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Which 50 Year Old 2x15 Stack to Keep & Which to Sell?

OldFenderPlayer

OldFenderPlayer

Nov 19, 2010
723
1,103
Richmond, Virginia
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#1
I like old bass gear (to be honest, old, working condition, cheap bass gear) and I have a house that allows me to have two sets of equipment - rehearsal gear on my second floor and gigging gear stored on pallets in my garage.

This setup led me buy without concern for space two old bass amps which have a head plus a 2x15" speaker cabinet: 1) a 1969 Ampeg B25B head and a matching cabinet from the mid-1970s and 2) a 1969 Bruce Model B8215. Both amps are in good working condition.

I have to get rid of one of these amps, but which one?

One of the bands that I'm in had to relocate from a member's home-studio to my already-packed rehearsal space, so one of these stacks has to go. The Ampeg stack was my rock band practice rig and is now stored in my garage, and the Bruce is in my home's rehearsal space.

About the Ampeg stack
New Amp Cabinet Day: Ampeg B-25B

About the Bruce stack
New Amp Day ... 1960s Bruce B8215. Both amps are in good working condition.

Option 1 Ampeg B25B.jpg
Option 2 Bruce Amp.JPG
 
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#6
Well, polls are good.. but your own ear is better. Keep the one that sounds best to you... both are rare and maybe worth money... Ampeg probably will get more money than Bruce from collectors, but depends on collector. Which one does your pbass like best? Which head records best? Therein lies your tough choice. Sure you can't keep both?
questions,
fnord!
 
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#7
fnordlyone said:
Well, polls are good.. but your own ear is better. Keep the one that sounds best to you... both are rare and maybe worth money... Ampeg probably will get more money than Bruce from collectors, but depends on collector. Which one does your pbass like best? Which head records best? Therein lies your tough choice. Sure you can't keep both?
questions,
fnord!
Click to expand...
Best answer.
 
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#12
I used to have a b25b. I was really in love with that cabinet for a few years. I blew both the square magnet speakers and replaced them with eminence, and it became even better (imho).
I'd say let Bruce go.
 
#16
If I could only keep one, it would be the Ampeg; But, that's because I'm an ampeg guy. I've never even seen one of those Bruce amps though; you can always find an ampeg if you look for one (they made thousands of them), but you may not be able to find one of those Bruce amps again. Definately an enigma wrapped in a conundrum.... LOL : )
 
#20
I’m very familiar with most of what Ampeg has built. Only vaguely remember seeing a Bruce two or maybe three times and have absolutely no recollection of how it sounded. Truth is, most live music back then was cranked extremely loud, so I doubt I could do a fair comparison even if I did remember. So I have no real way of comparing a Bruce to an Ampeg.

So yeah…keep the one that sounds best to your ears, sell the other, and don’t fret about it beyond that.
 

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