Practice Amps: Ampeg VS Fender

[Pdaddy1978]

Earlier this year I decided I wanted a small, at home, practice amp.
For years I had been using a little Peavey backstage guitar amp I'd had for 30 years, but it had started acting up and I wanted something that was a dedicated bass amp. So I went shopping.
My local GC had 3 options that were all around $100:
1. Acoustic...somthin
2. Fender rumble 15
3. Amped ba 108
I sat down and tried all 3. Didn't like the little Acoustic right off the bat.
Liked the Rumble, and the Ampeg. The Rumble was a little louder, but the Ampeg was quieter, had that cool kick-back design and, well, had that Ampeggy tone. I've been playing Ampeg on stage for 40 years so.....
I bought the Ampeg. So far, I've been happy as heck with it.
Small footprint, kind of amazing how much the little guy sounds like an Ampeg, and gets plenty loud for living room volume. I wouldn't hesitate to use it live for an acoustic jam. Wouldn't want to fight a drum set with it, but that isn't what I wanted it for. Just something to practice/jam with my hi-fi .
I think you'd be happy with either the Fender or the Ampeg.For the money, their both great little amps.
But I went with the ba-108...and am glad I did.

 

[jbhaugh]

I had a Fender Rumble 15 for a while and it farted out very easily. Maybe that was a fault of the particular one I had, but it made the amp basically useless for anything other than home practice IMO. It needed an input pad or input gain knob (it's a volume knob only).

 

[JakobT]

A 10 or 12 inch speaker would be better!

Earlier this year I decided I wanted a small, at home, practice amp.
For years I had been using a little Peavey backstage guitar amp I'd had for 30 years, but it had started acting up and I wanted something that was a dedicated bass amp. So I went shopping.
My local GC had 3 options that were all around $100:
1. Acoustic...somthin
2. Fender rumble 15
3. Amped ba 108
I sat down and tried all 3. Didn't like the little Acoustic right off the bat.
Liked the Rumble, and the Ampeg. The Rumble was a little louder, but the Ampeg was quieter, had that cool kick-back design and, well, had that Ampeggy tone. I've been playing Ampeg on stage for 40 years so.....
I bought the Ampeg. So far, I've been happy as heck with it.
Small footprint, kind of amazing how much the little guy sounds like an Ampeg, and gets plenty loud for living room volume. I wouldn't hesitate to use it live for an acoustic jam. Wouldn't want to fight a drum set with it, but that isn't what I wanted it for. Just something to practice/jam with my hi-fi .
I think you'd be happy with either the Fender or the Ampeg.For the money, their both great little amps.
But I went with the ba-108...and am glad I did.

I started out with a BA-108, and it was OK for what it was, but the build quality was indifferent, and it weighed a ton for such a small amp. After a couple of blown fuses in the Ampeg I decided it simply wasn’t worth it, and switched to a Fender Rumble, but a Rumble 100, not a 15. The difference was nothing short of astounding, and I’ve never looked back.

 

[NKBassman]

Of the 2 mentioned, and based on what you already own, I would do neither. You have the Aguilar/210AV set up so I would just use that and save that money. Amp head goes in the gig bag and one of those cabs is lighter than the combo. I've never been a fan of 8" speakers.

Honestly this might be the best advice. Thanks for the reality check.

 

[mikew31]

I made the mistake of getting the Rumble 15 several years back. I can't find any way to make a pleasing sound with it. I've wanted to give it to a student (I'm a teacher) so they at least have something to play through, but I can't bring myself to do that because then I would be saddling them with such poor sound.

 

[NKBassman]

I made the mistake of getting the Rumble 15 several years back. I can't find any way to make a pleasing sound with it. I've wanted to give it to a student (I'm a teacher) so they at least have something to play through, but I can't bring myself to do that because then I would be saddling them with such poor sound.

lol that’s a pretty harsh assessment. But exactly how I feel about the larger Rumble combo at my buddy’s jam space.

 

[JakobT]

lol that’s a pretty harsh assessment. But exactly how I feel about the larger Rumble combo at my buddy’s jam space.

But exactly what constitutes a pleasing sound would be very much a matter of taste. I make a point of never confusing my personal taste with the quality of the product, something I cannot always say of my brothers and sisters here on TB, unfortunately. My general advice would be to audition all options carefully to find out what works for you, and not to place too much confidence in what others say about the product.

 

[mikew31]

lol that’s a pretty harsh assessment. But exactly how I feel about the larger Rumble combo at my buddy’s jam space.

I have heard some of the larger amps in the Fender Rumble series and thought they sound great. It certainly is a matter of taste. Most of the time I can find a way to get a usable tone out of a piece of gear - I just never could with the 15. Just my experience.

