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Author Topic: B15 models  (Read 24020 times)

itsapleasure

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B15 models
« on: September 12, 2008, 08:26:52 PM »

Any thoughts on the 60s vs 70's B-15s?  I'm aware of the obvious changes, but how about overall tone/value?  Never had a bunch together to compare...

Seems like they're all going for way too much money these days, and the 70's ones aren't really any cheaper.

I picked a really convenient time to 'need' one.  

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Fletcher

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2008, 08:11:27 PM »

What do they go for these days?

Just curious.

I've always been more of an SVT guy but those are WAY cool...
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CN Fletcher

mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33
We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid


"Recording engineers are an arrogant bunch.  
If you've spent most of your life with a few thousand dollars worth of musicians in the studio, making a decision every second and a half... and you and  they are going to have to live with it for the rest of your lives, you'll get pretty arrogant too.  It takes a certain amount of balls to do that... something around three"
Malcolm Chisholm

seedyunderbelly.com

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2008, 09:44:40 PM »

1400-1800

Go 60's

itsapleasure

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2008, 11:00:05 PM »

yeah, it's obscene what they go for.  they were like $300-600 bucks like 3 years ago.  

any reason for '60s other than vibe?  I just missed out on a nice '66 in my neighborhood for like $1100, but @ the store up the street I can get a nice sounding '70s one for like $875.  

I figure maybe I'll grab it and when a nicer one comes along do the swappy swap.  
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pete andrews

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2008, 09:28:52 PM »

i just snagged one for 750 (+140 to ship... seemed like a steal anyway). '67 . it will be here this week - i'll report back.
-pete

seedyunderbelly.com

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2008, 11:53:04 PM »

itsapleasure wrote on Sat, 13 September 2008 22:00

yeah, it's obscene what they go for.  they were like $300-600 bucks like 3 years ago.  

any reason for '60s other than vibe?  I just missed out on a nice '66 in my neighborhood for like $1100, but @ the store up the street I can get a nice sounding '70s one for like $875.  

I figure maybe I'll grab it and when a nicer one comes along do the swappy swap.  



Seems like things are cheap there..  where are you @?

itsapleasure

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2008, 08:53:53 AM »

I'm in Philly...

Nice score Pete...was that on ebay?

Kinda crazy what the price differences can be..  Somebody's actually asking $2800 for one here in town (I think It was out of Sigma Sound, but still).  

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pete andrews

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2008, 10:13:12 AM »

no, not on ebay - scouring music stores online found me one in NM. it has had work done on it though- one of the transfos was swapped out and the rectifier has been converted to solid state. i figured even with these mods the price was still right. we'll see... even if it's a project it would still be worth it for me.
$2800 is downright nutty.

-pete

Fig

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #8 on: September 15, 2008, 03:15:05 PM »

This doesn't really "answer" anything, but good info:

http://members.aol.com/bluemuse/ampeg.html

scroll down and click on "amplifiers" at the bottom.  The article on manufacturing dates and differences is comprehensive.

And then if you're gonna keep it to spec:

http://www.fliptops.net/

...can't recommend them enough.

Good luck, let us know.

Fig

<edit= to fix a broken link>
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The easiest thing to do is the thing most easily forgotten.

itsapleasure

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2008, 04:28:35 PM »

Cool links.  

It turns out the '66 ($1100) is still around.  May just take a little tour this week...
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Nobtwiddler

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Re: A couple two, tree, B-15's
« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2008, 10:15:01 PM »

I own 4 x Ampeg B-15 amps.
And one of the Matchless Thunderman copies.

Out of all of them, the three pictured here are my favorites.
The two newer Ampeg B-15N's from the early 70's (not pictured) also sound great,
but for some reason don't really have the "Vibe" of the two earlier models pictured.

Funny enough, the Matchless sounds great if judged on it's own merit, BUT DOES NOT SOUND ANYTHING LIKE A REAL B-15...

Go figure?

If you can afford it, go for the 60's version.
And I have to say the B-12, is also a wonderful bass amp if you come across one of those buy it~!


index.php/fa/9954/0/

wwittman

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #11 on: September 15, 2008, 10:26:43 PM »

for whatever reasons, the 60's blue tolex ones have THE sound.

the later 70s ones are very decent amps, but not AS amazing.

the reissue is  NOTHING at all like a "real" B-15


I also completely agree about the SB-12
it's the same amp basically but in a single channel...
i have a B-12 top I can easily drag around with me if I know there's a good 1x15 or 1x18  I can use with it.



You still see B-15s for about 1200 if you look (check craigslist)


on the SVT front, I liked the ORIGINAL, very first one a lot... but never liked one nearly as much since.
Until now, when they came out with the SVT VR head.

but they still don't have the speaker cab right (or more accurately, they probably don't have the SPEAKERS in the reissue cabs right)
the original SVT 8x10 cab has a good extra octave in the bottom that the later cabs just don't.
It's why when I use SVTs I usually use 2 1x15s instead.



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maarvold

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #12 on: September 16, 2008, 01:05:01 AM »

18 months ago I bought a 1965, all original B-15N-F (I think that's the whole model #).  The only thing that had been changed were 3 electrolytic caps, but the originals came with the deal.  It's got the blue tolex WW mentioned and it's a wonderful-sounding amp.  Really quiet, lots of tonal range and just plain cool-sounding, but not loud.  One of the power tubes had an (every 15 minutes or so) soft 'tick', so I replaced the power tubes with the same vintage, NOS tubes... Sylvania 6L6GC's with these copper rods internally if I remember correctly.  When I was swapping tube sets I was really surprised how not using that particular tube affected the sound negatively.  
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Michael Aarvold
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pete andrews

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #13 on: September 16, 2008, 09:42:41 AM »

well mine's showing up today - i'm pumped to try it and report back.

-pete

studentcouncil

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Re: B15 models
« Reply #14 on: September 16, 2008, 11:15:17 AM »

I have a cherry B18-x.

Hooked up to a marshall cab it's a pretty great rock guitar amp.
But as a bass amp, it's way overrated, imo.  This is the same head used on the B12x.

Let's not be too romantic, however beautiful these may be to look at.  I honestly get a more useful recording tone with a Peavey solid state amp than with the Ampeg.  

The cabinet on the B15N is supposed to be great, but I don't know if I believe any of the hoohah about this stuff anymore.
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