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Ampeg BA115 Tilt Back Bass Combo Amplifier (100 Watts, 1x15 in.)
3-band tone control plus a style selector with 5 tone options.
"Ampeg tone with an Affordable price"
Feature:
Not a lot of features, but the tone makes up for it. The most useful things are the active and passive inputs and style switch, where you can get different sounds for different styles. It said it came with a mute switch, mine doesn't have one??? Oh, well. I wouldn't use it anyway.
Quality:
Seems extremely solid, fit-and-finish is flawless.
Value:
Pretty expensive for the level of wattage, but I guess you also pay for that famous "Ampeg tone."
Desirability:
Looks awesome... just like the big 8x10's the pros use.
Sound:
I took this thing out of the box and plugged it in right away. The first thing I noticed was a hiss - something that can be tamed by toning down the treble, but not something that can be completely gotten rid of. This was my only disappointment, it can get annoying when practicing. However, once you start playing, this thing is amazing. Best tone and thunderous lows I have ever heard out of my bass. In this aspect, the amp is amazing.
Ease of Use:
You can get any sound out of this amp, just plug in and play.
Support:
Haven't had to deal with them. Don't think I ever will.
Overall:
Without the slight hiss, this amp would be perfect. However, the tone/sound of this amp is truly of quality. Definitely worth it.
Not a lot of features, but the tone makes up for it. The most useful things are the active and passive inputs and style switch, where you can get different sounds for different styles. It said it came with a mute switch, mine doesn't have one??? Oh, well. I wouldn't use it anyway.
Quality:
Seems extremely solid, fit-and-finish is flawless.
Value:
Pretty expensive for the level of wattage, but I guess you also pay for that famous "Ampeg tone."
Desirability:
Looks awesome... just like the big 8x10's the pros use.
Sound:
I took this thing out of the box and plugged it in right away. The first thing I noticed was a hiss - something that can be tamed by toning down the treble, but not something that can be completely gotten rid of. This was my only disappointment, it can get annoying when practicing. However, once you start playing, this thing is amazing. Best tone and thunderous lows I have ever heard out of my bass. In this aspect, the amp is amazing.
Ease of Use:
You can get any sound out of this amp, just plug in and play.
Support:
Haven't had to deal with them. Don't think I ever will.
Overall:
Without the slight hiss, this amp would be perfect. However, the tone/sound of this amp is truly of quality. Definitely worth it.
"Perfect Combo"
Feature:
Simple easy to use.
Quality:
This is by far the nicest looking Combo I've seen so far
Value:
It was more than I wanted to spend but you get what you pay for.
Desirability:
Comparing it to the SWR with it's cheesy white speaker this amp looks like a professional amp and it is...I would be proud to be in a small venue with this amp.
Sound:
I gave this amp a 9 because I havn't tried it with my band yet. I got it today and right away it blow's away the SWR LA 15 that I returned for this. The qualit of the sound is by far the nicest I've heard my bass sound and I'm happy with this purchase.
Ease of Use:
The XLR for future gigs is great...
Support:
not sure yet, but it has a 5 year warranty
Overall:
I doubt I will buy another amp for many years...this is the one I've been looking for and it's very nice
Simple easy to use.
Quality:
This is by far the nicest looking Combo I've seen so far
Value:
It was more than I wanted to spend but you get what you pay for.
Desirability:
Comparing it to the SWR with it's cheesy white speaker this amp looks like a professional amp and it is...I would be proud to be in a small venue with this amp.
Sound:
I gave this amp a 9 because I havn't tried it with my band yet. I got it today and right away it blow's away the SWR LA 15 that I returned for this. The qualit of the sound is by far the nicest I've heard my bass sound and I'm happy with this purchase.
Ease of Use:
The XLR for future gigs is great...
Support:
not sure yet, but it has a 5 year warranty
Overall:
I doubt I will buy another amp for many years...this is the one I've been looking for and it's very nice
"It's a keeper for sure!"
