Advice on buying an Ampeg Portaflex B-15 ('64-'65)

[ookla the mok]

The music shop up the street from me just got in this Ampeg Portaflex B-15. He says it's a 1964-65 model. Apparently the previous owner had tooled around in the speaker cab and totally messed up the original baffle design. I was told this could be easily fixed. Their asking price is $1,000.00, but I think I can talk him down to $850. Can anyone tell me any info on this amp or give me any advice? Thanks!

[Rob Martinez]

My first instinct says....GET IT!!

But more knowledgeable folks could give you better advice.

[Tapp]

That does not look like an mid 60's B-15. That Ampeg logo is from the 70's so it may be an early 70's model; or it could be a 60's amp on a 70's cab. Anyway, it's kinda odd lookin to me.

T

[stiles72]

That's actually looks like a '67 (black tolex/blue & silver grill cloth) that someone has added an "a" logo to along with the casters rather than an earlier '64/'65.

[JimmyM]

that's a 67 or 68 b-15n. 63's and 64's had blue diamond. i wouldn't pay a grand for it. $850 might even be pushing it for being in that condition. not sure what it would be worth on the open market but i'd have a hard time going $850. and that wrong logo plate on the grill is going to leave holes in the cloth. shouldn't have one at all. it is, however, a pretty desirable color scheme, so that helps its value.

[ookla the mok]

Thanks for the quick replies! So, is just a B-15N? no C, D, B, what have you? Also, what are your thoughts on that year and model? I've been trying to garner more info via this site - https://store.bluebookinc.com/Instan...roduct=1&id=23

It's confusing the crap outta me!

[coreyfyfe]

The official circuit revision is (I believe) a B-15NF but the model name would just be B-15N.

Edit - in the link you provided this would most likely fall under the B-15NF category. I believe that circuit change was around 67 with the cosmetic changes shortly there after. The internal baffling would be a single baffle so if the shop owner was looking at it thinking it should be a double baffle that may be why they think it is messed up.

[JimmyM]

b-15nf circuitry started in mid 65 according to the ampeg book.

so i just noticed something...that's a bt-15 cab. the lid on the b-15n cabs doesn't sit up nearly as high, and the b-15n cabs don't have metal side handles. also, the tube heads were shockmounted and this one isn't. so this is an orphaned head paired up with an orphaned bt-15 cab. i bet it sounds good, but definitely don't pay a grand for it.