I'm about to do something the average person wouldn't understand (B15,PA 135)

**nutdog** · #1 09-17-2011, 10:30 PM

A couple of vintage pieces of musical equipment have put themselves in front of me and I'm having a hard time resisting even though I don't really need them.

Item one:

A 1967 Ampeg B15 described as "super cherry, never been gigged, always in the studio". I'm going to look at it Monday.

Item two:

A 1976 Fender PA 135 described as "bought new, used once and then put in climate controlled storage". I've seen pictures of this and it looks brand new and I think the tubes say Fender on them. They've been stored in the fender covers.

Both of these items seem to be at or below market value prices. Most of you are familiar with the B15. I've never played one and I'm going to look at it just so I can. The fender would make a nice bass or guitar amp but I'm thinking of using it as a PA for my oldies group. Black and white vinyl speaker columns. What could be cooler? But, given the weight, it will probably be my basement PA.

To most people this may seem like a waist of resources on old stuff that has been improved and made obsolete. But I'm kind of thinking about it as a piece of history that will never be available again that looks like it did on the showroom floor.

What do ya'll think? And what could I expect from a tube PA that hasn't been used in 35 years? What should I look for on the B15?

timsmcm · #2 09-17-2011, 10:32 PM

I say go for it if it is nice. Cant loose.

phatbass · #3 09-17-2011, 10:36 PM

If the head's been stored, I can pretty well guarantee that it'll need cap replacement as they would have dried out.

This is NOT a major job on an old valve amp; in fact just about any job is easy as long as the transformer is o.k.

I'd go for it, but do keep this in mind.

mpdd · #4 09-17-2011, 10:42 PM

i think it's really cool, but then again i'm fascinated with older equipment

JimmyM · #5 09-18-2011, 01:26 AM

No idea about the Fender head, but for the B-15 you should look to make sure it works

Maybe check out what kind of speaker is in it...the originally came with CTS Ampeg-labeled speakers or JBL D130's as an upgrade.

**nutdog** · #6 09-18-2011, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpdd

i think it's really cool, but then again i'm fascinated with older equipment

Me too. I think it comes from growing up in the 70s. Things were still simpler but moving into the computer age. I like new stuff but I get more of a kick out of flying a J3 cub than a new Cirrus with a glass cockpit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

No idea about the Fender head, but for the B-15 you should look to make sure it works

Maybe check out what kind of speaker is in it...the originally came with CTS Ampeg-labeled speakers or JBL D130's as an upgrade.

Thanks. I'll do that. I might make sure the fender works, too.

He's also got a big stud that should be cool to check out.

JTE · #7 09-18-2011, 11:13 AM

The PA135 head is OK if you have high impedance mics as the amp only has 1/4" inputs. But those speakers suck big time.

Hohn

BassmanPaul · #8 09-18-2011, 12:11 PM

if the Fender is tubed both it and the B15 will need some TLC. As advised the caps will likely need to be replaced. The multi cap can for the B15 can be found at Antique Electronics www.tubesandmore.com

**nutdog** · #9 09-18-2011, 12:43 PM

I'm somewhat more sober than I was last night and I'm beginning to think the idea is more romantic than the reality.

Some pics of the PA

bassteban · #10 09-18-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutdog

A couple of vintage pieces of musical equipment have put themselves in front of me and I'm having a hard time resisting even though I don't really need them.

Item one:

A 1967 Ampeg B15 described as "super cherry, never been gigged, always in the studio". I'm going to look at it Monday.

Item two:

A 1976 Fender PA 135 described as "bought new, used once and then put in climate controlled storage". I've seen pictures of this and it looks brand new and I think the tubes say Fender on them. They've been stored in the fender covers.

Both of these items seem to be at or below market value prices. Most of you are familiar with the B15. I've never played one and I'm going to look at it just so I can. The fender would make a nice bass or guitar amp but I'm thinking of using it as a PA for my oldies group. Black and white vinyl speaker columns. What could be cooler? But, given the weight, it will probably be my basement PA.

To most people this may seem like a waist of resources on old stuff that has been improved and made obsolete. But I'm kind of thinking about it as a piece of history that will never be available again that looks like it did on the showroom floor.

What do ya'll think? And what could I expect from a tube PA that hasn't been used in 35 years? What should I look for on the B15?

It's waste.

I've played through a similar PA head- IIRC it was far louder than anything I'd palyed before- mind you this was likely the late 70's & I was a very inexperienced teenager. I doubt I'd rocked anything over 30 watts.

will33 · #11 09-18-2011, 12:56 PM

This average person understands and thinks it would be a cool idea if you've got the extra dough lying around. We all know what the B15 is all about. The fender is basically a bassman135 with more inputs. They'd need some overhauling as said but, cool stuff.