Feature:
Style selector with 5 settings, all good for something. Great warm and even true hifi tone with out much effort and headphones with CD imput for keeping the wife happy. Oh yeah, it kicks serious butt for it's size. Has a DI for the big gig. Records well too.
Quality:
Top notch, as usual from Ampeg. I put some chrome sliders on the side oppisite the handle to get it in and out of a truck, to save the vinyl from tears. Other than that, It's worked perfectly for the 3.5 years I've been using it. Looks great too!
Value:
Can't be beat. Sure you can get more power, size, bells and wistles for your $450, but you won't get a better amp. FYI - The smaller ones sound excellent too! I have heard that the HP version can distort it's own speaker, so this 100 watter might really be the best of the line.
Desirability:
I wanted one for a long time, and finally got oneand was NOT dissapointed one single little bit. If you're reading this, you must want one too! Love the white piping and black grill cloth and chrome corners, hey, for a bass amp it's nice looking and no knobs, lights etc. to distract the audience from your brilliant playing. :-) It's for pros and it's realitively inexpensive with out actually being "cheap".
Sound:
Sounds great set flat. It also has tons of flexibility by using the style selector and then tweaking that with the 3 tone controls. The tilt is key. I use it even if I'm not that close to the amp. It really opens up the sound, plus you can hear the mids and highs better. It's got a nice warm accurate sound, though the tweeter can make you want to get a fret job if you don't watch it!
Support:
Never used it. The manual is helpful for understanding the goings on with the style switch and is easily downloaded from the Internet.
Overall:
Make that 9.99 just because Ampeg might someday make an even better one. Eden makes some nice gear too, but not in this price range.
Style selector with 5 settings, all good for something. Great warm and even true hifi tone with out much effort and headphones with CD imput for keeping the wife happy. Oh yeah, it kicks serious butt for it's size. Has a DI for the big gig. Records well too.
Quality:
Top notch, as usual from Ampeg. I put some chrome sliders on the side oppisite the handle to get it in and out of a truck, to save the vinyl from tears. Other than that, It's worked perfectly for the 3.5 years I've been using it. Looks great too!
Value:
Can't be beat. Sure you can get more power, size, bells and wistles for your $450, but you won't get a better amp. FYI - The smaller ones sound excellent too! I have heard that the HP version can distort it's own speaker, so this 100 watter might really be the best of the line.
Desirability:
I wanted one for a long time, and finally got oneand was NOT dissapointed one single little bit. If you're reading this, you must want one too! Love the white piping and black grill cloth and chrome corners, hey, for a bass amp it's nice looking and no knobs, lights etc. to distract the audience from your brilliant playing. :-) It's for pros and it's realitively inexpensive with out actually being "cheap".
Sound:
Sounds great set flat. It also has tons of flexibility by using the style selector and then tweaking that with the 3 tone controls. The tilt is key. I use it even if I'm not that close to the amp. It really opens up the sound, plus you can hear the mids and highs better. It's got a nice warm accurate sound, though the tweeter can make you want to get a fret job if you don't watch it!
Support:
Never used it. The manual is helpful for understanding the goings on with the style switch and is easily downloaded from the Internet.
Overall:
Make that 9.99 just because Ampeg might someday make an even better one. Eden makes some nice gear too, but not in this price range.
"Low price, great features."
Feature:
Slightly underpowered for live shows, it works best in rehersal and very small venues. But then I wouldn't really expect anything else from a combo amp, most live shows I play with seperate amp and cabs. The XLR output is very impressive for an amp as low a price as this. I've never tried recording with it, but I'd certainly be tempted to try. CD inputs are a joke and shouldn't even be on the amp. Tweater is a good inclusion but also makes the amplifier hiss more pronounced.
Quality:
Amp looks great from all angles. Tilt back cabinet is kinda cheesy, but keeps people from setting anything on top of it. Very heavy construction, a building could collapse on it and it would come out without a scratch.
Value:
Has great features for a low to mid price combo amp.
