I'm in the market for a new amp and I really want a flip top. The reissue would be ideal for be because off the added power for playing live and it has a DI. I definately don't have the money for a heritage but would love to look at a B-15R from the 90's. Are they very hard to find?
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Looking for a Ampeg B-15R.
- Thread starter thawk1979
- Start date
Ebay, Craigslist, and yes, they do have for sale forums on here. Page down to the bottom of the list of forums.
The B15R is an awesome amp. Not quite the same as a B15n, but exactly the same as the re-issue V4BH. Has all the warmth and deep Ampegginess one could want, but with a little tiny bit of extra "sizzle" on the top end. They're not the easiest thing to find, but they do pop up now and again. It was a very short lived model, so there aren't that many of them, and most owners will keep them- but after you get yours, I want one too.
I have an Ampeg B-15N(C) that's worked fine since it was originally built in the 1960's. I replaced the transformer once and it was good to go. There's a whole lot of 30 watt B-15N's out there that have been going good for 30 years. You just have to check the oil, water, brake and transmission fluid and you're good to go. I don't know how many of the B-15R's they sold but they are 100 watt amps. Just not my cup of tea , but lots of players really love them. A really good alternative are the B50R and B100R they look like a fliptop without a top to flip.
Ric
I'm not finding this wanted section. The whole reason behind going for the reissue is the I am nervous buying a vintage one due to having to have it worked on regularly. I currently play through a SVT-2 pro and after about 10 years of gigging with it I'm start to have problems out of it.
Absolutely. They are tanks. I've used my 64 B-15N on a regular basis on gigs for the past 12 years and it performs like a champ. The 77 B-15N I used to have was the same way. Had a new power transformer installed on the 64 3 years ago, but the old one worked fine...it was just bashed in and looked ugly. The only thing I've done to it in the last 3 years is replace a preamp tube and the original filter cap finally went bad a couple years ago. They might need a tube now and then, but the likelihood of being stuck on a gig is extremely low with vintage B-15's as long as you take reasonable care of them. Don't have to baby them...just try not to drop them too hard from too high a distance. You could break a tube
JimmyM said:Absolutely. They are tanks. I've used my 64 B-15N on a regular basis on gigs for the past 12 years and it performs like a champ. The 77 B-15N I used to have was the same way. Had a new power transformer installed on the 64 3 years ago, but the old one worked fine...it was just bashed in and looked ugly. The only thing I've done to it in the last 3 years is replace a preamp tube and the original filter cap finally went bad a couple years ago. They might need a tube now and then, but the likelihood of being stuck on a gig is extremely low with vintage B-15's as long as you take reasonable care of them. Don't have to baby them...just try not to drop them too hard from too high a distance. You could break a tube
Do the 60's models sound better than the 70's models in your opinion?
Not better, just different. The 70's models go lower and aren't as bright unless you put an Altec into them. Ultimately I decided I like the early 60's model better, but you really can't go wrong with any of them...they all sound wonderful.
