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Modern B-15N options?

DjangoKid

DjangoKid

Feb 27, 2013
156
106
Tacoma, WA
#1
I have an Ampeg B15-N that is not holding up to my drummers heavy hand and need a new rig that can come as close as possible to the tone but louder. This question has been posed before and I have read the responses, but they may be out of date. I play Chicago style blues and old Soul/R&B so I'm not looking for a new-school bassist sound.

For the amp I've seen these all recommended:
1) LM II/III with a Tech 21 Vt
2) Ampeg PF350/500
3) Ampeg B25/B

As for cabs I'm set on a 15". someone recommended a TL606 or the new PF115.

Is there a consensus on this matter, are there other options?

This is my first post. The B15-N has worked for me for some time and I've been out of the gear loop.
 
#2
DjangoKid said:
I have an Ampeg B15-N that is not holding up to my drummers heavy hand and need a new rig that can come as close as possible to the tone but louder. This question has been posed before and I have read the responses, but they may be out of date. I play Chicago style blues and old Soul/R&B so I'm not looking for a new-school bassist sound.

For the amp I've seen these all recommended:
1) LM II/III with a Tech 21 Vt
2) Ampeg PF350/500
3) Ampeg B25/B

As for cabs I'm set on a 15". someone recommended a TL606 or the new PF115.

Is there a consensus on this matter, are there other options?

This is my first post. The B15-N has worked for me for some time and I've been out of the gear loop.
Click to expand...

Ampeg B-18.

More speakers.

Ampeg B-18 + more speakers.
 
#5
Old V4B's are quite fun. And the SVT can dial in some very cool B-15-like tones with a little EQ work, although not the amp to use if you have an 8 ohm cab.

But really, adding a second identical cab goes a long way into helping that B-15 get over the volume hump. Don't know if it'll be enough for you but it works pretty well for me.
 
#6
Alex1984 said:
B-100R/B-200R.
Click to expand...

+1

IMO, the B-100R is one of the best modern combos Ampeg ever put out. I use one with an oldies/classic rock project and it delivers. You can usually find good deals on them if you look around.

Here's mine alongside my '63 B15:

gretchen-b15-portaflex.jpg
 
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#9
IMHO, nothing quite sounds like a B15N, not even other B15N's. My '67 had a mellower tone than my '71 does. There are some mods you can do to eek a little more volume out of it ( see the mega porta-flex thread, or pm Beans-On-Toast ), or ,as Jimmy said, add another cab. I play the same kind of music you do, and , sadly, a single B15N just does'nt have enough volume to cut it cleanly, in a reasonably loud band.
 
#10
To throw in a monkey wrench- the EBS classic t90 is great for old school thump. I used to have a 65 B15 and wanted that sound just louder. I've had the EBS for about 8 months and couldn't be happier. But my drummer/ band isn't peeling any paint off the walls either. If you need LOUD clean, something higher power may be needed.
 
#11
I would take a slightly different tack. If you need more power and volume, you likely need a higher wattage amp. FWIW, I used to have a B15N and love the sound, but also found it way underpowered for me to use live.

I play mostly the same music that you do, but in a 5 pc band. I use a Genz Benz Streamliner 900 (the 600 would do also). As for speakers, that is a big questtion of personal taste, but for me portability is key as is ability to handle lots of power. I'm not a big fan of the Ampeg PF series (although lots on this forum like them and you may well also). After cycling through lots of cabinet choices, I have happliy settiled on Low Down Sound (LDS) cabs. I have two of them, either can handle most gigs on their own. One is a 12/6 and the other a 15/6. The 12 weighs 35 lbs and can hande most gigs except big rooms or outdoors. The 15/6 (at 50 lbs) can do everything.

There are lots of great choices these days. For your style of music tho, I'd stay away from GK, Bergantino (both are too modern soundding for my tastes). Genz Benz cabs are also great and pair well with their amps. I had a U212 for a while and it is a terrific cabinet, just too big at 58+ lbs for my 58 yr-old body.

Again, this is all in my opinion and reflective of my tastes. As always, results may vary.
 
#14
I've never had a b-15 or even a b100r, I've had a few SVT's and many other Ampegs & I liked the VT bass V2 set to the Fliptop setting. I currently use a Tech 21 Para Driver currently as my preamp into the effects loop of a GK 800Rb connected to a Bag End S15d, I don't think the tone I get is far off the signature Ampeg tone. I wish Ampeg would come up with a Preamp or at least a head version of the B100R as I have liked the tone others have gotten out of them but a combo amp doesn't interest me.
 
#15
TN WOODMAN said:
I went with the Markbass Jeff Berlin combo to capture a similar it more powerful B15 vibe.

Once upon a time, Jimmy M may have even agreed with me.
Click to expand...
Still kind of do, to a degree. I don't think the Berlin sounds like a B-15 but it sounds like Marco's heard a couple in his day ;) I don't hear it as much in the cabs as the LMII and III, though. The LMII/III do a pretty good imitation of clean-running Ampegs, although I might have changed the low mid point. But the cabs all seem to have this high mid response that I don't dig.
 
#16
GLEN18INCHSPICA said:
I've never had a b-15 or even a b100r, I've had a few SVT's and many other Ampegs & I liked the VT bass V2 set to the Fliptop setting. I currently use a Tech 21 Para Driver currently as my preamp into the effects loop of a GK 800Rb connected to a Bag End S15d, I don't think the tone I get is far off the signature Ampeg tone. I wish Ampeg would come up with a Preamp or at least a head version of the B100R as I have liked the tone others have gotten out of them but a combo amp doesn't interest me.
Click to expand...
They used to have a bunch and they were all pretty great but they didn't sell enough to keep in the product line.
 
#20
DjangoKid said:
I have an Ampeg B15-N that is not holding up to my drummers heavy hand and need a new rig that can come as close as possible to the tone but louder. This question has been posed before and I have read the responses, but they may be out of date. I play Chicago style blues and old Soul/R&B so I'm not looking for a new-school bassist sound.

For the amp I've seen these all recommended:
1) LM II/III with a Tech 21 Vt
2) Ampeg PF350/500
3) Ampeg B25/B

As for cabs I'm set on a 15". someone recommended a TL606 or the new PF115.

Is there a consensus on this matter, are there other options?

This is my first post. The B15-N has worked for me for some time and I've been out of the gear loop.
Click to expand...

Replace the drummer? ;)
 

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