SVT-15E, 2-Tone Black/Grey Cordura with the Ampeg logo, really nice. And a Tuki made cover for the SVT-48HE, AND..
a bag made to enclose/carry the 3-PRO (don't like rack cases) made by the great UnderCover NYC, WITH an Ampeg patch sewn right on!!!

Man, whoever gets MY used gear gets complete sweet cherries!!
I have other rigs to console me, but ya know- Your combo is really a great piece, and I know how it sounds. I hated the hate for the Ampeg B2/B2R heads as well! I used one once as a provided backline head, and I had NO issues rawkin it!

Enjoy, Enjoy, and Enjoy some more!

 

[Hnz]

@bray101: Thanks for the craigslist tip. 'Unfortunately' I'm located in the Netherlands, Europe…
@SirMjac28: Thanks!
@Classic69: I feel your pain! I also stayed away from the B2, cause of the negative reviews by Ampeg 'experts'; purists, as it turns out. And thanks a million!

I'm selling my Markbass stuff and already have put bids out to 2 sellers of a B2 combo, one here in NL and one in Belgium! SO excited!