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Description

The Ampeg B-15 is more than just a bass amplifier; it's a piece of music history. Revered for its iconic fliptop design, this amplifier is the heartbeat of countless classic recordings. Its all-tube construction and 25-watt power deliver a warm, rich tone that has been cherished by legendary bassists like James Jamerson and John Paul Jones. The B-15's unique design allows the head to be securely flipped inside the cabinet, enhancing portability without compromising on the robust sound quality that has made it a studio staple for decades.

The B-15 features a simple yet effective control layout, with volume and tone controls that allow for quick adjustments and tonal exploration. The double baffle 1x15 cabinet is instrumental in producing the deep, resonant tones that are synonymous with the Ampeg name. Over the years, the B-15 has seen various evolutions, including the introduction of a 4-input model with an advanced EQ, offering even greater flexibility for musicians seeking that perfect sound.

Whether you're in the studio or on the stage, the Ampeg B-15 promises reliability and a timeless tone that stands the test of time. Its blend of portability, ease of use, and rich sound make it a favored choice among professional bassists and enthusiasts alike.

Key Features:

  • All-tube construction with 25-watt output
  • Unique fliptop design for enhanced portability
  • Simple volume and tone controls
  • Double baffle 1x15 cabinet for deep, resonant sound
  • Evolved 4-input model with advanced EQ options

Product specs

Brand Ampeg
Model Portaflex B-15n
Finish Random Navy Flair Vinyl
Year 1960 - 1962
Made In United States
Categories Bass Combo Amps, Guitar Combo Amps
Direct Output No Direct Output
Electronics Tube
Number of Channels 2 Channels
Number of Inputs 3 Inputs
Output Power (Watts) 25
Power Tube Type 6L6
Reverb None
Speaker Configuration 1x15"

FAQs

What is the power output of the Ampeg B-15 amplifier?

The Ampeg B-15 amplifier has an output power of 25 watts, making it suitable for practice sessions and smaller live performances.

What type of tubes does the Ampeg B-15 use?

The Ampeg B-15 uses 6L6 power tubes, which are known for their warm, rich sound and are commonly used in vintage-style amplifiers.

How many channels does the Ampeg B-15 have?

The Ampeg B-15 features two channels, allowing for versatile sound shaping and a variety of tonal options.

Does the Ampeg B-15 have a direct output?

No, the Ampeg B-15 does not have a direct output, which means it is primarily designed for traditional mic'd amp setups.

What is the speaker configuration of the Ampeg B-15?

The Ampeg B-15 is equipped with a 1x15" speaker configuration, offering deep, resonant bass tones ideal for bass guitar amplification.

EMGtv

EMGtv

Bobby Vega talks Fender P Bass and Ampeg B-15 on EMGtv

Video thumbnail for Bobby Vega talks Fender P Bass and Ampeg B-15 on EMGtv by EMGtv

Bobby Vega talks Fender P Bass and Ampeg B-15 on EMGtv

EMGtv

EMGtv

Video thumbnail for An Inside Look at the Classic Tones of the Ampeg Heritage B-15 by Ampeg

An Inside Look at the Classic Tones of the Ampeg Heritage B-15

Ampeg

Ampeg

Video thumbnail for Ampeg B-15 Flip-Top: The coolest bass amp? by Philip Conrad

Ampeg B-15 Flip-Top: The coolest bass amp?

Philip Conrad

Philip Conrad

Video thumbnail for Heritage B-15 Demo Clip 2 by Ampeg

Heritage B-15 Demo Clip 2

Ampeg

Ampeg

Video thumbnail for 1960 Ampeg B-15 | The Final Tweaks by Psionic Audio

1960 Ampeg B-15 | The Final Tweaks

Psionic Audio

Psionic Audio

Reviews

PROS

  • Unique Double Baffle Reflex cabinet offers a warm, distinctive sound

  • Legendary tone, perfect for studio sessions and small gigs

  • Highly sought after by professional players and producers

  • Smooth, gritty sound that works well with P basses

  • Portable size ideal for van touring and small venues

  • High efficiency JBL speaker projects powerful sound

  • Two channels with mixing capability for versatile sound options

  • Known for reliability and dependability over the years

CONS

  • Limited power may struggle against high-volume guitar amps

  • Some models require significant restoration and maintenance

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ampeg B-15.

