SeriesAmpeg RocketBass

It looks like a smaller version of the Rocket 100 Combo, which it trys to live up to ... sort of. I bought it as a more portable version of the Rocket 100 Combo, especially since I wasn't playing any large rooms. It was used and affordable, so I gave it a try. Actually I no longer like much about it ! I don't DISLIKE it, I mean it's not a bad amp, but I always reach for something else now. My tastes have changed, and I consider certain features important that are not on this amp. Over time, I've stopped using it. It's heavy for 50W, it does NOT sound much like the Rocket 100 ... it just sounds like a generic 50W combo. The lack of seperate gain and master volume knobs is frustrating, and there are no boost switches, etc, which would possibly allow 'waking up' this amp. It's very well made, very reliable for what use I gave it before I 'parked' it ... and it was NOT new when I got it. It's built like an old school USA Ampeg ... cuz thaz what it IS. The power cord is not removeable ... it that old school or what ? I'm rating it a '3' cuz it's a perfectly decent but nothing special amp. Almost every aspect is a '3' ... meaning 'average' ... except for the weight which is a negative, but weight is compensated by reliability, which is a positive of at least equal 'weight'. So, it's a '3'. If you get a good deal on one, and you like the tone, bag it ... but it's not something I would hunt down like some Holy Grail amongst amps. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Daddys Junky Music. It was about $400 in 2000 or 2001. I bought it because every time I shopped for a Bass ax at Daddys the ax sounded better in the store than when I got it home. I realized I almost always plugged into the B100R at Daddys, meaning the sound was more dependant on that amp than on which axes I bought The wheels are cool because it weighs 70lb/33kg. It's big and sturdy enough to sit on, so I do. Seperate input gain and output master are important to me, and the 4-knob EQ is as elaborate as I need. The tone is VERY cool, makes an electric bass sound just like an electric bass if you know what I'm saying there. No need to twirl the knobs to their extremes just to play "normal" bass, which leaves some room to dial up some color, fix the room, compensate for strings, etc. I'm not big on FX but it would be useful to have the FX loop anyway for various reasons. The weight is probably typical of a 15" bass combo, but I find it hard to lug up a flight or two of stairs. It's a 100W all solid state 15" combo of typical size and weight. There's a pair of large tubular ports on the rear. The sockets for snap-in casters are in place right out of the box, but you have to buy the casters as options. Grille is cloth. Aside form the 4-knob EQ, there are three "Ultra" buttons for low-mid-high and they are useful. Has line-out but no FX loop, and inputs marked "0" and "-15db". Power switch is decent old-school metal toggle style. All controls are in a recess at the upper rear edge. It's a very typical Ampeg unit in both quality of construction and in its tone. Even if you get tired of hauling it out to gigs, it makes a great practice amp and extra seating in your practice space. It has never given me any trouble even though it spent every day in the bed of my pick-up for a couple years. We've run bass AND guitar into it at the same time and it never sounded stressed. It's also a great guitar amp for those who actualy like the "native" sound of their guitar. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com