Product: Ampeg R-12A Rocket
Price Paid: US $150? used
Submitted
07/23/2003
at
08:05pm
by
Anonymous
Features
:
8
Volume, Treble, Bass, Speed and Intensity chicken head knobs.
Guitar and accordian inputs. Red jewel lamp and on/off toggle.
All tube power, low wattage I'm sure, and a 12" speaker. Designated as a Rocket II and made in Linden NJ. Hasta' be a model from the 60's. Blue-ish checkered vinyl covering with grey/silver grille cloth. Leather handle and hardwired tremelo footswitch that looks like a grey door stop. Oozes with genuine 'vibe.
Sound Quality
:
8
Very clean and articulate tone at 1/2 volume. Breaks up nicely with a little throaty authority at full volume...which really isn't very loud. Sexy tremelo...really pulses in a sensuous way with the depth maxed out. I'd forgotten just how sa-weet "real" tremelo sounded. OK tonal control for a 2-band EQ. Sussing the knobs around is fun and satisfying, even though the amp has limited tonal and volume capabilities. Sure can make a strummed chord sound like something off of an old record...that is really a hoot.
Reliability
:
10
It works! The leather strap is cracking. Two of the tubes are silk-screened with the Amped logo...is it possible these are originals? This thing has got to be 30 something years old...I don't know much about vintage and collectible stuff...Except for the inclusion of reverb, this is identical to the Reverberocket I had in HS...in the late 60's. Shoulda kept mine....wouldn't subject this to playing out.
Customer Support
:
10
It's my kid brothers. He's been great. Lets me keep it up at the cabin so we have something to plug into. Been dealing with him for years.
Overall Rating
:
10
Playing 35+ years. It's real value is in it's ability to faithfully re-create some of the sounds I heard on records that I learned to play along with. My brother and I would lift the needle off of an old 45 for hours until we could figure out a chord, learn a lick or jot down a lyric. Amps that perform like this are one of the reasons why people love guitars.
Product: Ampeg R-12A Rocket
Price Paid: US $150? used
Submitted
02/21/1997
at
11:28am
by
J Epstein
Features
:
6
There are 3 inputs, guitar, mic and accordian.1 channel only however. 1 tone, volume tremelo speed and intensity, NO reverb or master volume.
Sound Quality
:
8
This amp sounds great, both clean and overdriven with a footpedal. It does NOT distort very much on its own - but it's got a great, warm powertube sound at all levels. It's pretty loud for a little combo.
Reliability
:
6
This amp uses 2 7591 power tubes which are all but impossible to find. Mine are in no hurry to blow up, but it would make me nervous. I don't gig so I can't comment on actual reliability but it LOOKS built like a tank, point-to-point, eyelet board style construction.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Out of warranty before I ever heard of it!
Overall Rating
:
9
Love the sound, wish it had reverb and more flexible tone controls. Lotta tone and volume for the money.