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

[OldFenderPlayer]

How does the Ampeg sound on the Bruce cab? Bruce amp on the Ampeg cab?

I really like the sound of the Ampeg ... very warm with a nice overdrive when you push it.

The Bruce has a sound similar to an Ampeg - whatever magic an Ampeg has that makes the sound "round" the Bruce amp has about 75% of that same voodoo.

Since they are rehearsal amps, either one would serve the purpose.

I'm leaning towards keeping the Ampeg B25B, only because if either one stops working, I'm much more likely to get it repaired locally (if fixed at all) than the Bruce. Plus, with companies like Fliptops and resources like Talkbass, there is a network supplies and knowledge about Ampeg. But I'm still considering the pros and cons of holding on to the Bruce.

 

[jumbodbassman]

every time i sell something i regret it later and usually buy a replacement..... i think i have problem!!!!

 

[Artman]

Sell the Bruce, then replace it with a small class d something or other.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Being more serious at the moment I’d keep the Ampeg and let the Bruce go back to the spider.

 

[Oddly]

I really like the sound of the Ampeg ... very warm with a nice overdrive when you push it.

The Bruce has a sound similar to an Ampeg - whatever magic an Ampeg has that makes the sound "round" the Bruce amp has about 75% of that same voodoo.

Sounds like a no-brainer to me...you accept the Bruce doesn't sound as good, and the Ampeg's much greater popularity means any problems would be way easier to be dealt with.
Keep the Ampeg.

 

[Michedelic]

Keep this in mind: while the Bruce might be higher wattage, it is still solid state, and the components from that early era of transistor amps often go bad and are unreplaceable. Kustoms from that time seem to hold up, but Bud Ross came from an aviation electronics background where equipment failure might mean someone’s life. Those were tough amps. Another thing about Bruce was that I believe the power section was actually in the cab, the top was merely a preamp—-it seemed like they were trying to be a Rocky Mountain version of Acoustic—so you have all the attendant problems there. If I remember correctly, the cabs were pretty shallow, worse than the Ampeg’s(this is why I personally went with Sunn over a Fender in those days when I was just starting out). The keyboardist in my first functioning teen band had a Bruce rig(2x15”), all I remember is that it was loud but shrill. Three Dog Night were the only notable band that used them, although there is a picture of Hendrix on the ‘’Cry Of Love’ album playing through one. So, I’d keep the Ampeg, it’s like money in the bank; find some hipster kid who obsesses over weird, unknown, uncool, failed old gear(because owning a Fender, Marshall, Ampeg, and the like would be too mainstream and rockist) and sell the Bruce to them(while you still can).

 

[FranF]

I really want that Bruce, being a huge Joe Schermie fan. I'll make this easy for ya...

 

[FranF]

PMed ya!

 

[BioWeapon]

PMed ya!

Ooooh let us know if you guys make a deal

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

Sell the Bruce, then replace it with a small class d something or other.

I've got a Markbass Little Mark 800 Tube that I pair with an Ampeg SVT 4x10 for live rock gigs. The 2x15s are for rehearsal only.

 

[Artman]

Then I’d just sell the Bruce.

 

[Pilgrim]

I'd keep the one I gig with, whichever it is. That's clearly the better of the two in your judgement (to your ears.)

You can always turn the gig rig down for practice.

 

[Walking]

keep the one you like best--if equal, one way to think about it is to sell the one that has most market value. From my local craigslist, I don't think 2x15s are in much demand, as 10 inch deep throw speakers have captured the imagination and I think they put out more sound pound for pound.

 

[OldFenderPlayer]

Thanks for all the input you've provided on this posting; your comments favor keeping the Ampeg B25B; I'm taking your advice on this. But I'm not looking forward to dragging all 104 pounds of the Bruce cabinet from the second floor of my house to the garage, and then dragging the 100 pounds of Ampeg cabinet up.

 

[Michedelic]

Thanks for all the input you've provided on this posting; your comments favor keeping the Ampeg B25B; I'm taking your advice on this. But I'm not looking forward to dragging all 104 pounds of the Bruce cabinet from the second floor of my house to the garage, and then dragging the 100 pounds of Ampeg cabinet up.

Buck up! It will put hair on your chest(or put you in the hospital); either way, two-wheeler hand trucks are your friend. Plus, you only have to do this once.