Old school gentleman, too. I had the privilege of descending down his basement steps to his shop...where all sorts of goodness lay. The greatest generation, right there. Jess signed my B-15....well, I think that's cool!
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
New ampeg speculation - A true B15 Reissue? part 2
- Thread starter john turner
- Start date
Old school gentleman, too. I had the privilege of descending down his basement steps to his shop...where all sorts of goodness lay. The greatest generation, right there. Jess signed my B-15....well, I think that's cool!
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,941
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
The Heritage B-15 is super cool, and a great head in and of its own right, but I, too, have to give major props to Ampeg for how cool they were about honoring Jess Oliver. They really put on a classy affair, and meeting Jess was just awesome! Here are some pics:
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
They gave Jess a very cool shaped award, too!
Invalid Link Removed
I know that Tom Lees was really stoked to talk with Jess about the article he did on the '66 B-15N restore.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
They did a good job of showing how the Heritage B-15 was put together.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
They gave Jess a very cool shaped award, too!
Invalid Link Removed
I know that Tom Lees was really stoked to talk with Jess about the article he did on the '66 B-15N restore.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
They did a good job of showing how the Heritage B-15 was put together.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,941
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I also need to give Ampeg some major props for the new PF lineup. Those heads and cabs sound flat-out great, and they do an exceptionally good job of delivering what they were intended to deliver. The price points are awesome, as well. $299 for the PF-350, $399 for the PF-500, and $399 for either the 2x10 or 1x15 cab (which will be sealed cabs when they go into production - I played ported and sealed versions of the 1x15, and the sealed cab is most definitely the superior of the two).
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
In fact, we were so impressed, we gave Ampeg a Best of Show Award for this line.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
In fact, we were so impressed, we gave Ampeg a Best of Show Award for this line.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,941
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Here are a few more shots from the Ampeg room:
Invalid Link Removed
That's Gregg Hopkins behind Jess.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Yes, even Vic got in on the Jess Oliver love!
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Kudos to Steve Burkhalter and Josh Bubniak for taking most of these pics.
Invalid Link Removed
That's Gregg Hopkins behind Jess.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Yes, even Vic got in on the Jess Oliver love!
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Kudos to Steve Burkhalter and Josh Bubniak for taking most of these pics.
Some great shots Tom! Thanks!!! I think it's awesome that Mr. Oliver is still around and can see what Ampeg's doing lately.
A quick diversion from the B-15 since you mentioned the Portaflex stuff... did you get a chance to directly compare the PF350 with the PF500? I was originally thinking about the 350 because I specifically wanted the lower power, but I was looking at the manuals and noticed that at 8ohms, the difference is only 50 watts. That won't make much difference volume-wise, will it? Should I just get the 500 for all the added features?
5sg.
A quick diversion from the B-15 since you mentioned the Portaflex stuff... did you get a chance to directly compare the PF350 with the PF500? I was originally thinking about the 350 because I specifically wanted the lower power, but I was looking at the manuals and noticed that at 8ohms, the difference is only 50 watts. That won't make much difference volume-wise, will it? Should I just get the 500 for all the added features?
5sg.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,941
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
I did compare the two. The 350 is a good bit smaller, and it gets more of that Micro-VR grit/grind. The 500 does pack more features, and gets almost as much grind. If you'll use the extra features, I'd get the 500, but the 350 has great tonal flexibility, more grit/grind, and fits in tighter spaces.
- Jun 25, 2006
- 3,226
- 341
- Disclosures
- Owner, Pike Amplification & 3Leaf Audio
that's it! i'm pulling my kids out of school today and getting a heritage b-15 with the money i'll save!
eh, not really. but it's tempting. thx for the fantastic pix, tom!
eh, not really. but it's tempting. thx for the fantastic pix, tom!
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,941
- Disclosures
- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
It does look fantastic, but after playing through it, you really do get at least four different tones out of it without even touching the EQ ('64 vs '66 channel, and then '64 vs '66 bias). I am totally happy with my refurbished '66 B-15N, but if I had a spare kidney or two to sell (and unfortunately, I do not), I'd pick one up, for sure!
hmmm...selling a kidney? hadn't thought of that. i've got two...you only need one. ok, i'll do it, but only if they give me enough to get an extension cab from mark in black diamond, too.
ok, my kidney's on the auction block, but i must warn everyone that i don't warranty against rejection.
ok, my kidney's on the auction block, but i must warn everyone that i don't warranty against rejection.
- Jun 25, 2006
- 3,226
- 341
- Disclosures
- Owner, Pike Amplification & 3Leaf Audio
It does look fantastic, but after playing through it, you really do get at least four different tones out of it without even touching the EQ ('64 vs '66 channel, and then '64 vs '66 bias). I am totally happy with my refurbished '66 B-15N, but if I had a spare kidney or two to sell (and unfortunately, I do not), I'd pick one up, for sure!
mmm, that combined with my REDDI sounds perfect for studio work.
It does look fantastic, but after playing through it, you really do get at least four different tones out of it without even touching the EQ ('64 vs '66 channel, and then '64 vs '66 bias). I am totally happy with my refurbished '66 B-15N, but if I had a spare kidney or two to sell (and unfortunately, I do not), I'd pick one up, for sure!
Who refurbished your B-15, Tom? Mine's kind of beat up, but I also like its honest appearance- it is an amp that was used as intended, and shows it.
I wonder whether Ampeg will run a cheaper Korean production version if this takes off? I suspect the fifty produced will go pretty quickly or at least stimulate significant interest, and it may give them food for thought. After all, if they can run a Heritage and Korean CL then surely.......
I don't know. I'm kinda thinking the new Portaflex amps might be meant as a cheaper alternative to the B-15.
And more 'road resistant' aswell.
I don't think I would like to gig with the Heritage B-15 in the bars and clubs I do now.
If ever I could afford one, it'll become somewhat of a museumpiece, I guess.
kind of but not really. it'll probably cop very similar tones, but there really is no alternative to the real thing. like a micro vr sounds very much like a small version of an svt, but try them side by side and it becomes apparent why a micro vr stack costs $600 and an svt-vr/810e costs $3000. that's not meant as a dis on the micro vr at all...but even the top guys at ampeg will admit that.