 

[vvvmmm]

Ampeg!!!...but I'm biased

So ... tubes?

 

[dbsfgyd1]

It sounds ampeggy, and is a fine practice amp and suitable for low volume acoustic sessions.
Personally, I would step up the ladder and get a BA 110, to be honest.
(to have some power left if the jam gets a bit louder)

I prefer the Ampeg over the Fender, because for my taste, the tone of the Rumble 15 is a touch too plastic for me.
IME, IMHO, YMMV

I’m considering picking up the smallest and cheapest possible practice amp for acoustic jam sessions and just overall ease and portability. It’d be nice if it sounded OK, too.

I’m looking at the Fender Rumble 15 and the Ampeg BA-108 on the Long & McQuade website. Both are 15W 1x8 combos, and both around $150 CAD.

The price is right. I don’t really want to go up over $200 for the next size up.

For additional consideration, A buddy has a larger Fender Rumble combo and I have never gotten a sound out of it that I like.

Thoughts??

‘If I could make a suggestion, I suggest you see if you can find something gently used. You might be able to score a much better better sounding, more powerful amp. Your budget is a bit tight, so you might need to be patient for the right one to show up at an agreeable price.

 

[misterCRUSH]

I'd pick Ampeg every day of the week

 

[meadeam]

I bought a Rumble 25 on a whim because it was cheap as a Sam Ash floor demo. I knew nothing about it, assumed because of its size it had a 10" speaker. I've used it for several jams with a garage rock trio. It kept up with a non-ham fisted drummer and a guitarist playing through a Music Man 212 (obviously not cranked). We're talking pre-covid era proximity to one another in a very small space, but we were all shocked at how well it kept up. I was even more shocked to find out it has an 8" speaker. I am super impressed with it for what it is and what it can do, and how little it cost. Knowing what I know now, I might go for the 40 just to move a little more air, but the 25 is way better than it should be.

 

[6thplanet]

If the 2/10 is overkill, just get a 1/10 cab?

 

[Mastermold]

Personally I'd just get an Ampeg PF-350 and pair it with the small cab of your choice. It's a nice enough and cheap enough head that goes a long way, sounds good and is very durable.

 

[neo 7]

I got the Ampeg and I like it

 

[coy garcia]

So ... tubes?

I always use tube amps for shows and rehearsals...but this post was about a practice amp of which I use a tiny kickback ampeg solid state. . Nothing sounds like tubes.

 

[bassliner50]

What is the smallest amp Traynor makes? I hear all good things, but can’t find a single one here in the states!

I would not go smaller than SB110, though Traynor does have a model with a 6" driver.

 

[CallMeAl]

I would not go smaller than SB110, though Traynor does have a model with a 6" driver.

I need another amp like I need a hole in the head, but those Traynor amps look and sound so attractive. If I were to go there, I’d probably get the 115 so I could use it for jams and small gigs

 

[High Camp]

No guitar Centers here in Canada. Long & McQuade would be the equivalent. I know I could still order from them online (or Sweetwater), but I’d rather support a Canadian retailer if possible.

Also keep in mind that $200 USD = $270 CAD.

Cost is honestly the main priority I think. For bigger volume needs I have two Ampeg 210AV cabs and my Aguilar TH500 which provides enough support for the biggest stages in town. I already do use this rig for small jams and stuff, but the 210 is overkill a lot of the time and I wouldn’t mind an even smaller option if possible.

Since you already have the more than splendid SVT210AV... does your Aguilar TH500 do low volume well or not (with just the one SVT210AV)?
Because I use the SVT210V with the Ampeg PF350 for low volume practice (this amp does low volume as well as high volume)

It may turn out that you don't need to buy the BA108 after all.
Just a thought.

 

[droo46]

No guitar Centers here in Canada. Long & McQuade would be the equivalent. I know I could still order from them online (or Sweetwater), but I’d rather support a Canadian retailer if possible.

Also keep in mind that $200 USD = $270 CAD.

Cost is honestly the main priority I think. For bigger volume needs I have two Ampeg 210AV cabs and my Aguilar TH500 which provides enough support for the biggest stages in town. I already do use this rig for small jams and stuff, but the 210 is overkill a lot of the time and I wouldn’t mind an even smaller option if possible.

Why not just get a cheap 110 cab and keep using the Aguilar?

 

[bassliner50]

I need another amp like I need a hole in the head, but those Traynor amps look and sound so attractive. If I were to go there, I’d probably get the 115 so I could use it for jams and small gigs

I own the Traynor SB115. Very refined amp that always sound better than good. Most rooms I run the EQ almost flat and the sound is there. Capable of medium large venues. The only downside is rat fur.