The B100R has a Bax tone stack?
I thought it was a standard 4-band boost/cut tonestack with center frequencies at: 70Hz, 300Hz, 1.4kHz, and 7kHz.
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What Sounds Like An Ampeg B-15?
- Thread starter lyonaudio
- Start date
The B100R has a Bax tone stack?
I thought it was a standard 4-band boost/cut tonestack with center frequencies at: 70Hz, 300Hz, 1.4kHz, and 7kHz.
I own a 1965 B-15NF that I'm currently restoring. Recap...etc. I'm an electronics tech and restore vintage amps. I know that I'm going to get poo-pooed but my daily drive is a Bugera Veyron Tube into a Peavey Headliner 4X10 Cab. Nothing sounds like the B-15 but this rig gets close enough for me. I get some nice SVT'ish tones too. It's light (around 5lbs or so). Has 3 12AX7's in the preamp and a lot of power. All in all. I've been impressed with it for the 4 years I've owned it. I did change out the preamp tubes shortly after I purchased this in 2018.
I’ve used both a PF50T and 20T…both sound incredibly similar, but honestly, I prefer the PF20T. I can’t really explain other than to say the tube break up sounds more B15ish.
As others have said, the double baffle 15” cab plays a huge factor. The upper notes have this creamy bell-like quality that really like and hard to achieve in many modern cabs. My cabs were made by Vintage Blue.
I also recently acquired a Sushi Box SBVT tube preamp pedal. It gives the 20T more tonal options…ultra high/low, midrange selector.
So far, this has been my fav recording setup.
I too own and like the PF20-T and it suits me down to the ground seeing as I now only play and record at home so I don't need excessive volume. I like both the PF-20T and the PF50-T but I opted for the PF20-T due to its similarity to a B-15. I use mine with a Ampeg Micro SVT 210AV Cab.
So if you've been following the antics of DJ Bebop, you know this is my, sounding like an Ampeg B-15 rig now…
It’s so good
It’s so good
I've heard demos of this Broughton pedal that sounds pretty AWESOM!!!!
www.broughtonaudio.com
Fliptop | Broughton Audio
The Fliptop is a JFET preamplifier that is modeled after the B15 amplifier. The gain staging and EQ sections were carefully designed to give the feel and response of the vintage tube amp, offering a good range of pillowy tone that can be driven to the point of light overdrive if pushed. In...
www.broughtonaudio.com
I had one and didn't think it sounded all that much like an Ampeg but is a very nice pre amp.I've heard demos of this Broughton pedal that sounds pretty AWESOM!!!!
Fliptop | Broughton Audio
The Fliptop is a JFET preamplifier that is modeled after the B15 amplifier. The gain staging and EQ sections were carefully designed to give the feel and response of the vintage tube amp, offering a good range of pillowy tone that can be driven to the point of light overdrive if pushed. In...
Man! I'm 73 yrs old and I'd love to try an Ampeg B-15. You'd think that I would have come across one in my life time.
Seems like I read somewhere that at one time many years ago, it was the #1 studio bass amp. I would guess that it would be an amp used for more conservative bass sounds. As for contemporary sounds of slapping or high pitched twangy bass, I would think that the B-15 would have limitations
Interestingly, they rate at only 25 to 30 watts.
I wish I could give an answer to this thread.
I use an Acme Low B 2-10 bass cab and I can get a very traditional bass sound, especially with flat wounds.
I would think that many contemporary amps and cabs with eqing could get acceptably close. I don't know.
Seems like I read somewhere that at one time many years ago, it was the #1 studio bass amp. I would guess that it would be an amp used for more conservative bass sounds. As for contemporary sounds of slapping or high pitched twangy bass, I would think that the B-15 would have limitations
Interestingly, they rate at only 25 to 30 watts.
I wish I could give an answer to this thread.
I use an Acme Low B 2-10 bass cab and I can get a very traditional bass sound, especially with flat wounds.
I would think that many contemporary amps and cabs with eqing could get acceptably close. I don't know.
First, it depends on which B-15 you are trying to emulate. The classic B-15 (usually with a N after it) or the B-15S. The S and the B-25B are essentially the same tube configuration with 7027A.
The classic/N is different. Then we can get into type of speaker (i.e. Jensen? Something else?) and type of cabinet like a double baffle.
I have played both types, owned a '63 for about 30 years with an original Jensen in a double baffle as well as a B-25B and a V-4B. I even owned the B-15R which was IMO not very good.
I have tried TONS of things to emulate them. The closst I got was with a deconstructed B-15N setup with the Broughton P-15, a power amp, and tue TwoNotes CAB M+ for power amp tube emulation. Once I added power amp simulation, it added a little bit of magic that got me closer. Most things just do the tone stack only. You can even get IRs for B-15 cabs but that is a whole different ball of wax.
I had the VT Bass, Sushi Slampegg, Broughton Fliptop, and many others. None were as close. The Fliptop was not close at all to my ears. The Slampegg had Ampegness. There are others I did not try.
I know there are also newer amps that do it as well to a degree. The Venture supposedly does a good job. That said, the closest in any amp I heard were the Rocket B-50R or B-100R even though they were solid state.
I am done trying at this point but it is a fun quest. IMO Nothing is like a classic B-15 because it is a full system meant to played that way but you can get close enough for government work using other things it you need or want "that" sound.
The classic/N is different. Then we can get into type of speaker (i.e. Jensen? Something else?) and type of cabinet like a double baffle.
I have played both types, owned a '63 for about 30 years with an original Jensen in a double baffle as well as a B-25B and a V-4B. I even owned the B-15R which was IMO not very good.
I have tried TONS of things to emulate them. The closst I got was with a deconstructed B-15N setup with the Broughton P-15, a power amp, and tue TwoNotes CAB M+ for power amp tube emulation. Once I added power amp simulation, it added a little bit of magic that got me closer. Most things just do the tone stack only. You can even get IRs for B-15 cabs but that is a whole different ball of wax.
I had the VT Bass, Sushi Slampegg, Broughton Fliptop, and many others. None were as close. The Fliptop was not close at all to my ears. The Slampegg had Ampegness. There are others I did not try.
I know there are also newer amps that do it as well to a degree. The Venture supposedly does a good job. That said, the closest in any amp I heard were the Rocket B-50R or B-100R even though they were solid state.
I am done trying at this point but it is a fun quest. IMO Nothing is like a classic B-15 because it is a full system meant to played that way but you can get close enough for government work using other things it you need or want "that" sound.
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I played around (in my living room) with a PF-20T earlier this year. It came to me with Gold Lion output tubes and I installed a JAN/Phillips in V1. This is beautiful sounding amp. I prefer it over my (long-gone) B-15N. I ended up selling it back to the guy who sold it to me and invested in a Mesa WD-800 (amazing!).
This is a more modern use of a B-15.
Marcus Miller recorded through a B-15 on this song with his 70s bass before the preamp was installed, he spoke about it in an interview. Slap, thump, and all…
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Some years ago I owned a vintage [1965?] B15 and it was a great home practice amp. At the time of ownership I wasn't recording but it would have been fun to take it for a spin in the studio.
This is my modern take on an Ampeg classic. A smaller footprint w/ enormously more power.
This is my modern take on an Ampeg classic. A smaller footprint w/ enormously more power.
That is exactly what I did…
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/what-sounds-like-an-ampeg-b-15.1456915/page-4#post-28623146
