Ampeg BA115HP BassAmp Series 1x15 Solid State Bass Combo Amplifier, 220 Watt Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a studio sessio bassist, so I normally do not have much need for a bass amp. From time to time, I may need an amp in a studio for a "miked" tone for the recording, but in most cases I run direct with great results.
However, I had a dilema: When a studio client would ask me to play live with them, I frequently had to turn down the gig because I had great basses but no amp. I was looking on zZound's website (http://www.zzounds.com) and found this bass amp on sale as a B-stock item. B-stock is great value because it is slight used, usually returned merchandise that has been completely checked over and resold from the manufacturer. I bought this amp for considerably less than retail, it came with full warranty, and it had no cosmetic flaws when I opened the box. I plugged the amp in and hooked up my bass to test the amp, and the tone was amazing! This small combo amp, pound for pound, outperforms the bass stack that I owned before!
This amp has 220 watts, which is plenty of power for where musicians in the real world play. Face it: when was the last time you played an arena?! =D This is perfect for a gig in a restaurant, small bar, or club. This combo has an XLR output as well, so when recording or playing a larger venue or an outdoor festival, running to the PA and/or the recording console is extremely easy. I'm not a fan of 15" drivers, but again, I got such a good deal on this amp that I couldn't pass it up! I would have preferred a 2x10 configuration, which Ampeg does have available if you prefer that configuration. Nevertheless, the 15" driver with the 1" compression horn does produce clean, clear, versitile tone. I have used this combo for anything from rock, jazz, blues, metal, pop, country, gospel, etc. I have never had any complaints about the tone.
The preamp filters consist of a simple 3-band EQ (bass, mid, treble), which sounds surprisingly good for only being a 3-band EQ. There is also a 5-position switch with predetermined EQ curves from the factory: 1 & 2 scoop out the mids (1 = heavy scoop, 2 = light scoop), 3 is flat (no coloration), 4 & 5 boost the upper mids while keeping the lows and lower mids flat. All of these positions have very usable tones by themselves, but then when you use the 3-band EQ to tweak the tone... BAM!! Ampeg tonal magic!! I don't know what Ampeg does to make this little box sound so good, but whatever it is works! ;)
Some other features that I like are the BUILT IN TUNER (huge convenience, and the tuner is accurate), a mute switch (always a welcome addition to a bass amp as far as I'm concerned), and removable casters so that moving the amp around is a breeze. Also, the classic black Ampeg look. I can go to any kind of gig, and the musicians and fans will immediately know what kind of amp I'm playing and how good it will sound. There's also RCA left and right (that's red and white) connections so that you can hook up your iPod, CD player, metronome, or drum machine while you practice. I usually don't practice plugged in, so that doesn't really matter much to me. :)
There are also a couple of little things that Ampeg thought of that don't really matter to players unless something goes wrong... For example: ever broken a knob off your combo amp because it stuck out too far and your car door hit it? I think we've all been there... The tops of the control knobs are slightly under flush from the top of the cabinet. Minimal risk for knob breakage. The power cable is built in, though I would have preferred a standard detachable power cable. Again, though, minimal risk. There is a space on the back of the cabinet under the head that's about 4-5" tall and is deep enough to tuck the power cable away when no plugged in. They even thought to put velcro tabs in this spot to secure the cable.
A couple of things that I would have liked to see on this amp include a compresser and lighter weight. The power amp does have a built in limiter to protect the amplifier from signal peaks. This does have some effect on the tone, but it is minimal. I like a compressed tone, but I can buy a foot pedal for compression. Not a huge-mongous deal. Also, this thing is an 85 lbs BEAST!! The casters do make lugging this heavy box around easy once it is on the ground, but getting it in/out of the car is a little rough on my lower back. If you don't mind the weight too much, this will not be an issue. I would have also liked to see an effects loop and an auxilary speaker output. I think Ampeg was trying to keep this amp very simple, so I understand why these features aren't there. It still sucks a bit though...
Overall, I was very impressed with the performance, tone, look, and everything else with this particular combo amp. I am very glad that I bought it, happy about the good deal I got, and overjoyed with the tone this box puts out.

