So I missed my chance for an Ampeg B15...

Tommygunn · #1 06-30-2010, 12:15 PM

I'd like to see pics of other people's and how much they spent and ect ect. I'm determined to hunt one down now. Thanks

nickyn99 · #2 06-30-2010, 12:54 PM

I had one (a 72) and sold it. Personally I like the B15N better, the
B15S seemed to break up too fast when I needed the volume and that's why I bought it in the first place because it is suppose to be louder than the B15N. I was told by a couple guys in my area that have owned them that that is a charachteristic of the B15S, that yes it is louder but breaks up/sounds distorted when played at louder volumes. If that is what you are looking for great and hopefully you will find one.

Cheers

Tommygunn · #3 06-30-2010, 02:24 PM

IIRC there is the B15, B15N, and B15S right? I don't remember which one it was actually, we figured out which one I was looking at in another thread but I'm lazy.

What are the differences?

pfschim · #4 06-30-2010, 02:59 PM

AFAIK, There is no B15 without a letter designator after it.

B15N - were all tube design and came in 2 different cab types, double baffle and thiele small parameter design. These different cabs could also be loaded with different drivers, either a Jensen or the "upgrade" JBL (D-130?) These amps had 2 major revisions 1962 and then 1968 or so. They were built into the mid 70's or so.

B15S - had a solid state rectifier (supposedly tightens up the low end)

There are other versions of B line amps too, like:
SB12
B18N
B15R (more recent "reissue" series)

anyway, good luck and good hunting

Tommygunn · #5 06-30-2010, 04:06 PM

I was looking at the B15N, it had tubes.

JimmyM · #6 07-01-2010, 02:06 AM

the original b-15 was called a b-15. but it really wasn't perfected yet.

anyway, they're all great, they're all different, and you will definitely like some more than others. i have a 64 b-15n and used to have a 77 b-15n. sold the 77 because even though it was great, i liked the 64 just a little better. but the guy i sold it to likes the 70's b-15n's better so we're all happy

mrnasty · #7 07-01-2010, 08:41 AM

I bought an early 1970s B-15N earlier this year. It's in good working condition, but had a few tears in the covering and a rip in the speaker grill, and it my be ready for a re-cap in a year or so. I paid $700, but I bought it from the estate of a bandmate's dad. I based my price on his asking price of $800 and my first offer of $600. Since then I've seen similar amps for about $1,200. The first thing I did was to order a cover and a few odds-n-ends for it from fliptops.net. While its only 35 watts, I'm still trying to figure out how I've played bass for over 30 years without owning one of these amps, since it gives me the exact sound I've always wanted.

plangentmusic · #8 07-01-2010, 09:32 AM

A B15 with a P bass is not exactly a modern sound, but it's probably the purest bass tone you'll ever hear.

main_sale · #9 07-01-2010, 09:58 AM

I paid $500 for this '67 about five years ago. It's in superb condition with the original tubes axcept for one power tube. I have no plans to sell it.......ever.

snowblinder · #10 07-01-2010, 02:18 PM

Paid $700 for this B-15N about three years ago. I replaced the 7027 tubes with Svetlana 6L6-GC's. All of the preamp tubes are RCA and Magnavox, probably original. Looks like the transformer on the right was either replaced or re-mounted to the chassis differently than original, as it is slightly elevated off of the chassis.

It sounds excellent for recording on its own. Very pure, as someone else said. However, I just use my VT Bass pedal with it, as well as an additional cab (TL-606 style with an EVM-15L speaker) when I want a ballsier, more SVT-esque sound in the studio.

Tonedeaf Hack · #11 07-01-2010, 03:24 PM

This' is a great thread:
Official Ampeg Portaflex Club Part II

I don't mean to be nosy, but what happened with the B-15 that you trying to buy? Did they sell it, pull it, or would have the repair cost been prohibitive?

stiles72 · #12 07-02-2010, 09:26 AM

I have a '63 B15-N that I gig with regularly. I bought it in really rough shape and restored it with help and advice from the folks on the Portaflex Club thread. I had read an article with Jess Oliver where he recommended using a 4 ohm speaker and a solid state rectifier to get a little more power out the B15, so I waited until a '63 showed up on Ebay. ('63's had a factory ss rectifier - other years like Jimmys '64 have a tube). I paid $800 for it back then, and stuck about $300 in it for restoration. I had Jess recone the original speaker to 4 ohms, and I did the cabinet work. The head itself didn't need any work but I have since changed the original logo bulbs to LED's. With the economy being what it is - ones as tore up as mine would go for much less today. Even though total cost came in at $1100 restored, I still feel it was worth it because it looks and sounds great. And because it was a restore and not a museum piece - I'm not afraid to gig out with it.

