Oliver b120

midi_in · #1 04-16-2011, 07:22 PM

Ive been searching for a good tube bass amp. I found an Oliver b120 for sale. anybody have any experience with one? how do they sound with distortion/fuzz? how loud does it get? im not looking for anything too loud. just loud enough to possibly play small gigs. whats a decent price i should offer? any help would be greatly appreciated!

JimmyM · #2 04-17-2011, 12:49 AM

if it works, GET IT! they were made in the late 60's and 70's by the great jess oliver, inventor of the ampeg b-15. no idea what it's worth, but he made some really nice and unique stuff, so it'll rock tonally. don't expect it to rip your head off, but expect it to have great tone.

stiles72 · #3 04-17-2011, 11:12 AM

Oliver's don't come up very often so I'd jump on it! I just scored an Oliver PA-100XR which is the same thing as the Powerflex 500, just in head format. Anxious for that to arrive!

Cirk · #4 04-17-2011, 11:26 AM

Last I knew, Jess Oliver is still doing amp work up in New Jersey.

JimmyM · #5 04-17-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirk

Last I knew, Jess Oliver is still doing amp work up in New Jersey.

well he lives on long island and worked out of his house, but jess unfortunately retired a year or two ago due to a stroke.

Cirk · #6 04-17-2011, 01:43 PM

I'm sorry to hear that. He's a brilliant amp man. Hope he's doing well.

DHowardAir · #7 04-29-2011, 05:28 PM

Here's an Oliver B120 that I just got in this afternoon. I picked it up for $600 and it seems to be in really good shape. The guy I got it from told me to let the tubes warm up for a couple minutes and she runs fine. Will test drive it over the weekend and get back to you. Oh, I think the serial number is 2767 or 2787, kind of hard to read.

Thanks!

pgk · #8 04-30-2011, 07:47 AM

very VERY cool score. i've got a B200 head

kliff215 · #9 09-17-2011, 08:08 PM

A friend just gave me an Oliver B120. Will try it out tomorrow. it's even got built-on wheels.

JimmyM · #10 09-17-2011, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kliff215

A friend just gave me an Oliver B120. Will try it out tomorrow. it's even got built-on wheels.

GAVE you one? Wow, he must not know what he had, or he must be the nicest person in the world!

Vintage-Blue · #11 09-17-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kliff215

A friend just gave me an Oliver B120. Will try it out tomorrow. it's even got built-on wheels.

I need to get some friends like that!

rodl2005 · #12 09-17-2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kliff215

A friend just gave me an Oliver B120. Will try it out tomorrow. it's even got built-on wheels.

Can you please send me their address. I'd like to be their friend too!

kliff215 · #13 09-18-2011, 11:20 AM

Jess Oliver passed away June 30, 2011. Does anybody know how to determine exactly the worth and date of creation of this amp? Oliver B120 Serial #6197

BassmanPaul · #14 09-18-2011, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirk

Last I knew, Jess Oliver is still doing amp work up in New Jersey.

He passed away earlier this year I believe.

Canjond · #15 05-28-2012, 01:19 PM

Sorry for bringing up this old thread but I'm hoping someone on this forum can help me with a bit of information regarding an Oliver B120 amp. My grandfather passed away a few years back and left me a B120 amp with a separate head (maybe a microphone?) unit - it is a univox UB 250. The amp and head unit look brand new, but I know nothing about this type of equipment so had someone come and check out the amp. It sounded amazing and I was told everything was in perfect working order. In the interim, someone offered me $100 for the amp and head unit. I decided to do a bit of research and came across the posts above. I'm just hoping someone can give me some advice on the value and what a fair offer would be. Id be happy to post pictures or whatever info might be helpful to the experts - i just want to make sure im getting a fair deal if i do sell the amp. I'm located near Albany, NY. Thanks and happy Memorial Day.

coreyfyfe · #16 05-28-2012, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canjond

someone offered me $100 for the amp and head unit. I decided to do a bit of research and came across the posts above.

Good choice, $100 would have been a steal from a buyers perspective, not so much a good deal for you. Can you post some pictures of the units in question? As per forum rules we aren't supposed to discuss value of equipment unless the request is from a supporting member, but getting a better understanding of the gear you have in your possession might help us help you find an accurate valuation.

Canjond · #17 05-28-2012, 01:56 PM

Thanks so much for the reply and apologies for violating forum rules. I do appreciate the help though. I will get pictures posted as soon as I get home. Again, appreciate the forums' help.

beans-on-toast · #18 05-28-2012, 01:56 PM

Don't sell it for $100!

These amps are fairly rare and somewhat obscure which means that when they do come up for sale, sometimes they are quite affordable. By that I mean that they aren't priced in the same range that Ampeg B-15's (also designed by Mr. Oliver) are. Despite the lower prices, they are great sounding amps.

There are Oliver collectors out there and based on your description of the condition, you will be able to get more. Finding a collector is sometimes difficult though. I recently saw one that sold on craigslist for $850. I would look through past ebay auctions for reference selling prices.

Canjond · #19 05-28-2012, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the advice and help again.

Here are some photos that I quick snapped. Please note that the "brown" on the front of the speaker is just some dust (I've had the amp in storage for the last few years). Swiffer took it right off!

Also, as you will see, the head unit does have a scratch on the front face, but is in perfect working order. The mic was also with my grandfather's things.

John D · #20 05-28-2012, 03:20 PM

Man! That is one clean Oliver. I can't imagine why you would want to sell it. If you do sell it, do your research and hold out for a collector.