Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

On the Rick amp history website, (the jzu one) he says the B-22 is "seemingly the stack version of a B-16". Does anyone know if this is correct? Mine is a stack, (2X15) but it says B16 supersonic on the control panel. Here are some pix... http://s610.photobucket.com/albums/tt19 ... =65B16.jpg
Thanks,
Tom

tommydean13 wrote:On the Rick amp history website, (the jzu one) he says the B-22 is "seemingly the stack version of a B-16". Does anyone know if this is correct? Mine is a stack, (2X15) but it says B16 supersonic on the control panel. Here are some pix... http://s610.photobucket.com/albums/tt19 ... =65B16.jpg
Thanks,
Tom

I think there's more to it than that. My B-22 has speakers (small ones) inside of the head, so the circuit has to be somewhat different.

The two tweeters are the "Brilliante" option.

jingle_jangle wrote:The two tweeters are the "Brilliante" option.

Thanks for that info, Paul. I take it that the amps are otherwise identical?

Not to convolute this, but I have a b16 combo, which also has a "Brillante" control, but this amp does not have any tweeters, just 4 10" Jensens

Not convoluted at all. "Brilliante" means the same--treble emphasis. Whether it's done with a control or via two tweeters, it's only semantics.

Hey, let's get convoluted!

To my ears, using the "Brillante" control yields an effect like the "Presence" control on the brownface Fenders. The B-16 combo and head that I have both have "Brilliante" and "Treble Boost" controls: The "Brillante" control seems to "clean up" and focus the overall sound, regardless of the positions of the other settings, while the "Treble Boost" is used for dialing up what is otherwise known as "Treble."

Well, as long as we're convoluting...mine is Identical to Libratune's, (no tweeters) but I have the 2X15 cab. I (and my Dad before me) have always used it as a bass amp. I absolutely love the tone I get out of it, plus it will roar like a freight train with just a bit of aggression Does anybody else use theirs as a bass amp?

I am not sure exactly what I have here. It has one more knob and it controls an RCA input on the bottom of the chassis. My on and off switch is a rotary that is combined with the Brilliante control. There is no model number on it like shown in the other post of the B16. Also there is no serial number I can find anywhere on the unit. I didn't take photos of the back but the tranny and rectifier tube is mounted on the bottom making it a pain to get tubes in and out.

This one needs caps due to age but it still works and when it hits on all cylinders it rivals any of my other amps (Silver Jubilee 2555, '68 Pro-Reverb, '68 Bandmaster, and '65 bassman. Wonderful tone...Great ACDC tone!

Hey!
I'm adding to the mix here, I picked up this bad boy recently and I've got a couple questions.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/ ... b16-01.jpg

What do you figure the status is on that grille cloth? Does anyone here know whether Ric had transitional periods between the cloth as well as the tolex? Tbetts and TommyD's are silver and libratune's got the beige. I've got the black. To me it seems more likely that it's not the original grille cloth. Is the beige grillecloth before the switch the silver or was it the other way around?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/ ... b16-02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/ ... b16-03.jpg

I'm also wondering what this output or input is for!
Now I think someone in another thread on here said that they believed Rickenbacker might have had all the chasis (chasi?) built and that it was for a trem switch pedal, or maybe I completely mixed that up. Could be another speaker output? Because there is a similar jack with two wires coming out of it just to the left and those wires lead to the speaker out on the back of the amp. Anyone know for sure?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/ ... b16-04.jpg

Missing tube on the far left? Or was that socket not utilized for this model?

I'm also wondering whether anyone has specs from a manual or brochure on this head, output wattage, impedance etc.?

Tbetts63ss wrote:I am not sure exactly what I have here.

Tery, look at the 2nd photo in my post above. I am willing to bet that if you push up on the first control knob to the right of the switches on your amp, you will be able to see a model designation by or beneath the "Supersonic" lettering on the control panel. In my experience, the chassis in the RIC amp heads (and combo amps) from this era are very loose b/c they are often not well-attached to the cab, and sometimes this causes the chassis to slip down slightly, thus obscuring the lettering on the control plate.

So give it a hoist and see what's under there! And let us know!

pihstekcor wrote: Is the beige grillecloth before the switch the silver or was it the other way around?

