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Ampeg B-15 thread... first ever?

#23
metron said:
Anyone else have experience running the B-15 head through other cabs?
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One of the studios I record in has an old B-15 head in the main room that powers a 2x15 cabinet in an isolation room below the main room. It sounds huge. It would certainly be enough stage volume for me at any of my gigs, though I would guess that I'm in the minority. When recoridng, I've always combined that signal with a DI through an Avalon U5. Depending on the song I favor the mic or the DI.
 
#24
Ben Clarke said:
Which circuit is the older style? I assume it's the one with 6L6GC and 6SL7, rather than the 7027 & 12 volt preamp tubes?
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Check out the various B-15 schematics here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Anyone with a good vendor for NOS 6SL7 tubes that are not wildly microphonic, I'd appreciate a heads up.
 
#25
Ben Clarke said:
Which circuit is the older style? I assume it's the one with 6L6GC and 6SL7, rather than the 7027 & 12 volt preamp tubes?
Click to expand...

The 7027-based is only the 70s B-15S. It shared the same essential design as the B-25B head and the V-4B.

The B-15N essentially kept the same design all the way through.
 
#26
Funkster said:
Believe it or not I have been on the hunt for a nice V4B and/or B25B, I almost had a sweet V4B someone was looking to trade here at TB but we couldn't get the deal together.. :crying:
Sooner or later I'll have the whole family of Ampegs :cool:
I would love a V4B for gigging!!!
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There's someone selling a V4B I think in the classifieds that may still be available.

I love my B-25B and matching 2x15 (which I used in high school and bought from them). I owned a V-4B, too, but got rid of it about 10 years ago. Same with a 70s B-15 and a SB-12.

The B-15R - not so good. Not bad, but not the same.

The B-15N will always be with me as will the B-25B. All others I have a feeling may come and go. I would love to find a good condition B-18 at some point though.

The new Mesa Walkabout Scout 15" I got I like tho ... time will tell on that one ...
 
#27
I used to think of them in a similar manner to bassmans. We used them for keys, changed speakers and used them for guitar. I had N' & F's and loved them all.

Ended up with a deal on an S in Jan '75, kept it until Dec '04. Loved that one also. used it a bunch, wedding bands, cowboy bands, beatle reviews, 50's shows, Dinner clubs, High School gigs w/ support. Very functional.

Every time I heard, I need a bass amp for the bedroom or practice or smal venues or ... I always responded B15N or F.

Kinda suprised I do not own one now.

YMMV,
Weslsey R. Lonnquist
 
#28
Funkster said:
Believe it or not I have been on the hunt for a nice V4B and/or B25B, I almost had a sweet V4B someone was looking to trade here at TB but we couldn't get the deal together.. :crying:
Sooner or later I'll have the whole family of Ampegs :cool:
I would love a V4B for gigging!!!
Click to expand...

Henry,

I told ya look for a regular V4 there seem to be more around and I've heard they sound killer for bass. Like you told be before you should have kept that b25b stack you had! I want to play my Lakie HB through your B15 sometime. That'd be sweet! How close is the circuitry of the B25B to the B15? My B25B is awesome though my Fender Bassman 215 (the one made for the recent Fender/Sunn 300 watt tube head)?

Jeff
 
#29
Passinwind said:
Anyone with a good vendor for NOS 6SL7 tubes that are not wildly microphonic, I'd appreciate a heads up.
Click to expand...

I avoid plain 6SL7's for that very reason. I think they're ALL microphonic. There is a stash of about 50 NOS 6SL7's from the 40's and 50's locally and I want no part of them. I've had VERY good luck with 6SL7WGT's, the military shock rated version, which have shorter plates and better supports. Of course there's always the 5691.... ;)
 
#31
Psycho Bass Guy said:
I avoid plain 6SL7's for that very reason. I think they're ALL microphonic. There is a stash of about 50 NOS 6SL7's from the 40's and 50's locally and I want no part of them. I've had VERY good luck with 6SL7WGT's, the military shock rated version, which have shorter plates and better supports. Of course there's always the 5691.... ;)
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks. I have an old Allied Radio PA "breadbox" that I put a fairly beefy output transformer into, and it uses octal preamp tubes. I need a little more poop than 6SN7 gives. Bummer, since I got 15 nice ones in a 5 dollar grab bag. I haven't messed with octal tubes much in a long time, so I appreciate the info.

Sorry for the hijack guys. I'm not nearly as conversant with Ampegs as I am with Fenders and some of the other common tube guitar amps.

On topic: Anyone else have experience running the B-15 head through other cabs?

I ran mine through the E-V Eliminator knockoff cab for a couple of years. It was cool, but like so many horns it sounded better the further away you got, and with the B-15 that was a little kooky, IMO.
 
#32
i bought a B-15N about this time last year when i saw one out of the blue on a pick up only about 2 hours from my house on ebay. i had never heard of it, but i knew i wanted a tube amp so i bought it, for like 475 or something

to make a long story short the guy hurt his hand and stashed it in a warehouse for who-knows how many years. it still had the ORIGIONAL TUBES and everything! they were in perfect condition, no microphonics or ANYTHING, a mullard rectifier, sylvania preamp and GE power tubes. the kickeer was that i went arownd the whole thing to count tolex nicks and there was maybe 3 on the WHOLE THING

i took it into a shop to get the power tranny fixed(common problem) and the tech bout pissed his pants :cool:

that thing sounds like heaven... i gotta get rid of it to pay for recent auqisitions :hiding: , but maybe if i get some more money up over the summer ill catch another one :bawl:
 
#33
Do you mean a power supply? It's pretty unusual to have transformers go bad on these, and expensive as well!

Anyone do anything with the damping in the cab on these? I had pink fiberglass insulation laying in the bottom of mine when I got it, blocking the port completely. I yanked it out and put a couple of Deflex panels on the back panel. Much less boxy sounding.
 
#34
B15.jpg


My Baby - 1964 B15NC. Original CTS square magnet speaker. I love it. Tone for days.
 
#35
I have a couple of B-15's, an early tube version and a later solid state version. Actually I prefer the solid state model, it has a real nice recording sound and doesn't fart the speaker quite as much. Depends if you like that tube distortion thing, IMO it's a bit better for live work than studio.
 
#36
I bought my 1963 B15N from its original owner in 1982. The previous guy had used it while he was in the Air Force, and the amp went around the world with him (and looked it!).

What a great sound. I finally retired it and now I use a 2004 B100R, which is only 35 lb lighter, with no fragile (and rare and expensive) tubes. The B15N is a stone classic. Every one ought to own at least one.
 
#37
Ben Clarke said:
Do you mean a power supply? It's pretty unusual to have transformers go bad on these, and expensive as well!

Anyone do anything with the damping in the cab on these? I had pink fiberglass insulation laying in the bottom of mine when I got it, blocking the port completely. I yanked it out and put a couple of Deflex panels on the back panel. Much less boxy sounding.
Click to expand...

no it was the power tranny. ive heard many times that people have had them go bad, and it was most definatly expensive
 
#39
main_sale said:
I've got a 1967 B-15-N along with a modern B-100R and a B-15R & E. The new ones look cool but they don't come close to matching the tone of the '67. The '67 is special.
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amen, i played the reissue and after telling the sales guy i had an origional he asked how they compared and i just laughed and looked at him like he was crazy
 

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