Ampeg B15S feedback appreciated

Mark H. · #1 12-18-2010, 05:35 PM

One of the drummers I work with found one of these with Altec speaker and matching extension cabinet that is a one owner, re-tubed a few years ago, that is now for sale. Visibly it's in very good condition acording to the photos. However it's 8 hours from my house one-way.

I've seached the foums and there is a wealth of information on the "N" models and I only found a little on the "S" models.

For those who own them or know about them... I"m looking for help with.

Reliability:
Red-Flags I should look for?
Experience using it with a 5-string
Overall tone from your experience (is it the vintage Ampeg tone or ?)

Yes I know it's 130 pounds or close to it, that is not a concern.

Thank you, I appreciate your help

coreyfyfe · #2 12-18-2010, 05:40 PM

the S was a beefed up model. 12AX7 based preamp, 7027 power amp, 60 watts (instead of 30 in the N). Still has that ampeg sound, but a little different from the classic B-15N as far as I can remember. A bit more aggressive/mid-focused.

spendidfender · #3 12-18-2010, 05:49 PM

You need Jimmy M. for this!
He's on TB somewhere today.

JimmyM · #4 12-18-2010, 06:02 PM

actually corey got him covered pretty well. i have not played one, but i've yet to hear anyone say a bad word about it. and the altec is the original upgrade speaker, so i imagine it kicks it hard.

Mark H. · #5 12-18-2010, 06:24 PM

Thanks guys,

I even saw one post in doing my search where a person built a head-cabinet to lighten the "schlep" factor a bit. If I get it I will likely only gig with it a few times a year in the right settings but I want to learn as much as I can before I make the decision to take a day off of work for the drive and spend $120 in gas money just to get there and be disappointed. That's always the chance, but the more I can learn here the more informed my decision will be.

Thanks again,

Mark

robgrow · #6 12-18-2010, 10:29 PM

Of all the Ampeg B-15's I've owned or played through in the past 40 years or so, the best of the lot was a B-15S with an Altec 421. I sometimes wish I hadn't let that one go. A really great amp.

JimmyM · #7 12-18-2010, 11:08 PM

dang, it had better be the best one out of the lot for an 8 hour drive! i love b-15's but i think i'd rather pay to have it packed and shipped than lose a day out of my life to pick it up. those things are tanks so i wouldn't even give it a second thought. i've shipped mine a couple times and it was fine...just pack it smart. it'll cost maybe $150-200. you'll spend way more than that driving in wear and tear costs plus the emotional distress of a 16 hr drive. an hour, maybe two? sure. even 4 if it's primo. 8? no way...it could never live up to the hype after two 8 hour drives in one day

banikek · #8 12-18-2010, 11:20 PM

I thought I read on TB that the B-15s amp was the same or similar to the B25B? It is nice to have the head separate from the cab. Spreads out the weight.

Chris

JimmyM · #9 12-18-2010, 11:28 PM

kinda sorta similar, but the b25b runs at 8 or 16 ohms while the b-15s runs at 8 or 4.

Mark H. · #10 12-19-2010, 10:41 AM

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback.

christw · #11 12-19-2010, 11:18 AM

My late $.02: If the price was right (including gas, your time, and food costs factored in) I would make the drive. Then again, I'm a rash, young lad who loves a random adventure every once in a while. You wouldn't have to tell me twice to hop in the car with a friend or my girlfriend and go for a drive.

Mojo-Man · #12 12-19-2010, 11:56 AM

I played a B15S for years.
If you like the Ampeg tone, you will love it.
With the extra cab, it will kick ass.

JimmyM · #13 12-19-2010, 12:16 PM

wow, missed the extra cab part. yes, an extension cab rules on b-15's!

Mark H. · #14 12-19-2010, 12:58 PM

Christw... I agree. I have a buddy who's on vacation this week and will make the road-trip with me. Take along some grocieries, pop, and coffee and I'm good for the run. And I'm 47...but drive a lot for my work and like driving so....

Yes it has a matching extension cabinet with the Altec speaker, covers for both units all for $750 + about $120 in gas & food.

JimmyM · #15 12-19-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark H.

Christw... I agree. I have a buddy who's on vacation this week and will make the road-trip with me. Take along some grocieries, pop, and coffee and I'm good for the run. And I'm 47...but drive a lot for my work and like driving so....