Features and functionality

  • The SushiBox tube pre-amp is specifically designed to emulate the B15 tone and has received positive reviews for its effectiveness in achieving this sound.

    Source
  • The PF-115HE cab has a stock Eminence speaker and includes a tweeter, while the 115LF lacks a tweeter and fliptop but is ported for warmth and fatness.

    Source
  • Broughton Low + High Pass Filter pedals help manage subsonic frequencies, optimizing speaker efficiency and potential volume.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Ampeg PF-20T and 50T are solid alternatives for achieving a B15-like sound, while the vintage B25B is essentially a higher wattage B15 with similar preamp stages.

    Source
  • Users find that the PF-50T offers a similar tone to the PF-350, indicating Ampeg's solid-state models capture vintage character well.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Tech21 VT Bass DI pedal is praised as a "Flip top in a box" and is a popular choice for capturing the B15 tone in a compact format.

    Source
  • The PF-115HE is often used as a stage monitor with direct PA connections, suitable for gig settings without additional cabs.

    Source

User experience

  • The Ashdown 220Touring combo offers a tube preamp with a single 12" speaker and features a passive, highly interactive EQ, challenging users to find their preferred sound settings.

    Source
  • Owners report that the PF-115HE cab can produce natural distortion when pushing the gain, but may sound "farty" at high volumes.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Applying weather stripping effectively resolves top rattling issues in the PF-115HE cab.

    Source
  • Replacing the tone pot with a linear taper 250k pot can improve the tone knob's sweep on basses, enhancing control over resistance values.

    Source

Critic Reviews

A Guide to the Golden Age of the Ampeg B-15: 1960-1980 | Reverb News

reverb.com

The Ampeg B-15 is celebrated as an iconic bass amp that shaped the sound of many legendary musicians from 1960 to 1980. Its unique design and adaptability, with varying models over the years, offer a rich tonal palette that remains unmatched. The B-15 is praised for its distinctive vintage tone, portability, and historical significance in music, as used by artists like James Jamerson and John Paul Jones. However, its inconsistent sound across models and the challenges in servicing vintage units might be drawbacks for some. Overall, the B-15's storied legacy and tonal character make it a highly coveted piece of gear for bassists seeking authentic vintage vibes.

positive

Why so many all-time bass greats flocked to the Ampeg B-15 Portaflex | Guitar World

guitarworld.com

The Ampeg B-15 Portaflex is a legendary bass amp renowned for its rich, vintage tone, favored by bass greats like James Jamerson and John Paul Jones. Its innovative "fliptop" design offers protection in transit, making it a studio staple in the '60s. However, it lacks modern features and power, offering only 30 watts with a single 15” speaker, which may fall short for live gigs. Despite these drawbacks, its classic sound and historical significance make it a cherished piece for studio use and vintage enthusiasts. While originals can be pricey, Ampeg’s reissues provide accessible alternatives.

positive
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Based on 4 Reviews and 10 Ratings

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eric_rodolphe_christophe_baldini

A classic one, till Motown to Rolling Stones to who knows ?

