Personally I love Ampeg. I've found that the signature Ampeg tone + P or Jazz is just what I'm looking for 90% of the time. However, running a 3Pro and SVT-410HLF I've not had a problem getting the needed tone when I need something other then the Ampeg sound. I've also found that recording w/ the 3Pro (XLR to the board, EQ in the signal) gives a great sound in the mix - keeping the bass audible, but also letting the signature sound of my basses through.
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What's wrong with Ampeg?
- Thread starter Mud Flaps
- Start date
notanaggie said:
I read what you wrote about the Pro 3
and gotta say I agree with the other guys. Whatever that amp was suppossed to produce, it did not. And it would clip when getting near it. By the the quietest 450 watt amp I have ever had. My old series GK 700rb and Gk 800rb blew it out of the water, and did an older SWR studio series. Also, my tech has made the same comment about an SVT4Pro as well, he had to mod it to really make full use of the power amp.You can make your comments, but to come up here like people don't know what they are talking about is pretty bold. After reviewing what you have said, I am not sure you have all that much experience with that partciaular head and all the lines that it has been compared to by Ampeg ads.
lamarjones said:
Eh? say what? I'm no big Ampeg fan......but
I said that they made the power claimed....when tested.....in watts, not "sound power. I've fixed a number of various recent Ampegs, and they all made their claimed power. No sign of the hundred watt (about 25%) or whatever shortfall.
They didn't all SOUND like similar powered units, loudness-wise. I said I had no idea why those units SOUND weak.
Those are facts....
As far as "Special Ed", he claims that the particular model, and apparently most all Ampegs in general are intentionally limited somehow to far less than the published ratings "in watts".
He made the statement sound sorta broad, like that was an example, but that they are all like that.
A claim like that is what's pretty bold.....worth backing up. How does he "know" that? Seems pretty questionable to pop up and make that claim just off-the-cuff, if we are discussing "questionable"......
Not my experience of them at all......they have the power, even if it doen't sound like it gets used effectively.
Tonality....you can dislike theirs, as I do. Its a matter of "range". Yeah, maybe you can GET to a sensible clean tone, but that's at one end of the range....and sort-of-close if you aren't too fussy.
Other brands are 'centered" in a more clean neutral tone, and you "can get" to the "ampeg dark tone" towards one end of their range, but that isn't the only thing they do.
The fact that Ampeg is made by a company known in its other brands for basically bottom feeding, you can state that too. I won't argue either of those points.
As far as the "you're a newbie" thing.....well whatever....like I said, a cute symbol doesn't make something relevant.
Bruce Lindfield said:Definition of a troll!!
Making an obvious joke that applies to no one, and hurts nobodies feelings (except ampeg's) isn't my definition of a troll.
A personal attack/response to me that is personal and rude is a troll.
+1dood said:Special Ed, Notanaggie, all...
Examples:-
ok, i'm not an 'admin' or moderator.. I know this isn't really the place for character bashing but knowing that sometimes it is hard to read emotions from a few lines of text, would be better to just not bother or to qualify what you are thinking with a little more detail.
for example:- Oh well I'm sorry!
could be Oh well I'm sorry!:scowl:
is not the same as
Oh well I'm sorry!
or, Oh well I'm sorry! *and* I didn't mean to offend
or
Oh well I'm sorry! *and* but tuff sh@t I think you're a t@ssp@t.
This stops wasting time with misunderstandings.
enough of the hijacking.. back to Ampeg! ;o)
dood said:
i still am.
my church as well as my friend's church each have their own rather recent BA-115 combos, and the hiss is quite apparent and annoying in both. at first, i thought our amp had a damaged tweeter. but upon hearing my friend's, quickly realized, its just the amp.
also, i never thought too badly about Ampeg, until i heard Victor Wooten's ampeg stack against Oteil Burbridge "borrowed" Epifani stack at the Bass Extremes / Iridium show. the ampeg stack sounded muffled, blurry, and indistinct, compared to Oteil's tone that was more articulate, detailed, and yes, as clear as a church bell.
Steve Bailey was also using an ampeg stack, tho i did see an Epifani head/preamp on top. still, his tone was rather dull, and not as refined as Oteil's.course, we're talkin' boutique vs. mass produced, but the differences made the experience literally an eye (ear?) opener.
with that said, i really like SWR's Workingman series. mexi-made or not, the 1x12 combo sounds MUCH nicer than the ampeg BA-112, and i like the dark blue look, too.
and with all this said, i'd still love to have a full on SVT / 8x10 stack.