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When the bass simply has to be heard and felt, the BA115HP is the high-powered combo solution. Featuring a 220-Watt power section and a custom 15" Ampeg speaker, the BA115HP can fill a medium-sized venue with headroom to spare.
Designed to meet the needs of today's multi-string bass player, the BA115HP's HF level control lets you dial in the perfect amount of top-end, so all those harmonics and chordal subtleties you've worked so hard to develop get heard by the entire audience.
If you're the kind of player who changes basses often during a performance, the BA115HP's mute switch will come in handy-and it allows you to use the built-in digital chromatic tuner in total silence. The XLR balanced line output is perfect for patching into front of house or recording consoles. Solid Ampeg tone, with conventional functionality, the BA115HP.
Specifications:
RMS Power Output: 220-Watts
LF Driver: 1 x 15" Custom Ampeg Speaker
HF Driver: 1" Compression Driver with Level
Preamp: Solid-State
Power Amp: Solid-State
Tone Controls: 3-Band
Mid Tone Control: Style
Balanced Line Out: Yes
Built-in Tuner: Yes
Mute Switch: Yes
CD Input: Yes
Headphone Output: Yes
Dimensions (W x H x D inches): 21 x 21 x 15.5
Weight: 80 Pounds

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Zoom B2.1U Bass Effects Pedal with USB Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have one of these for 2 years by now, and it is my main support when playing with multiple bands. I have 3 basses, 4, 5 and 6 strings, each one for a differente kind of sound, heavy metal, progressive rock, world music, and all of them are well served by the effects presented here. In fact one cannot program the different effects without the manual, not all the names are direct, but, hey, its not a software tool, earn your time reading the manual. The compressor is not so good as it could be, and there are minor complaints about the usefullness of the expression pedal (it's not completely programmable as I would like to), but in general it work very well. It has multiple possibilities, tons of reverbers, amp simulations and effects, I can control the way I sound with a very good precision, emulate many different famous players, and change one way to another almost without noise.
I love the zoom B2.1u that I've just bought its bigger brother, the Zoom B9.1ut.

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Get the bass sound you envision with the Zoom B2.1u. With 13 amp and stomp box models, 47 bass-centric effects, a six-band EQ optimized for bass guitar, two different bass synthesizers, and plenty more, it's perfect for both stage and studio.

