Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a 60's vintage Ampeg B15N head that drives a VintageBlue B12 cabinet
I am wondering how that 4003S will sound thru said Ampeg
Anybody have experience running a Ric thru a flip top?

Ask Jeff Thomas, he certainly knows.

Kevin Teed and I both have the B-15R (re-issue) that was made around 10 years ago. 100W with a switch to cut it down to 60W. At least one other guy here (Garret? Gareth?-- I'm not sure if he still posts) has the same one. Anyhoo...I'm not sure about your model...I haven't played through one...but mine sounds REALLY good. I think it's my favorite amp to noodle around on. I brought it to one or two of the confluences so that others could try it and AFAIK it was a hit. If you're playing with a loud drummer it might not be loud enough, but I know Kevin really likes his, and Garret liked his a lot too.

I think it does a great job of emulating an upright bass, but that's not all it does.

I love my B-15R! (other than the weight )

My '67 4001S and P-ba$$ sound amazing thru it.

Hey Dave: If you like Rickenbacker basses and you like Ampeg B15s, it's a classic combo. If thirty watts works for your playing situations, who wouldn't dig it? Here's a '67 sb12 that suffices for all the rehearsals and jams happening around this place. It's a warm, yet solid twenty watts, with what should be the same cab you're using. Sounds like fun, Go for it!

And while we're at it, I happen to have a pic of the B-15R here at work that I can post for the heck of it.

Sadly, there is no Rick bass in the photo, but use your imagination...

It's hard to find a bass that doesn't sound good through a B15N head, though I never used the 12" cabinets and can't say much about them. My B15N was another one of those things that I wish I would have kept, but when the concert halls got big enough I finally traded it in and switched to my Acoustic head and Sunn horn cabs. A few years ago I built a new cabinet based on the original B15 double-baffled cabs with a JBL D140 in it for the Acoustic head, but I still lust after the old blue box.

It's a great combination. This is the Heritage Ampeg B-15, number 18 of 50. I did replace the 15" Eminence Commonwealth with a restored D-140F (15"). I also replaced all tubes with period correct NOS and re-biased the power tubes with a Compu-Bias. Personally, I prefer 15" drivers for bass guitar.

This is a little fuzzy, but it's a gig I did with my V63 and the B-15R.
I replaced the stock 15 with an EV which was a huge improvement, IMO.

Hi there ...

Ampeg B-15S is a fantastic amp for a Ric, this is a 1973 B-15S which I've played all my Ric's through, I've even used both channels together and used a stereo cable.

Tremendous tone, and lots of volume, also, no DI socket so front of house needs a Mic, but that leaves you in control of your sound.

Kiddwad57 wrote:Hey Dave: If you like Rickenbacker basses and you like Ampeg B15s, it's a classic combo. If thirty watts works for your playing situations, who wouldn't dig it? Here's a '67 sb12 that suffices for all the rehearsals and jams happening around this place. It's a warm, yet solid twenty watts, with what should be the same cab you're using. Sounds like fun, Go for it!

I had one of those for a few years,but was lured away by the Markbass Cmd121p. The ampeg was great for coffehouse type gigs soundwise,although it wasn't exactly that portable.

Yeah, great tone but not loud or portable. I've gone through two B15s and am now on the second sb12. Each time I sell one off I regret it and look for another. So this one is just gonna hang out at the house for practicing and jamming and looking sharp. I want to get one of those caster boards for it, to make it easier to vacuum under.

TEB- That box looks fine.

Thanks to all you Ric/B15 types
If you want to get new cabinets or other period correct Ampeg gear, I highly recommend Mark at VintageBlue
I have a MapleGlo 4004Cii on order and I am actively seeking a fretless 4000 series bass
Cheers dave

I have 3 B-15 heads but prefer the B-12 with 7868 tubes vs the Chinese copy 6L6 or Rusky KT66

[quote="thx1955 wrote"

Ampeg B-15S is a fantastic amp for a Ric, this is a 1973 B-15S which I've played all my Ric's through, I've even used both channels together and used a stereo cable.

Tremendous tone, and lots of volume, also, no DI socket so front of house needs a Mic, but that leaves you in control of your sound.
[/quote]

There's a B15S in the band room at school, it was probably new when they got it but is kind of thrashed now. It's just as you describe it. It has that knob to choose between bass - flat - guitar. Altec speaker too. I've always gone for the flat setting. I used to dream about acquiring it, but my porta-flex needs have been met with the sb12.