Trinity TripTop (Ampeg B-15 Clone)

An amazing Bass and Guitar amplifier that is VERY tough for me to list.  I've built scores of Boutique and Classic amps over the years but the TRIP TOP was special.  The TRIP TOP is available as a kit or hand-made from Trinity Amps in Brighton, Ontario, Canada.  It is over-designed for very long life and engineered for flexibility.  Super quiet operation! The amp's versatility and tone make it a keeper. 

I'm including new 6L6 power tubes but with Trinity's special-order overrated and non-potted Heyboer iron, you can also bias for 6550 and KT88 power tubes.  Includes black powder coated fabricated tube cage.  I would recommend Trinity's Portaflex 15 inch Bass Cab or EV's classic TL606 (Cab pictured not included.)

Please message me with any questions. 

From the Trinity Amps Website: 

The Trip Top combines the original circuits of both the Ampeg B-15NC (1964) as well as the later B-15NF (1965-67). Maintaining these circuits keeps the same gain structure and biasing found in the original B-15N amp designs, helping to preserve their true heritage.

It has two channels each have volume with a 'Pull Bright' switch, treble and bass controls. The first channel, NORMAL, from the B-15-NF, has the volume control section before the tone stack. The second channel, CASCADE, comes from the B-15-NC which has the volume control section after the tone controls.

The power amp section has two switch selectable bias modes - fixed (B-15NF) and cathode (B-15NC). While 1N4007 solid state rectifier diodes were used for the "NB" configuration, this was not incorporated into the design.

The Trip Top is designed to output approximately 30 watts in cathode bias mode and 40 watts in fixed bias mode.

The tube set used in both the B-15NC and B-15NF is incorporated in the design: Three 6SL7-GT dual triodes for preamp and phase inverter circuits, two 6L6GC power tubes, and a 5AR4 rectifier. A small change in the phase inverter to power amp coupling capacitors in original B-15Ns from .022uF to .047uF opens things up a bit.

The Output Transformer has multiple impedance secondarys which allow a choice of 4, 8 or 16 ohm speaker loads. The primary impedance is 6800 ohms.

The Trip Top is built using point-to-point wiring using turret board construction for optimal service and reliability. High-quality tubes, coupling capacitors and resistors are selected for maximum tone, performance and reliability. The Trinity Amps power transformer and output transformer are all custom built and selected for maximum tone, performance and reliability.

4 – Ampeg B15 amp configurations in One Package
Original Design Ampeg B15s Baxandall Tone Stack design
3 - 6SL7-GT Pre-Amp tube design
3 Inputs including one to ‘Link’ Channels
Pre-Amp Out jack
4, 8, 16 Ohm speaker output
OVERRATED Heyboer Power Transformer with 117 – 234 60 Hz Mains Support
OFF-ON and STANDBY Power switch
Mirror Finish CHROME Chassis .06 inch thick with silkscreened control labels front and rear
Hum Control Pot for super quiet operation
CNC fabricated Black Powder Coated Tube Cage

As a Guitar Amp:

This amp rocks with guitar!!! It's an AMAZING guitar amp. It has a different sonority than other Trinity offerings which have a focus on a very smooth but sparkly top end (the Triwatt being the one that slightly deviated). The Trip Top is the opposite - there's still a nice smooth top end -band plenty of it - but this amp is all about low end girth and grind. It's got a nice big tight booty (even with the bass tone knob on full!) that inspires rocking out down low on the neck with open chords!! Fixed bias has a more forward, clear, present sound... Cathode bias gives it a saggier feel but adds this gorgeous rich high harmonic overtone to everything - really nice for those ringy single coil U2-esque type sounds. Donna Grantis (Prince's guitar player) recorded a lot of her CD with a B15 and that's what this amp is all about.

HEYBOER OVERRATED TRANSFORMERS - Custom made Transformer set by Heyboer. It is built to our OVERRATED specifications but based on original AMPEG transformers used in the early B15 amps. The Power transformer is rated at 300 mA compared to under 200mA originals and all other current third party suppliers including Ampeg’s re-issue. The output transformer has 3 Interleaves and heavier gauge winding than originals and multiple secondary windings (4, 8, 16 ohm support). This is an excellent B15 transformer. With our overrated and non-potted iron, you can optionally run KT88 POWER TUBES almost doubling the power output. The Trinity Amps power transformer and output transformer are all custom built and selected for maximum tone, performance and reliability.