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No love for Ampeg B2RE?

#23
Thanks for this thread. I am on the cusp of buying a B2RE with a B410HLF. I'm looking to spend about $1000 + tax. I've been playing a combo for years and always DI'd to the PA so this would be my first stack. I tried it out and it sounded pretty decent to me. Is the B2RE and the 410 the way to go for a first stack? Or should I not bother with Ampeg and go with something else?

Also, would you go with the 4ohm B410HLF or leave room for a combination of two 8OHM amps, a B410HE and B115E?

Cheers
 
#24
My situation was similar to the op. I came across a US made B2RE on ebay.

Bought it.
Played it.
Liked it.

I browsed TB to see if anyone had any issues with them and was surprised by so many negative comments.
I'm still very happy with mine. I dig the tone, and I don't feel like I need anymore power.
 
#26
Ive had mine for about 5 years now. I only got it cause I went to GC to get a used SVT 3 which turned out to be broken. This was simply the only other Ampeg in my price range. Im usually satified with it, enough to still use it I guess. One thing I can say though is it has survived half a dozen times vibrating off my 610 over the years, and it is still going strong.
 
#27
riffsonbass said:
Thanks for this thread. I am on the cusp of buying a B2RE with a B410HLF. I'm looking to spend about $1000 + tax. I've been playing a combo for years and always DI'd to the PA so this would be my first stack. I tried it out and it sounded pretty decent to me. Is the B2RE and the 410 the way to go for a first stack? Or should I not bother with Ampeg and go with something else?

Also, would you go with the 4ohm B410HLF or leave room for a combination of two 8OHM amps, a B410HE and B115E?

Cheers
Click to expand...

That deal seems reasonable, but at this point, the B2RE is an old design and it wasn't exactly cutting edge when it was new. There are plenty of newer amps that have more impressive specs for the money.

Regarding 8 Ohms or 4 Ohms, I personally don't think it will make a big difference. With two 8 Ohm cabinets, it's still a B2RE pushing at best 450W - this is not a lot of power by today's standards. So no matter what you do, it's not going to overwhelm two guitarists and a drummer. I would find a cabinet that sounds great and buy it without even thinking about 4 or 8 Ohms.

The -only- exception to that advice would be if you KNOW you are going to run two cabinets in the future. In that case, find an 8 Ohm cab.

If you're cool with all of this, a B2RE and a 410 is a great start. It's the no frills, all business entry into serious gigging equipment. I would try to work on that price, though. Good luck.
 
#29
Jason P Bass said:
That deal seems reasonable, but at this point, the B2RE is an old design and it wasn't exactly cutting edge when it was new. There are plenty of newer amps that have more impressive specs for the money.

Regarding 8 Ohms or 4 Ohms, I personally don't think it will make a big difference. With two 8 Ohm cabinets, it's still a B2RE pushing at best 450W - this is not a lot of power by today's standards. So no matter what you do, it's not going to overwhelm two guitarists and a drummer. I would find a cabinet that sounds great and buy it without even thinking about 4 or 8 Ohms.

The -only- exception to that advice would be if you KNOW you are going to run two cabinets in the future. In that case, find an 8 Ohm cab.

If you're cool with all of this, a B2RE and a 410 is a great start. It's the no frills, all business entry into serious gigging equipment. I would try to work on that price, though. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Hey thanks for the advice Jason P Bass, much appreciated.
 
#30
The story ends this way: on the snow day yesterday I took some time to play and compare my Backline 600 and the B2Re. The sad fact seems to be that there is very little advantage to having spent 500 bucks on the B2re. The tone on the GK is not as clean, but power and bottom end seem similar. So, this weekend it goes back to Guitar Center and I think I'll look at good used gear in that price range. Probably able to get an RB700 around what I paid or an SVT used for a couple extra bills.
 
#32
Fletz said:
The story ends this way: on the snow day yesterday I took some time to play and compare my Backline 600 and the B2Re. The sad fact seems to be that there is very little advantage to having spent 500 bucks on the B2re. The tone on the GK is not as clean, but power and bottom end seem similar. So, this weekend it goes back to Guitar Center and I think I'll look at good used gear in that price range. Probably able to get an RB700 around what I paid or an SVT used for a couple extra bills.
Click to expand...


For well under $500 on the used market, you could get:

700rb-II
Shuttle 6.0
GBE 600
NeoPak 3.5
LMII

All of which are in a different league than the B2RE...



- georgestrings
 
#33
I've found the B2R satisfactory for my needs and versatile. It does what it's designed to do well and there's been no problems with it. Even my fan is quiet.

I don't depend on my heads for tone. I use pedals, and preamps for that because they are easier to change, adjust and repair if they do go down or I want a different sound for a song.

The B2R pumps clean power down low and up high. Hooked into a 4ohm Fridge it shakes my face.

I think alot of the "hate" amounts to people not getting that SVT tube sound out of a solid state amp. This doesn't bother me as much as it does some people.

What I do like about it, is it's been dead reliable and works anywhere from small-medium gigs with a 4x10 to larger outdoor venues with the fridge and DI.
YMMV of course.
 
#34
Early in january I played a used b2-re at guitar center through an svt-410hlf. I LOVED the tone. I asked the fellow and they will be able to sell Feb 17th so I put 50$ down on it and have been waiting patiently!

I found a used ampeg svt-410he which I bought and now awaits the head.


I preferred the tone of that amp over a few of the other brands available in store. I didn't even have to mess with the controls much to find that perfect sound. It seems like a great amp. I am getting pumped awaiting the 17th!!!


I say we start one of those lame talkbass clubs... The Ampeg B2-RE fanclub.
 
#35
I know this thread is old..but I'll lend my 2 cents. The B2re is what it is.. a vanilla amp that is capable of pushing enough power to run a medium sized gig but maybe not for a hard rock or metal band. Thing does fine in my country band and my samba band......with plenty of power to spare

The tone is pretty boring until I put a BDDI in front of it...with this set up I am always getting compliments on my tone. Seriously it sounds great. I only paid 200$ for the Ampeg (and 100 for my my Hartke 4x10) so for 300$ I have a great sounding rig.

Bottom line: I wouldn't pay more than 200$ for this amp. When you think about it you have to plan on getting the BDDI or something equivalent to give it color so your really spending 350$ at that price.....like said above there are better options for a few more dollars....then again, I am very happy with my sound and will not be changing anytime soon! Cheers and good luck
 

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