Product: Ampeg PortaBass 2210 210 Combo
Price Paid: US $550 used
Submitted
11/01/2005
at
09:09pm
by
Misfats
Features
:
10
This is a very basic combo with standard ampeg features: low, mid, high tone nobs with with corresponding shift buttons so you can channel in ultra-low and ultra-high frequencies. It's got master and gain switches and while it certainly won't give you that super-sweet tube growl you might get from an SVT (hell, where else can you get that sound BUT from an SVT?) it does have a surprising little bite to it when you really drive the amp.
The biggest feature of this amp, however, is simply it's weight. I'm not sure exactly how much this thing weighs but it can't be more than 45 pounds. If you know anything about the porta bass series then you know how light all the products are. For a 2x10 combo amp, this is insanely light. It also has this telescoping handle so you can roll it around like one of those carry-on suit cases.
I'm not sure what year this amp is but I can't imagine it's more than a couple of years old. For some reason, the combo versions of the portabass series seemed to have come and gone ... you can still find the heads and cabinets but it's hard to find a combo.
Sound Quality
:
8
I have a mid-90s musicman stingray and going through that amp there is no confusion that I'm playing a musicman. The only way I can describe this amp is as "tone neutral" -- you can make adjustments, of course, but a P-Bass will sound like a P-Bass, a stingray sounds just like a stingray, etc. For those of you who've done any recording, playing through this amp sounds about as close to playing direct into the board as you can get.
The volume isn't too bad. I play in a band that's definitely not quiet but we're also not deafeningly loud. I've had no problems cutting through.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
I've only had for about six months and there hasn't been any trouble.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I've heard Ampeg has good customer support but I've never had a reason to call.
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
In some ways, this amp reminds me of an old 70s acoustic head a friend had. I can't remember the model (I think it might have been a 450). If you're looking for a true tube sound then this is not going to do it but for a lightweight solid state it has a nice warmth. I've played sunn heads and a siler-faced bassman head and I definitely prefer the portabass. Of course, if I had all the money in the world I'd get a portaflex.
