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Ampeg B5-R, problems with volume


Mr_GoodBomb

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Posted

Looks like this...

 

B-5R-3ffbed00a6d4cf599620ed86aa4378ae.jp

 

With the volume on the clean channel and master both cranked out, it's not loud enough for gig volume.

 

I started using the dirty channel to get enough volume, maxing the volumes and using the gain to boost it, but the band hates the sound of dirty bass.

 

Is there something wrong with it, operator error, what's going on?

 

I'm using the matching 4x10.

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Posted

If your cabinet load is 8 ohms it would be pretty quiet.

200 watts SS is not much depending on the brand.

 

Ampeg seems to be spending more time on tone than whole wheat wattage.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by Mr_GoodBomb

Can I use a power amp to boost up the power?

 

 

I think you'd be better off with a different amp. Modern Ampeg solid state amps are known for not being as loud as their advertised wattage claims. My 60-watt tube Sunn is louder than any B-2R, B-5R, or SVT3-Pro. Then again, old Sunns (tube & solid state) are known for being loud for their advertised wattage.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by The Ox



I think you'd be better off with a different amp. Modern Ampeg solid state amps are known for not being as loud as their advertised wattage claims.

 

 

Fact.

 

 

Buying Ampeg usually requires having effecient speakers. If your speakers are not effecient, you're going to have a problem with your head - it won't be powerful enough.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by Mr_GoodBomb

1. I am using the matching 4x10.

2. It's not my amp, it's the old bassist's.

 

 

The matching cabinet's not that efficient. Somewhere around 96db@1w/1m or less. Get a new amp & cab.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by illidian



Fact.



Buying Ampeg usually requires having effecient speakers. If your speakers are not effecient, you're going to have a problem with your head - it won't be powerful enough.

 

 

 

An SVT-CL will disprove your "fact".

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Posted

The speakers are probably not very efficient. Couple this with the amp's low 8 ohm rating and he'll have volume problems in a loud band.

 

If he can find two 4 ohm cabs (or a single 2) then he'll be pushing 500 watts.

 

Or he can buy a more powerful amp, but then the speakers will be too puny, power wise for it.

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Posted

The thing about this whole thing is, the band won't accept that it's not built to be loud enough, because the other bassist used it live and didn't have volume problems. Now I do.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by Mr_GoodBomb

The thing about this whole thing is, the band won't accept that it's not built to be loud enough, because the other bassist used it live and didn't have volume problems. Now I do.

 

 

He used the same amp and cab? Same bass....active or passive? Something is either different or failing if there's actually a difference in your relative volumes.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by Mr_GoodBomb

The thing about this whole thing is, the band won't accept that it's not built to be loud enough, because the other bassist used it live and didn't have volume problems. Now I do.

 

 

What input are you plugging into and what type of bass do you have (active or passive)?

 

Also, do you know what type of bass the former bassist played?

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Posted

I've been plugging into the -15dB... would that be part of it?

 

We both used the same bass for a while; He used to use the guitarist's Univox Violin bass. I use my Rick sometimes, too, because the violin bass feeds back too much.

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Posted

 

Originally posted by Mr_GoodBomb

I've been plugging into the -15dB... would that be part of it?


We both used the same bass for a while; He used to use the guitarist's Univox Violin bass. I use my Rick sometimes, too, because the violin bass feeds back too much.

 

 

The -15dB is for use with instruments that have hotter outputs, most often it's used with an active instrument like a Warwick, Spector, Stingray, etc. Basically if your bass puts out a lot of volume and it clips the preamp you should use the -15 jack. I don't think you'll have that problem with what you're playing through the amp. Try plugging into the other input and see if that helps.

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Posted

Yeah, that's gotta be it. The padded input cuts your signal by, you guessed it, 15dB. Lower signal in, higher noise floor, less output for the same amount of amplifier gain....equals less total volume, more distortion at any level.

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