Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I know that there have been numerous threads regarding bass combo amps, but I would like to narrow this thread down to people who have actually bought, or previously played, with an Ampeg B100R.

I just bought a new one yesterday and have to say I'm pretty impressed so far with the sound and quality. Although it doesn't have as many "frills" as other amps (effects, knobs, whatever), and its basic in nature, I think it's exactly what I need just to play my bass for my own pleasure. I don't play in a band or record any music, so I just needed something to crank up and play along to some cool music.

I would like to hear what you have to say about this amp, good or bad, so I know what to expect. So far, I expect to have this amp for a very long time.

thanks

If you're not in a band and going to use it at home, it should be fine. I had one a few weeks ago and sold it because it couldn't keep up with the band. Sounded good, though!

I love mine. I agree with Steve, it's not good for band practice situations, but it has a righteous tone.
I do use it live (mic'd thru the PA of course) for a lot of the shows I play simply because of it's ease of portability & great sound.

I loved mine. Got a B200R now.
Love the power! And great tone.

I had one for using at home and it sounded great with my RIC and Hofner. I traded it and $600.00 for a fireglo 4001V63 a few years ago. Sadly,I sold the V63 and have kicked myself since then.

Good amp, good tone, great price point for a solid state amp. I still have mine but don't use it very often because like Steve said @ 100w it doesn't keep with the band well. No issues other than that. I use the b200r now. I use a SANSAMP bass driver RBI in front of mine to get it closer to an SVT.

I had a B100r that I also used with a sansamp rbi if front of too, it was a great combination. Then I wanted more power and started looking at the B200r but decided I wanted to try some 12" speakers so I got an Eden nemesis 2x12 combo with 320 watts. Then I started hearing great things about the Markbass amps and I just rack mounted a Little Mark II with the sansamp in a SKB three space shallow rack with a combined weight of 17lbs. Blending the LMII with the rbi gives some great tonal variations and I can hook it up to my 2x12 Eden cab or to my Epifani UL112 that I also just got, great 29lb speaker cab and handles a B string very well.

Alex
I have a B100R and love it. like everyone else the tone is awesome.
I use it at home and have used it with a band in 2 different settings.
1-open jam at a local rehersal studio with 2 drummers and up to 5 guitarists would show up.
2- 3 piece. drummer (heavy on the skins) guitarist with a marshall halfstack and me with the B100R playing sabbath,purple, acdc guns and roses
never had a problem being heard in either situation.
that said
I think it would be perfect if it was 150 watts.

I do not play clubs.I am not good enough for that but i do go out once in a while and Jam with classic rock type stuff. i would not feel under powered with it.

this amp is way to powerful for the house. it is what I use at home but I cannot really turn it up to high it really makes the windows and other stuff vibrate .

I have one and like it a lot.

With the 15" speaker it has lots o punch and lows, but is pretty articulate.

While it is no SVT it can push quite a bit of volume. 2 guitars and a drummer- no, but a 3 piece might work for practise jams. Or mike it and just use it as a monitor. Probably the best sounding vintage type SS combo out there, and hey it's only like 50lbs or so!
I play my Rickenbackers, plus Fender Precision (single coil and split coil) thru it as well as my Frickenbird with the 4004 pickups

Thanks for all your replies. I now know I made the right choice!

Alex,

I have a B200R I use at home & with a 4 piece band ( 2 guitars, drums...) With them it's directly in the PA by XLR output. I use a SansAmp driver in front of it. Superb sound, rich & deep tone.

With my primary band I have a Mesa stack ( 400+ and 15in speakers ) Lots of power but...Sound is quite different...I have a 92 4003 that has a richer, deeper bottom end than my other 4003. Both bands prefer this one as it's closer to a ``classical bass sound``. The Ampeg pushes that one a lot better than the Mesa....I still cant figure that out !! But it speaks highly of the Ampeg combos...

I love my B200R!

Marc, do you have the programmable SansAmp Bass Driver DI? I am interested in that one.

A friend of mine has a BA115 combo amp that is really nice. It's what made me decide to get my BA115 HPT combo and I don't regret it at all. It's a great sounding, loud amp. I don't think you can go wrong with an Ampeg.

Ampeg is Bass !

I have one too, and it looks, and sounds very close to my old 67 B15N. Only with this amp you don't have to baby it transporting it from place to place.