• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ampeg guru's please assist

spego

spego

Dec 1, 2008
814
28
Scranton pa
#1
Can anyone tell me anything about this cab? It's a 215 but there are no words, plate or info on it. My buddy has it sitting in his basement and it's been around since the 80's but doesn't recall much about it (wattage, ohms, model etc). I think it may be a B25B but I cannot find another one with the white trim around the grill in the front like this one.

Unfortunately the only amp I have/use is a LH1000 and even with the lowest possible configuration (one side of the amp/not bridged) I'm afraid I'd still blow it up if it's only a 100w cab. Just looking if someone knows anything about them before I consider buying it (cheaply). Thanks!
Capture.JPG
 
#2
You won't blow it up as long as you don't put the volume to "11".
I will be important to find out if it's a 4 or 8 ohm cab and find the wattage rating though.
As you can see below at 8 ohms you have a MAXIMUM of 225 watts. Just play it and use your ears.
Here's the LH1000 specs:

Dual Parallel Mode: 2 x 225 watts @ 8 ohms, 2 x 320 watts @ 4 ohms, 2 x 545 watts @ 2 ohms, Bridge Mode: 1 x 750 watts @ 8 ohms, 1 x 1100 watts @ 4 ohms.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bobyoung53, Nevada Pete and spego
#4
I'll have to catch up with him here in the next few days and see if I can get over there and check it out. If so I'll take the cover off and see if I can see what's in there. He's pretty busy working away all week and gigging etc.
 
#5
spego said:
I'll have to catch up with him here in the next few days and see if I can get over there and check it out. If so I'll take the cover off and see if I can see what's in there. He's pretty busy working away all week and gigging etc.
Click to expand...

I meant a picture of the outside of the back, with the speaker plugs. But a picture of the speakers would be nice too, to see that brand of speaker.
 
#6
Yeah I should have asked him today when he was there for a pic. He looked at the back of it to see if it said anything and said only thing there was is one 1/4" jack and nothing else. I'll see if I can get some pics tomorrow or maybe I'll go over in the morning if he's home. Thanks man!
 
#11
In the good old days speakers made a heap of noise per watt. So the power rating might not tell you a lot about how it sounds.

Do you know for sure it hasn't been parked up after being blown up?

You should check it over before plugging an amp in. Battery check. Gentle concentric push on the cones to check for rubbing.

Plug in and play. Not too loud. How loud is too loud? When it sounds like it might blow up. Don't blow it up!

Loud enough? Buy it or leave it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: spego and Nevada Pete
#12
You can get a fix on the impedance of that cab by measuring its DC resistance. For certain reasons, the DC resistance of a cab or loudspeaker will be a little lower than its impedance. As a general rule, a cab rated at 8 Ohms impedance will test out on a Volt Ohm Meter (VOM) as 5 to 7 Ohms. A cab rated at 4 Ohms will test out as 2.5 to 3.5 Ohms. I assume that cab has a quarter inch phone jack for connection to a bass head. Plug in a quarter inch phone to quarter inch phone speaker cable and measure from the tip of the phone plug to the sleeve. If you don't know how to do this, find somebody with a VOM to help you. You will hear a pretty loud pop from the loudspeakers when testing a cab this way.

Before I purchased that cab I would want to remove the back and look at the loudspeakers to see if there are any identifying markings on them that would give you a hint as to their rated power handling. Exercise proper caution and you could probably run the cab with half of your LH1000, assuming the cab tests out at 8 ohms. Make sure both of the loudspeakers are working. Those vintage 2 X 15 cabs were usually pretty sweet.

My guess is the cab is 8 Ohms. Four Ohm cabs didn't become popular until solid state designs were perfected and came into general use. But since you don't know the model or when the cab was made, the only way to know it's impedance for sure is to test it out (unless JimmyM knows, of course). If JimmyM doesn't respond to this thread, PM him. He is the Ampeg guy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: spego
#15
I have an old B25B with two i5's . . . . the cab sounds REALLY good. Unfortunately, it doesn't easily fit into my smallish vehicle so I gig with a pair of SVT-15's instead.

I bought the cab used years ago and the input plate had been replaced and wired at 4 ohms. IIRC there were stories that some B25B's had a slider switch on the plate to select for either 4 or 16 ohm operation.

I'll see if I can find some old pics of the speakers . . . . they still sound GREAT today.
 
#18
spego said:
I met Mr. JimmyM years ago at one of his jobs. I'm sure when he sees this one he'll help me out. He is the man!
Click to expand...
Well I'll do my best, my brother!

I think it's an SVT 215e, definitely an early one. B25B cabs were never made in that style. Couldn't tell you what year, though. You'd have to pull a speaker and check its EIA code.
 
  • Like
Reactions: spego and BasturdBlaster
#19
If you need JimmyM's help, you gotta @ @JimmyM in.

I'm surprised there's nothing on the back that helps. I'd expect some kind of panel like this, even on older models, that would have all sorts of useful information.
AmpegRearPanel.png
 
#20
I'll know Sunday he's away on a gig he does a respectful cars tribute (he's the singer) and he had to travel this weekend. I'm gonna run over Sunday and see what I can come up with. For $100 I'll likely just grab it as long as everything functions on it. He's not someone that doesn't take care of equipment so I'm sure it's 100% functional. He just wants it out of the basement since it's been there forever. Lol
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back