recording an ampeg b15

nordberg · Post by **nordberg** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:54 am

finally!!! i'm getting an early 60's portaflex this week. i'm wondering what everyone's favourite techniques are for recording these bad boys.

thanks in advance - mike

DangerousMusic · Post by **DangerousMusic** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:56 am

I like large diaphragms on these guys. Usually I'll use a 47FET, or a 251. Ribbons are cool too for that creamy sound.

obermorph · Post by **obermorph** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 11:55 am

Forget micing it, just buy IK multimedia Amplitube svx. problem solved.

r

ott0bot · Post by **ott0bot** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:47 pm

I've really liked using an re20 closer to the grill, so you get a nice round bottom, but not a ton of low end build up from proximity effect. md421's or sm7's sound good for this too, but they have more proximity effect.

Then using either a decent ldc without a big high frequency bump (at4050, has been good), or an sdc, like an oktava mc012 a bit further back in the room. Get a nice low end and room sound.

Also....depending oh how your room sounds...I've found that putting the amp on a couple small concrete blocks with some rubber matting or carpet on top of them helped decouple it from the floor and acheive a better room sound...especailly if you want to get loud.

teleharmonium · Post by **teleharmonium** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:02 pm

It's worth trying almost anything, really. My best results on my B15 have been with a 4047, a Baby Bottle, EV RE-38, and an old RCA 44, but an e609 and various other dynamics have been pretty decent too. I like to put the mic out about 12-18" for the condenser or ribbon mics, closer for the dynamics.

joninc · Post by **joninc** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:28 pm

on mine i like: atm 25, d12, 421, 441, coles 4038.

LDC seem popular but often lack focus for me - to soft maybe. it's such a round sounding amp to begin with that i like a dynamic usually to capture that midrange meat.

inasilentway · Post by **inasilentway** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 8:58 pm

put ANY mic ANYWHERE and you will be happy. but, as mentioned, try putting an LDC a little ways out and you may be surprised.

tonewoods · Post by **tonewoods** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 1:30 pm

I love the line out on mine....
Just a fabulous way to DI....

Mic'ing it, I like the devil's mic, an EV 666....

infiniteposse · Post by **infiniteposse** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 4:29 pm

I had good results with my 63 last week using a SM7 and a DI and blending. Not much to do at mix down. Just about perfect right out of the box.

vivalastblues · Post by **vivalastblues** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 5:12 pm

M88! sounds awesome!

DanielJSchlett · Post by **DanielJSchlett** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 11:56 pm

+1 on both the m88 and e609 mics for b15

if you are also taking a di... those mics on the amp with do a great job of getting cool low mid range while leaving out that really low end information...

and +1 to putting any mic anywhere... that amp just sounds awesome

frans_13 · Post by **frans_13** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 5:20 am

Beyer M88, you can't go wrong with it. Did you ever try to get isolation headphones and listen to the mic, while you position it? Takes all the guesswork out of it. Or rest your feet on the console in the control room as you yell at your assistant in the live room, while the girl from the lobby brings fresh fruit - it depends.
Beyer M380, CAD vsm, Sennheiser 421, whatever you have in your locker.

nordberg · Post by **nordberg** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:45 am

thanks folks!

at this point i think i'm really leaning toward amplitube.

actually i might pick up one of those 609's as they're super cheap. i'd love to get an m88 but it's a bit out of my price range and there are a few mics i've been meaning to get first (aren't there always!)

i have a 4047, m160, m201, oktava ml-52, sm7, rode ntk plus a bunch of others, but they'll probably be my starting points.

i'm just super excited to get one of these amps!

frans_13 · Post by **frans_13** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:50 am

The 4047 should do the job fine.

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 1:11 am

inasilentway wrote:put ANY mic ANYWHERE and you will be happy.

That's exactly what I was gonna say. I just bought a '72 Protaflex ($500!) a few months ago an dit's just the most slammin' bass amp. You'd really have to be doing something wrong for it to not sound great.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

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recording an ampeg b15

recording an ampeg b15

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