Special_Ed said:
Well - what you did, was the accepted internet definition of trolling - I know nothing about you personally - so it can't be a personal attack - I was just pointing out that what you did, will be make you a troll by internet bulletin board standards.
Kind of like a friendly warning - I wasn't rude or personal in what I said - just pointing this out.
Hey joker, I am using an Ampeg preamp with an Epifani cab... Not meaning to blow my own horn, but my sound is VERY clear and defined by 1. what I gather from comments and audience feedback and 2. by what I hear for myself. This is yest another argument in favour of Ampeg amps and such (not quite, I'm just using a preamp) and against their speaker cabs (which I have never liked). Seriously though, Epifani cabs are amazing.
"What's wrong with Ampeg?"
That's easy- Nothing!
If Ampeg tone doesn't work for you, try something else.
It works very well for a lot of players.
If the unit you've tried is underpowered, or doesn't suit your needs,see above.
I've used and been offered Eden gear for example. It's outstanding bass gear, but I don't care for it personally-
It doesn't give me the tone I want, and I've heard players who use it that don't sound very good to me, but I don't think there's anything wrong with Eden.
Ampeg is one of the few companies that has always offered an all-tube ciruit for bass,you have to give them credit for that, and they sound REAL good. Among other rigsthat I own, I use and tour with a new V4BH head and an older 4x8 Ampeg cab. No one has ever complained about the sound. Ever.
Seems the company has been dissed for also making Crate, a
"low-end" or budget line. Odd,seeing that almost every amp and bass manufacturer now offers an economy alternative to their high-end lines- SWR, Ashdown, MTD, Lakland,and others.
I believe there are differences in the products between Crate and Ampeg.
Someone posted about an Ampeg unit that was shipped from the factory thrashed.Does that hold true for all Ampeg gear?? I doubt that, seeing that as every piece of new Ampeg gear I've seen for sale across this country and in Europe has been in perfect condition. Maybe that one was damaged in transit, it could even be a fluke, but to suggest that it's the standard for Ampeg is pretty ridiculous.
This isn't the 60's or the 70's- The product specs and manufacture aren't the same- IMO they're better in some respects.
Nothing wrong with Ampeg at all. Prefer something else?
Not a problem! Buy it, use it, and don't worry about it!
That's easy- Nothing!
If Ampeg tone doesn't work for you, try something else.
It works very well for a lot of players.
If the unit you've tried is underpowered, or doesn't suit your needs,see above.
I've used and been offered Eden gear for example. It's outstanding bass gear, but I don't care for it personally-
It doesn't give me the tone I want, and I've heard players who use it that don't sound very good to me, but I don't think there's anything wrong with Eden.
Ampeg is one of the few companies that has always offered an all-tube ciruit for bass,you have to give them credit for that, and they sound REAL good. Among other rigsthat I own, I use and tour with a new V4BH head and an older 4x8 Ampeg cab. No one has ever complained about the sound. Ever.
Seems the company has been dissed for also making Crate, a
"low-end" or budget line. Odd,seeing that almost every amp and bass manufacturer now offers an economy alternative to their high-end lines- SWR, Ashdown, MTD, Lakland,and others.
I believe there are differences in the products between Crate and Ampeg.
Someone posted about an Ampeg unit that was shipped from the factory thrashed.Does that hold true for all Ampeg gear?? I doubt that, seeing that as every piece of new Ampeg gear I've seen for sale across this country and in Europe has been in perfect condition. Maybe that one was damaged in transit, it could even be a fluke, but to suggest that it's the standard for Ampeg is pretty ridiculous.
This isn't the 60's or the 70's- The product specs and manufacture aren't the same- IMO they're better in some respects.
Nothing wrong with Ampeg at all. Prefer something else?
Not a problem! Buy it, use it, and don't worry about it!
My SVT5 and SVT410HLF are freakin' incredible together. Once I get the volume up it sounds very defined and, well, thick. Plenty of power to go around. Mhmmm...I love the tone I can get from it once I get it going.
James Hayes said:
yea,
if anything, i'm starting to realize it is more a "cab" issue than an amp issue.
again, i'm in line for a '70s Ampeg SVT, and those tones ARE G. L. O. R. I. O. U. S.
