Which amp was the biggest disappointment? Which exceeded expectations?

[Joedog]

Biggest Acoustic B200 15" combo. Way too honky and seemed to be filled with concrete. Returned to GC with no arguement. At least it was cheap!

 

[tom once dead]

Biggest disappointment: Every Orange amp/cab I've played through. I find them to be way too muddy and you can't really change much with the EQ. Definitely nails the tone it does though, so I can't fault it on that.

Exceeded expectations: My old Behringer Bx1200. I bought it in 2006 as my first amp upgrade from a 10 watt. It always used to do the job back then, but I put it into retirement when I upgraded my rig next. I've recently pulled it back out again, just for home practice and I have to say, it really does sound great. Still going strong with no problems, tonnes of volume and it's incredibly versatile.

 

[Munjibunga]

Apparently then, you have never seen or tried one of these amps!

The appearance of that amp really drew me to it - all those knobs and switches just scream tone control. After futzing with it for over an hour, I couldn't get a single tone I liked out of it. So I passed.

 

[SactoBass]

"MEH"
Ampeg SVT-CL
Ampeg SVP-Pro preamp
Reeves C225
Aguilar DB750
Aguilar DB680/728
Mesa Buster 200
Accugroove El Whappo cab
SWR 750
Eden D410XLT cab
Eden D210XST cab
Crate BT50 practice amp
Markbass Jeff Berlin combo amp

"WOW"
'91 Ampeg SVT-II nonpro into a Berg NV610 (currently own)
'73 Ampeg V4-B into a Fliptops sealed 4x10 (currently own)
'73 Ampeg B25B into an LDS 4x10 (currently own)
Berg HT-115 stacked pair
USA Ampeg SVT-VR
BBE BMax-T tube preamp

 

[Munjibunga]

"MEH"
Ampeg SVT-CL
Ampeg SVP-Pro preamp
Reeves C225
Aguilar DB750
Aguilar DB680/728
Mesa Buster 200
Accugroove El Whappo cab
SWR 750
Eden D410XLT cab
Eden D210XST cab
Crate BT50 practice amp
Markbass Jeff Berlin combo amp

"WOW"
'91 Ampeg SVT-II nonpro into a Berg NV610 (currently own)
'73 Ampeg V4-B into a Fliptops sealed 4x10 (currently own)
'73 Ampeg B25B into an LDS 4x10 (currently own)
Berg HT-115 stacked pair
USA Ampeg SVT-VR
BBE BMax-T tube preamp

You and JimmyM.

 

[Webtroll]

SWR Studio 220 was a huge stinker. Underpowered, but when I ran it through a power amp, it still stunk. Too much time required to set a tone.

2nd place Trace Elliot AH350. Beautiful head with a good reputation, but I never got a sound I liked out of it, my next head was an old SVT (night and day difference)

3rd place Genz Benz 4X10 speakers cabinets. I got a good deal on 2 new GB cabs and they had a good reputation. I didn't like them with the Trace Elliot head, and when I got the SVT and still didn't like them it was over. Replaced with an SVT 8X10 and done.

 

[Dr Improbable]

Exceeded: My carvin MB115 w/115 ext cab. loud and low end for days!

Also I had an old Marshall bass head I ran through a 2 Peavey 4x10's. Loud loud loud.

Disappointment? Hartke 3500 head...

 

[Fuzzbass]

Euphoria:
Bergantino NV610: biggest win ever for me. All the SVT 8x10 magic but in a smaller, lighter box.
Reiner Amplification all-tube preamp
SansAmp RBI (also RBI+RPM run-in-parallel combo)
Ampeg SVP-Pro, mine is made in USA, no noise/hum issues at all
SWR Interstellar Overdrive
Bergantino HT115: never heard a fifteen that sounded so great (though the NV115 is close, in a different way)


Disappointment:
Epifani Ultralight cabs. Got 'em when my back was acting up. Quality construction, loved the light weight... I can see how others would dig the tone, but it didn't work for me.

I could list many more "meh" purchases, but they're for old, obsolete gear

 

[spankdaplank]

Biggest disappointment:
Eden VT300B. That's the 300 watt tube head designed by Koch. Gorgeous, expensive, and extremely well made. Sounded like a solid state head to me.
Dry, sterile. No real tube mojo. I really tried to like it. I didn't want a 65 lb., $1k, SS head.

Biggest surprise:
My diy B15 clone preamp (2x6SL7) in a rack case with a 1000 watt B&O Icepower class D module. Weighs 13 pounds. I had the idea for a few years.
Surprised I actually pulled it off (I'm a big time procrastinator).
Really surprised when my wife, who rarely comments on my music, came running in the room on my first test saying "What is that? That sounds great!". I use it daily.
Always wondered why Ampeg didn't try something like this given the iconic nature of the 60's B15 and the need for real power on today's stages. No rocket science. Kind of like peanut butter and chocolate.

If I can get off my lazy butt I'll do a thread about the build.