Richard
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
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Posted on Feb 19 2011 06:49 PM
I remember playing through a couple in stores a long time ago, but Ampeg has since gotten out of the guitar amp business altogether. My favorite bass amp ever is a B100R, one of the "Blue Diamond" series of amps and all the guitar amp reissues I've seen have similar cosmetics. I remember being told that Rip from The Penetrators used one for a while and I believe I remember Jeff from The Broken Spokes in Atlanta using one too. Scuttlebutt on a couple of other forums says they have cabinet and, more persistently, power tube rattling problems. Anybody got any experience?
— The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 19 2011 06:53 PM
As far as guitar amps go, I think they are a little on the thin side for me, not bad sounding at all though.
On the bass side of things... They are really at the top of the pack in my opinion. I've heard some great things through them.
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jimmyandthesharks
Joined: Jun 10, 2007
Posts: 161
CA
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Posted on Feb 19 2011 07:10 PM
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Number9
Joined: Jul 18, 2009
Posts: 499
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Posted on Feb 19 2011 07:25 PM
.
Last edited: Mar 01, 2020 07:03:24
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CrispyGoodness
Joined: Apr 06, 2009
Posts: 565
North Cackalacky
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Posted on Feb 19 2011 08:19 PM
60's Ampegs are great--cleaner than Fenders, with a less drippy reverb, but they've got a lot of headroom if you're the kind that likes to slap few he-man distortion pedals in front of your amp. Ask the Bottlerockets--they used old Reverborockets for years.
My sister uses a Gemini II I bought her as a birthday present years ago--it sounds so good, I wish I'd kept it for myself every time I hear it. The only hassle with that amp--and a lot of 60's Ampegs--are those great sounding, but hard to find/expensive tubes they gots.
Seventies Ampegs are uber-tough amps, but they're also uber-heavy, and stay clean until you get up to Ted Nugent levels. But if I lost my Twin Reverb and someone offered me a VT-22 to use in its' place, I wouldn't refuse--I just might ask them to help me carry it, though...
--Crispy
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Icetech
Joined: Dec 16, 2006
Posts: 892
Macomb Mich
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Posted on Feb 19 2011 08:20 PM
i LOOOVEEEE old ampegs... amazing reverb (not surf), BUT.. their reissue crap is some of the worst stuff i have ever plugged in... i have a 2x12 reverbrocket reissue and it has maybe 20 hours on it in 10 years... pure hatred in any mode:(
— I wanna play just like him when i grow up...
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Feb 19 2011 09:58 PM
I believe Rip Thrilby used a vintage Gemini II (or V?) for the lead guitar parts on all of the Penetrators' Locked and Loaded. I know he really loved the sound of those amps, but couldn't use them live as they weren't loud enough, so he stuck with a Showman. But in the studio, I believe it was Ampegs all the way.
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Feb 19 2011 11:38 PM
Number9
Hmpf... we had many issues with a brand new SVT.
The bass player switched to an "Orange" PTP head.
Fat and warmer than the Ampeg.
Yeah, Orange is really amazing.
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JetKing64
Joined: Feb 15, 2011
Posts: 38
Tennessee
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Posted on Feb 20 2011 07:05 AM
When I was about seventeen and had only been playing a short while, I bugged for parents for a larger amp (I was learning through some Sears solid state POS). One day they came in with this HUGE Ampeg... I can't remember the model name or number or anything...only that it took two people to carry the bloody thing. At the time I was rather disappointed ... I was into hard rock and Southern rock and you couldn't get any distortion without a stomp box...but I remember the reverb being pretty awesome. I'd love to have that sucker back now that I know what I'm doing...
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casey
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 521
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Posted on Feb 20 2011 08:57 AM
I have a 60's SB-12. Fantastic for bass (which is what its made for), not bad for guitar.
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surferXmatt
Joined: Aug 27, 2008
Posts: 1570
New York
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Posted on Feb 20 2011 12:39 PM
Well.. I had a reissue Jet II amp - J12T to be specific. It was a decent amp. Unfortunately the reverb and tremolo on-board were average at best. It was too loud for my purposes, you could not really get a decent tone unless you cranked it. To me, it just was not an inspiring amp tone wise. I have recently sold it and got a Super Champ XD by Fender instead. I am much happier with the tone and volume of this amp. A better match for myself.
