Seeking advice re: Rick-O-Sound rig.

[Guzzi Toad]

After over 20 years of owning my 4003 I finally have the real-estate to dabble with the Rick-O-Sound function. I'd like to solicit some opinions from the fine people here at TB. (Specifically, I'd love to hear from @JimmyM since he knows Ampeg stuff really well.)

I'm trying to do this "on-the-cheap". I already have an Ampeg B2 combo (SLM from the 90's) that I'd like to use as for the neck pickup. I've loved the sound for nearly 20 years and it has plenty of volume for what I'm doing. Plus ... I already own it. Just like with racing cars, the cheapest amp you'll ever own is the one you already have. It looks exactly like this:

For the bridge pickup I've considered another combo as that's a pre-packaged, easy way to go. Fender Rumble 500? GK MB210? Ampeg BA210?

I also recently got what I consider to be a great deal on a TC BQ250. I would use it to drive something like a SVT210AV, SVT-112AV or, perhaps a Rumble 210 Cabinet. My new amp looks exactly like this:

The original Rick-O-Sound boxes are no longer being made but I did secure this to wire it together:

I'd love to hear some constructive thoughts and suggestions. Am I on the right track here? Thanks in advance.

Power to the People - Right on.

 

[StereoPlayer]

I made my own cable, or cables over the years.

Really, any two amps work really well.
The secret is that each amp can be EQed for the optimal tone for each PU.

I currently use a Markbass Momark/210 for the bass PU and a GK MB-200/210 for the treble PU.

Experiment with what you have or like.

In a pinch when I do not feel like schlepping two amps..a two channel amp or a small mixer into an amp will suffice.

 

[JimmyM]

After over 20 years of owning my 4003 I finally have the real-estate to dabble with the Rick-O-Sound function. I'd like to solicit some opinions from the fine people here at TB. (Specifically, I'd love to hear from @JimmyM since he knows Ampeg stuff really well.)

I'm trying to do this "on-the-cheap". I already have an Ampeg B2 combo (SLM from the 90's) that I'd like to use as for the neck pickup. I've loved the sound for nearly 20 years and it has plenty of volume for what I'm doing. Plus ... I already own it. Just like with racing cars, the cheapest amp you'll ever own is the one you already have. It looks exactly like this:

View attachment 3542130

For the bridge pickup I've considered another combo as that's a pre-packaged, easy way to go. Fender Rumble 500? GK MB210? Ampeg BA210?

I also recently got what I consider to be a great deal on a TC BQ250. I would use it to drive something like a SVT210AV, SVT-112AV or, perhaps a Rumble 210 Cabinet. My new amp looks exactly like this:

View attachment 3542139

The original Rick-O-Sound boxes are no longer being made but I did secure this to wire it together:
View attachment 3542159

I'd love to hear some constructive thoughts and suggestions. Am I on the right track here? Thanks in advance.

Power to the People - Right on.

I got nothing, bro. I think you're on the right track. Except it's not all Ampeg But hey, even some endorsers don't play all Ampeg, so it's not like they mind it too much.

 

[Guzzi Toad]

I got nothing, bro. I think you're on the right track. Except it's not all Ampeg But hey, even some endorsers don't play all Ampeg, so it's not like they mind it too much.

Hi Jimmy. Thanks for the reply.

If money weren't an issue I'd have bought a PF-20t for the bridge pickup in a heartbeat. I got the TC Electronics because they were recommended here on TB and I liked the price. ($130.00 new, in box after my Amazon rewards points).

Any thoughts regarding 210AV vs. 112AV? I think everything I'm looking at have been recommended by folks here on TB or on RRF. The 12" Ampeg probably has a little deeper sound but I'm going for a pseudo Tic-Tac sound anyway so I don't think I need anything flat down to 40hz.

People seem to love their Fender Rumble500's as a combo and SVT210AV's as a small light 2x10 cabinet. I got to play a Rumble500 yesterday (and I liked it) but I cant put my hands on a 210AV. I'm thinking about having a used one shipped to Guitar Center for me to play.

 

[JimmyM]

Hi Jimmy. Thanks for the reply.

If money weren't an issue I'd have bought a PF-20t for the bridge pickup in a heartbeat. I got the TC Electronics because they were recommended here on TB and I liked the price. ($130.00 new, in box after my Amazon rewards points).

Any thoughts regarding 210AV vs. 112AV? I think everything I'm looking at have been recommended by folks here on TB or on RRF. The 12" Ampeg probably has a little deeper sound but I'm going for a pseudo Tic-Tac sound anyway so I don't think I need anything flat down to 40hz.

People seem to love their Fender Rumble500's as a combo and SVT210AV's as a small light 2x10 cabinet. I got to play a Rumble500 yesterday (and I liked it) but I cant put my hands on a 210AV. I'm thinking about having a used one shipped to Guitar Center for me to play.

I've not gotten to play the 112av, and only played the 212av a couple times in the store, but I enjoyed it. I'd say, though, that unless you need a tweeter and better power handling (and it sounds to me like you don't), get the 210av. Super light, cheaper, easy to tote, gets a really good sound whether using it as a regular bass cab or an augment for your Ric-o-Sound setup..

