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What Sounds Like An Ampeg B-15?

#41
dbsfgyd1 said:
I’m not so sure about that... they certainly are not as HI-Fi as today’s versions

‘Calling Dr. Aged Horse!
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I don't think I'd be thinking of a 15" that only handles 50w before blowing as "efficient." And for sure, you can get high power handling speakers today that go way lower than anything from the 60's. Is that desirable to me? Not really. But higher power handling is, despite my wuss stage volumes.
 
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#42
JimmyM said:
I don't think I'd be thinking of a 15" that only handles 50w before blowing as "efficient." And for sure, you can get high power handling speakers today that go way lower than anything from the 60's. Is that desirable to me? Not really. But higher power handling is, despite my wuss stage volumes.
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It’s not the wattage a speaker will handle before blowing up is not what is meant by efficient. It’s how many dbs you get out of it per watt in it’s nominal tonal range.
 
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#43
Charlie Tuna said:
Surprised no one has mentioned the Barber Linden pedal as an inexpensive step towards the B-15 sound. Great option worth checking out. Plenty of people here have used one.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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Agree. It’s the closest readily available alternative out there. I have a Linden and a B-15N to compare it to, and it’s more than close enough for most purposes. And it also adds a little something of its own that makes it even better. You wont get the exact sound of my B-15’s portaflex cabinet or (in my case) an original square magnet CTS 15” speaker. But it’s still pretty close. And for the small money Barber Electronics is asking, the new Linden Compact is pretty compelling proposition.
 
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#44
gh0st42 said:
Try your luck at scoring a Broughton P-15 Preamp, and route that into the effects return of any decent head or combo to bypass the Preamp, or plug into a power amp, plug that into a 15 inch speaker, and you'll be good to go.

It's kinda crazy, but the Broughton SV-Pre and P-15 Preamp smoke every Ampeg I've ever heard at coping the tones of either of those classic rigs.
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Got a link so we can hear the sound of the Broughton P-15? Couldn't find one on Youtube.
 
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#47
Charlie Tuna said:
There’s a P15-Reddi-Noble shootout on TB somewhere with clips. The P15 is first recorded clip I believe
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REDDI-Noble-Broughton P15-JDI PBass clips Flats/RDS

Great thread.
Headphones recommended.

Also, remember that the P15 and the Noble both have EQ, which the other DIs in thread don't... So when you say the Noble sounds scooped, it it, because of the way the EQ is set. Or when the P15 sound different than the REDDI, it it, because the EQ is set that way.
 
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#48
I’m using the Barber Linden into a VTbassDI pedal and run this into a really clean Phil Jones Bass powered cab. I adjust EQ with the Linden and leave the VT bass EQ flat. I do use the Drive and Character adjustments on the VT. To my ears both pedals together sound way better then each of them on there own.
 
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#49
Nothing! ha ha. For all the amps I've A/Bd next to my '67, in the end, to me, they sound like they're "reproducing" a bass sound. the B15 has a life to it that really feels like it IS itself an instrument and its there in the room with you. I agree that a lot is in the cabinet, rattles and buzzes and all
Of course all of that disappears if you're playing with a live band and the notes you're playing are slightly more important than the subtle nuances of a 50 year old heirloom played solo in an empty room.
As far as getting close, obviously an ampeg tube amp like a PF or SVT has the right DNA. I had the B50r that, yes, sounded very good. freakishly good. The Tone Hammer through a couple of Bag End 15's also sounds pretty darn nice.
so my opinion is that a lot of amps can get you 90% there, but that last bit is why theres a vintage market. so ampeg nuts like me can foam at the mouth when they smell that black crinkle paint warm up. (im sure at least 1 or 2% is smell)
 
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#50
A question for you folks lucky enough to own a B15.

My only experience with a real B15 was a single day in a local recording studio about 2 years ago. My first thought when I plugged in was “Holy heck that’s THE sound I’ve heard on all those great records.” My second thought was there was an immediacy on notes that I hadn’t ever noticed on any other amp, like every other amp had a degree of latency.
Is this a common B15 experience or did I somehow just imagine that?
 
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#52
flatwound62p said:
A question for you folks lucky enough to own a B15.

My only experience with a real B15 was a single day in a local recording studio about 2 years ago. My first thought when I plugged in was “Holy heck that’s THE sound I’ve heard on all those great records.” My second thought was there was an immediacy on notes that I hadn’t ever noticed on any other amp, like every other amp had a degree of latency.
Is this a common B15 experience or did I somehow just imagine that?
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They definitely have a certain presence and are touch responsive if mine is anything to go by. I always feel like I’m playing a B-15 rather than just playing through it. To me it’s a musical instrument in its own right. Much like how the construction and material composition of the headpiece of a flute makes a huge difference in how the entire flute sounds. And why professional players will often buy a separate headpiece for an existing flute to get the tone they’re after.
 
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#53
I like my PF-50T + PF115he. Never heard the 2x10 cab, but trust @JimmyM to know if that sounds closer to the original.
PF 115he w PF 50T.jpg
 
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#54
lyonaudio said:
Just spitballin' here but what current amp (combo?) would come close to sounding like an Ampeg B-15?

I'm assuming that a 15 inch speaker would be needed so an Ampeg PF-350 w/1x 15 cab? An Ampeg PT-50 (their tube head) with the same cab? A Fender Rumble 200? Any other suggestions?

Thanks.
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I own a B-15N(C) I've had it since my undergraduate years in college. Since it's a Double Baffle Reflex Enclosure, nothing currently out their quite like it. That said, I played the PF-350 into one of their early 115 cabinets and

felt it sounded quite a lot like my B-15N, B100R's are great amps and relatively available on the used market. Both those amps have a simple Baxandall Tone Stack so to my ears they sound more like a B-15N then the PF 500 or PF 800 with

the SVT EQ section. Don't get me wrong both are great, but one of the things that makes a a B-15 a B-15 is simplicity and economy of scale. So it's a low wattage tube amp with overlapping tone controls and a double baffle reflex cabinet.
 
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#56
40Hz said:
They definitely have a certain presence and are touch responsive if mine is anything to go by. I always feel like I’m playing a B-15 rather than just playing through it. To me it’s a musical instrument in its own right. Much like how the construction and material composition of the headpiece of a flute makes a huge difference in how the entire flute sounds. And why professional players will often buy a separate headpiece for an existing flute to get the tone they’re after.
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I feel that way about LaBella 1954 strings. They are an instrument unto themselves. Yes, they are stiff and harder to play but, that what the cats were playing on back then also, through B-15 amps, with a P bass. The three things together are a glorious thing :)
 
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#58
DJ Bebop said:
That's what I have in my B-15, an Ampeg branded CTS square back magnet speaker :)
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That’s the one! :thumbsup:

The frame (spider?) supposedly has more flex than the average speaker. Which is what I’ve been told is responsible for its unique tone and response. Don’t know if that’s true. Just what I’ve been told. But that said, it is different sounding.
 
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#60
40Hz said:
They definitely have a certain presence and are touch responsive if mine is anything to go by. I always feel like I’m playing a B-15 rather than just playing through it. To me it’s a musical instrument in its own right. Much like how the construction and material composition of the headpiece of a flute makes a huge difference in how the entire flute sounds. And why professional players will often buy a separate headpiece for an existing flute to get the tone they’re after.
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That’s a really good description of what I felt and experienced. I can get a ballpark B15 sound using a Linden EQ into a Super Bassman and matching 1 x 15 cab (tweeter turned off) and Fdeck HPF but that sensation of fingertip to ear connection is not even close.
 

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