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Dug out my Ampeg B-15N

T

teutonic

Feb 11, 2010
2
0
#1
I'm digging out my bass stuff after the 'lost decade' of little kids and am curious about my B-15N. I bought this in high school in 1983 or so but can't figure out exactly what era it's from. My guess is 1972 or so (based on the speaker date code ????) but I could be way off. As far as I know the only thing that's changed is the rectifier tube, which went wonky on me in about 1985 so I got a replacement from Mesa. It also got shipped to NYC in 1988 or so to get checked over before it was used for a Wynton Marsalis concert at my University. Below are a bunch of pics, I'd love to hear any thoughts from the experts what it is. Thanks!

Ampeg%20front%20amp%20together.jpg


Ampeg%20rear.jpg


Ampeg%20head%20front%20cage%20on.jpg



Ampeg%20rear%20head%20cage%20off.jpg


Ampeg%20magnavox%20tubes.jpg


Ampeg%20mesa%20rectifier.jpg


Ampeg%20speaker.jpg


Speaker%206930009%20137%207244.jpg


Ampeg%20grille.jpg


Ampeg%20left%20front.jpg


Ampeg%20front%20right.jpg
 
#5
svtb15 said:
i wish i had one of those... there is no amp SIM in the world that sounds as good as a B15 to record...IMO... that amp with an RE20 mic in front just kills..
Click to expand...

+1. My blues band just recorded a demo CD and I used my '67 B-15N. It's in excellent shape, so it only leaves the house when I occasionally go to the studio. We're going over the rough mixes before mastering now and I can hardly believe how good it sounds. Warm, fat and full; yet the sixteenth notes come through distinctly.

Unlike JimmyM, I'm too cautious to gig with mine; but I can't imagine ever getting rid of it. A thousand thank-yous to Jess Oliver!
 
#9
You guys are so lucky!
Ampeg made a lot of these amps and they show up for sale quite often.
Question is, do you want one $900 - $1,500 badly enough

Just don't eat lunch for 200-300 days and it's yours!
 
#11
based on the speaker code, yes it would be a 72. I thought by then they had gone to black cosmetics, but who knows. I think that is the thiele design cabs, but JimmyM would be the expert on that. Looks like a fantastic amp! Welcome back to B-15 land.
 
#14
Looks like a great 1972 to me. Very nice shape, but for the bit of ripped Tolex. It's a keeper.
I still have my 2nd B15-N, a 1963/64. It's a great condition top 1/2 1964 head and 1963 cab. I never knew of the year difference until last year Dennis Kagan in Edison, New Jersey took out the hum and cleaned it up electronics wise. It sounds fabulous with a 1971 Precision! Anyone needs Ampeg work call Dennis. He is great!

Where's Jimmy?
 
#16
SpamBot said:
There looks to be a shelf port, though the Thiele cabs had the double baffle?
Click to expand...

I think the progression is double baffle > single baffle > thiele, but I'm not sure what the baffles on the thiele cabs actually were.

I just looked back at the pics to see what you meant by "shelf port", that's definitely not like my 68 single baffle, so I'd say this is the thiele cab.
 
#18
jimmy had a gig today...just got home from using my b-15n full stack ;)

yep, 72, thiele cab, cts alnico speaker. used to have a 77 with that same speaker. it's a low mid monster...big and thick and rich.
 

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