Ampeg B25

This amp was made between '69-'71, I believe I have a '69 as it was already "well aged" when I acquired it in '73; all tube 2 channel, 55 watt, with a 2x15" Eminence loaded cabinet. I also now utilize it with just an SVT-15 cab that's much more competent on the low end. I was 14 at the time I purchased it with lawnmowing $, and it had to serve me doing double-duty as both a lower-powered bass amp at the time for H.S. Jazz Band and later for local live theatre pit orchestra, as well as a very loud, pedal-overdriven lead guitar amp that in those days had to keep up with a much more powerful Ampeg V4 owned by the rhythm guy, and the bass player's Acoustic 18" folded horn rig. This amp is a super-basic "no frills" deal, no reverb, no master volume, which conversely makes it all the more versatile for me. It sang for bass in the pit orchestra for shows such as "Oliver", yet with outboard stomp boxes it certainly cut the mustard for pushing my guitar for emulating Nugent's "Storm Trooper". Now, 35 years later, I use it strictly for guitar (a Hamer USA w/sustaniac and a mexican Strat) using a versatile Digitech 2112 rackmount with dual tube preamps. It's all I've ever needed or wanted, except for a fetish I have for pristine blonde '63 Bassmans!. Just like a standard Bassman, it seems like it was really NEVER intended for loud rock bass. That's what they make SVTs, Hartkes, and such for!

For lower-powered theatre settings that required thick, heavy bottom range, I just used and old bang-around early Epiphone double cutaway with lowered bridge and boomy nylon-wrapped strings. This provided a particularly good rumble for the "heartbeat" effect in "Man of LaMancha"! In a sensitive setting like the theatre, I was always taking a chance in hauling in this old tuber, but it never let me down. Very low hum. Used like this, it's best to just use your volume knob on the instrument for all your tweaks during the performance. I've never had this sucker serviced or nothing, and the pots are still pretty darn quiet. For guitar, I've always relied on outboards to make my sound with this thing, save for occasionally fiddling with the ultra high/low rocker switches. There is a wide range of tone to be had with a little knob twisting on these old Ampegs. However, I've never personally found the straight, unadulterated high volume setting on this stock, original, untouched amp to really compare with the singing tone you'll get from old Fenders, if you're a blues purist. However, this amp seems to love and crave and behave like an angel with pedals! It's an Ampeg.

In it's 38 years, it's been dropped, banged into countless walls, slid down a stairwell, transported in ratchety old U Hauls, VW buses, station wagons, and ridden around on top of the cabinet bouncing over literally miles of crappy sidewalks. It has beer stains down the front of it from keggers held 3 decades ago. It never failed. All of it's tubes are still the originals. The fuse was replaced once. I converted the old 4 prong head/cab connector with 1/4" jacks, and had to install a new power cord when a well-meaning drunk stumbled across it behind the rig, ripping it away from the plug. It has otherwise always worked. I keep thinking I'll find a Timex label in it somewhere. It's not yet washed ashore from some shipwreck, though. I'd probably have to finally take it into the shop if that happened...

It's probably older than many of Ampeg's current employees. If I ever get the notion to fix what doesn't seem to need fixing for this gloriously battered beastie, I'd take it to a good tube amp tech. Who knows what lovely wonderful sounds might be waiting to happen should I spring for fresh tubes, caps, tech labor rates, toss in a new faceplate and knobs(yep, they're available!), recover it in fresh vintage Ampeg tolex...Naa, I'd just get another one off of Ebay and do it to that one; that is, if it really needed it. I'm really hesitant to fiddle with it, or spend $400-500 to discover that it's really no different than before. At 48, and having been "Nuged" a few times in front of his and others' PA systems, my ears are "not so golden anymore"...