Before:

After:

Luckydog · #13 07-02-2010, 09:52 AM

I paid $100 for a 66 B15 5 yrs ago that a guy was trying to trade along with a crappy bass at GC. The GC guys said they wouldn;t be able to sell it cause it was old and had a damaged front grill cloth. I brought the guy out in the parking lot and gave him $100 on the spot. I did tell him it was worth more, but in fact that was all the cash I had and we were both happy.

Bassflute · #14 07-02-2010, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pfschim

AFAIK, There is no B15 without a letter designator after it.

B15N - were all tube design and came in 2 different cab types, double baffle and thiele small parameter design. These different cabs could also be loaded with different drivers, either a Jensen or the "upgrade" JBL (D-130?) These amps had 2 major revisions 1962 and then 1968 or so. They were built into the mid 70's or so.

B15S - had a solid state rectifier (supposedly tightens up the low end)

There are other versions of B line amps too, like:
SB12
B18N
B15R (more recent "reissue" series)

anyway, good luck and good hunting

twice the power (60 devastating watts), a bigger cab, more tone controls, and weighed a ******* TON if you had the optional Altec-Lansing (pre-JBL) speaker in it. BRUTALLY heavy, and the most awkward lift imagineable for one person. And for all that, you got a weak amp with fluffy, loose tone, barky, clanky midrange, no treble, and is barely able to keep up with a modern drummer, especially these days.

Been there...1976 to about 1978 or so...

If I was rich, I'd probably own one for nostalgic reasons, stick it in the studio for when I wanted pure fluff, but as far as being a daily driver...nah....I probably wouldn't go back to a '76 Pontiac, either, in modern traffic...30 feet long, drum brakes, vinyl bench seats...yech! Not when there's Berg IP's around...with a tube pre...1,000 watts...

Cheers,
Cameron

Bassflute · #15 07-02-2010, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stiles72

I play bass - not treble!

even string basses have 'treble'...a good one has frequencies extending beyond 20kHz...

And nice old Ampeg...good job on the retrofit...

Cheers,
Cameron

Tonedeaf Hack · #16 07-02-2010, 12:34 PM

Stiles72, that cab looks great.

JimmyM · #17 07-02-2010, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassflute

twice the power (60 devastating watts), a bigger cab, more tone controls, and weighed a ******* TON if you had the optional Altec-Lansing (pre-JBL) speaker in it. BRUTALLY heavy, and the most awkward lift imagineable for one person. And for all that, you got a weak amp with fluffy, loose tone, barky, clanky midrange, no treble, and is barely able to keep up with a modern drummer, especially these days.

Been there...1976 to about 1978 or so...

If I was rich, I'd probably own one for nostalgic reasons, stick it in the studio for when I wanted pure fluff, but as far as being a daily driver...nah....I probably wouldn't go back to a '76 Pontiac, either, in modern traffic...30 feet long, drum brakes, vinyl bench seats...yech! Not when there's Berg IP's around...with a tube pre...1,000 watts...

Cheers,
Cameron

lol...1000 watts! i guess i'm one of the few real men left

me and stiles, that is.

stingray56funk · #18 07-02-2010, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

lol...1000 watts! i guess i'm one of the few real men left

me and stiles, that is.

Hey...me too! I've got two Portaflexs!

JimmyM · #19 07-02-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingray56funk

Hey...me too! I've got two Portaflexs!

are you gigging them? i know a lot of folks with b-15's who wouldn't dream of gigging them, thus making them only halfway there to real-man-dom. otoh, you're already way more of a real man than cameron

stingray56funk · #20 07-02-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

are you gigging them? i know a lot of folks with b-15's who wouldn't dream of gigging them, thus making them only halfway there to real-man-dom. otoh, you're already way more of a real man than cameron

Jimmy...I gig mine, I post about it quite frequently in the Portaflex thread.

I am a manly man!