Paired My B-15N Amp With My Ampeg 810 Tonight

PolkaHero · #1 07-15-2011, 09:30 PM

Finally got my '77 B-15N amp back from the shop (channel two didn't work) and for kicks hooked it up to my Ampeg 810AV cabinet. You wouldn't think that 30 watts would rattle the walls of my garage but it did! I think I'm going to use this amp at tomorrow night's gig with my Bergantino NV610 as my SVT-VR is in the shop. I think it will keep up even with our loud drummer!

Dethrats · #2 07-15-2011, 09:32 PM

id like to see a picture of a b15 head on a 810. bet it looks sweet.

**B-string** · #3 07-15-2011, 09:40 PM

Number of speakers will trump wattage (as you just found out the easy way)

JimmyM · #4 07-15-2011, 10:27 PM

I would easily believe it, because I've done it my own self! It's definitely not a quiet little rig when you do that.

PolkaHero · #5 07-15-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Number of speakers will trump wattage (as you just found out the easy way)

Yeah, hopefully the NV610 performs as well. It should as its efficiency is 103 db whereas the 810 is 100 db.

PolkaHero · #6 07-15-2011, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I would easily believe it, because I've done it my own self! It's definitely not a quiet little rig when you do that.

My only complaint and this goes for my SVT-VR as well are the stupid audio taper volume pots that Ampeg was using at the time (and probably still does). The '66 B-15N I also have (still in the shop) has linear volume pots, a much smoother taper which allows you to fine tune the overall volume better. I may just get these changed out in the future if I end up using this amp for "smaller" gigs.

JimmyM · #7 07-15-2011, 11:19 PM

If those heads start breaking up around the 11:00 mark, that's about where they should start. Are you getting breakup earlier? I have no idea what kind of pots they have, but I'm not bothered by the way they work.

Caca de Kick · #8 07-16-2011, 01:47 AM

I've done similar. One recent practice, my Titan blew a preamp tube so it quit making sound. To keep going I plugged in the only other amp I had had the jam pad to my Boogie 8x10, the '63 Fender Concert amp. Nobody else turned down at all and I was still able to keep up just enough.

coreyfyfe · #9 07-16-2011, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PolkaHero

My only complaint and this goes for my SVT-VR as well are the stupid audio taper volume pots that Ampeg was using at the time (and probably still does). The '66 B-15N I also have (still in the shop) has linear volume pots, a much smoother taper which allows you to fine tune the overall volume better. I may just get these changed out in the future if I end up using this amp for "smaller" gigs.

If they have audio taper pots then they aren't original. The schematics I have for the B-15N, V4, and SVT all show "1M Lin." for the volume pots. The tone controls are log, but the volume pots - at least stock - should all be linear. If they had audio taper pots on the volume controls you'd have the crank the volume above noon to get anything out of these things.

PolkaHero · #10 07-16-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

If those heads start breaking up around the 11:00 mark, that's about where they should start. Are you getting breakup earlier? I have no idea what kind of pots they have, but I'm not bothered by the way they work.

I get breakup around the 11 mark, but there is no volume until it hits the 8:30 mark or so. Just seems to me it should be more gradual like the '66 model performs.

JimmyM · #11 07-16-2011, 09:45 AM

Can't say I was ever bothered by stuff like that. I figure that's the way it works, and I'll work with it.

**B-string** · #12 07-16-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

If they have audio taper pots then they aren't original. The schematics I have for the B-15N, V4, and SVT all show "1M Lin." for the volume pots. The tone controls are log, but the volume pots - at least stock - should all be linear. If they had audio taper pots on the volume controls you'd have the crank the volume above noon to get anything out of these things.

Exactly. With audio taper people complained they had to crank the volume way up to get volume so it must be a weak amp.

PolkaHero · #13 07-16-2011, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Can't say I was ever bothered by stuff like that. I figure that's the way it works, and I'll work with it.

Sorry, Jimmy but I'm what people call an "idealist".

PolkaHero · #14 07-17-2011, 01:33 PM

Tried the B-15N/Bergantino NV610 combo last night. It was an outdoors gig and sad to say the B-15N had a hard time keeping up with my drummer. I had the volume at about 1:00 with my Fender Roscoe Beck (which is passive) and it was starting to clip which I don't want at all. I guess I'll have to reserve this for small halls and/or when my drummer uses his shield.

I'm going back to my SVT-VR/810AV rig for all outdoor festival/large hall gigs from now on. I can never get to the "sweet spot" which is about 10 feet away from the cabinet where the bass really speaks (we're always cramped for space on stage), so I'm going to need speakers as close to my ear as possible. I guess there might be a NV610 for sale in the near future. . .

rodl2005 · #15 07-17-2011, 04:53 PM

I am often having to stand pretty close to my rig also. I usually sat my NV cab on a crate or case, to get the NV's speaker up nearer ear level. Made a big difference