Desirability:
Having this set up on stage just makes you look good. Hiding all the controls and inputs on the upper rear leaves the front undisturbed for a nice clean look
Sound:
Sound quality is great, with widely adjustable EQ. The five position quick selector is great if you want to shift EQ between songs without much fuss, I use it switching between jazz and rock sounds. With the 15" speaker, rock is more suited to the amp, but it does include a tweeter to get nice response in the upper registers.
Overall:
This amp will remain my practice amp and a great backup for live shows for a very long time. I may even try recording with it in the future.
Slightly underpowered for live shows, it works best in rehersal and very small venues. But then I wouldn't really expect anything else from a combo amp, most live shows I play with seperate amp and cabs. The XLR output is very impressive for an amp as low a price as this. I've never tried recording with it, but I'd certainly be tempted to try. CD inputs are a joke and shouldn't even be on the amp. Tweater is a good inclusion but also makes the amplifier hiss more pronounced.
Quality:
Amp looks great from all angles. Tilt back cabinet is kinda cheesy, but keeps people from setting anything on top of it. Very heavy construction, a building could collapse on it and it would come out without a scratch.
Value:
Has great features for a low to mid price combo amp.
Desirability:
Having this set up on stage just makes you look good. Hiding all the controls and inputs on the upper rear leaves the front undisturbed for a nice clean look
Sound:
Sound quality is great, with widely adjustable EQ. The five position quick selector is great if you want to shift EQ between songs without much fuss, I use it switching between jazz and rock sounds. With the 15" speaker, rock is more suited to the amp, but it does include a tweeter to get nice response in the upper registers.
Overall:
This amp will remain my practice amp and a great backup for live shows for a very long time. I may even try recording with it in the future.
"Great Sound & Simple Operation"
Feature:
This amp does not have a lot of bells and whistles, and it doesn't really need them. It's simple and effective. The XLR out is very useful when going diect to a board. One feature it lacks is an Effects Loop. Many amps that cost less have them but this Ampeg does not. You don't really need an effects loop to use effect pedals but it is nice to have it for certain types of effects that work better on a loop. This is one area that I think they dropped the ball.
Quality:
The first BA115 I brought home had a bad speaker from the factory and I returned it the next day. It was replaced and the second one was perfect. No problems. Ampeg makes nice stuff but I knock it down a little because of the tweeter hiss, they really need to fix that. Other than that this amp is solid and well built. It can be giged with and will hold up fine just be careful not to tear the grill cloth. My amp came with no defects.
Value:
I think these combos are priced right for what you get. Face it, it's all about tone and you get your moneys worth with this amp. It lacks and effects loop and it doesn't have some bells and whistles that other combos have but it sounds great.
Desirability:
If you like Ampegs than it's a must have as a practice / small gig amp.
Sound:
This little amp has the classic Ampeg tone. nothing else to explain. the style feature lets you dial in some variation but it always sounds like an Ampeg. Thats a good thing... The tweeter hisses some which is not that uncommon for a tweeter but I would think someone like Ampeg could have done a little better with suppressing the hiss. The tweeter in this amp hisses more than any other amp I have used. It's not much of a distraction when you are playing at med to high volume, you never notice it. It's only when when you are practicing at low volume that it annoys me. It will fill a small room (100-150 people) with solid bottom end and will hould it's own with a couple of guitars and a drummer if they aren't playing at high volumes. It's great as a monitor if you have PA support.
Support:
Have not had to deal with them. No problems with this amp or other Ampeg products I have used.
Overall:
As good as this amp sounds I have already upgraded to the BA115HP. I just needed more power for small gigs. The BA115 is now a stage monitor and practice amp.
This amp does not have a lot of bells and whistles, and it doesn't really need them. It's simple and effective. The XLR out is very useful when going diect to a board. One feature it lacks is an Effects Loop. Many amps that cost less have them but this Ampeg does not. You don't really need an effects loop to use effect pedals but it is nice to have it for certain types of effects that work better on a loop. This is one area that I think they dropped the ball.
