• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New (practice) Amp Day

kcole4001

kcole4001

Oct 7, 2009
4,862
1,620
Nova Scotia
#1
Well, after some contemplation and research, and seeing a fair amount of favorable reviews here regarding the little Ampeg BA-108, I picked one up for use at my church for youth choir accompaniment.

I got seriously tired of lugging my Bass 350 and tuner in a rack bag back and forth every weekend, so thought a small practice amp should suffice, since there's no drummer, just electric piano and organ and about 10-12 kids singing and banging on various percussion pieces.

I just spent an hour plunking away on this little bugger, and the verdict is a big yes.
Very good tone and lots of volume, I shouldn't have to run it any more than 1/2 volume, probably more like 1/3.
I had everything rattling pretty heavily at half volume here at home.

So, thanks TB, I scored a handy little piece of gear which will make life a little easier, and it only cost me $118 with tax and 2 year extended warranty ($5).
 
#3
That excites me too. I just ordered me one rom Guitar Center and with discount got it for $79 shipped. I'm so tired of lugging my big rig from church to the house to practice. I can't wait to test this amp out in a couple days.
 
#4
It sounds good, three basic boost/cut controls for low/mid/high.
The manual says the freqs are centred at 40/600/5000 hz.
I played my 4003 and Squier VM Jazz through it for an hour and found I like it set flat with maybe a little mid boost and a touch of low boost.

Lots of room for adjustment, and at half volume everything in the room rattled quite seriously.
Lots of guts for a church setting without drums.

I'm gonna leave mine at the church, take my backup amp and 2X10 to the guitar player's house for rehearsals, and keep my main rig at home so I have it available for whatever gig comes up.
 
#9
There's a speaker upgrade for the 108 that will net you more volume before it begins to fart out...think its the Eminence Alpha 8. There's a thread here on TB that outlines this and an IC mod that ups the output to 35 watts, if you're interested. :-)
 
#10
gary m said:
There's a speaker upgrade for the 108 that will net you more volume before it begins to fart out...think its the Eminence Alpha 8. There's a thread here on TB that outlines this and an IC mod that ups the output to 35 watts, if you're interested. :-)
Click to expand...

I've read about the speaker upgrade but not about the IC upgrade? Where's the info on it?
 
#12
gary m said:
There's a speaker upgrade for the 108 that will net you more volume before it begins to fart out...think its the Eminence Alpha 8. There's a thread here on TB that outlines this and an IC mod that ups the output to 35 watts, if you're interested. :-)
Click to expand...

Details please!

P Town said:
Every BA108, or 110 I've ever tried, had a lot of hiss.

(It did not prevent me from buying one).

Anyone have a quiet BA 108/110?
Click to expand...

I haven't noticed any amount of noise or hiss playing a low or high (for this amp) volume.



I love my BA108.
 
#13
Grissle said:
I've read about the speaker upgrade but not about the IC upgrade? Where's the info on it?
Click to expand...

Probably this thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/ampeg-ba-108-coffeeshop-micro-rig-915633/

Post 73 speaks to swapping the OP amp as well as discussing some resistor swaps to make the 25 watt power supply section the equivalent of the 35 watt BA110.

It may not come up much on Talkbass, but yeah, some of us solid state guys "roll" components and do crazy things like play with hotter transistor biasing much the same as tube guys do with their amps with a lot of the same results (a better, more responsive amp!). :)

However Woodstockz does a particularly good job in his thread giving a play by play.
 
#14
DogBone said:
Probably this thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/ampeg-ba-108-coffeeshop-micro-rig-915633/

Post 73 speaks to swapping the OP amp as well as discussing some resistor swaps to make the 25 watt power supply section the equivalent of the 35 watt BA110.

It may not come up much on Talkbass, but yeah, some of us solid state guys "roll" components and do crazy things like play with hotter transistor biasing much the same as tube guys do with their amps with a lot of the same results (a better, more responsive amp!). :)

However Woodstockz does a particularly good job in his thread giving a play by play.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the thread. There's also a discussion in there about the 110 and various upgrades for that amp. The 108 seems to be an excellent platform for hot rodding not only in terms of volume, but also in tone and responsiveness. Go forth and tweak!
 
#20
JimmyM said:
How big an increase in lows? Considered the Alpha myself, but then I play it as is and it sounds fine to me, and I really don't think I want bigger lows.
Click to expand...

In my case, I was able to get a clean low B at very close to full volume. Of course, the cone will get a bit looser as it breaks in, but I'm encouraged by the early results. Here's a few pics of the swap:

Removing the stock speaker
IMG_0675_zps444871dd.jpg


Prepping the foam install
IMG_0674_zps892da476.jpg


New Eminence Alpha 8
IMG_0672_zps3e603951.jpg


Completed install
IMG_0676_zpse2714012.jpg
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back