I have several Rick amps from this era and the grille cloth for silver-covered amps (which started in early '60s) started with beige, then went to beige somewhat lightly spray-painted silver, then to silver, then back to beige when the tolex cab covering went from silver to black around 1965. I don't think the black grille cloth on your amp head is original.

pihstekcor wrote: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/ ... b16-02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/ ... b16-03.jpg

I'm also wondering what this output or input is for!
Now I think someone in another thread on here said that they believed Rickenbacker might have had all the chasis (chasi?) built and that it was for a trem switch pedal, or maybe I completely mixed that up. Could be another speaker output? Because there is a similar jack with two wires coming out of it just to the left and those wires lead to the speaker out on the back of the amp. Anyone know for sure?

On my amp heads, the RCA out with the small jackplate is the speaker out. Your head could have been rewired to bypass this, because (another design flaw?) when you take off that back panel you tend to pull out the speaker wires attached to that out.

The extra RCA out built into the chassis could be for a trem pedal; I believe Rick built that out into all it's silver head chassis(es?) whether or not the amp ended up having tremolo built in.

pihstekcor wrote: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v648/ ... b16-04.jpg

Missing tube on the far left? Or was that socket not utilized for this model?

I am guessing here, but that empty socket could be for a tube if the amp head had tremelo (again, the uniform chassis theory). From what I can tell, your head doesn't have tremelo thus no tube?.

pihstekcor wrote: I'm also wondering whether anyone has specs from a manual or brochure on this head, output wattage, impedance etc.?

There are schematics for the Supersonic on the RIC website, though they may not have all the info you are looking for. Here you go (try not to be distracted by that partially clothed female model that accompanied many early '60s Ricks) http://www.rickenbacker.com/service_tube_schematics.asp

Ron
Thanks for your insights into the matter!
I read somewhere also that the grille cloth was only sprayed on the front and it was beige on the reverse side. Would this be the same color as the beige you have pictured?
My next steps would be acquiring some beige to start, and some period correct silver spray heh heh.

My back panel still has the speaker out wires attached to it, so it's more likely to be the spot for an unused trem pedal, I'm guessing!

Hmm... I've seen those schematics and unfortunately do not know how to read them! Would you be willing to translate the essentials?

As of now I do not have the cabinet (Did they give you the choice of whether it was 1x15 or 4x10 or were there different model names designating each set?)
and not wanting to wreck anything I am wondering whether I can just plug it into my twin reverb reissues' 2x12's using a speaker extension cable to reach up to the b-16, that is why I ask about impedance and what not!

If anyone has a Rickenbacker 4x10 Cabinet for sale let me know! Preferably the matching silver tolex model.

Also expanding on the mini question up there in the brackets
I noticed yours was just a B-16 on the control panel as well but the schematics are listed for a b16D and the b16a and b16 ad as well, do you know what differences and features those models had? I guessing one is the tremolo model!

Okay, here's some more info.

The pics of the amp head shown in my previous post are of a B-16. That is the non-trem model. The tremolo model is the B-16A.

Here's a B-16A amp head: http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D1

Here's a B-16A combo, with one photo showing the trem footswitch cord looping up under the chassis to its 1/4" RCA socket: http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D1

The grille cloth that appears beige-sprayed-silver is sprayed from the front. This is even more apparent on some early '60s B-14A models, such as this one: http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D1

The 4x10" speaker configuration is correct for any B-16. I believe the B-22 head was originally accompanied by a 2x15" speaker configuration. I am sure over the years some B-22s heads found themselves on top of B-16 cabs and vice-versa.

I have not seen a B-16C or D and don't know anything about them.

An original B-16 silver tolex speaker cab with 4x10" speakers is really scarce. There are some out there in black tolex/beige grille. Good luck finding either one. If I were you I'd try to find an amp with a 4x10" config. (old Fender Concert or Super Reverb) and plug the speakers into the B-16 head.

I'm not an amp tech and can't accurately interpret the schematics on the RIC website, much less elaborate on them. Perhaps you could find an amp tech to do that for you if needs be.

Good luck!

Wow,
VERY helpful thanks again. Interesting about the 2x15 for B-22's!
I'll check out some 4x10 options but do you know whether it would damage the b-16 or the speakers (too much draw from the speakers?? not sure how it works) if i plugged in the 65 twin reverb reissue
The stats from the site say its got 2-12" Jensen® C-12K, 8 ohm Speakers with Ceramic Magnets and the output from the twin reverb's amp is 85 watts into 4 ohms