The selling prices of these amps tends to vary a lot depending on time of the year, the economy, situations that create a demand. Where you live makes a big difference. They must be rare in Perth. The prices have been climbing since the release and all the publicity of the Ampeg Heritage B-15N.
I can't tell you if $1K AUD is fair. It seems reasonable. There is a group of Aussie's discussing the cost of amps here (
Strong Aussie dollar but where are the benefits?). You might want to ask them what they think of this price.
It is important that any old amp be inspected and brought up to spec by a qualified service tech before you put the amp into service. So once you buy the amp, it is going to cost you a little more.
Things to look for when buying a B-15:
What condition is the amp in?
Is there a lot of rust on the chassis?
Are the transformers original? A changed power transformer is common. I like to see at least an original output transformer.
What year was the amp made? If you know about these things you can make a educated guess by looking at the amp. The best way to tell is to look at the date codes on the pots under the chassis.
Have any modifications been performed? What was done?
Has the amp been serviced? The power supply capacitors need to be replaced with time. The original two conductor power cord should be replaced with a three conductor cord for safety reasons.
Have the tubes been replaced?
Do the tone pots affect the sound when rotated from one extreme to the other?
Do all the switches work?
Is there a crackling or any noise when the pots are turned?
Is there any hum or noise when the amp is at idle? Normally these amps are very quiet.
These are all things that will cost you more if you have to have them looked at. Some are easily fixed, while others cost a bit more. There isn't anything that can't be fixed on these amps.
There were also different versions of the B15 amps. If you are looking to cop the sound of a particular player, find out which version of the B-15 they were using.
These amps sound great when plugged into different cabinets but you should be aware that the cabinet is part of the B-15 sound. In the early 60's the cabinet was what was called a double baffle design. In the 70's it changed to a Thiele based design. These cabinets sound different. If you want a matching cab, you can build your own or buy a reproduction model. Check out
Vintage Blue for the best bouble baffle cab you will find available.
Fliptops is another source for cabinets as well as parts.