**nutdog** · #12 09-19-2011, 02:50 PM

Saw both items today:

Seemed to be in pretty good shape considering it's only one year younger than me. It works. Had a bit of a hum that got better with the ground switch flipped, but I played it through an old bass that wasn't in too good of shape. Which I'd brought mine. At the risk of sounding sacrilegious the tone didn't bowl me over as something better than other stuff I have.

Anybody know the significance of the R.W.H.? Anybody want to balkpark a value on it or share their thoughts?

bobcruz · #13 09-19-2011, 05:16 PM

R.W.H. are the initials of a previous owner--Ampeg offered customers the option of having their initials engraved on the badge.

dhsierra1 · #14 09-19-2011, 05:53 PM

here's a thread on the PA135 fwiw.

Fender PA 135

If it were me I'd get both if they're in reasonable condition and a good price and you have the means. The PA135 I'd likely use as a keyboard amp or practice room PA, just snag some of those XLR to 1/4" adaptors w/the proper transformers in them.

No idea what the drivers are in the columns, but someone posted here they're not the best. See what size drivers are in there, check the inner dimensions, run some WinISD calcs w/likely candidate replacements and see what you come up with. Or just use better cabs.

As for the B-15, clean it up and rock the joint for recording and low volume gigs and rehearsals

Just my 0.02, I'm a collector of old school stuff, much as I like the modern gear.

**nutdog** · #15 09-19-2011, 06:08 PM

I saw that thread. I looked at the PA today also but when I got there she couldn't find the speaker cables so I didn't get to test it. It looked really nice. She's a pianist/organist and used it once in the 70's, then it sat in her house. The amp was covered and the speakers were in her music room for decoration. She retired and sold the house and the stuff is in a storage room. Definitely all original and she was a very sweet lady. She has the reverb switch and manual. I can't really think of a good use for this but I may get it just to look cool in the basement. When I go back I'll measure the speakers. They look like 8s but could be 10s. Probably good enough for basement use.

If you like old stuff the b15 guy had some neat things lying around including this:

Indiana Mike · #16 09-19-2011, 06:18 PM

Quote:

If you like old stuff the b15 guy had some neat things lying around including this:

I assume an old Leslie ?

**nutdog** · #17 09-19-2011, 06:20 PM

Yes, the big one, next to a C3. He had 4, all different.

dhsierra1 · #18 09-19-2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutdog

I saw that thread. I looked at the PA today also but when I got there she couldn't find the speaker cables so I didn't get to test it. It looked really nice. She's a pianist/organist and used it once in the 70's, then it sat in her house. The amp was covered and the speakers were in her music room for decoration. She retired and sold the house and the stuff is in a storage room. Definitely all original and she was a very sweet lady. She has the reverb switch and manual. I can't really think of a good use for this but I may get it just to look cool in the basement. When I go back I'll measure the speakers. They look like 8s but could be 10s. Probably good enough for basement use.

If you like old stuff the b15 guy had some neat things lying around including this:

I think there's some TB regs against posting porn

Seriously, the Hammond/Leslie rig is gorgeous, bet it sounds fantastic, ain't nuthin' like the real thing. Looks like you've got yourself a real find

I like your idea of snagging the PA135 head and columns for a basement PA, I use a venerable 1978 Peavey 400 PA head and 1210TS columns w/a handful of impedance adaptors for the mics (only hi impedance 1/4" inputs, but no big deal) and it works great for vocals and my Kurzweil keyboard for practice in my music room. Plenty of volume and the sound is just fine. Even w/drums. I'll bet the Fender and columns would work well. And if not, in that condition you could flip it for some good change.

Hope you can snag all that. And if he doesn't want the Hammond/Leslie rig let me know

JimmyM · #19 09-19-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutdog

Seemed to be in pretty good shape considering it's only one year younger than me. It works. Had a bit of a hum that got better with the ground switch flipped, but I played it through an old bass that wasn't in too good of shape. Which I'd brought mine. At the risk of sounding sacrilegious the tone didn't bowl me over as something better than other stuff I have.

Anybody know the significance of the R.W.H.? Anybody want to balkpark a value on it or share their thoughts?

The cab has been retolexed but everything else looks original. I don't know what I'd offer, but I doubt I'd go 4 figures.

stiles72 · #20 09-19-2011, 11:27 PM

How would you describe the black tolex on the B15? Is it pretty thin - almost like a stiff paper - as opposed to what you see on modern amps? Reason I ask, is to me it looks very much like the tolex on my '67 - similar look, similar wear, similar speration at the corners. If it's fairly thin - maybe its a transition cab that was originally slated to be covered in blue (see the blue overspray inside, and sans route for the silver piping) but was given black tolex and the '67 grill treatment.