If I would fix that I'd find the original speakers. The graphic EQ can be bypassed with that push button, can't it? I bet the amp sounds fine without it.
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To fix or scrap - Ampeg b248
- Thread starter chadface
- Start date
Yeppers. I think the eq still works, just can't adjust the two low frequencies. I will probably just set them with a toothpick and leave it.
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
That combo (model) was my first real bass amp! Bought it when I was 17. It sounded great on its own and really fat stacked with an Ampeg Classic 115 cabinet. Brings back some good memories seeing that combo!
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
I say fix it and get an Ampeg extension cab to pair it with! A 115 will sound great with some fat bottom. Very heavy, but a classic solid state Ampeg sound....
I would say, fix it!
But I am an owner of a B2 48 and of the svt48 extension cab. Sounds great to me.
In the practic eroom where my band practice there is also a B2 48 with the 4 speakers replaced by Eminence Alpha 8a. That combo isn't as loud as my own B2, but sounds perfect for rehearsel.
My stack:
But I am an owner of a B2 48 and of the svt48 extension cab. Sounds great to me.
In the practic eroom where my band practice there is also a B2 48 with the 4 speakers replaced by Eminence Alpha 8a. That combo isn't as loud as my own B2, but sounds perfect for rehearsel.
My stack:
Attachments
I say with over half the posts, fix it up! There is always something special about restoring an old combo. The amp will be worth a lot more left whole, and you'll get next to nothing if you pull the head. I would buy the Eminence Alpha 8's and clean up the inside.
Leave it in an area where you can work on it and just make it a casual project you work on as time permits. Take pictures every time you do something to it, and watch your own progress. I think the final result, should you follow through will be a nice looking home amp and a certain amount of pride that goes into it.
As for parts, you can get almost anything on eBay. Also there are some electronic companies that sell sliders, etc. None of the parts are custom made ONLY for that amp! They are stock parts, the only hard part would be finding them, but you will if you have patience. Good luck!
Leave it in an area where you can work on it and just make it a casual project you work on as time permits. Take pictures every time you do something to it, and watch your own progress. I think the final result, should you follow through will be a nice looking home amp and a certain amount of pride that goes into it.
As for parts, you can get almost anything on eBay. Also there are some electronic companies that sell sliders, etc. None of the parts are custom made ONLY for that amp! They are stock parts, the only hard part would be finding them, but you will if you have patience. Good luck!
That's a keeper right there. It's different and they don't come up all that often.
I've owned more than my share of B series amps. They aren't bad sounding by any means and there straight to the point. With an extension cab and DI support, this could be a total killer rig for bar venues.
I've owned more than my share of B series amps. They aren't bad sounding by any means and there straight to the point. With an extension cab and DI support, this could be a total killer rig for bar venues.
That combo (model) was my first real bass amp! Bought it when I was 17. It sounded great on its own and really fat stacked with an Ampeg Classic 115 cabinet. Brings back some good memories seeing that combo!
That's exactly how I ran mine! It was also my first real amp, bought in 1996.
Well, I'm sorry to be the one who differs a bit on the view of this amp. I was guitar tech at an Ampeg dealer, in the mid 90's. I bought a new one- a B248, at dealer cost, plus a bit of a markup for handling. It still wasn't cheap at the big discount price, even back over 20 years ago when I got it. It sounded AMAZINGLY good in the store, clean, clear, lots of full bass and nice, pleasant treble. After buying it, two things became apparent. It weighed A LOT, around a hundred pounds. About like my '66 B-15 with a JBL K-140. After taking it to a normal lounge band gig with great players, all whom used sensible, and professional volume levels- it felt like I was peeing against the tide. Regardless of where I tried to cut frequencies or gain, it still distorted, and not in a B-15 kinda pleasing sorta tube sag way, either... I know, because I've owned a lot of Ampegs. I grew up in Woodside, Queens, and rehearsed right across the street from the Ampeg factory, on Roosevelt Ave., under the EL tracks at 54th. st.. You New Yorkers might know that area. My old solid state 1977 B-410 (V6B era) was a far better amp. Conclusion for my application: A hundred pound boat anchor. To this day, small drivers- in my opinion, don't make it. Phil Jones stuff leaves the same impression on me now. I have amps, and cabinets now, that are so far superior to this.. for the money you'd invest in this amp, you could get a decent used TC BG250, and have a louder, fuller, far lighter and more practical combo. P.S., those EQ faders will break off if you look at them funny. The flush mounted head face offers zero protection from any kind of easy to find things that'll break 'em. One of mine was broken off when I sold it.
To those that own one of these and like it, I think that's great. This is just my opinion, of how it worked for me. I'm sticking with my Carvin BRX 10.2 cabs and my killer Shuttle 9.0 and a Carvin BX 1500 heads.