Yes it has a matching extension cabinet with the Altec speaker, covers for both units all for $750 + about $120 in gas & food.

dude, in that case...GO!!! you think it'll sound good by itself? wait till you pop an extension cab onto it! is it an actual ampeg extension cab or a fliptops replica? either way it should rock.

robgrow · #16 12-19-2010, 01:06 PM

To me this is a no brainer... Go get it!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark H.

Christw... I agree. I have a buddy who's on vacation this week and will make the road-trip with me. Take along some grocieries, pop, and coffee and I'm good for the run. And I'm 47...but drive a lot for my work and like driving so....

Yes it has a matching extension cabinet with the Altec speaker, covers for both units all for $750 + about $120 in gas & food.

christw · #17 12-19-2010, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark H.

Christw... I agree. I have a buddy who's on vacation this week and will make the road-trip with me. Take along some grocieries, pop, and coffee and I'm good for the run. And I'm 47...but drive a lot for my work and like driving so....

Yes it has a matching extension cabinet with the Altec speaker, covers for both units all for $750 + about $120 in gas & food.

GO GO GO GO GO

The price is more than right, the additional cab is great! Tell that guy you want it if it works cause it's worth more than that! Plus you get a road trip in there for free.

I gotta get me some connections so I can get deals like that...

Mark H. · #18 12-19-2010, 04:01 PM

It's on-hold awaiting my adoption.

Jimmy,

My understanding is he purchased both units at the same time and it has the same Altec speaker, so yes I believe it's an Ampeg extension cab. Either way it'll be a nice feature to have.

Connections... Well I'm just lucky in this case that my drummer-friend who I play with in my primary gig played bass about 5-7 years ago in a variety band and he has the same taste for "old school" that I do. He was on a business trip and found this unit and thougth I would have an interest.

I started playing mid/late 70's in in late 80's had a serious hand injury that took me out of playing for about 18 years (missed it terrible just never thougth I could play bass again) so I sold all my gear, most of which is now vintage stuff that is desireable. So four years ago when I was blessed with being able to play at a semi-pro level again I've been trying to regain some of that old-school tone/feel that my ear remembered from back in the day... I just haven't found anything that sounds quite like true tube-amp tone, other than the real thing... Despite the weight, it's the price we pay for the sweetness it provides. Although I'm loving my NV610 which I learned about here on TB while I was hunting a good flatback frig.

Thanks again guys, I"ll try to put up a photo of it when I get her home in a few days.

Best wishes for a blessed holidays,

Mark

JimmyM · #19 12-19-2010, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark H.

It's on-hold awaiting my adoption.

Jimmy,

My understanding is he purchased both units at the same time and it has the same Altec speaker, so yes I believe it's an Ampeg extension cab. Either way it'll be a nice feature to have.

right on. i use an extension cab with my 64 b-15n and as hard as it rules by itself, with the extension cab, you get so much more depth of tone and you come close to doubling your available output. and mine doesn't even have altecs or jbl's.

yeah, i think you'll love it

jkav · #20 12-19-2010, 08:06 PM

Hi Mark,

I hope you do grab that amp. I took an even longer drive than the one you're facing (19 hrs each way!) to that gentleman's home to buy a beautiful, all-original mid-70's Fender P-bass from him. I tried out the bass through the very amp you are considering.

The Ampeg is in nice shape and really does sound fine -- especially with the extension cab. Just so you're not disappointed upon arrival, however: the extension cab is home-made. It's pretty well done (they used the Ampeg cab as a model, and the head can be stored in the extension in the normal flip-top manner). It does have the Altec speaker in it; as I said, the rig sounded phenomenal when both cabs were connected. I'd say the deal is worth it even if you only want to pull the extra speaker for a backup.

I ended up not picking up the Ampeg, but only because I already have two Mesa heads (a Mesa D-180 and a Buster) and two Mesa cabs (a 2x10 and a 4x10, both Diesels) -- and when I do get another rig, it'll be one less likely to wreck my back than what I have already. Still, I do somewhat regret not grabbing that amp as well -- it really sounded great.

Please say hello to Paul for me -- he's a great guy.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Edit: As far as I know, he bought the Ampeg and the P-bass at the same time; while I didn't ask, he might well have bought the spare Altec speaker then, too.]