And BTW, though I've only played that TC head once, it sounds like the clear goal was imitating an SVT/810 digitally, so I think it will do you well.

 

[Guzzi Toad]

I've not gotten to play the 112av, and only played the 212av a couple times in the store, but I enjoyed it. I'd say, though, that unless you need a tweeter and better power handling (and it sounds to me like you don't), get the 210av. Super light, cheaper, easy to tote, gets a really good sound.

And BTW, though I've only played that TC head once, it sounds like the clear goal was imitating an SVT/810 digitally, so I think it will do you well.

Perfect! Thanks man.
Done and done.
I'm buying "gently used" and will have it shipped to my local GC.

 

[Chuck King]

Do you also play skinny-string guitar? As long as you've got the neck pickup going through the Ampeg for your bottom end, try running the bridge through a guitar amp. It won't need to fill out the bottom, and there are a lot of tonal options available, most of which you can't get from a bass amp.

 

[Guzzi Toad]

Do you also play skinny-string guitar? As long as you've got the neck pickup going through the Ampeg for your bottom end, try running the bridge through a guitar amp. It won't need to fill out the bottom, and there are a lot of tonal options available, most of which you can't get from a bass amp.

Hi Chuck!
Thanks for your reply. I do have a Solid State Vox Cambridge Twin and I did consider doing that. But I do not have the Capacitor "vintage" circuit on my 4003. I have inferred that was the original purpose of that in-curcuit capacitor.

The amplifier on the Vox is a little sketchy - I need to get it to a tech. And I wouldn't want to harm the speakers. Once that amplifier gets a clean-bill-of-health I'll probably try using it to drive the 210AV cabinet that should arrive at my local GC any day now.

Stay tuned for updates ... lol.
Power to the People, Right on.

 

[walterw]

I wouldn't want to harm the speakers

as long as you keep the bass knob on the guitar amp backed off and in general don’t push the amp too loud you’re not gonna hurt anything.

definitely worth a try, you’ll probably find a little bit of guitar amp on top of the bass amp goes a long way.

also, if folks don’t wanna buy or make the special box just get an “insert cable”, it’s the same thing (trs splitting to two mono plugs)

 

[walterw]

still, every time i’ve noodled around with the separated pickups thing i’ve been underwhelmed. it just sounds like two different pickups at the same time, no matter how i try to EQ the two amps i don’t hear it as integrating into one bass tone.

you also totally lose the “third sound” of two pickups in parallel, that nice mid-scooped tone.

if i were interested in the “two different amps at once” vibe i’d probably keep the bass itself mono and just split the signal downstream.

 

[BogeyBass]

I liked that B2 combo lol
Most probably would not agree. But i liked it.

Heck i always thought great 2x15 setup would be a pair matching combo amps.
even to the point where be cool to flip one head upside down and stack them head to head.

amps in a center strip. speakers top and bottom.

Trying Remember the Band. think God is Astronaut got signed and bought all new equipment with label front money.
They left all the tags hanging on the guitars, bass, cabs, heads everything new.

Anyhoo another band from Japan Ultra Bide played after or closing. He had a totally beat to heck 810 and SVT and a Hiwatt Guitar head and 4x12.

Running 2 cords with Rico O sound. Totally destroyed all the bands that night. Tough Gig, closing on weekday, after show off label brats. like post rock never cared for the band. Japanese punk band kills the show instead

Always wanted to mod a Fender Jazz with 2 output jacks

 

[Guzzi Toad]

I liked that B2 combo lol
Most probably would not agree. But i liked it.

I love mine. I've had it for around 17 years or so. It is very heavy (but it rarely leaves my house) and the fan is getting a little noisy. I think that fan issue is an easy fix. In my opinion (the only one that matters), it has a great tone. I even like playing a six-string thru it.

Heck i always thought great 2x15 setup would be a pair matching combo amps. even to the point where be cool to flip one head upside down and stack them head to head. amps in a center strip. speakers top and bottom.

I've definitely thought about doing exactly that!

Always wanted to mod a Fender Jazz with 2 output jacks

One TRS (stereo) output jack. Of course the problem with that is it would be "full-time" stereo.

 

[BogeyBass]

I love mine. I've had it for around 17 years or so. It is very heavy (but it rarely leaves my house) and the fan is getting a little noisy. I think that fan issue is an easy fix. In my opinion (the only one that matters), it has a great tone. I even like playing a six-string thru it.

Alot amps of that Era just used common computer fans. I wouldnt say cheap but there was bushing and bearing type shafts. usually take wild guess they used cheaper bushing fans. they get noisy and start to slow down anyhoo great news is a 24 volt 80mm fan is easy to find and usually pretty high quality now days and cheap. shoudlnt be more than 9-12 bucks ive seen mark ups as high as 20 dollars.
24volt 80mm fan usually 2400 to 3800 rpm. if you get the higher rpm they usually flow more air. 25 to 35 cfm or numerous " upgrade" computer fans that can go up to 40 to 50 cfm. Id change it for sure the amp relies on forced air cooling quite a bit