Quality:
The first BA115 I brought home had a bad speaker from the factory and I returned it the next day. It was replaced and the second one was perfect. No problems. Ampeg makes nice stuff but I knock it down a little because of the tweeter hiss, they really need to fix that. Other than that this amp is solid and well built. It can be giged with and will hold up fine just be careful not to tear the grill cloth. My amp came with no defects.
Value:
I think these combos are priced right for what you get. Face it, it's all about tone and you get your moneys worth with this amp. It lacks and effects loop and it doesn't have some bells and whistles that other combos have but it sounds great.
Desirability:
If you like Ampegs than it's a must have as a practice / small gig amp.
Sound:
This little amp has the classic Ampeg tone. nothing else to explain. the style feature lets you dial in some variation but it always sounds like an Ampeg. Thats a good thing... The tweeter hisses some which is not that uncommon for a tweeter but I would think someone like Ampeg could have done a little better with suppressing the hiss. The tweeter in this amp hisses more than any other amp I have used. It's not much of a distraction when you are playing at med to high volume, you never notice it. It's only when when you are practicing at low volume that it annoys me. It will fill a small room (100-150 people) with solid bottom end and will hould it's own with a couple of guitars and a drummer if they aren't playing at high volumes. It's great as a monitor if you have PA support.
Support:
Have not had to deal with them. No problems with this amp or other Ampeg products I have used.
Overall:
As good as this amp sounds I have already upgraded to the BA115HP. I just needed more power for small gigs. The BA115 is now a stage monitor and practice amp.
"Ampeg Ba-115"
Feature:
The 5-tone switch I mentioned earlier works nice. The direct out is nice. You can plug a mic chord directly into the amp and play it thru a sound system. Another nice thing that the inputs are made of metal and not plastic like most other amps. There is a headphone jack so that way you don't annoy syblings, parents, friends, and so on. You are also able to plug in your cd/MP3 player and play along w/ your favorite songs.
Quality:
This thing is built like a rock. Thats about all i gotta say. The only thing that could be better is if it had a metal plate covering on the front instead of the thick cloth....but o well
Value:
Easily worth the money. Woulda payed more, but i'm dutch so i'm cheep
Desirability:
Haha, its a block... but its big so that makes it cool for an amp
Sound:
Anything by Ampeg is gonna have a great sound to it. 5 different selections on it makes it usable in most types of music
Ease of Use:
Set your settings, plug it in and start playing
Support:
Never needed it, so i'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Overall:
Not planning on getting anything new for a long time. It's sturdy w/ a great sound.
The 5-tone switch I mentioned earlier works nice. The direct out is nice. You can plug a mic chord directly into the amp and play it thru a sound system. Another nice thing that the inputs are made of metal and not plastic like most other amps. There is a headphone jack so that way you don't annoy syblings, parents, friends, and so on. You are also able to plug in your cd/MP3 player and play along w/ your favorite songs.
Quality:
This thing is built like a rock. Thats about all i gotta say. The only thing that could be better is if it had a metal plate covering on the front instead of the thick cloth....but o well
Value:
Easily worth the money. Woulda payed more, but i'm dutch so i'm cheep
Desirability:
Haha, its a block... but its big so that makes it cool for an amp
Sound:
Anything by Ampeg is gonna have a great sound to it. 5 different selections on it makes it usable in most types of music
Ease of Use:
Set your settings, plug it in and start playing
Support:
Never needed it, so i'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
Overall:
Not planning on getting anything new for a long time. It's sturdy w/ a great sound.
"Ampeg never ceases to amaze me."
Feature:
not many features...but the audio input is pretty cool, u kan play along with your music in it...
Quality:
Great sound, built like a rock, doubt the thing will ever blow and she just looks so amazing...
Value:
great value, worth very penny.
Desirability:
Simply beautiful! very simple and professional, reminds me of Tom Araya's 8x10 Ampeg cabs...
Sound:
Sound is amazing, gut punching lows and surprisingly smooth mids and highs. stand within 2 feet of it and the bass just thunders throughout your body. Amazing.
