Is this a Gene Simmons cabinet?

[wolfkeller]

I came across this cabinet for sale for a really cheap price for what I believe it to be. The seller says it looks like a Gene Simmons cabinet but the serial number says otherwise I posted a picture of the cabinet he's selling as well as the serial number and the serial number off a cabinet that was sold on reverb. I can't believe that someone would have gone through the effort to make this cabinet look exactly like one has especially when those JBL speakers which this looks to have are hard to find and very expensive. What do you think?

 

[abarson]

Do you want it for what it is, or what it is supposed to be?
Without certification, it's providence is just the seller's word.

 

[wolfkeller]

Do you want it for what it is, or what it is supposed to be?

Well, I if I could get a gene cab that would be cool, thats the desire.

 

[Aidenn7]

That's his model that they put out.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Ampeg made a limited run of 50 GS punisher cabs. They were available for purchase.

 

[wolfkeller]

Yes, but model on the jackplate doesn't say 215gs it says 215e

 

[Roland GR 88]

I’m not too familiar with Ampeg cabs but that serial number looks like it’s a sticker slapped over whatever was printed on the jack plate.

 

[wolfkeller]

Its the model not the serial number

 

[agedhorse]

It’s the serial number not the model number and they are all put on that way.

Without Ampeg’s confirmation, there’s no way to know for certain.

 

[gln1955]

Is Gene charging $10,000 to play through it for ten minutes?

 

[wolfkeller]

While I appreciate and even get a chuckle out of the joke responses none of that stuff is really helpful.

 

[Ethix4]

Ampeg made a limited run of 50 GS punisher cabs. They were available for purchase.

Looks like one of these to me. It was probably just a parts bin thing for the badges

 

[abarson]

This thread points out the difference in speakers between a 215e and 215lgs

Post in thread 'Ampeg SVT-215LGS "Punisher" 2x15 Speakers ???'

Nov 20, 2011

The Simmons cab came with a pair JBL M151-8's. Those drivers are hard to come by. I've been looking for a pair for years and havn't found a set for sale yet. If you are looking for another JBL option, you might want to check out johnk's JBL comparison thread which has some nice audio samples. Of the samples he has posted, the K140 sounds most like my Simmons rig, but just to note; the M151-8 has a smooth cone, not ribbed.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/vintage-15-jbl-comparisons-w-soundclips-809918/

My #1 LGS with PF500

• stiles72

You could contact Ampeg with the serial numbers.

 

[wolfkeller]

This thread points out the difference in speakers between a 215e and 215lgs

Post in thread 'Ampeg SVT-215LGS "Punisher" 2x15 Speakers ???'

Nov 20, 2011

The Simmons cab came with a pair JBL M151-8's. Those drivers are hard to come by. I've been looking for a pair for years and havn't found a set for sale yet. If you are looking for another JBL option, you might want to check out johnk's JBL comparison thread which has some nice audio samples. Of the samples he has posted, the K140 sounds most like my Simmons rig, but just to note; the M151-8 has a smooth cone, not ribbed.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/vintage-15-jbl-comparisons-w-soundclips-809918/

My #1 LGS with PF500

• stiles72

You could contact Ampeg with the serial numbers.

Thanks!

 

[birminghambass]

Every GS cab I've found on Google images had a different screw pattern on the grill then the one you posted. They also all had GS in the model # on the back. I vote it's not the real deal.

 

[drpepper]

 

[logdrum]

View attachment 7473246

Every GS cab I've found on Google images had a different screw pattern on the grill then the one you posted. They also all had GS in the model # on the back. I vote it's not the real deal.

I think you got your definite answers here. I think most have been helpful. Aged Horse certainly was . It was just a couple jokes

 

[drpepper]

I think you got your definite answers here. I think most have been helpful. Aged Horse certainly was . It was just a couple jokes

This just prompted enough passing interest for a few minutes on the Google as these kind of posts sometimes do with me, but it seems pretty simple...there were two similar looking Ampeg cab models: the SVT 215E and the SVT 215GLS, with differences that are primarily internal. The 215E was a regular production model (though not particularly popular) over a span of years, while the 215GLS was a limited run specialty model with some specifically unknown number made...in the mid to high tens.

Looking at the used market over 25 years after the 215GLS was made and 20 years after the 215E was discontinued, 215Es are out there but less than common, and the 215GLS genuinely rare.

The seller saying it "looks like a Gene Simmons model" is...err...fair. Visually, it does...because the Classic and Gene Simmons models look similar. Technically true statement by the seller...

Since the cab up for sale is clearly labeled "215E", and we also know that there are correctly labeled 215LGS cabs, does it make more sense to think that this is a mislabeled 215LGS (increasing its rarity significantly) or just a correctly labeled 215E? Considering there’s nothing out there in the way of tales of mislabeled 215LGS cabs, that's pretty easy to answer for me.

 

[wolfkeller]

This just promted enough passing interest for a few minutes on the Google as these kind of posts sometimes do with me, but it seems pretty simple...there were two similar looking Ampeg cab models: the SVT 215E and the SVT 215GLS, with differences that are primarily internal. The 215E was a regular production model (though not particularly popular) over a span of years, while the 215GLS was a limited run specialty model with some specifically unknown number made...in the mid to high tens.

Looking at the used market over 25 years after the 215GLS was made and 20 years after the 215E was discontinued, 215Es are out there but less than common, and the 215GLS genuinely rare.

The seller saying it "looks like a Gene Simmons model" is...err...fair. Visually, it does...because the Classic and Gene Simmons models look similar. Technically true statement by the seller...

Since the cab up for sale is clearly labeled "215E", and we also know that there are also correctly labeled 215LGS cabs, does it make more sense to think that this is a mislabeled 215LGS (increasing its rarity significantly) or just a correctly labeled 215E? Considering there’s nothing out there in the way of tales of mislabeled 215LGS cabs, that's pretty easy to answer for me.

Appreciate your insight. Thing is, someone who does a lot of modding and customizing it would take a lot of work and effort to take a regular 215e and make it look like that especially those speakers. Those speakers look very much like jbl's though I am no expert on the speakers. I know for a fact that they do not look like the stock speakers.

 

[drpepper]

...it would take a lot of work and effort to take a regular 215e and make it look like that especially those speakers...

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your point, but are your saying that with the available information and admitted lack of expertise, your conclusion is that there's some likelihood that's worth chasing down that this is a mislabeled SVT-215LGS? I'm sorry, but I have Lloyd saying, "So, you're telling me there's a chance!" playing on loop in my mind now.