B15R small venue and practice

[jknoxdmd]

Seems the B15r suffers because it is always compared to the B15n which is fair since it was supposed to be a reissuse but how is it as a tube amp on its own for practice and small venues? Does it give a nice warm tube sound and the sweet overdriven growl?
I'm looking for a tube amp for home and small venues playing blues and classic rock. Are the bigger tube amps (ampeg, orange, etc....) to big where the volume has to be turned up to get the sound I want.
Thanks John

[main_sale]

I have a '67 B-15-N and a 2001 B-15R/15E. The B-15R is quite different from the B-15-N but it's a really good sounding amp on it's own. I have the extension cabinet for it and that helps alot in larger venues but for work in the local blues clubs the B-15R at 100 watts is fine on its own. It is also fabulous for practice and IMHO is one of the best looking bass amps ever made.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by jknoxdmd

Seems the B15r suffers because it is always compared to the B15n which is fair since it was supposed to be a reissuse but how is it as a tube amp on its own for practice and small venues? Does it give a nice warm tube sound and the sweet overdriven growl?
I'm looking for a tube amp for home and small venues playing blues and classic rock. Are the bigger tube amps (ampeg, orange, etc....) to big where the volume has to be turned up to get the sound I want.

usually they are, yes. 100w amps are generally accepted as the amps to crank in smaller venues, although they can get very loud too. no experience with the b15r but if i were looking to crank a tube amp and be able to have a clean sound, i'd consider it.

[stiles72]

The B15R is a great amp. Probably one of my favorite Ampegs. It's not a true B15N, but it's also not just a V4BH with Portaflex cosmetics. It's it's own animal. If you are lucky enough to score one, you won't be disapointed.

[bassjnky1]

I have played through the B15r at a local blues bar and have been pleasantly surprised at the volume and tone it put out - definitely sufficient for a small venue even with 2 or 3 guitars blairing and a drummer.
Last summer at Smilefest, an outdoor music festival in N. Carolina, I saw Felix Pastorious play his live set with one and it sounded fabulous. Yes, it was plugged DI to the board. I had a chance to ask him about it and he said that the rig was not his - that it was the available stage rig. Anyway, he sounded great.

[Caca de Kick]

I love using mine for the small venue stuff, sound great and gets a nice overdriven sound.