Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110 50-Watt Combo Amp

A nice sounding bass amp which I’ve gigged once so far. Not too big for practice; also loud enough for small gigs or stage monitoring. Very light and easy to move. Build quality seems good though that’s something that will be more apparent in a year or two. Good value for money. One minor quibble is that it doesn’t have a master volume, so if you’re bypassing the preamp by sending a line level signal from a preamp into the effects return you’d need to adjust the volume from the preamp rather than the amp itself. Not a huge issue but something to watch out for if you use a sansamp etc. for tone shaping. Setting the controls flat and using the -15dB input also works and likely sounds exactly the same so it’s not a huge issue. Otherwise, a very nice little bass amp.

I bought this little monster for recording and studio rehearsals. 50 watts isn’t much for a bass amp, but it’s sufficient for rehearsals with a band that plays at a realistic volume. The DI on the back adds recording and live options for either direct input recording or running a line out into a PA system in live situations. This amp will work fine in even large rooms since all of the instruments are run through a PA system in those rooms anyway and this Ampeg will work great as a simple onstage monitor. As a professional guitarist, I wanted an inexpensive bass unit for recording and rehearsal spaces, this little amp does the job perfectly. It was $209 bucks on sale and it sounds great. The AMPEG bass tone is unmatched.

ES UN EXCELENTE EQUIPO

Not a beginner, not first amp delight, far from amateur, and pretty much as an audio snob… I can state this is a sweet package of boomin’ bass fun. They nailed the EQ and Class D magic headroom. The lil’ 8″ thrusts like a pogo stick and moves some air. I was astounded at the small room level this thing pumps out. Okay, not going to attempt to say you could play live or a small club but if you are at practice+ levels, you’re more than set.

Started fooling with loopers and drum machines during covid. Tried the octave shifting boxes to ‘simulate’ bass. Had a cool Gretsch Jet short scale and thought a cheap bass amp may be the ticket? The Ampeg is well, kinda cheap, but bang for the buck it barks like a proper amp and looks much more spendy. The thing is killer looped as a ‘real’ bass popping from a real amp.

The EQ is surprisingly active sweeping from full cut to boost range. Forget the stupid ‘contour’ buttons this thing can nail those tones. Somebody paid attention to the Mid as it can have the ‘modern sound’ rolling mids down or have a big fat bass in your face tone with a touch of Bass added just above center or flat. Roll on treble and she speaks not bites.

The build is solid and vintage cool. I almost went for the 10″ flavor but spotted several reviewers liking the 8″ tone better. The smaller amp is a couple pounds heavier than its bigger brother. Pretty sure it’s the speaker with a larger magnet and beefy frame for more excursion. the Class D amp is in a sweet spot for wattage effortlessly providing gobs of low end and bone shaking fun tuned to low D. No clipping detected but not ran into crazy land, just cracking 3 on Vol. is yeah, loud.

The single button distortion comes on rather crunchy sounding like Lemmy through a Fuzz-Face. Not gonna evaluate that tech. they seem quite proud of, but the upper models have two knobs controlling the effect and may be better suited to hear with adjustable roll on instead of wide-open crunch.

What they deliver at this price point is crazy good. If you want a bazillion effects and what-nots to fuss with, get the Rumble. You want old-skool bass that blooms and barks and is not harsh or clippy, snag one of these. Would be an Ampeg Combo Fanboy but as Yamaha bought Ampeg a few years ago, me thinks they designed this beauty. Thanks Yammy, nailed it!

I haven’t had it long enough. But so far it serves my needs.