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Dumb B-15 Question
- Thread starter ZonGuy
- Start date
There have been reissues, as well as at least a few limited run semi-copies(can't name anything specific as I'm not real into these amps).
Just a guess, but I would assume there's not much of a market for a high end, high dollar, low powered tube combo. It's too bad. Ampeg did reissue a B-15ish amp a few years ago, at 100 watts, but Loud discontinued it, along with alot of their best gear, V4BH among them.
bongomania
Commercial User
Yeah, the low wattage turns off most potential buyers, and LOUD (Ampeg) has zero interest in marketing something that will only sell in small numbers. The originals in good condition, or plus a pro reconditioning, are now very expensive; the boutique handmade clones are very expensive; and LOUD owns the patent, meaning no other companies are in a position to mass-produce it at a lower price.
- Feb 13, 2008
- 1,248
- 1,917
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- Owner, Vintage Blue (repro cabinets)
Actually, based on the 20 year lifetime (from date of filing) of Utility Patents, the patent should have expired around 1982. I think somewhere in the Ampeg book there is also mention of the patent expiring? (edit: pg. 272)
I think RickenBoogie makes a good point. The B15N has a legendary reputation but I've often wondered how a true reissue would do (rather than an 'updated' reissue like the B15R). Vintage B15N's usually sell for pretty good money. In my opinion that's partly based on its performance characteristics and partly based on the fact that it's 'vintage'. I believe the tricky part is determining the relative importance of those 2 factors in the buyer's minds. (I sure wish I knew the answer!) While I would really love to see a true reissue of the B15N, double-baffle cabinet and all, I often wonder if it could be offered at a price point that would actually bring significant numbers of buyers?
Alessandro makes an amp called the Basset Hound which is supposed to be a slightly higher powered version of the B-15. And Matchless made some sort of reissue for a few years but discontinued it.
It is an amazing amp, but in my experiences isn't loud enough for anything but the studio (YMMV). And original amps are abundant for around 1K...you can't reproduce it for anything close to that.
It is an amazing amp, but in my experiences isn't loud enough for anything but the studio (YMMV). And original amps are abundant for around 1K...you can't reproduce it for anything close to that.
Yeah, I often thought a reissue B-15N would be a hot item, but unfortunately, practicality does play a part. At 30w, it's a bit of a hard sell to anyone but studios and people who work in low-volume environments like me. But I don't think there's any argument that watt for watt, it's the best sounding bass amp ever made.
There was a small amp company called TUSC that made a B-15 clone back in the early 80's. Obviously it must not have gone over that well as the company no longer exsits, and it seems the only evidence of the amp's exsistence is in it's ads in Guitar Player magazine and other music publications. I would love to hear from anyone who bought one or got to play one. Considering that big hair metal was starting to ascend back then, it's easy to see why a B-15 based amp wasn't exactly the right product to be bringing to market back then.
I think the fact that the Alessandro cost so much may be a problem.
When a copy of just the head cost that much more than an original one in great condition, just who is your targeted customer?
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