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Rossmosis
Joined: Jul 13, 2010
Posts: 180
Austin
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Posted on Feb 20 2011 07:21 PM
I have a 70's Ampeg VT-40 that I used for surf before I got my Silverface Twin. Not a bad sounding amp, breaks up like crazy when you crank it all the way which is good for a Queens Of The Stoneage kind of crunch, and if you overdrive it just a bit you're in Rolling Stones territory. Both bands are known to use them. I do like that it has a lock for the reverb like a Fender standalone unit for when you transport the amp.
— The Del-Vipers
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Feb 20 2011 09:12 PM
I've been dumb enough three times to agree to work on an Ampeg for one of my friends. Boy, I'll NEVER do that again. What a mess.
An SVT looks like some guy tossed a LOT of crap inside the chassis and shook it all up...........Geez
Leo's creations were ass over tea kettle better designed.
Yep, Rip was into his Ampeg and Spanky tried to use it too. However the best live sound they ever got in my opinion was early on when they both played out of Twin Reverbs.
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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topsail
Joined: Jun 10, 2009
Posts: 317
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Posted on Feb 21 2011 08:29 AM
Hard to beat a Fender for Surf.
Ampegs aren't bad and I'd use one in a pinch, but not my first choice.
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mad_dog
Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Posts: 349
Montclair, NJ
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Posted on Feb 23 2011 09:05 AM
Always dug the old Ampegs. Passed on a Mercury M-12 model years ago, which was a real mistake. Then shopped for a 6L6 equipped Gemini II (some came that way), and got real lucky.
Not at first. The amp had been modded (badly) with a new PT. Swung loose in shipping, took out the filter cap can. Much palaver and a healthy rebate later, I got a talented tech to do it right, even had it switched to tube rectification at his suggestion, and revoiced a bit to my taste for the 6L6s. Add some real nice tubes and an Emi Big Ben. Done. Cheapest amp in my house, and most beat looking, but might be the best sounding amp I own. Big, big sound. Always appreciated the Gemini II in stock form, with the typical 7159 tube setup. This modded one is a whole different thing. Much louder. Somewhere between Ampeg, Fender and Marshall.
MD
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NoisyDad
Joined: Mar 04, 2006
Posts: 215
West Hartford, CT
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Posted on Feb 23 2011 01:10 PM
Love my '66 Gemini II - it was my first amp in 1975 and it's still my main machine. Fantastic-sounding Jensen Concert 15-incher in it. Now I also have a Jet of similar vintage for practice and small-room gigs.
— http://www.aquatudes.com
http://www.facebook.com/theaquatudes
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Frelonvert
Joined: Sep 21, 2009
Posts: 275
Toulouse
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Posted on Feb 24 2011 05:13 AM
I have bought a ampeg j-20(reissue) for 300 euros, and I love it.
All about clean tones, no distortion, no reverb only tremolo.
I have a reverb/delay pedal and a fuzz and it's perfect for me.
— http://noskons.bandcamp.com/
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TwangOmatic
Joined: May 16, 2008
Posts: 123
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Posted on Feb 28 2011 09:23 PM
I absolutely love my Ampeg VT-22. I no longer have any interest in any other amps other than maybe a little valco or some other crusty little low watt amp.
The mid range control on the VT-22 is to die for and the reverb is very good. I do have a weber 5g15 and still use it for ultra drip but the great thing about the Ampeg reverb is that it never gets harsh or bad sounding in any way unlike my 5g15 which requires a bit of tweeking.
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tubesNtweed
Joined: Sep 07, 2011
Posts: 507
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Posted on Jul 03 2012 02:01 AM
I've never played an Ampeg guitar amp but I'd like to get an old Gemini I or II eventually for jamming/band practice/small gigs where my Twin Reverb would be overkill. The demo vids sound pretty good and I like the reverb. Although in the pictures I've seen they look almost as big as a twin, I don't know how heavy they are. That blue tolex and chrome is so cool.
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fenderfan
Joined: Jul 13, 2008
Posts: 782
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Posted on Jul 03 2012 08:12 AM
Our original "Midnight Surf", which can be heard in the Downloads section, in "Gear Samples", was recorded with a mid-60s Ampeg Reverberocket - it's an excellent amp with a fine, sweet tone and very good reverb.
Last edited: Jul 03, 2012 08:14:14
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