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Double Bass Ampeg B15

#41
ThunderLizard said:
I use my early 70's B-15 for just about all my gigs. It is a little heavy but I think it's well worth it for the tone and the vibe. I figure if this amp won't cover the gig, then we're trying to play too loud!!
I've seen a couple of the reissues on e-bay, but they always go out of my bidding range.
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Amen brother. I've only had my B15s a couple of months but I've taken it on a couple jams and think its fine if you're playing with guys that know how to control their volume. Music should be played w/ dynamics, IMO. And if the B15 is a pig in terms of its lbs to volume ratio than you must admit its a godsend in terms of its lbs to tone ratio. ;)

FWIW, I know Jeff Campbell who is the bass professor at Eastman School of Music gigs on upright w/ the B15. He's a bit of B15 geek.
 
#43
superman said:
I have a early 70s b15,it sounds fine with a electric bass,, but when I put the upright through it it makes a pop with the note ,,you would think the speaker is busted, but I have tried another speaker, and another cabnit just to be sure thats not it,I had new tubes put in 5 yrs or so ago,, and still have the pop,,I was told it might need caps??? anyone ever heard of this problem?? I'd love to get it back 100%, and use it.
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Have a tech look at it. Could be tubes or filter caps or the speaker could have been blown out and needs reconed. It could be a combination of those things or something else entirely. You can't diagnose stuff like that on the internet. It's gotta be on the repair bench.
 
#44
pedro said:
FWIW, I know Jeff Campbell who is the bass professor at Eastman School of Music gigs on upright w/ the B15. He's a bit of B15 geek.
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True, he's got 3 or 4 of them; I used one for a recording session (in Eastman 120) a few years back. I think he's actually got 3 B-15's and a B-18. But he's also got a GK MicroBass and I'm sure he uses that for a fair amount of gigs. I'm sure it depends on a number of factors as to which amp he uses, but I suspect he uses the GK more than the B-15's.

He's a lucky guy though... I guess people know he likes the B-15's and he told me once that he just gets word from people about them through the grapevine. I gather he usually finds them for a pretty darn good price too... I'll have to try to get in on that action!
 
#45
McGryff said:
True, he's got 3 or 4 of them; I used one for a recording session (in Eastman 120) a few years back. I think he's actually got 3 B-15's and a B-18. But he's also got a GK MicroBass and I'm sure he uses that for a fair amount of gigs. I'm sure it depends on a number of factors as to which amp he uses, but I suspect he uses the GK more than the B-15's.

He's a lucky guy though... I guess people know he likes the B-15's and he told me once that he just gets word from people about them through the grapevine. I gather he usually finds them for a pretty darn good price too... I'll have to try to get in on that action!
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I have no idea what how much he uses his b15 vs his GK. What I can tell you is that he schleps his b15 all the way to Wisconsin when he comes in for Birchcreek. I'd say that probably gives an indication of what his preference is.

P.S. He's a very nice man.
 
#48
Just to go back on the tone thing, I use the B15 with a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].
Without the Sadowsky, the sound is a bit muddy... that pedal is a killer with the Realist on the DB.

DBass' Realist to Sadowsky pedal to B15 preamp.
Settings are:
Sadowsky: Vol 12oclock, Treble 1, Bass 10
B15: bass channel with bass @noon and treble all the way down

Exquisit :smug:


As an added note, this pedal also sounds great on DB to a Thunderfunk 550 (and Epifani UL112)... recorded, it creates that amazing cut through sound, hallmark of Sadowsky...
 
#49
superman said:
I have a early 70s b15,it sounds fine with a electric bass,, but when I put the upright through it it makes a pop with the note ,,you would think the speaker is busted, but I have tried another speaker, and another cabnit just to be sure thats not it,I had new tubes put in 5 yrs or so ago,, and still have the pop,,I was told it might need caps??? anyone ever heard of this problem?? I'd love to get it back 100%, and use it.
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I took my B15 to the Amp Doctor the last time it needed work. They did a fine job with it, and were surprisingly reasonable. Those guys seem to understand old amps.
 
#55
matskull said:
How does a vintage 1963 b15-n compare to a vintage original svt for studio use only?
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Depends on the sound you're after - both should work great, assuming that what you want is what they do. Well, and that you can run an SVT at full power without either destroying the building or incurring the wrath of the neighbors and local constabulary. :)
They're certainly different animals - I'd love to have an SVT here in my room, but I haven't come across the right deal yet.
 
#57
The SVT and the B15 are two totally different sounds. The SVT is big loud aggressive and fat, with an edge, the B15 is small,quiet, round, less defined and very warm. The B15 mics up easy and sounds better on tape than it does in front of it. The SVT is not near as impressive on tape as it is standing in front of it.
 
#59
matskull said:
Oh really? I think weezer recorded the blue album with one of these. Anybody else can agree that those translate better to tape than svts?
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That needs to read as the SVT sounds pretty darn fantastic on tape. Venerable sound really. My point was more that recording it doesn't really match the experience of standing in front of it. Moreover between the two I prefer the B15 on tape unless its a really heavy rock session that needs the bright cutting thing you get from an SVT/Pbass/pick.
 

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