the way we hear it.. is different than this guy is hearing it.. there's a few versions for the B15.. Just like the svt.. just saying.. so we must not be getting it right.. so I usually go the opposite direction.. because more ideas more chances of getting the solution.. for him my guess is the feel of pushing the power tubes and how if you reduce the treb and bass it increases the mids.. creating a nice roar.. push the volume up and the magic begins.. also if it had the Jensen speaker in it that would also help the tone..
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Does anyone make a B15 in a pedal format?
- Thread starter MDBass
- Start date
the way we hear it.. is different than this guy is hearing it.. there's a few versions for the B15.. Just like the svt.. just saying.. so we must not be getting it right.. so I usually go the opposite direction.. because more ideas more chances of getting the solution.. for him my guess is the feel of pushing the power tubes and how if you reduce the treb and bass it increases the mids.. creating a nice roar.. push the volume up and the magic begins.. also if it had the Jensen speaker in it that would also help the tone..
I often gig with a B-15. But, lately I’ve been gigging with a B-18. 50 watts and quite a bit louder than my B-15. My 1967 B-18 sounds exactly like the B-15 except it can keep up with a very loud drummer. The 18” speaker is just as responsive as a 10”.
The road case for my B-15 is plenty strong and it can take a beating and I am looking for one for the B-18. These are not delicate amps. They are work horses.
I play in a loud country rock / outlaw/ southern rock band.
Get a B-15 or B-18. Plenty of people tour with them.
The road case for my B-15 is plenty strong and it can take a beating and I am looking for one for the B-18. These are not delicate amps. They are work horses.
I play in a loud country rock / outlaw/ southern rock band.
Get a B-15 or B-18. Plenty of people tour with them.
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,890
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
I'm planning on purchasing a B-15 for my studio but using for my touring dates, the majority of which are fly dates in Latin America and frequently festival stages, isn't in the cards.
Last edited:
Makes sense. Ampeg used to make a great tube “SVT” DI. What kind of basses do you use?
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,890
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
The issue with the box you're suggesting is it doesn't seem to really have subtle settings, I checked out a few more video samples and they're all in the doom/fuzz wheelhouse. Which makes sense since it's design to emulate a cranked Sunn amp.
There's a difference between a little power tube saturation, which seems to be what I'm looking for since the REDDI isn't giving me what I'm after, and full on power tube fuzz insanity like the first video.
It's a cool pedal, but it sounds like a one trick pony: a B15 can do that sound and dozens of others.
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,890
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
A little bit of everything: a lot of P's these days, but still have a jazz and more modern stuff like Dingwall as well. This will likely be used with the P basses and the Mustang primarily.
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,890
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
Appreciated the kind words man: it's been some years since I used the VT personally, and the few video demos I look up in the last 24 hours still had that presence area harshness I'm not looking for, but already having an in with the builder makes at least trying it again a no brainer
It's not really about the pedal. It's narrowing it down.. The tone in your head... A little saturation or a lot.. I suggested the linden as the pre.. And a power amp pedal.. To complete the sound.. I don't think one pedal will cop the sound.. If you run out single pedal ideas.. Then break it up into parts.. The next I really want is nunez annex bass channel.. Reacts like a tube amp.. I wish you luck amigo!
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,890
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
Appreciate the suggestions. As I mentioned in the OP, it's big ask, which is why I'm willing to pay for it.
The B15 can do clean, fuzz, and everything in between all while being musical and maintaining dynamics and evenness across the fretboard: that's the unicorn
Ok. Got home and fired things up.
Went with a PB into the front of an SWR SMS-400 driving a Goliath Junior 2x10. This is a very clean hifi-ish (is that a word?) type rig. So anything you hear when it’s EQ is set as flat as it can be set is pretty much what you’re putting into it.
With my setup you get a mild but musical bit of breakup with the Linden’s volume dimed (volume is post EQ on the Linden btw) that edges into a very gentle hint of fuzz depending on the EQ settings.
