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Ampeg B-15 thread... first ever?

#241
Let's say I wanted to use a B15 head with a much larger cab of modern production. What would be the most efficient medium-large cab that would still retain some of the general flavor of the original cab?

E.g. I know Schroeder cabs are supposed to be super efficient, but I suspect they would be way off the mark tonally. I know there are modern repro's of the original cab, but I suspect they would be extremely inefficient. Is there a cab that would allow me to have that cake and eat it too? Especially in a neo/UL form?
 
#243
I may get another B series amp or two before it's all over for me, but this one will be the one they bury me with.
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Jimmy, having spent my first full week with mine I completely understand. In my case though, I have no plans (or need) to take mine with me because I have a very talented son in music school that I plan to leave all of this too. I won't have a lot of $$ to leave him but so far, there is a 64 L series jazz bass and now a B15 and V4B as well as some nick nacks.
 
#244
madlee said:
velcro was invented in the 50's.

On my B-15n cabinet, the grill is held on with screws.

However, on my B-15s cabinet, there are no screws.

Do you actually have any experience with this cab?
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OK, so I got the velcro thing wrong. But B-15 S you say? Sorry, my eyes are going...I thought it was a B-15 N you wrote. Can't help you there. Never mind.

:hiding:
 
#245
Let's say I wanted to use a B15 head with a much larger cab of modern production. What would be the most efficient medium-large cab that would still retain some of the general flavor of the original cab?
Click to expand...

How much bigger? I'm not technical in the least but I've been using the Carvin 1503 w/ my Ampeg V4B with very good results. You might also want to consider some of the Bill Fitzmaurice designs. In either case, I would consider asking Greenboy or Bill Fitzmaurice, as well as some of the real knowledgeable folks what they think.
 
#246
bongomania said:
Let's say I wanted to use a B15 head with a much larger cab of modern production. What would be the most efficient medium-large cab that would still retain some of the general flavor of the original cab?

E.g. I know Schroeder cabs are supposed to be super efficient, but I suspect they would be way off the mark tonally. I know there are modern repro's of the original cab, but I suspect they would be extremely inefficient. Is there a cab that would allow me to have that cake and eat it too? Especially in a neo/UL form?
Click to expand...
I've plugged my B-15N into 4 cabs, the original, a Tube Works 4-10", an SVT, and a Markbass Mini 12" combo cab, and it sounded awesome in all of them. The magic of the B-15 is in the head. Nothing wrong with the cab at all, but I've never been a big 15" guy unless it's blended with another cab.
 
#249
bongomania said:
Let's say I wanted to use a B15 head with a much larger cab of modern production. What would be the most efficient medium-large cab that would still retain some of the general flavor of the original cab?
Click to expand...
All modern 15" MI speakers are within a couple of dB of each other, so it's back to defining how low you want to go, and how big it can be. Then start looking at drivers or cabs, but don't beleive the manufacturer's specs usually. A modern 15 isn't going to be much different in efficiency to the CTS.
 
#251
Sure, but I'm not talking about just the drivers, I'm talking about the whole cab. So I can see your point if I was building my own cab and looking for the "best" drivers to go in it- but I'm actually asking about an off-the-shelf complete package, which will vary considerably in efficiency. Note too that I didn't ask "which cab will project 28 Hz cleanly and loudly" ;) but put forth more of a complete tonal goal. My purpose is to extract as much "loudness" as possible out of the amp head without adding another power amp, while still sounding somewhat tonally like the original.
 
#252
pedro said:
Jim I'm curious my B15S has a strange looking plug that goes into its cabinet (not the standard 1/4" plug). How did you plug into the other cabs? Or did you mean you used the others as extension cabs?
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Mine was adapted. The original speaker cord was pulled out and the previous owner installed a 1/4" jack on the head and cab both. But he drilled the cab in the back instead of putting it on the side, so now Jess has to plug it, reinstall a 4-pin, then put the right speaker cable like yours on the head. Idiot previous owner.

You have to buy an adapter for other speaker cabs. Fliptops sells a set of adapters for both the cab and head for $45:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#254
pedro, CTS is the speaker company that made most of the original speakers for Ampeg products in the 60's and early 70's.

Bongo, ever thought of a 4-ohm driver? Jess says a B can safely take 4 ohms in its 8 ohm inputs. Run two 4 ohm cabs, that brings you to 2 ohms. At that point it would be pushing around 100w.
 
#260
Also- it will instantaneously improve its resale mojo
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But that only matters if you plan on selling it. My feeling is that B15 are forever. ;)

Anyhoo, I guess if Jess is nearby, and the cost refurbish is reasonable (including shipping, etc.) than do it. Otherwise, its difficult for me to believe that a good local tech wouldn't be able to fix whatever is wrong with it.
 

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