I've played for 35 years; also have a Hartke 3500, Peavey bass, a good old Ensonic VFXsd keyboard, a '63 Hammond M, a Boss DR-5, a home-built set of midi-converted Hammond bass pedals, a Tascam 4 track, and some rackmount tone generators and processors. Still an old school guy - I just lack having a pair of knee cymbals and a spider monkey holding a change bucket from finding my true fame and fortune in the music industry... I'd probably have to get another Ampeg B25. I just got a friend a nice used Peavey Triumph 60 tube head in trade for his doing some good, nit-picky long hours of work custom shimming the neck of my Hamer. Man, for out of the box killer overdrive, it's a jewel. Too, I'd love to get a great (not just a good) killer-biased Bassman, Deluxe, or other Fender head for pure blues fun. But, I need the B25 too.

made in the 68-71 era of ampeg. this one is the oddball of the bunch, I can't find any information about ampeg using a black/plexi face plate with blue (light up from behind) script logo. basic dual hi/lo input,two channel, volume treble bass and two high/bass boost (black plastic)rocker switchs. old 4 pin speaker (came with 2x15 no rips in tolex nothing, cab) out with 2 ext amp outs, Im assuming for daisy chaining, and a 500 watt max two-prong outlet.Solid State amp (no tube)makes it light. i rate it an 8 because its simple and effective with that classic ampeg tone

using G&l,Fender P& a jazz, Rickenbacker, Bsx upright (with bow)this amp kicks ass with all these active or passive this old wench can handle and deliver. I was in awe when i heard this amp in the store and when i asked how much I couldnt pass up this deal. I've just started using it as aguitar amp with a les paul/ this thing is brutal.well rounded fat tones for bass and balls out feel the earth move rhythm chug.

this thing has been stable so far---I'm getting ready to take her in and get the two prong cord attached changed over to a grounded three prong (for saftey, i keep getting small shocks when i touch the metal on off switch)and maybe have the pots cleaned (got a little scratch but not bad)

Yeah-------no use take it to a local

If it where stolen i would be pissed and as for if i find another one, yes i will snatch it up in a heart beat, cash permitting1

Made in 1969, two channels: each with normal/bright inputs, volume, bass, treble, and high and low boost. Speaker out, and external amp out

. The sounds this amp can produce range from sparkly clean at low volumes to full out "balls to the wall", classic rock guitar crunch when its wide open. The tone controls are very responsive.

I've owned it for 6 mos and have never had a problem.

N/A

Overall this amp is kickin. I've been playing about 9 years, and it's the exact sound I'm looking for. I'm running a Cort M600 (PRS clone, mahagony body/neck, maple top, rw fingerboard) with a seymour duncan jazz and a jeff beck into a crybaby, a rat, and a big muff, with the head going into a 2x12 with Celestion vintage 30s. The only thing I'm going to change on it is replacing the "external amp out" jack and turning it into an effects loop.
If it were stolen, I'd have to get another one.

This is an all tube, 55 watt two channel amp. It has Vol, Treb, Bass, Lo boost and Hi boost for each channel. There are two inputs for each channel. The amp comes complete with a schematic glued on the chassis top cover. It has no headphone jack, but so what? This is no practice amp. It would be nice to have a little more gain and a master volume control, but this amp was a standard design for the era that it was manufactured.

With a Lace Sensor loaded Strat, this amp had a great clean AMPEG sound. Kinda like classic Stones stuff. With the volume cranked up all the way, it was suprizingly noise free. With tone controls at 12 o'clock and the boost switches off, it was easy to make this amp sing with a 2X12 closed back cabinet with Eminance speakers. The distortion was very smooth. Good for blues and classic rock. Not a variety of tones, but very cool anyway.

I was given this head to repair. Someone replaced the 7027A output tubes with Sovtek 6550's. BAD MOVE! It fried the screen resistor. I found an original pair of RCA 7027A's to stick in it. I also replaced the Chineese manufactured 12ax7's and with NOS American made tubes and this amp came alive. The 7199 tested good. Tubes for this type of amp are getting hard to find but you CAN find them. The controls and switches were noisy and crackling. Cleaning with a spray cured the problem.

Ha, ha, ha...

I've serviced tube amps forever. This one sounded so cool, I asked my customer if he would trade it for my pre-CBS Bassman head. He said, "No." The he gave my $100 for the fix-it work. If I came across one of these for sale, I would grab it up. I heard that it is a bass amp head, but it is great for guitar. The owner is in a new school band and uses it for bass. For guitar, it is LOUD. It even looks good with that blue tolex and large silver Ampeg logo. Don't drop it on your foot; it weighs a ton! If you find one, BUY IT. I did not have a humbucker loaded guitar to try.