Ease of Use:
Everything is simple as hell, just a bit on the heavy side for someone used to hauling around a 30watt practice amp.
Support:
I havent dealt with them so i guess that goes back to the quality part, but im sure with a product this good you won have to either, and im sure if you did they would gladly solve your problems, plus a 5 year transferrable limited warranty from ampeg is quite comforting.
Overall:
You need to buy this combo, it will probably be my main amp for the next 4 or 5 years...i love it!
not many features...but the audio input is pretty cool, u kan play along with your music in it...
Quality:
Great sound, built like a rock, doubt the thing will ever blow and she just looks so amazing...
Value:
great value, worth very penny.
Desirability:
Simply beautiful! very simple and professional, reminds me of Tom Araya's 8x10 Ampeg cabs...
Sound:
Sound is amazing, gut punching lows and surprisingly smooth mids and highs. stand within 2 feet of it and the bass just thunders throughout your body. Amazing.
Ease of Use:
Everything is simple as hell, just a bit on the heavy side for someone used to hauling around a 30watt practice amp.
Support:
I havent dealt with them so i guess that goes back to the quality part, but im sure with a product this good you won have to either, and im sure if you did they would gladly solve your problems, plus a 5 year transferrable limited warranty from ampeg is quite comforting.
Overall:
You need to buy this combo, it will probably be my main amp for the next 4 or 5 years...i love it!
"Woke Up This Morning With That Boom Boom In Your Ears"
Feature:
This amp is feature laden. The XLR mic level direct out is useful for gigging and recording. It tilts back which is nice. The headphone out is clean and hot, but this amp is a little big for a home practice amp so I have a feeling this feature is wasted on most of these, but it does work well. Ampeg's 5 position style switch is handy for fast "personality" changes. This amp has it going on in the tone control department. For me the best feature is the totally linear rotary tone controls. I thought they were wacky at first but now I love the tone controls and they have spoiled me. If you turn all three tone controls all the way down you have silenced the amp. That is total tone control. Amazing idea! Also I like the dual inputs. I can plug in one active bass and one passive bass at the same time and just turn up the volume on the one I want to play at the moment without having to switch cords or any of that stuff. I wish Ampeg's rack mount pro amps had this dual input feature! All the phone jacks are METAL, not plastic like on almost all the other brands. The jacks look just like the ones on my pro line Ampeg rack mount amps. The RCA/Phono jacks allow you to plug in a music source for play-along practice. Before you do that keep in mind that these RCA/Phono jacks go DIRECTLY into the power amp and whatever you plug into them are going to play at 100 watts with flat EQ, so make sure whatever you plug into them has its own built in volume control which should be turned all the way down to start and then turned up to normal listening level. The amp's rotary volume and tone controls have absolutely no control whatsoever over these RCA/Phono inputs.
Quality:
Ergonomical design disagreements apart, this is without a doubt the best sounding bass combo I've ever owned. Nope it isn't perfect, but close. I've never seen a perfect combo amp as there's always something I'd like to change or a feature I need that is missing on all combos. The Ba-115 speaker is rated 150 watts at 4 ohms, the amp only does 100 watts so this means you'll probably never blow the speaker and you'll for sure never need to haul around an extension cabinet. The jacks are all metal. The pots are nice and tight. The controls on mine haven't gotten the least bit scratchy with five years of steady use. It will take a few bumps no problem. I'd have no problem selling this five year old amp to my best friend as I know it has lots of life left. If you are gigging five nights a week or opening for the Stones then this probably is not the gig amp for you. But it will make you heard over a drummer at rehearsal and work great for small to medium gigs. For bigger gigs you can use the XLR out into the PA.
Value:
Spend less and you'll certainly get less. Spend more on another brand with equal wattage and even then you may still get less. If you want awesome clear, clean, rich bass sound, then you want an Ampeg. If you want a modern bass sound you want this Ampeg. If you want old school you want the Rocket BR100. Once you own an Ampeg, you'll probably never be happy with any other brand.