I’m a long time half pro, or half amateur playing in bands since 1980. By a long search of this type of sound and the knowledge of his use in many records, i want to find one for an old style rock band, possibly split between gigs and studio. The size matters too… can be picked out in a van for touring not tailored for the SVT head and fridge. After years of search, i finally find 15 kms from my town for a reasonable price in a farm, abandoned till the death of the step father of the now owner of a lot of musical stuff, in a bad look and situation (TOLEX ripping off, no earth for the wires in 110 v with a American fridge transformer, the latches rusted and out, the inside cabinet muddying and smell like a pond, etc…). But the head is not rusted, the bulbs are old RCA lion or style, the 2 massive transformers are ok with some pink and blue spot of paint (?), and the fabulous speaker is an insane good JBL 140R from i presume the first upgrade or change of the beast. It was the amplifier of a famous double bass and bass player in this city for one of the most famous singer of the times in France who was born, and lived sometimes in his native town : ). So for a cheap negotiation I was back with a legendary amplifier who surely was on some records and gigs here and there; I restored the whole during a period of 4 months with the help of an old friend of mine who had a rental shop for back line in the other side of the town, made some buying from US Ampeg renovation specialist, adjust this and that and find this amplifier a KILLER, this one version is the S (OR N don’t remember by now ) from 1968-72, 30 W but with the high efficiency of the JBL speaker project and sound more like an 80 w. 2 channels with four entries Vol, Bass, Treble and 2 baxendall filters just like the V4 or SVT, so you can mix or play in one or the two or the mix of two.
Oups so long this review :) Try and play if you can find one of this beast !

Roles:
Genres:
blondguru

Killer Tone

I have my grandpa's '67 now. Absolute killer tone. That perfect Ampeg sound that isn't too rumbly, and stands out well in the mix.

stevefishman

1962 Classic once owned by James Jamerson

Everyone knows that the B15 is a fab amp. The studio bass amp of choice for pro players and producers. Theres a certain balance they have that sits in a track. Not always the best amp for every bass but great with most esp P basses. Mine belonged to the king of em all James Jamerson.

skylinerr

old sound

love its vintage rocky / fuzzy funky sound

Genres:

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Verdine White uses Ampeg B-15

Verdine White

Bassist, Composer

Earth, Wind & Fire

...
Verified via Bassplayer

Ampeg B-15. Verdine White uses it for studio recording (dont know if its the new one or an old one) Interview of Verdine White by the website Bassplayer.com. At the end of the interview, the official bass tech of Verdine White talks about the rig of Verdine White, including Preamp, and Cabinet

See how Gilby Clarke uses Ampeg B-15

Gilby Clarke

Guitarist

Guns N' Roses

...
Verified via reverb.com

This bass amplifier was sold on Gilby Clarke’s official Reverb.com shop. The listing’s description stated; “This Ampeg B-15R w/ B15 1X15 Ext. Cab is owned by Gilby Clarke. This was used in Gilby’s video for "Rock n' Roll Is Getting Louder". This amp rocks! It has a great pair of speakers with a super lush low end and a lot of customization on the frequency and tone side. There are some light scuffs and scratches throughout and the handle has some areas that are pretty worn, but overall this is in great shape. All items in The Official Gilby Clarke Reverb Shop ship fully insured with delivery confirmation and a signed and embossed Certificate Of Authenticity.”

See how Sean Lennon uses Ampeg B-15

Sean Lennon

Singer, Guitarist

The Plastic Ono Band

...
Verified via Premierguitar

"I was always using the [Ampeg] B-15, which is great, but it’s soft and doesn’t punch like that. It doesn’t get edgy."

See how Mike Mills uses Ampeg B-15

Mike Mills

Guitarist, Bassist

R.E.M.

...
Verified via Google Books

Used on Murmur, according to these two sources.

R.E.M.'s Murmur by J. Niimi (2005)

Mike Mills had been using a Dan Armstrong bass up to the time of Chronic Town, but Easter lent him his Rickenbacker 4001 bass on an early garage session, and by the time of the Murmur sessions Mills had bought his own. Mills played through the studio's trusty Ampeg B-15, which was set up in the hallway outside the live room.

Sound on Sound, November 2009

This time around, while Bill Berry's drum kit was conventionally miked in the booth — "I'm sure we had an [ElectroVoice] RE20 on the bass drum, because that's what you did in the United States at that time” — Mike Mills played his Rickenbacker bass through the studio's Ampeg B15 amp which was recorded with a distant mic in a small corridor. "I had probably just read that Geoff Emerick miked Paul McCartney from about eight feet away,” Easter says. "We would try stuff like that, and sure enough it worked.”

