Ampeg b25b w 215 cab, best sounding rig I ever played thru.

jdubbass38 · #1 11-08-2010, 10:37 AM

This past Saturday I was finally able to gig with my new ampeg b25b head and matching 215 cabinet. I had no idea what to expect since the cabinet was just finished Friday, so I was coming into this gig not even knowing what it would sound like. I was totally blown away by the sound/tone that this head/cab put out, it was huge and definitely the best sounding bass head/cab I have ever played thru. At 55 tube watts this setup can move a lot of air and the sound was just amazing! Huge lows, surprising since this cabinet is not very deep but it is wide and the mid and highs were right there too. I was able to get a nice warm growl, something I could never get my SVT CL to do. It’s a bit heavy to move but I guess easy compared to an 810 cabinet since this is a lot lighter. I don’t think I can gig with anything else, this is the tone I have been looking for! As others have said, nothing compares to the vintage ampeg tone and it’s definitely worth lugging this thing around.

shoot-r · #2 11-08-2010, 10:43 AM

They really do sound great, and surprisingly loud.
I'd like to see Ampeg reissue these, with Neo speakers of course...

stiles72 · #3 11-08-2010, 10:45 AM

Gotta love a nice 2x15 Ampeg rig!

kevmoga · #4 11-08-2010, 02:39 PM

This was my first real rig back in the 70s. Killer tube tone, plenty of volume - I've played through a lot worse since. Kinda wish I still had it, at least the head.

JimmyM · #5 11-08-2010, 10:56 PM

nice! but why did you guys set up not facing the audience?

Tusec · #6 11-09-2010, 02:11 AM

You guys have definitely got the right gear -- simple no-frills Pearl drum kit, old school tube Ampeg bass rig, 68/69 Fender Pro Reverb on tilt-back legs for the guitar. You can't help but sound good with gear like this. What kind of music do you play?

Oren Hudson · #7 11-09-2010, 06:14 AM

Your rig, in fact, as Tusec said, the whole outfit, looks good. The only thing that you might consider is putting the B25B cab on its cart with wheels, or at least some wheels. Much easier moving like that. Good job and keep on enjoying the rig.

glivanos · #8 11-09-2010, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stiles72

Gotta love a nice 2x15 Ampeg rig!

+1 Just picked up a B25b cab used over the weekend to use with my V4b head. Sounds killer so far!!

jdubbass38 · #9 11-09-2010, 10:40 AM

Thanks for all the positive comments!

We were playing in a large church that had a interesting setup; we were in the middle of the church on an angle facing the other half of the seats. Everything kind of angled down to the middle so that was the only flat area in the whole place to set up. I am currently playing in a Christian rock/praise group, we get around the west Michigan area playing retreats, rally’s, and any other kind of events. Anyways, again this rig was just amazing sounding, it blows my other gear out of the water. I am really surprised that 55 watts can sound so loud, that was the only thing I was worried about, possibly being under power but it can really move some air.

Thanks again,

jdubbass38 · #10 11-09-2010, 10:42 AM

I shoud add that Fliptops did an awesome job on the new front grill we ordered from them, it fits perfect.

Oren Hudson · #11 11-09-2010, 09:32 PM

jdubbass38 - Based on the posted photo, I noticed that you don't have the channels daisey chained. Get you a short instrument cable and hook one input of one channel to the input of the other channel. You'll notice a volume increase along with the ability to use ALL of the controls of BOTH channels at the same time.

vistacruiser · #12 11-10-2010, 01:37 AM

I love mine also. My first real amp. Bought used in '76 (1969) Sooo glad I never sold it off. It's surprisingly gig worthy. I have newer/bigger rigs and I always try to get them to sound like the B25-b.
I see you are plugged into channel 2, which I agree is the better bass channel, as Oren said, try linking from 2 bright to 1 normal and use both. I set up 2 for deep mids and 1 for mids and highs then blend vol.

Another cool trick is to replace the rectifier tube (5AR4) with a solid state rectifier (cheap), I went back and forth on this and decided I like the punch and headroom I get with the ss recto compared to the compression of the tube. YMMV, but seems like the ss rectifier added a few watts.

What year is yours? Have you experimented with preamp tubes? As you know, tube amps will sound a bit different with each new 12ax7 you try. I'm trying a new Sovtek 12ax7 LPS in ch1, no verdict yet, but I highly recommend the Tung-sol for ch2, it made a vast tone improvement for mine. Keep it in mind for when you feel like you need a tube change.

Well this got long in a hurry, enjoy a great amp!

JimmyM · #13 11-10-2010, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdubbass38

I shoud add that Fliptops did an awesome job on the new front grill we ordered from them, it fits perfect.

right on. fliptops is a very cool company.

Din Of Win · #14 11-10-2010, 10:12 AM

I didn't need to hear this

Last week i passed on a b25b head for $250... I've had the matching 2x15 for a decade now...

oh well

jdubbass38 · #15 11-10-2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oren Hudson

jdubbass38 - Based on the posted photo, I noticed that you don't have the channels daisey chained. Get you a short instrument cable and hook one input of one channel to the input of the other channel. You'll notice a volume increase along with the ability to use ALL of the controls of BOTH channels at the same time.

I have heard others talk about daisey chaining the 2 channels on these old heads on talk bass, I will have to try it. I din't even think to do this, thanks for the heads up! I am not sure of the year, is their a way to tell? I know its most likely later 70's and magnavox built, other then that I have no idea.

thanks again,

-Justin

pedro · #16 11-10-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glivanos

+1 Just picked up a B25b cab used over the weekend to use with my V4b head. Sounds killer so far!!

How? Why?

jdubbass38 · #17 11-10-2010, 10:43 AM

Is their any extra tube or component wear if I link the 2 channels compaired to running 1 channel? Again, this is new to me.

thanks,

JimmyM · #18 11-10-2010, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdubbass38

Is their any extra tube or component wear if I link the 2 channels compaired to running 1 channel? Again, this is new to me.

thanks,

nope, that's how folks got preamp distortion before separate master/gain. well, there might be a little tube wear, but hardly worth caring about.

KramerBassFan · #19 11-10-2010, 12:28 PM

Why would there be tube wear?

BassmanPaul · #20 11-10-2010, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KramerBassFan

Why would there be tube wear?

Well some folk like to dress up their tubes. A nice cooler slipped over the glass and a cool pair of shades makes the amp sound really rad!