Desirability:
Well it isn't an 8 x 10 with a Classic perched on top, but if I had my choice between this combo and a combo from any other maker I know I'd take the Ampeg every single time. To a bass player few musical items are more appealing than that big "A" on the front of an amp.
Sound:
This amp has a really big sound. It sounds better than other combos I've tried. I liked it better than the sister Ampeg BR100 Rocket Bass amp because it has a tweeter that helps deliver a more modern bass sound and it has an XLR direct out while the Rocket has a phone output. The tweeter also makes the BA-115 extremely flexible so that it can be used for things other than just bass. The Ampeg Rocket BR-100 sounds really good with a bass but it is pretty much locked into being just a bass amp and it doesn't sound as modern to me. The BA-115 sounds very clean, clear, modern and non-distorted. Lots of people complain about hiss with this amp. This is because it has a very good tweeter. All transistor amps hiss friends, you just hear it sooner with this amp because of the tweeter. Here's what I do to minimize the hiss. Turn up the treble until you hear the hiss start, about 2:30 on mine, and then turn it down until the hiss drops out which is about 2:15 for me. Hiss problem solved. That should be all the treble anyone needs, even for a keyboard or harp player, and is way more treble than most other combos including the Ampeg BR-100 Rocket bass amp.
Ease of Use:
It takes some time to get used to the three rotary tone controls and to fiddle with the Style Switch to your tones, but other than the "get acquainted" period it is really easy to use. My favorite style settings for bass are 2 & 5. My favorite setting for practice is 3, which is flat. I just set it and forget it and then use the tone and volume controls on the instrument itself for any changes. There is a nice long power cord that is hard wired in so you can't lose it or leave it at home. There are several changes I would have made though if I was on the Ampeg design team. I wish it had handles on each side to augment the one on the top. The top handle alone just isn't enough for a 62 pound cube of these dimensions. Using the top handle in one hand while placing the other hand part way into one of the rear ports makes it more manageable. In this series the controls are at the rear of the amp and not the front. This isn't the handiest place for them, that is why I set it and forget it. The tilt back feature is nice sometimes, but I use mine upright most of the time. This amp WANTS to tilt back and it doesn't take much of a bump for it to rock back, so don't put any pedals, processors or drinks or anything like that on top or when it does tilt back, they'll slide off. The tilt back feature eliminates the option of using the amp as a stool. It also makes adding casters dicey which is why you never see any of these with casters. Unless they are the removable kind the tilt back feature won't work right with casters installed. When the amp is tilted back the controls are even LESS convenient to use. They could have put a tweeter level control on the back and I've actually seen these added by some owners of this model. I wish the RCA/Phono inputs had at least a volume control. These are small sacrifices for great sound at a rock bottom price though. This amp is relatively low priced when you consider the quality, a genuine bargain.
Support:
I've always gotten a fast answer to any email to Ampeg. They are without a doubt numero uno in customer support as far as I'm concerned. There are Ampeg service centers all over the USA and the world. I've never had anything Ampeg break since 1972 when my Ampeg BT25A needed work because of misuse after I turned it on without the speaker being connected. Even though it was my fault Ampeg fixed it!
Overall:
I owned this amp for over a year. It was at least 3 years old when I first got it. I've been using it for a practice amp. It is almost too big for that. I've also used it at a smallish gig. I'm planning on getting the smaller BA-112 or a used BA-110 or Rocket 50 at some point down the road as a practice amp and selling this combo. If I didn't have other Ampeg gig rigs I'd be keeping it for sure. For a bassist looking for their first Ampeg or for one Ampeg that can do it all, this is an excellent choice.
