An authentic piece of American tube amplifier history, this Vintage Oliver Sound Co. B150 is an all-tube piggyback bass and guitar amplifier head manufactured in Linden, New Jersey. Oliver Sound was founded by Oliver "Jess" Oliver—the mastermind behind Ampeg's legendary B-15 Portaflex—after his departure from Ampeg in the late 1960s. The B150 was built to deliver that iconic round, articulate Portaflex warmth and punch, enhanced by an expanded frequency EQ section and road-rugged chassis architecture.
Rated at 60 watts RMS, the power section runs a matched pair of 6L6GC beam-power tetrodes driven by 6EU7 dual triodes and a reliable solid-state rectifier. Unlike earlier Ampeg circuits, Jess Oliver incorporated expanded tone-sculpting capabilities across two discrete, voicable channels: • Channel 1 (Guitar / Treble Voicing): Features Volume, Bass, Treble, dedicated Mid-Range, and an Ultra High control for enhanced brilliance and chime across dual 1/4" instrument inputs. • Channel 2 (Bass / Low-End Voicing): Features Volume, Bass, Treble, dedicated Mid-Range, and an Ultra Bass control dialed specifically to track the fundamental low-end of an electric bass without muddying up.
The rear panel features the original Linden, N.J. Oliver Sound badge, an external Hum Adjust balancing potentiometer, a 4-Amp fuse holder, dual 1/4" parallel speaker output jacks, factory stamped Serial Number 2353, and the heavy-duty 3-conductor power cord secured on its original chassis stowage bracket.
Cosmetic & Operational Condition Note:
This amplifier head is in very good, fully operational vintage condition. The brushed aluminum faceplate is clean with legible silk-screening, the original black fluted pointer knobs with aluminum caps are intact, and the pilot light, standby, and power switches toggle securely. The black levant tolex cabinet displays honest vintage character and minor edge wear consistent with a 50+ year old studio workhorse. Bench-tested under load: low-noise idle, smooth pots, strong transformer iron, and rich, dynamic tube compression.
SPECIFICATIONS: • Brand: Oliver Sound Co., Inc. (Linden, N.J.) • Designer: Oliver "Jess" Oliver (Creator of the Ampeg B-15 Portaflex) • Model: B150 (B-150) • Serial Number: 2353 • Era: Circa 1968–1972 • Origin: Handcrafted in Linden, New Jersey, USA • Amplifier Type: All-Tube Bass / Guitar Amplifier Head • Power Output: ~60 Watts RMS (90W Peak) • Power Tubes: 2x 6L6GC • Preamp / Phase Inverter Tubes: 6EU7 • Rectification: Solid-State Diode • Channels: 2 Independent Channels (Channel 1: Ultra High / Channel 2: Ultra Bass) • Front Controls: Ch. 1 (Volume, Bass, Treble, Mid-Range, Ultra High), Ch. 2 (Volume, Bass, Treble, Mid-Range, Ultra Bass), Pilot Lamp, Standby Switch, Power Switch • Inputs: 4x 1/4" Jacks (2 per Channel) • Rear Panel: Dual 1/4" Speaker Jacks, Chassis Hum Adjust Trimmer, 4A Fuse, AC Cord Bracket • Mains Voltage: 117V AC 50–60Hz (250 VA) • Cabinet: Solid Wood with Black Vinyl Tolex, Top Strap Handle, Metal Corner Protectors, and Black Grille Cloth