Resident Ampeg expert(s)?

[flatfiver]

Okay, so who's got the lowdown on vintage Ampeg guitar amps?  I'm taking a look at '60s Jets, Reverberockets, Geminis, etc., not the big, heavy, high-wattage stuff from the '70s.  Is there anything I should watch out for?  I'm aware of the odd-ball tubes they used, which ones are still available, which you can only find NOS and all that.

Generally I'm looking for a handwired, single 12" tube combo, less than or equal to 30 watts, with reverb.  Silverface Deluxe Reverbs are in consideration, but they're starting to push the top end of the envelope price-wise.

[thevial]

i am in love.. utter love... with the ampeg gemeni series.

they have one in a 1x15 config that is just bliss.

[RumorsOFsurF]

SF Deluxes are getting expensive, but they are so nice!  I don't know anything about Ampeg, but I've heard good things. 

[flatfiver]

From what I can tell, vintage Ampegs are every bit as good as Fenders, they're just not as widely recognized.  They tend to be a little cleaner than Fenders - I read a story where Everett Hull, the founder of Ampeg, called Fender amps "crass" because they were too twangy and broke up too quickly for his taste.  It seems he was a bit of a jazz nazi (that's fine, because I'm looking for a little more of a jazz amp).  Apparently, however, the Ampeg reverb is amazing.  I guess a lot of surf guys are getting into the old Reverberockets.

[noirengineer]

Okay, so who's got the lowdown on vintage Ampeg guitar amps?  I'm taking a look at '60s Jets, Reverberockets, Geminis, etc., not the big, heavy, high-wattage stuff from the '70s.  Is there anything I should watch out for?   I'm aware of the odd-ball tubes they used, which ones are still available, which you can only find NOS and all that.

Generally I'm looking for a handwired, single 12" tube combo, less than or equal to 30 watts, with reverb.  Silverface Deluxe Reverbs are in consideration, but they're starting to push the top end of the envelope price-wise.

ampegs rock!  i had both j-12 and reverbrockets..  i liked em both, great fender alternatives!
even way better than the modern fenders.  w/ slightly more british crank then fender as well.

[MelWaldorf]

60s Ampeg guitar amps are great - especially now that the 7591 tube is back in production!

I've owned three - a '67 Reverberocket II, a '62 Reverberocket, and currently a '66 Gemini I.  The 'rockets are about 20W and the Gemini about 30W.  The reverb AND the tremolo are fantastic.  Personally I prefer the later 60s amps with the control panel on the front for the treble/bass controls vs the single tone control.  Also, the later ones have the "*" switches on the tremolo (almost square wave, echo-esque) and on the Gemini series on the treble control (like a Fender bright switch)  I put a JBL D-130 in my Gemini (I had to make a new baffle, don't worry I kept the original with the 12" jensen) and the sound is very cool - definitely vintage, and definitely not Fender.  More European sounding if that makes sense.  Great for Shadows and Spotnicks tunes.

The king of the vintage Ampeg amps is the B-12XT http://www.ggjaguar.com/b-12xt.htm 50 watts, two 12s, reverb and tremolo, AND it's a fliptop!  I've never seen one in person, but if they sound like the Reverberockets and Geminis they must be awfully cool.

The hardest part of owning a vintage Ampeg is finding tubes.  As I mentioned the 7591s are back in production but the weird ones like the compactron are long obsolete and not so easy to find.

Mel

[noirengineer]

The king of the vintage Ampeg amps is the B-12XT http://www.ggjaguar.com/b-12xt.htm

nah.. i like their combo's better though.  their compact and cute.
anyone try out their R.I.'s lately?  They are making hand-wired new
J-20's that look prrrty good!  comes w/ 1x12 20W.  i want to demo one bad!

if interested though 99$ at current
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=003

[glimmertwin]

Aren't the B-12 fliptops very similar to the B-15s that are known for the Jameson/Dunn bass sound?  I was thinking they would be perfect with a VI.  I gotta get one of those!

EHX does make 7591 tubes now but I heard they aren't so hot - are they made to the exact same specs as old ones?  My amp tech said to spend the extra coin on an old pair.  I have some originals that are still going strong in my Gretsch/Valco but I really need to pick up another set soon...

[northern_dirt]

Aren't the B-12 fliptops very similar to the B-15s that are known for the Jameson/Dunn bass sound?  I was thinking they would be perfect with a VI.  I gotta get one of those!

They are very popular recording amps for bass..
If I ran across one cheap again, id prolly grab one..

[northern_dirt]

Crap I just did a search on ebay for those b-15 portaflex's ..
Lowest one was $1000.. and up to $5000...

I remember being able to gran these for $250-$300... FUDGE!

[glimmertwin]

Crap I just did a search on ebay for those b-15 portaflex's ..
Lowest one was $1000.. and up to $5000...

I remember being able to gran these for $250-$300... FUDGE!

Hahaha - you and I were doing the exact same search.  I have been looking for a bass amp.  I'm building a tele bass now and the Ampeg sounds like a safe bet to work with the tele bass and my VI...at least until I get more gear 

[northern_dirt]

Crap I just did a search on ebay for those b-15 portaflex's ..
Lowest one was $1000.. and up to $5000...

I remember being able to gran these for $250-$300... FUDGE!

Hahaha - you and I were doing the exact same search.  I have been looking for a bass amp.  I'm building a tele bass now and the Ampeg sounds like a safe bet to work with the tele bass and my VI...at least until I get more gear 

I need to hit up some small towns
and do they pawnshop runs this summer..
Eventhough everyone is now online, im sure I can
still find SOME deals SOMEWHERE

[noirengineer]

Aren't the B-12 fliptops very similar to the B-15s that are known for the Jameson/Dunn bass sound?  I was thinking they would be perfect with a VI.  I gotta get one of those!

yeah it was ampeg's take on re-making that classic for "guitarists"
but it never quite stuck, as most guitarists were like wtf?

[flatfiver]

One of the techs at work spotted a couple Ampegs at a different shop, including what sounded like a Reverberocket II.  I'm hoping to stop in there tomorrow.

The new J-20 is tempting, since it uses more common tubes and all the caps and stuff are obviously going to be brand new, but I haven't been incredibly impressed by some of the newer Ampeg/Crate stuff.  Not to mention that it will cost me as much or more than an original.  And no reverb.  But it would definitely take some of the other variables out of the equation, like what did the previous owner do to this amp?  Did somebody modify something 30 years ago that's going to blow up and kill me?  You know, stuff like that.

[flatfiver]

It was indeed a Reverberocket II, the other was a reissue Jet.  The RII sounded really nice, it broke up a little quicker than I expected on the guitar input (at about 3 with humbuckers), but the accordion input seemed like it was a little cleaner, and maybe a little warmer.  Unfortunately I won't be purchasing this particular example, as it's on consignment and the seller wants too much for it, but I'm definitely keeping my eyes open.

Mel - can you tell me anything about the differences between the Reverberocket and RII?  I know the tubes used were a little different, but were there major differences in tone?  How limiting is the single tone knob vs. separate treble and bass?  I found the EQ pretty versatile on the II.  I'm kind of leaning towards looking at the earlier ones since they're a little smaller and depending on the version, you can find ones with all the tubes in current production.  A buddy at work is going to let me try out his Jet next week so I ought to be able to get an idea about the single tone control thing.