96 kHz sampling brings out the original sound character of the bass The fundamental frequencies of an electric bass are about 40 to 600 Hz, but harmonics go all the way up to the ultrasonic frequency range. Many conventional pedal effects make the low end sound thin and lifeless. This usually is not only because of insufficient response in that range, but also because the harmonics are not handled properly.
The B2 series from ZOOM makes such problems history. 24-bit resolution and a sampling frequency of 96 kHz ensure signal processing power on a par with the best rack-mount devices. The dynamic, wide-range bass signal retains its full impact, and the result is clear, powerful sound that remains a distinct presence also when playing in a band ensemble.
ZOOM original 32-bit DSP ZFX-3 The heart of any multi-effect device is its processor and decoder section. ZOOM elevates performance to the next level with its newly developed ZFX-3 chip. 32-bit architecture means outstanding accuracy and smooth and detailed signal processing. Fine nuances of fingering and touch come through without any deterioration.
Great bass amp sounds for any situation Sophisticated bass amp modeling allows you to adjust parameters such as speaker cabinet characteristics and low-range response in three levels. Get the dynamic, high-impact bass sound of a large cabinet even with flat-response systems. This is handy when using headphones or studio monitors, or when playing through a small combo amp or other bass amp with low output power. Alternatively, turn the cabinet effect off and use only the characteristics of the amp head. Create your very own bass amp sound and get it whenever and wherever you want, even when using a series of different bass amplifiers on stage.
Six-band linear EQ or two-band parametric EQ offer total flexibility Center frequency allocation and filter slopes of the built-in six-band EQ are optimized for bass guitar. Peaking type filters in the middle range (150Hz, 450Hz, 1kHz, 3kHz) are augmented by shelving type filters at the low and high end (70Hz and 6kHz). This ensures the shortest possible route from creative idea to actual sound. Further flexibility is offered by the possibility to switch to a two-band parametric EQ, for delivering a pin-point boost or cut. The B2 series lets you really take control.
Two bass synthesizer types with different filtering and internal waveforms The full-fledged bass synthesizer uses the built-in DSP sound source triggered by the input bass sound. Select from a choice of three waveform settings (sawtooth, square, PWM) and create sounds of incredible power and resonance. Two types of filtering with excellent tracking are also available, for playing melodious solo phrases.
13 different bass amp and stomp box modeling choices By digitally simulating the clipping action of analog devices such as tubes and diodes, the unit faithfully duplicates the characteristics of tube amps and vintage effects. Going far deeper than the superficial "tone", this also includes elements such as depth and dynamics. Freely adjust the mix between drive sound and original sound to create deep distortion while your bass delivers a real punch.
47 high-quality effects implemented with 32-bit processing Nine modules dedicated to aspects such as dynamics, drive, modulation, and ambience offer a total of 47 effects. Because the effects are optimized for the bass guitar range, you can freely create various sonic scenarios without impairing the bass foundation of the ensemble sound. A limiter/compressor lets you control peaks and ensure that levels are matched. The auto wah and resonance filter are indispensable for playing that funky sound. The octaver creates a wave of energy in the ultra-low range. The defret effect gives you the sweet tone and smooth transients of a fretless bass. Other features include delay with settings to 5000 ms and hold function, tape echo for that vintage feeling, crystal-clear stereo chorus, as well as flanger, phaser, pitch shifter and many other studio-class effects.
The right tools for the job -- editing controls with analog feel The three rotary knobs let you tailor three different parameters at the same time. Control sensitivity, attack, and level for the compressor effect, or time, feedback, and mixing level for the delay effect. It's like having an array of stomp boxes ready for action. In play mode, the three knobs adjust cabinet character, drive effect tone, and patch level. This lets you quickly match the unit's performance to the bass guitar amp or room acoustics. Delay time and modulation rate settings can be made directly via the intuitive TAP key input.
40 ready to use preset patches for stage and studio The unit comes preprogrammed with settings for duplicating well-known amps and stomp boxes, settings that are modeled on the signature sound of famous bass players, as well as totally original ZOOM effect sound creations. Right out of the box, you can enjoy professional-quality bass guitar sound. And for creative leeway, a user area capable of storing another 40 patches is also provided.
World's fastest patch change speed: 8 ms The annoying slight muting interval of old when switching patches has been all but eliminated. With its record-setting speed of 0.008 seconds, the B2 series never misses a beat. For example, when changing from backing sound to a solo, you no longer need to press the switch slightly in advance. Simply push the foot switch and start playing the solo phrase. No more fear of losing the rhythm when making patch changes.
Built-in auto-chromatic tuner also supports multi-string bass The bass guitar tuner can be called up instantly by pushing two foot switches together. High-brightness LED indicators make the note readout easy to see also on a dark stage. The calibration range is 435 to 445 Hz, and mute tuning without sound output is also possible.
ZNR keeps playing pauses really quiet The built-in ZOOM Noise Reduction (ZNR) provides optimized performance for bass guitar. While minimizing any alteration of the original sound, ZNR shuts out unwanted noise in the playing pauses. Even the tails of long sustain notes come out beautifully, with natural release.
Integrated drum machine with PCM sound sources Realistic drum sounds derived from PCM sources are arranged in a variety of rhythm patterns for different musical genres. The 40 rhythm variations include the steady 8-beat of Rock and Pop, funky 16-beat, a "Jazzy" 4-beat, and many more choices. Rhythm training on your bass guitar has never been more convenient.
Optional foot switch allows versatile remote operation When the optional foot switch (FS01) is connected, tap tempo input of settings such as delay time and modulation rate is possible. Other selectable functions include bank switching, drum machine start/stop, and delay hold on/off switching.
Ultra low noise design: 120 dB S/N ratio and -100 dB noise floor Specifications such as a signal-to-noise ratio of 120 dB and noise floor of -100 dB demonstrate a level of performance that is unsurpassed in this class. Background noise is a thing of the past, leaving the unit free to produce only its own superbly transparent sound. Especially when using reverb effects such as Hall, Room, or Spring, the low noise floor combined with 96 kHz sampling and 32-bit processing results in utterly transparent sound.
Sturdy metal chassis and rubber damping for superior toughness and durability The combination of a solid metal chassis with shock-absorbent rubber damping ensures that the unit can stand up to the rigors of use on stage. Take it on the road or into the studio, the B2 series will not let you down. Its pleasing rounded shape, large bezel protecting the display, and chrome-plated switches and knobs are proof that there is no need to sacrifice good looks for toughness.
Two-way power allows use just about anywhere Thanks to its circuit design optimized for low voltage operation, the unit will run for more than 6 hours on a set of four IEC R6 (size AA) batteries. A separately available AC adaptor (AD-0006) can be plugged in for extended studio work, but on stage you never need to worry about AC power.
Expression pedal adds further versatility to your guitar play The built-in expression pedal is a great way to control effect parameters in real time. Set the mood with vintage wah, play a pitch shift, or adjust the volume. Or go beyond conventional pedal effects: adjust the mixing ratio of direct sound and synth/drive sound, or control the modulation rate. The dedicated PEDAL ASSIGN key and status LED indicators make it a cinch to select the effect to control. Effect on/off switching is also possible by pushing the pedal fully down.
XLR output allows direct connection to PA mixer for stage work Standard XLR connector lets you establish a balanced link, to ensure degradation-free, clean sound transmission also over long cable runs. There is no need to use a DI box, even when you want to directly hook the unit up to a mixing console or PA system. The pre/post switch makes it possible to get the effect sound from the main output and the direct sound (bypassing the A/D converter) from the XLR output.
USB port enables computer recording The USB port allows the unit to function as an audio interface for a computer. Simply connect a USB cable to utilize the high-quality sound of the B2.1u in a computer-based recording system. The superb "Cubase LE 4" DAW software comes bundled with the unit, so you can start creating sophisticated music straight away. Because playback from the DAW application can be monitored at the B2.1u itself, there are no latency problems during recording. Powering the unit from the computer via the USB bus is also supported.
What's in the Box Zoom B2.1u Pedal, AC Adapter, User's Manual, Cubase LE Install Disc