Obviously the higher you crank the bass and treble knob, the more drive you’ll get. It doesn’t slam the input hard like my Broughton Alex-1 Bax can. But that box has separate gain and volume controls and a very large amount of gain on tap. I can plug a set of headphones into it and it’ll drive them. So my unobtainium Alex-1 definitely has more grunt and output flex than the Linden.
Barber doesn’t publish tech specs on their website. And I’m guessing the Linden wasn’t really designed to double as an OD. But it does get some of that ambience on certain settings.
What it doesn’t get is that power stage touch of tube compression like you get when you push a glass head like a B-15 has.
So while much of the same sonic vibe is there, the note response is slightly different. Not a big huhu for me since I’ll usually rock something like a PB with just a hint of compression to get a little more “smoove” anyway. And with some judicious comp knob twiddling you can get it close enough to pass muster with all but the purists. At live stage volumes it’s definitely more than close enough.
That said, I still think a mild OD like Fifth Gear works better for me with the Linden. But I’m not big on grit most times, so don’t take anything in my opinion as golden. There’s people here who know and use OD/Dist/Fuzz far more and better than I ever will. And they’re much more qualified than me to offer an educated opinion on that topic.
Hope this was helpful.
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,890
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
Definitely was: I already own a 5th Gear, and in some ways it's quite similar to the range of dirt sounds you'll find on a B15 going from almost clean to heavily clipped fuzz.
The Linden is now on my (ever growing) Christmas list
Last edited:
I'd like to give another perspective on the Shaw Tube Injection. It's been my go-to pre for a while now and I'm liking it. It's not designed to dial in overdrive/distortion, but it can be done. When I'm playing with my passive P, it's mostly clean with just a hint of breakup when I really dig in on a solo, which I feel is perfect. However, I found that with a high output active bass, or with a gain boost in front of the pre, you can get into pretty serious fuzz territory. I don't know that it's the be all end all of pre's, but it's definitely a solid piece of gear. I haven't had the pleasure of playing through a real B15, so can't comment on the comparison. By the way, there was a Shaw TI lingering in the classifieds recently at a great price... I don't know whether it sold or not.
Definitely was: I already own a 5th Gear, and in some ways it's quite similar to the range of dirt sounds you'll find on a B15 going from almost clean to heavily clipped fuzz.
The Linden is now on my (every growing) Christmas list
It’s still on $99.95 intro pricing. So it’s definitely a good time to grab one.
Appreciated the kind words man: it's been some years since I used the VT personally, and the few video demos I look up in the last 24 hours still had that presence area harshness I'm not looking for, but already having an in with the builder makes at least trying it again a no brainer
Sounds like they all likely had bite engaged, but it's hard to blame them as Tech 21 lists it as engaged in literally all of their recommended settings (probably still a holdover from when it wasn't defeatable).
FWIW I like what bite adds to my chain.
With that being said, I've tried the stock recommended "flip-top" setting and really wasn't a fan, but probably more for EQ reasons than any other facet (too mid-forward for my taste).
Oh well, just goes to show how different all of our tastes and goals are, even with a relatively narrow focus like this. That goes for me and you as well as designers like Tech 21.
Last edited:
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,890
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
I used to have a baffle board b15 n with the jbl speaker. You know , the “desirable one”.
I bought an svt , and channel 2 does the exact same thing.
To wrap it up , my vote goes for an svt , use the preamp out.
I bought an svt , and channel 2 does the exact same thing.
To wrap it up , my vote goes for an svt , use the preamp out.
I've owned all iterations of the Vintage, and while it's a great pedal doesn't really sound like a B15: a B15 can actually be quite bright and very aggressive, as I mentioned above it's interesting that some people specifically think "Motown" when they hear "B15" even though all the Motown tracks were done via DI
They used custom speaker level DIs between the B15 head and cab most of the time. Rack units and pedal sized boxes at different times.
- Nov 7, 2012
- 8,590
- 14,890
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Dingwall-Fender-Bergantino-Dunlop-Tech 21-Darkglass-Nordstrand
An amp is not a viable option for the reasons I mentioned a few posts above.
