Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just got mine yesterday and plugged it in today.
I ordered mine from Royal Music out in NY in brand new condition.
My reactions:
Very muddy sounding and not enough power for my taste. Regardless, I'm keeping it and I use it for my 4005. Great combination for that hollowbody sound.
I have a SWR LA 8 and I love how this 30W combo sounds. LOUD!! Blows away my T-60. I use my 4004Cii on that one to get that beefy midrange sound.

Mark, I think what I was getting at, was that despite the proliferation of clean and powerful multidriver component bass amps since the mid 1960s, Ampeg was the benchmark for this configuration. Since I'm not a bass player, my experience with these is as an observer, collector (B-15-N and B-18-N antiques, SVTs), magazine reader, and drooler. There's no question that as with most things of this nature, the trend is moving light years in both directions away from the once-leader.

I gladly defer to anyone for whom the Lowest Octaves are a way of life.

The ironic thing is that I bought it because I saw it was discontinued, but it's been sitting for months because I was choosing a bass! I settled on the blue burst 4003 and it arrives next week. I'll let you know and will post some pics of the final result!

I bet you're excited to be getting your 4003! I'd love to see pics and info about how the combination sounds!

Alisha, if you've not seen a Blueburst in person, be prepared to have your socks knocked off when you open the case!

At least in the areas where I was during the '60's and up through the mid '70's, Ampeg wasn't a major player. Everybody knew that the B-15 was a great sounding amp and a great recording amp, but it didn't have the power needed for live gigs. The original Fender Bassman with two 12's had also dwindled in popularity by the late '60's and the trend was toward amps like Sunns, Kustoms and Acoustics that could drive a big stack of speakers with a couple hundred watts of power. Ampeg was that company that built those neat little combo box amps, but they weren't really known for big stuff at that time. As I remember, the comparable big Vox model was the Westminster, but I never used one.

I think part of this was due to the fact that an awful lot of the typical PA speakers of that era couldn't really handle or tolerate miking the bass amp, so the bass player was pretty much on his own to provide all the sound he was going to have. Even if the speakers could take the lows without blowing, it's easy these days to forget how simple the systems were back then. I remember what a big deal it was when we bought an Acoustic 850 PA amp that had eight individual channels. Even so, we couldn't have afforded to spend a channel on the bass, so it was up to me and my Sunn folded horns to take care of my part (which they did quite nicely). I would have loved to have just lugged my B-15 up the stairs instead of 300 pounds of Sunn cabinets, but those were the big power years. Gee, I wonder why I have Tinitus 24/7 now that I'm an old guy?...

Gary,

I did not think it was possible to get more excited about the BBR's imminent arrival, but you guys are raising the bar!

Hi Alisha, welcome to the Forum.... Nice to see another girl here, as there aren't very many of us! This is a great place to hang out, as you have probably already discovered!

I look forward to seeing pics of your BBR, too.... It is my FAVE Ric color. Congrats on your purchase and on your great choice!

I saw some BBRs at the NAMM show, and I don't think that any picture I've seen (including ones I've taken) really does it full justice. They are gorgeous!

Yum.....

You guys are killing me....3 days left and counting.

Allow me to increase your level of anticipation...in a friendly way, of course...I know the feeling, as I waited 14 months for this beauty.


and here's a few others I drooled over while waiting for mine..

Man it's hard to get a good idea about what these guitars actually look like! I have been waiting now for exactly 356 days for mine and I've yet to see one in person. And all the photos of the BBRs I see look different (but all great)! I hope mine tends to a more darker finish like the one shown here. I realize this is mostly due to lighting but I've seen some pictures that have what I would think are a bit of an "over-exposure" look to them (i.e. too light). Ah, time will tell. It's close now, I can Rick-o-smell it....

Three days eh? I'm envious. Post some pics when it arrives? I guess that goes without saying.

Steve's post came up as I was typing mine. I was referring to the Gary's post but wow, nice pictures again Steve. I really like how the finish shines on the last two pictures of Steve's. Ah, who am I kidding, I love the others too!