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Tech 21 SansAmp Character Series VT Bass Deluxe Distortion Effects Pedal Review

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(More customer reviews)this bass pedal is really fantastic - flexible, compact, and a wide range of authentic sounds - 99% noiseless, cheaper and less weight than any ampeg tube amp ...


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Hartke 2500 Bass Guitar Amplifier Head, 250 watts Review

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(More customer reviews)The Hartke 2500 is a 250-watt (max.) bass amp with two pre-amp settings, equalization, a high- and low-end 'cut,' compression, and master volume. Takes active or passive instruments. Effects line in/out, ground lift, fan, two speakers out. 25 lbs.
I play mine through a highly rated Schroeder 12-inch 8-ohm cab, which draws 175 watts; adding another 8-ohm speaker would draw the full 250 watts. With the single speaker, I get amazing tone and power. Of course, it helps that the Schroeder speaker is top quality.
Features: a tube-emulating pre-amp and a solid-state pre-amp. These can be employed separately or blended. The tube-type produces a fatter, old-fashioned sound. EQ sliders are efficient. Compression can be dialed in and is very helpful when playing louder and harder as it prevents sudden strong signals going to the speaker(s). The high- and low-end cut seems somewhat superfluous, being similar in function to the equalization function. But I may be wrong about that.
Strongly built cabinet, convenient handle (on side). Hartke Co. responsive to two emails. An extremely good buy.

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Hartke VXL Bass Attack Preamp Pedal Review

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(More customer reviews)Bass effects are fun little diversions, until you find a good one. There are some that just can't be substituted. A good example of that is the QTron. If you have one (and use it) it is essential to get THAT sound. Personally, I don't use mine that often. Usually I play a down the middle mix of rock, blues, and soul ... all the classic tones. My main rig is an Ampeg SVT-2PRO with their 4 x 10 cab. It is about as tube gritty as they come. However, there is a certain flexibility that is missing. I want to be able to switch between that warm Jamerson tube fuzz on the soul and blues songs, to something a little more punchy for funk. The Attack pedal is PERFECT for this. It lets me dial in just what I want, and use the footswitches to turn the sounds on and off. With the two switches you get four sounds. It isn't going to give you wild distortion. It will, however, make it one click to go from a warm fat bluesy sound to a funky punch that are both worth the price of admission.
Enjoy !

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Zoom B1X Bass Multi Effects Pedal with Expression Pedal Review

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(More customer reviews)This pedal far exceeds all of my expectations. While this pedal isn't as sturdy (the B1 is hard plastic and the B2 is metal) as the B2X by zoom, the price more than makes up for it (Almost half the price of the B2). You absolutely cannot get a better value than this from any other multi-FX units. The best thing about this pedal is that it has great response time. With any multi unit you come across, you will have problems with slow switching between patches. I have had a few bass processors from the Zoom 707, Korg, and Digitech. None of these can hold a candle to the B1s speed. I did own the B2 and it is even faster. The distortions of this unit are the best. Usually the distortions for bass are muddy or too trebly but with this unit you can mix in your original clean signal in with the dirty. One of the cool things that I have discovered is that if you leave the know on the mix selection you can turn off the mix and go straight clean instantaneously. This is very useful in the that you don't have to setup multiple clean patches or try to hit both button to shut it off! The other function such as wah, phaser, and Chorus are very nice and quite useable. The rest such as pitch shifter, octave, and synth are just for novelty and I can't image why anyone would want that. You can sound like a cello with this thing though and that is very cool. The drum machine is a great feature that helps you with your timing and practicing. The foot pedal is a must and is super useful and well worth the extra 20 dollars when choosing between the B1 and the B1x. Zoom is the master of all Multi-fx processors so don't bother with anything else.