This amp is feature laden. The XLR mic level direct out is useful for gigging and recording. It tilts back which is nice. The headphone out is clean and hot, but this amp is a little big for a home practice amp so I have a feeling this feature is wasted on most of these, but it does work well. Ampeg's 5 position style switch is handy for fast "personality" changes. This amp has it going on in the tone control department. For me the best feature is the totally linear rotary tone controls. I thought they were wacky at first but now I love the tone controls and they have spoiled me. If you turn all three tone controls all the way down you have silenced the amp. That is total tone control. Amazing idea! Also I like the dual inputs. I can plug in one active bass and one passive bass at the same time and just turn up the volume on the one I want to play at the moment without having to switch cords or any of that stuff. I wish Ampeg's rack mount pro amps had this dual input feature! All the phone jacks are METAL, not plastic like on almost all the other brands. The jacks look just like the ones on my pro line Ampeg rack mount amps. The RCA/Phono jacks allow you to plug in a music source for play-along practice. Before you do that keep in mind that these RCA/Phono jacks go DIRECTLY into the power amp and whatever you plug into them are going to play at 100 watts with flat EQ, so make sure whatever you plug into them has its own built in volume control which should be turned all the way down to start and then turned up to normal listening level. The amp's rotary volume and tone controls have absolutely no control whatsoever over these RCA/Phono inputs.
Quality:
Ergonomical design disagreements apart, this is without a doubt the best sounding bass combo I've ever owned. Nope it isn't perfect, but close. I've never seen a perfect combo amp as there's always something I'd like to change or a feature I need that is missing on all combos. The Ba-115 speaker is rated 150 watts at 4 ohms, the amp only does 100 watts so this means you'll probably never blow the speaker and you'll for sure never need to haul around an extension cabinet. The jacks are all metal. The pots are nice and tight. The controls on mine haven't gotten the least bit scratchy with five years of steady use. It will take a few bumps no problem. I'd have no problem selling this five year old amp to my best friend as I know it has lots of life left. If you are gigging five nights a week or opening for the Stones then this probably is not the gig amp for you. But it will make you heard over a drummer at rehearsal and work great for small to medium gigs. For bigger gigs you can use the XLR out into the PA.
Value:
Spend less and you'll certainly get less. Spend more on another brand with equal wattage and even then you may still get less. If you want awesome clear, clean, rich bass sound, then you want an Ampeg. If you want a modern bass sound you want this Ampeg. If you want old school you want the Rocket BR100. Once you own an Ampeg, you'll probably never be happy with any other brand.
Desirability:
Well it isn't an 8 x 10 with a Classic perched on top, but if I had my choice between this combo and a combo from any other maker I know I'd take the Ampeg every single time. To a bass player few musical items are more appealing than that big "A" on the front of an amp.
Sound:
This amp has a really big sound. It sounds better than other combos I've tried. I liked it better than the sister Ampeg BR100 Rocket Bass amp because it has a tweeter that helps deliver a more modern bass sound and it has an XLR direct out while the Rocket has a phone output. The tweeter also makes the BA-115 extremely flexible so that it can be used for things other than just bass. The Ampeg Rocket BR-100 sounds really good with a bass but it is pretty much locked into being just a bass amp and it doesn't sound as modern to me. The BA-115 sounds very clean, clear, modern and non-distorted. Lots of people complain about hiss with this amp. This is because it has a very good tweeter. All transistor amps hiss friends, you just hear it sooner with this amp because of the tweeter. Here's what I do to minimize the hiss. Turn up the treble until you hear the hiss start, about 2:30 on mine, and then turn it down until the hiss drops out which is about 2:15 for me. Hiss problem solved. That should be all the treble anyone needs, even for a keyboard or harp player, and is way more treble than most other combos including the Ampeg BR-100 Rocket bass amp.
