oliver B200

[bobh1959]

I found this cheap on Craigslist and snapped it up. I don't think I've ever seen the matching head and cab together, so I think it was a good score. Sounds great at lower volumes, but I think the original speakers were underpowered, either that it they are worn out because it gets farty when pushed. I'm going to go though it, clean pots and recap. I'll post pics as I do, there isn't much on the internet that i've seen yet. Oh yeah, Millard pre-amp tubes

 

[JimmyM]

Awesome! I'd bet underpowered, as a lot of speakers from that era are.

 

[bobh1959]

It's really small for a 2x15. My guesses is he was trying to make a manageable rig, weight wise. It's surprisingly easy to carry a head in one hand and the cab in the other.

 

[JimmyM]

Are those JBL's in it? Altecs?

 

[beans-on-toast]

Wow! Rare amp. Altec-Lansing speakers were an option.

 

[bobh1959]

I have opened it up yet but I'm guessing they're eminence.

 

[JimmyM]

With aluminum dustcaps? Don't know of any back then that had aluminum dustcaps. Opening that up would be the first thing I'd do.

 

[bobh1959]

I will, and I'll post the pics.

 

[bobh1959]

No JBL, eminence. Not sure if these are original because I saw another Oliver guitar cab online with Oliver labeled eminence speakers, these are unlabeled. They look heavy duty enough so that with 60 watts pushing them shouldn't cause over excursion. I may try to put a couple of vintage Jensen C15N's in them. I have one in an Ampeg 835 that I can swap out and try to get another off eBay at a reasonable price. It's a really small volume cab for two 15's, but it is vented at the bottom.

 

[bobh1959]

Also, the date code is 1975, and the serial number on the head starts with 70xxxxx, so they may not be original.

 

[JimmyM]

Hmmm...Eminences with aluminum dustcaps? Never knew they made them. I guess it's true...you DO learn something new every day!

 

[Chef]

that's cool.

 

[bobh1959]

I think some univox cabs had eminence speakers with aluminum, maybe they were CTS, I can't remember. I'll probably won't be posting any more for a couple of weeks. When I do the cap job I'll post pics of the guts then.

 

[KF2B]

What a wonderful amp!
And a wonderful opportunity for me to boast that I have it´s lil´bro B120 incoming...

 

[bobh1959]

What a wonderful amp!
And a wonderful opportunity for me to boast that I have it´s lil´bro B120 incoming...

Funny I was just starting to open it up to see what it needs replaces (caps, resistors) when you posted this.

 

[beans-on-toast]

No JBL, eminence. Not sure if these are original because I saw another Oliver guitar cab online with Oliver labeled eminence speakers, these are unlabeled.

The lack of an Oliver label doesn't mean that they aren't original. They used what was available and I've seen similar speakers in these amps. It looks like an OEM Alnico which is very good.

Your amp looks very clean. It'll scrub up nicely.

 

[bobh1959]