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Get the exact bass sound you're after with the Zoom B1X. Choose from 13 different amp and stompbox models, and play with 46 bass-centric effects including a full-fledged bass synth. Handy additions like a built-in tuner and drum machine take it a step further, and the convenience of AC or battery powering means you can take your tone anywhere.

Clear and solid bass sound thanks to 96 kHz sampling The sonic frequencies generated by an electric bass are about 40 to 600 Hz, but harmonics go all the way up to the ultrasonic frequency range. The ZOOM B1 offers ultra-high resolution signal processing with 24 bit/96 kHz sampling, rivaling the best rack-mount processors. The dynamic, wide-range bass signal retains its full impact resulting in clear, powerful tone that retains a distinct presence.
ZFX-3 -- the new-generation 32-bit DSP The heart of any multi-effect device is its processor and decoder section. ZOOM elevates performance to the next level with its newly developed ZFX-3 chip. Its 32-bit architecture means outstanding performance and smooth, detailed signal processing. Fine nuances of fingering and touch come through without any deterioration.
13 different bass amp and stomp box modeling choices Whether you want the massive sonic push of an all-tube amp, the sweet and mellow tone of a vintage model for melodic phrasing or the sound of a high-power wide-range modern amp, the choice is yours. There are seven bass amp settings that range from Rock and Pop to Fusion and Jazz. Plus, five unique distortion pedal sounds as well as a tube preamp for adding warmth are also available, letting you create exactly the bass sound that you want. Freely adjust the mix between drive sound and original sound to create deep distortion for real punch.
46 dedicated bass effects Eight modules designed for bass guitar offer a total of 46 effects. A limiter/compressor lets you control peaks and ensure that levels are matched, while the three-band equalizer makes it easy to taylor your sound further. Auto wah is indispensable for playing that funky sound, and the octaver impressively enhances the low range. A defret effect gives you the special tone of a fretless bass. Detune produces a chorus effect with moderate amounts of modulation. Other studio-class effects include a long delay with settings to 5000 ms and a harmonized pitch shifter.
Bass synthesizer The built-in full-fledged bass synthesizer uses an internal DSP sound source with triggered operation. Select one of three waveform settings (sawtooth, square, PWM) and create deep, punchy bass synth lines.
40 preset patches reproduce the sound of the pros The unit comes preprogrammed with settings for duplicating well-known amps and stomp boxes, settings that are modeled on the signature sound of famous rock bass players, as well as totally original ZOOM effect sound creations. Right out of the box, you can enjoy professional-quality bass guitar sound. And to store your own creative sounds, a user-defined set will store another 40 patches.
User friendly interface Editing an effect is as simple as choosing the patch with the selector knob and adjusting the parameter with the value knob. Let your imagination roam without being hampered by complicated controls.
Integrated drum machine with PCM sound sources Realistic drum sounds derived from PCM sources are arranged in a variety of rhythm patterns for different musical genres. The 40 rhythm variations include the steady 8-beat of Rock and Pop, a funky 16-beat, "Jazzy" 4-beat, and many more choices. Rhythm training on your bass guitar has never been more convenient. A tap key is provided for easy direct tempo input.
Built-in auto-chromatic tuner for bass The bass guitar tuner can be called up instantly. Mute tuning output offers further convenience. Bright LED indicators make the readout easy to see on a dark stage.
Ultra low noise A signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB and a noise floor of -98 dBm mean that background noise is virtually eliminated, resulting in clean, transparent sound. ZOOM's proprietary noise reduction technology (ZNR) is also built in, to completely shut out unwanted noise during playing pauses.
AC/DC allows use just about anywhere Thanks to its circuit design optimized for low voltage operation, the unit will run for 12 hours continuously on a set of four IEC R6 (size AA) batteries. The AC adaptor (AD-0006) can be plugged in for extended studio work, whereas on stage you never need to worry about AC power.
Expression pedal adds further versatility The built-in expression pedal lets you adjust volume, wah, or pitch shift in real time. But going beyond conventional pedal functions, you can also adjust the mixing ratio of direct sound and drive sound or freely control the modulation rate or other delay and reverb effect parameters. The PEDAL ASSIGN key that makes it a snap to select the function operated by the pedal.
What's in the Box Zoom B1X Multi Effects Pedal, AC Adapter, User's Manual

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Zoom B1 Bass Multi Effects Pedal Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So I started off looking for a simple headphone amp for my bass guitar which range in price from $40 to $80 amd my guitar player friend recomended that I get a small bass effects pedal. And long story short this thing is a headphone amp, a tuner, a amp simulator, a multi effects pedal, and a drum machine all in a $49.00 package.

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