Ease of Use:
It takes some time to get used to the three rotary tone controls and to fiddle with the Style Switch to your tones, but other than the "get acquainted" period it is really easy to use. My favorite style settings for bass are 2 & 5. My favorite setting for practice is 3, which is flat. I just set it and forget it and then use the tone and volume controls on the instrument itself for any changes. There is a nice long power cord that is hard wired in so you can't lose it or leave it at home. There are several changes I would have made though if I was on the Ampeg design team. I wish it had handles on each side to augment the one on the top. The top handle alone just isn't enough for a 62 pound cube of these dimensions. Using the top handle in one hand while placing the other hand part way into one of the rear ports makes it more manageable. In this series the controls are at the rear of the amp and not the front. This isn't the handiest place for them, that is why I set it and forget it. The tilt back feature is nice sometimes, but I use mine upright most of the time. This amp WANTS to tilt back and it doesn't take much of a bump for it to rock back, so don't put any pedals, processors or drinks or anything like that on top or when it does tilt back, they'll slide off. The tilt back feature eliminates the option of using the amp as a stool. It also makes adding casters dicey which is why you never see any of these with casters. Unless they are the removable kind the tilt back feature won't work right with casters installed. When the amp is tilted back the controls are even LESS convenient to use. They could have put a tweeter level control on the back and I've actually seen these added by some owners of this model. I wish the RCA/Phono inputs had at least a volume control. These are small sacrifices for great sound at a rock bottom price though. This amp is relatively low priced when you consider the quality, a genuine bargain.
Support:
I've always gotten a fast answer to any email to Ampeg. They are without a doubt numero uno in customer support as far as I'm concerned. There are Ampeg service centers all over the USA and the world. I've never had anything Ampeg break since 1972 when my Ampeg BT25A needed work because of misuse after I turned it on without the speaker being connected. Even though it was my fault Ampeg fixed it!
Overall:
I owned this amp for over a year. It was at least 3 years old when I first got it. I've been using it for a practice amp. It is almost too big for that. I've also used it at a smallish gig. I'm planning on getting the smaller BA-112 or a used BA-110 or Rocket 50 at some point down the road as a practice amp and selling this combo. If I didn't have other Ampeg gig rigs I'd be keeping it for sure. For a bassist looking for their first Ampeg or for one Ampeg that can do it all, this is an excellent choice.
"Good Bass Amp"
Feature:
the selector switch is nice would like more effects to play with
Quality:
sturdy, you won't be disappointed, good handles and easy to move around
Value:
couldn't be happier, looking for a bass amp for small to medium gigs garages to banquet halls, it does great with 2 guitars and drummer who have large egos and singer
Sound:
I played with a Yorkville 200 watter before this and I like the Ampeg better
Ease of Use:
turn it on and go
Support:
na so I give it a 5
Overall:
I am very happy, I did a lot of research and came out great.
the selector switch is nice would like more effects to play with
Quality:
sturdy, you won't be disappointed, good handles and easy to move around
Value:
couldn't be happier, looking for a bass amp for small to medium gigs garages to banquet halls, it does great with 2 guitars and drummer who have large egos and singer
Sound:
I played with a Yorkville 200 watter before this and I like the Ampeg better
Ease of Use:
turn it on and go
Support:
na so I give it a 5
Overall:
I am very happy, I did a lot of research and came out great.
"my house shakes now"
Feature:
5 different playing styles feature is nice. but nothing crazy. oh.. and the XLR output is GREAT.
Quality:
you dont get better than ampeg
Value:
best your gonna get for the price. this thing rumbles.
Desirability:
its a proffesional quality amp.
Sound:
great sound.... but hey, its an ampeg. still the only thing to complain about is the "hiss" that you get. but its not hard to get rid of.
Ease of Use:
easiest amp ive ever played out of.
Support:
yeah... i doubt i'll have to bring this beast back. ever.
Overall:
im not going to get rid of it... thats for sure.
5 different playing styles feature is nice. but nothing crazy. oh.. and the XLR output is GREAT.
Quality:
you dont get better than ampeg
Value:
best your gonna get for the price. this thing rumbles.
Desirability:
its a proffesional quality amp.
Sound:
great sound.... but hey, its an ampeg. still the only thing to complain about is the "hiss" that you get. but its not hard to get rid of.
Ease of Use:
easiest amp ive ever played out of.
Support:
yeah... i doubt i'll have to bring this beast back. ever.
Overall:
im not going to get rid of it... thats for sure.
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