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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Our bass player has been talking up a custom limited edition reissue of this model that Ampeg intends to release soon. There are apparently going to be two editions, one a very limited hand-wired all-tube custom in a very limited quantity, like less than 50 world wide, and another more modern edition that possibly combines a tube preamp with solid state circuitry. He says the all-tube version is going to have a street price of at least $4K and the other version maybe a grand or so. Any Ampeg fans out there know anything about these models? I believe the B15 flip-top was built for both guitar and bass inputs. |
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Joined:
November 2009
| I do recall the B15, and I believe there was a B12 as well. I always thought the flip top idea was just inspired. It proteced the amp during transport and made for a smaller package. I don't recall anyone playing guitar through one, but I suspect it wouldn't be appropriate for acoustic unless they add a high frequency horn.
4K, huh? We just didn't appreciate how good the amps we were using actually were. But this was a mid sixties amp IIRC. I'm curious if it has the projection people look for today. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 367
Location: Eaton, Indiana | The hand wired all tube are the best. Been there and played the old ones. Rediculously priced today cause they can always find someone with more dollars than sense...
scott lamperd b c (before computers) |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | 
January 12, 2011
Ampeg Unearths the Holy Grail of Bass Amplification with Launch of Heritage B-15
Originally debuted at Bass Player Live 2010 by Darryl Jones and stirring up a ridiculously intensive and lively conversation on the forums at Talkbass, Ampeg proudly announces availability of the extremely limited edition Heritage B-15 flip-top bass combo. Joining the ranks of Ampeg’s popular Heritage Series, the Heritage B-15 is hand-built in the U.S. and fully endorsed by Jess Oliver (inventor of the iconic B-15). The Heritage B-15 delivers legendary tone in the most premium Ampeg design ever.
“The Holy Grail of bass amplification is back,” remarks Ampeg’s Director of Amplification, Pyotr Belov. “Hand-built and hand-wired in the U.S., the Heritage B-15 is truly a labor of love and no expense was spared… it’s an unabashed tribute not only to Ampeg’s history, but to the man himself, Jess Oliver.”
The Heritage B-15 features the circuit paths of both a 1964-era B-15NC and a 1966-era B-15NF, including classic Baxandall tone stacks and premium N.O.S. preamp tubes along with a bias switch, recreating each years’ distinctive bias methodology. The extremely high-quality flip-top cabinet features the legendary double-baffle design and houses a custom-designed 15˝ Eminence® driver with a massive 109 oz ceramic magnet. Hand-built by renowned tube amp builder, George Metropoulos, and designed in collaboration with cabinet expert, Mark Gandenberger of Vintage Blue, the Heritage B-15 exudes the unmatched quality in construction and performance that made the original the most recorded bass amplifier in the world.
The Ampeg Heritage B-15 is available in the U.S. only with a 2011 limited edition release of 50 units. Each Heritage B-15 includes a signed letter of endorsement from Jess Oliver and features commemorative badges on both the head and cabinet.
To learn more about this amazing bass combo and to get in touch with a dealer to check for availability, please click here.
Heritage B-15 |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Yep, that's it. There appear to be two pairs of input jacks, and I believe one pair says bass and the other says guitar. Obviously for electrics, any members ever tried one of these with a guitar in one of their various iterations over the years? There are still plenty out there. I just wonder how good this new limited edition reissue is. I'm not anxious to find one, just curious. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | you can pick up a vintage one for around a grand
hard to kill those monsters |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1673
Location: SoCal | I thought there was a Heritage B-15 on the right side in the Ampeg showroom last weekend. It was with their new Portaflex Series.
One set of inputs is the '64 preamp circuit path and the other set is the '66 preamp circuit path.
Electric guitar... I bet it would be great anywhere you'd use a Bassman.
Send me one of these and a '59 Bassman LTD. I'll get back to you in about a month with my review :) |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Back in the day (60/70s) I originally played an Ampeg B15 but eventually switched to a Sunn Model T (70/80s) which was indeed intended for both bass or guitar.
I had 2 4x12 cabs and could nail any sound I could envision.
All tube for bass (IMHO) is the only way to go. |
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Question about Ampeg B15 amp