Ampeg B-15 Appreciation Post

[Slaplord88]

Over this past weekend I played a small gig which had a 1967 B-15NF for a backline. It's been a few years since I played a B-15 and I guess I just forgot how great they can sound. The thing looked pretty rough and plugging in, I expected some quirks - rattling, farting out, etc. To my pleasant surprise I'm met with a very warm, sweet, articulate tone. Immediately sounds so balanced and "just right" with a p-bass and flats.

I have a modern V4 & SVT 212 AV setup and I have a micro-vr stack with a single 2x10. Both amps sound great and can dial in a more modern sound, but both seem a bit dry/sterile/hollow in comparison. Something about that rich b-15 texture that just brings the magic.

The one caveat is that it was a pretty quiet show - a trio of acoustic guitar, drums and bass. With volume set around noon, I could feel I was brushing up against the limits of what the amp wanted to comfortably provide. This makes me very interested in the newer portaflex options (pf-50t or pf-20t), and I'm curious just how much of the old vibe is captured.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

I couldn't speak to how accurate it was to the original, but the PF-20T I owned was a fantastic amp. It would have needed a lot more cab to be viable for live use in my context, so it had to find a new home. Tone was great on it though, had a very clear but round top end. I hate to use buzzwords but it definitely felt open and alive, great little amp.

 

[roycroft_88]

My 67 has a few cosmetic mods but it makes me smile every day

 

[ajkula66]

I've owned several dozens of bass amps over the past 45+ years.

The only one that I wish I still owned...a circa '69 B-15.

 

[metron]

67 with transition grill cloth

 

[JimmyM]

Over this past weekend I played a small gig which had a 1967 B-15NF for a backline. It's been a few years since I played a B-15 and I guess I just forgot how great they can sound. The thing looked pretty rough and plugging in, I expected some quirks - rattling, farting out, etc. To my pleasant surprise I'm met with a very warm, sweet, articulate tone. Immediately sounds so balanced and "just right" with a p-bass and flats.

I have a modern V4 & SVT 212 AV setup and I have a micro-vr stack with a single 2x10. Both amps sound great and can dial in a more modern sound, but both seem a bit dry/sterile/hollow in comparison. Something about that rich b-15 texture that just brings the magic.

The one caveat is that it was a pretty quiet show - a trio of acoustic guitar, drums and bass. With volume set around noon, I could feel I was brushing up against the limits of what the amp wanted to comfortably provide. This makes me very interested in the newer portaflex options (pf-50t or pf-20t), and I'm curious just how much of the old vibe is captured.

I love the 50t because it sounds like a V4b, which is traditionally my favorite tube amp overall. A little polite low end boost goes a long way towards capturing what makes a B15 cool. However, another school of thought is “accept no subs for a good old B15.” I think both schools of thought have their merit, but when you get supplied amps on the road and you have to use whatever hunk of crap that shows up instead of the SVT/810 you ask for, you learn to be adaptable

 

[Ric Vice]

Over this past weekend I played a small gig which had a 1967 B-15NF for a backline. It's been a few years since I played a B-15 and I guess I just forgot how great they can sound. The thing looked pretty rough and plugging in, I expected some quirks - rattling, farting out, etc. To my pleasant surprise I'm met with a very warm, sweet, articulate tone. Immediately sounds so balanced and "just right" with a p-bass and flats.

I have a modern V4 & SVT 212 AV setup and I have a micro-vr stack with a single 2x10. Both amps sound great and can dial in a more modern sound, but both seem a bit dry/sterile/hollow in comparison. Something about that rich b-15 texture that just brings the magic.

The one caveat is that it was a pretty quiet show - a trio of acoustic guitar, drums and bass. With volume set around noon, I could feel I was brushing up against the limits of what the amp wanted to comfortably provide. This makes me very interested in the newer portaflex options (pf-50t or pf-20t), and I'm curious just how much of the old vibe is captured.

If you’re considering the purchase of the PF 20 or 50T’s I’d recommend go with the higher wattage PF 50 if you can possibly afford it. More headroom .

 

[Lo-E]

I certainly appreciate my ’66 nf.