• 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.

Do 70s b15s have that b15 magic?

Jared Houseman

Jared Houseman

Jul 5, 2018
738
793
#1
I have a 1973 or 1974 b15 up for sale around me locally. I think it's 73 or 74 because the standby switch is on the back and it still has a two prong power chord. The price is pretty good and in my budget.

I'm sure it's a great amp but I'm not sure it'll give me that b15 magic I'm after. From all my reading it seems like a cathode biased, double baffle b15 is what I want.

This 70s b15 is fixed biased, has the Hi and low switches, and has the slot port thiele cab which general doesn't seem to get much love. I'm not sure what speaker it has.

I haven't actually gotten to play many b15s so maybe I'm overstating how different this amp is from earlier models. Do yall think this amp will get me the tone I'm looking for or should I just wait for an older one to come along? I'll be moving to Nashville soon so there will be a lot more b15s around me for sale. My budget will probably be a little lower though and it'll be harder to get a good deal.
 
#2
I actually prefer the thiele cab, I found the double baffle was rather congested, but it was THAT sound. One could get a close approximation of the baffle cab with the 70s version, but not the other way around. It really is the cab, the amp doesnt have as much impact on the overall sound. If one were really devious, one could get a second cab and have the option to run either way?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kindness, ajkula66, dbsfgyd1 and 1 other person
#3
of the B15's I have used over the decades, I much preferred the early 60's versions with the slightly lower watts, double baffle cab and cathode bias. I have found the latter versions to sound/feel more brittle at least to my ears. They all have at least part of "that sound" but IMO/IME, the earlier 60's versions were the real deal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop
#5
I suggest you will get more important tone stuff from speaker selection. I went through different drivers to fine the magic one:

The Original - not sure the brand or model - silver, square mudmagnet - but because it was original (afaik, the amp was bought from the guy who had a really nice collection, and in fact wrote a book on Ampeg’). I just took it out to save for future.

JBL D140 … made the whole amp sound like the JBLD 140 - such a distinctive sound. That speaker is now in a tune cabinet being powered by a Fender Showman -a fabulous pairing.

Eminence (I forget, but it’s what everybody would recommending as a replacement) - it sounded OK but it tended to fart on larger deeper notes.

Altec 421 … I think that’s it. I’d have to open up the Cab to be sure. But that is mate made in heaven.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ajkula66
#6
Jared Houseman said:
I have a 1973 or 1974 b15 up for sale around me locally. I think it's 73 or 74 because the standby switch is on the back and it still has a two prong power chord. The price is pretty good and in my budget.

I'm sure it's a great amp but I'm not sure it'll give me that b15 magic I'm after. From all my reading it seems like a cathode biased, double baffle b15 is what I want.

This 70s b15 is fixed biased, has the Hi and low switches, and has the slot port thiele cab which general doesn't seem to get much love. I'm not sure what speaker it has.

I haven't actually gotten to play many b15s so maybe I'm overstating how different this amp is from earlier models. Do yall think this amp will get me the tone I'm looking for or should I just wait for an older one to come along? I'll be moving to Nashville soon so there will be a lot more b15s around me for sale. My budget will probably be a little lower though and it'll be harder to get a good deal.
Click to expand...
Interesting point. Recollecting about 60’s and 70’s Ampeg rigs, I thought their cabs were a significant, even underrated part of the magic of an Ampeg rig.
Ender_rpm said:
I actually prefer the thiele cab, I found the double baffle was rather congested, but it was THAT sound. One could get a close approximation of the baffle cab with the 70s version, but not the other way around. It really is the cab, the amp doesnt have as much impact on the overall sound. If one were really devious, one could get a second cab and have the option to run either way?
Click to expand...
 
#7
Blue said:
I suggest you will get more important tone stuff from speaker selection. I went through different drivers to fine the magic one:

The Original - not sure the brand or model - silver, square mudmagnet - but because it was original (afaik, the amp was bought from the guy who had a really nice collection, and in fact wrote a book on Ampeg’). I just took it out to save for future.

JBL D140 … made the whole amp sound like the JBLD 140 - such a distinctive sound. That speaker is now in a tune cabinet being powered by a Fender Showman -a fabulous pairing.

Eminence (I forget, but it’s what everybody would recommending as a replacement) - it sounded OK but it tended to fart on larger deeper notes.

Altec 421 … I think that’s it. I’d have to open up the Cab to be sure. But that is mate made in heaven.
Click to expand...
Ive been keeping my eye out for a jbl 140. Ill have to add an altec 421 to the list
 
#11
Jared Houseman said:
Do you know what the difference between d/k/e 140s? I know that the power handling is different but how does the tone differ? People talk about these speakers pretty interchangeablely
Click to expand...

E140 is *very* different from the previous 140 series units, both in construction and sound. While I love that speaker it would NOT be first my choice for a vintage Ampeg. It's a significantly brighter - at least to my ears - speaker than its older siblings.

Altec 421 or even 821 is likely to be a much better fit.

My $0.02 only...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back