See how Sean Hurley uses Ampeg B-15

Sean Hurley

Bassist

John Mayer Trio

...
Verified via Bassplayer

“I’ve been using my B-15 on almost every recording these days, except the most distorted rock tracks— although I recently drove the heck out of one on a session for producer John Shanks. What a glorious sound! It’s the perfect recording bass amp: It doesn’t need to be loud to get a killer tone, and is easily tucked away in a closet or isolation booth. With a flatwound-strung bass it’s old school, and with roundwounds it’s as modern as anyone needs. Pure bass tone that records with almost no effort, no unwanted frequencies to cut, nothing to be added—Jess Oliver got it right! The B-15 has stood the test of time.”

See how Tom Hamilton uses Ampeg B-15

Tom Hamilton

Bassist

Thin Lizzy

...
Verified via Mixonline

Used for Toys in the Attic, as stated by engineer Jay Messina in this March 21, 2017 Mix Online interview.

“We had [bassist] Tom Hamilton going through an [Ampeg] B15 amp, where we took an output—a custom direct out of the head of the amp—and we would mike it with an RE20,” Messina adds.

See how Donald Dunn uses Ampeg B-15

Donald Dunn

Bassist

The Blues Brothers

...
Verified via Duck Dunn Remembered

Donald "Duck" Dunn used an Ampeg B-15 amplifier for many recording sessions at Stax Records. He remarked that it "sounded thin while recording yet just right when played back," as documented on the Duck Dunn Remembered website.

See how Rick Danko uses Ampeg B-15

Rick Danko

Singer, Bassist

The Band

...
Verified via YouTube

At minute 0:57 you can see the Ampeg B-15 Bass Amp behind Rick. It used that amp for the Last Waltz Live in 1978

See how Gail Ann Dorsey uses Ampeg B-15

Gail Ann Dorsey

Singer, Bassist

Tears for Fears

...
Verified via Singing Bassist

and in the studio it's always a vintage Ampeg B-15 flip-top

See how Darryl Jones uses Ampeg B-15

Darryl Jones

Bassist

The Rolling Stones

...
Verified via Bassplayer

“The B-15 has always been a part of the studio experience for me. They were ever-present in all the studios I worked at in Chicago, New York, and L.A. No matter what kind of music you were recording, from R&B to jazz to rock, you could always find a suitable sound through it. In recent years, even with all of the other choices available, the B-15 has become more coveted, and now it’s exciting to see the release of the Heritage B-15. I hope I’ll be doing sessions for many years to come on both vintage and new models. Thanks, Jess Oliver and Ampeg, for getting it right from the jump.”

See how Jonathan Wilson uses Ampeg B-15

Jonathan Wilson

Guitarist

Eisley

...
Verified via Tapeop

"I will say that the 57 on the B-15 with a DI is a trick I learned from the great Thom Monahan"

See how Mickey Madden uses Ampeg B-15

Mickey Madden

Bassist

Maroon 5

...
Verified via BassPlayer.com

"This time I used a Gibson EB-2 hollowbody that made it on the record a whole lot. The EB-2 has such a great midrange, but it has a baritone switch, too, so it got some insane low end that is so heavy. It sounds nuts! Otherwise, I used the same setup I’ve used on the last few records. Almost everything was running through the Ampeg B-15 I always record with, and I used my ’65 Fender Jazz Bass for a few songs."

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ampeg B-15, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Fender Precision Bass
Fender Precision Bass Electric Basses
3
Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Jazz Bass Electric Basses
3
Electro-Voice RE20
Electro-Voice RE20 Dynamic Microphones
3
Avalon U5
Avalon U5 Direct Boxes
2
Fender '57 Champ
Fender '57 Champ Combo Guitar Amplifiers
2
Travis Bean TB2000
Travis Bean TB2000 Electric Basses
2
Ampeg Micro-VR Stack
Ampeg Micro-VR Stack Bass Amplifier Stacks
2
Gibson EB-0
Gibson EB-0 Electric Basses
2
Avalon VT-737SP
Avalon VT-737SP Preamps & Channel Strips
2

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