Got a used Ampeg B-100R today. Found something kinda strange..

[Conformer]

I had posted about two weeks ago that I had found an Ampeg B-100R that this girl was selling for 200 bucks. Said she gave $400 for it.

 

Well I decided too be fair and give her $300 its got some wear. Anyway this amp as some wear on it, and looks a bit different than the one pictures on the Musicians Friend web site. The grill is more squarish looking. Where thiers is more triangular.

 

The power cord looks kinda wied because it only has two prongs instead of three. Looks like either the factory or someone plugged the 3rd prong or ground prong. It still cut on and play fairly nice.

 

Thing I noticed is, it ain't a loud 100 watts. Though it does sound sweet.

 

Is there a way I could identify the year or whether its a pre-SLM Ampeg.

 

Would the power cable messing the ground prong effect it?

 

Also the little blue on light doesn't come on. Made me wonder if it needs a power cord change.

 

Anyway I mainly got it too practice and record with.

 

Also it seems too have a 12 inch speaker and not a 15 like advertised on musicians friend. I didn't know Ampeg ever used 12's in thier combos.

 

Also how do you get the griil off?

[lownote]

Originally posted by Conformer I had posted about two weeks ago that I had found an Ampeg B-100R that this girl was selling for 200 bucks. Said she gave $400 for it. Well I decided too be fair and give her $300 its got some wear. Anyway this amp as some wear on it, and looks a bit different than the one pictures on the Musicians Friend web site. The grill is more squarish looking. Where thiers is more triangular. The power cord looks kinda wied because it only has two prongs instead of three. Looks like either the factory or someone plugged the 3rd prong or ground prong. It still cut on and play fairly nice. Thing I noticed is, it ain't a loud 100 watts. Though it does sound sweet. Is there a way I could identify the year or whether its a pre-SLM Ampeg. Would the power cable messing the ground prong effect it? Also the little blue on light doesn't come on. Made me wonder if it needs a power cord change. Anyway I mainly got it too practice and record with. Also it seems too have a 12 inch speaker and not a 15 like advertised on musicians friend. I didn't know Ampeg ever used 12's in thier combos. Also how do you get the griil off?

 

Sounds like a B-50R.

 

Personally, I like the 12" Ampeg combos better than the 15"s - tighter, faster, sweeter, etc.

 

If it is a B-50, maybe she'll refund the extra $100?

 

Best, & either way, enjoy . . .

 

 

 

.

[Conformer]

On the amp its says B-100R. Right there plain as day.

[der oxenrig]

The ground prong missing won't affect tone that much, but it'll affect playability once it starts shocking you... i'd get that fixed ASAP.

[The Unknown]

From what I know, the B100R is a new-ish model made to look old style... No such thing as pre-SLM B100R AFAIK.

 

Ampeg do change the esthetics of some amps, details like you mentioned, sometimes even more.

 

Example: my SVT-CL has the "SVT Classic" inscription in blue with a red "V", the new models have an "SVT-CL" white on black inscription.

 

For the 12 inch speaker... it is odd ! Though, I think the B100R speaker is mounted from the back of the panel, so it might look smaller without being smaller...

[Conformer]

Well....found a new problem. After about 20 minutes of play, it starts too distort. Although its sending a clean signal out too the computer, the speaker distorts and muffles especially with lows.

 

She had it stored in a basement, and I am thinking maybe condensation or something has damaged the speaker. Or maybe the voice coils are wearing out. When its played a while is when it does this.

 

Also its more noticable with my MIM J bass than it is with my Ibanez GSR-200. Yet, I think that because the pups in the J-Bass are a bit hotter.

 

 

Double checked it and its a 15 in. speaker.

[Tommy Tourbus]

You should have offered her $150

[Craig Vecchione]

Future moral of this story: when she asks $200, offer $150, not $300. What the hell were you thinking?

 

 

Get the cordset replaced. It won't change anything except make the amp safer. The power on light should also be an inexpensive fix of a bulb.

 

If the DI or preamp out is clean but the speaker distorts after some time, it's not the speaker, more likely a failing part in the power amp section. A capacitor or something possibly, or even as simple as a cold solder joint. Have a tech look at it before a part fails and takes out the amp completely.

 

You paid too much but it's still a good little tone box for sure. Get it up to speed and it'll serve you well for years. Lesson learned, move on.

[Conformer]

 

Originally posted by Craigv Future moral of this story: when she asks $200, offer $150, not $300. What the hell were you thinking? Get the cordset replaced. It won't change anything except make the amp safer. The power on light should also be an inexpensive fix of a bulb. If the DI or preamp out is clean but the speaker distorts after some time, it's not the speaker, more likely a failing part in the power amp section. A capacitor or something possibly, or even as simple as a cold solder joint. Have a tech look at it before a part fails and takes out the amp completely. You paid too much but it's still a good little tone box for sure. Get it up to speed and it'll serve you well for years. Lesson learned, move on.

 

 

Reason I offered her more for it, is because she is a teenager and didn't know what it was really worth. I was going too buy it for less and then turn a profit on it.

 

Then that would be crappy on my part. So I just gave her what I thought it was worth. Great tone thats for sure.

 

After the holidays I will send it too a tech her in town too look it over.

[Kelemvor]

I got my T-40 this way! A nice teenage girl offered it to me for $220, she said a guy gave it to her for free . Since she already had a newer, lighter bass, she didn't need it and I offered her 200 dollars and scored big time! After some new strings and some adjustments, it felt like a new bass. It came with an original peavey hardshell case too

[Roger in the sky]

Originally posted by Kelemvor I offered her 200 dollars and scored big time!

 

pervert

[Kelemvor]

Heh, I wondered if anyone would catch that.