To those that own one of these and like it, I think that's great. This is just my opinion, of how it worked for me. I'm sticking with my Carvin BRX 10.2 cabs and my killer Shuttle 9.0 and a Carvin BX 1500 heads.
I still think it wouldn't hurt to restore it. It will be worth more restored than how it sits. And restored, you can give it an honest test and see if you like it. If not you can sell it for more than you paid for it.
Whelp, looks like the votes are leaning towards restoration. I tried to hook up just the 2 working speakers but it didn't work out, I'll mess with it again tomorrow. Hopefully there isn't something wrong with the crossover
Thanks everyone for the ideas!
Thanks everyone for the ideas!
Mini update: hooked up the two working speakers and cleaned it a little. Sounds okay but doesn't like the low B string.
Yes, that's a piece of plywood covering one of the speaker holes
Yes, that's a piece of plywood covering one of the speaker holes
Okie dokie, so I came across a pair of carvin 8s for $20. Why not, right?
Threw them in last night. Haven't been able to spend a whole lot of time with it but the little I did was fun. It's certainly a different sound running lil speakers but should be fun to play with. Besides, I'm only out $40 so far. Also it looks half decent with the cover on.
The carvins are 16 ohm so I had to get creative with the wiring (other two are 8 ohm). I ran the old speakers in series and the rest parallel. This resulted in overall impedance of 5.3 ohms, with more power going to the carvins. I'm thinking it will work out well. Only issue is that I am hesitant to add an extension cab as that would bring it under 4 ohms. Might still try it though...
Next is some tolex work, knobs, and a badge for the speaker grill.
Threw them in last night. Haven't been able to spend a whole lot of time with it but the little I did was fun. It's certainly a different sound running lil speakers but should be fun to play with. Besides, I'm only out $40 so far. Also it looks half decent with the cover on.
The carvins are 16 ohm so I had to get creative with the wiring (other two are 8 ohm). I ran the old speakers in series and the rest parallel. This resulted in overall impedance of 5.3 ohms, with more power going to the carvins. I'm thinking it will work out well. Only issue is that I am hesitant to add an extension cab as that would bring it under 4 ohms. Might still try it though...
Next is some tolex work, knobs, and a badge for the speaker grill.
Don't run it like that with mismatched speakers unless you want to blow them. Sell the 2 good ones to someone with who needs replacements. Sell the carvins for 40 bucks (double your money). Then buy something modestly priced but decent that will work with the volume/tuning of the cab (if it's not sealed). Spring for a new set of pots, knobs, and sliders, and either install them yourself it you're qualified or pay somebody the nominal bench fee to do it (60-100 bucks probably). Clean the inside and outside, apply contact cleaner as necessary (but with new pots and sliders it shouldn't really be), vacuum out the dust, etc... You'll end up with maybe $300-500 into it, which on the high end is probably more than it's "worth", but you'll end up with a cool and somewhat unusual amp and the satisfaction of bringing something back from the dead.
Otherwise, what? It ends up in a landfill? That's no good at all.
Otherwise, what? It ends up in a landfill? That's no good at all.
Nice Combo.
<RANT
I can say that I picked up one during the summer in "ok" condition. I needed to replace the speaker relay, which decided not to function every one in a while, Other than that it has been working good.
I liked is to much in fact I found a SVT 48HE ext cab to go with it. So now it is a 8x8. It is very under powered by today's standards but it sounds great. Sure it is really heavy and so is the SVT...
What I would like to do if the amp ever quits is place a class d head in the opening and see how it goes.
Since there are speaker jacks in the back you can connect different amps easily. So far I have tried an LH1000 and VT Bass 500, I really liked the VT500 with the 8x8. Next I will try my SWR 400s and see where that goes.....
I also picked up the SVT15EN extention cab but I still like the 8x8 better..
RANT>/
Thanks
Bob
<RANT
I can say that I picked up one during the summer in "ok" condition. I needed to replace the speaker relay, which decided not to function every one in a while, Other than that it has been working good.
I liked is to much in fact I found a SVT 48HE ext cab to go with it. So now it is a 8x8. It is very under powered by today's standards but it sounds great. Sure it is really heavy and so is the SVT...
What I would like to do if the amp ever quits is place a class d head in the opening and see how it goes.
Since there are speaker jacks in the back you can connect different amps easily. So far I have tried an LH1000 and VT Bass 500, I really liked the VT500 with the 8x8. Next I will try my SWR 400s and see where that goes.....
I also picked up the SVT15EN extention cab but I still like the 8x8 better..
RANT>/
Thanks
Bob
How would it damage the speakers? The main consideration when mixing speakers of different impedance is the amp, which should be OK as long as not less than 4 ohms.
