Jess Oliver's legacy - AMPEG PORTAFLEX CLUB part 10

[JimmyM]

#336 marcusiologist

[beans-on-toast]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

They did in the 50's. Noble accordion amps.

Interesting. The Noble script logo looks in the same style as what ampeg had at the time. A lot of companies did this at the time. Sears sold products with their Silvertone brand on them that were built by Danelectro, Garnet, and others. Sears has always done that with their products Kenmore. It was a lot easier in those days to cobble together an amp order for a retailer. There weren't the liability issues that you have today.

I know that Sam Ash used to sell amps under their own brand. I wonder if Ampeg made any for them. I know that some Oliver amps had the Sam Ash brand on them.

[spacebassed]

Originally Posted by Apex_speed

As to the preamp caps, I do have the green ones and they are in good shape except for one that was replaced during the above mention power supply repair. I generally like things to match so any idea where I can get some used original green ones?

You might want to give Bruce at Fliptops a call to see of he has any of those caps. If not, he may at least be able to point you in the right direction.

Originally Posted by Apex_speed

I will leave the shock mounts as I never plan to flip the head.

This has me thinking... There are a lot of us, including myself, who have Fliptops that we rarely, if ever, flip. Wouldn't it be nice to have some covers made to fit the amp and cab while the amp is up? I know I'd be interested in one or two myself. We'd likely be able to get a better price if we bought a number of covers at the same time, rather than just having custom one-offs made - would anybody else be interested in a cover like this?

[spacebassed]

Originally Posted by christw

I saw an Oliver Powerflex out of the Philly area for $450 OBO for months and it was tearing me up...

That wasn't a Powerflex, it was just an Oliver B120 bass amp - the Powerflex has the motorized head. Still, it was a great deal for that price. If I had room I would've had you pick it up for me when you made your trip for the B12xtc, I remember you saying that it was on the way to wherever you picked that amp up. I had just bought another B15 and I barely had room for it, so the Oliver was out of the question. I'd really like to have an Oliver, they're such cool amps - it it had been a Powerflex for that price I would have MADE room for it.

[beans-on-toast]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

Wouldn't it be nice to have some covers made to fit the amp and cab while the amp is up?

You'd think that fliptops would offer one. I made one. I turned out kind of floppy but does the job. It has to be bigger than the chassis to fit over the tray and over the switches in the front. It needed slots in the back for the power and speaker cables. The transformers are a different height than the tube cage because of the nuts on the top of the cage, so it sags in the front a bit and droops a little in the middle. My amp is 50 years old so I guess that's normal for a lot of people of that age.

[Bass 45]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

You might want to give Bruce at Fliptops a call to see of he has any of those caps. If not, he may at least be able to point you in the right direction.



This has me thinking... There are a lot of us, including myself, who have Fliptops that we rarely, if ever, flip. Wouldn't it be nice to have some covers made to fit the amp and cab while the amp is up? I know I'd be interested in one or two myself. We'd likely be able to get a better price if we bought a number of covers at the same time, rather than just having custom one-offs made - would anybody else be interested in a cover like this?

I rehearse with a couple of bands in my studio (which also houses my vintage Ampegs - most of which are fairly mint and well documented among us). Before each rehearsal I turn a certain number of them towards the wall because I am fearful of spills soiling the grills. I kind of feel justified, but like a ninny at the same time. It would be nice to have over-sized covers - but I also like being able to effortlessly plug and play any of my amps - or the the Bass/guitars that are hanging over them. most of my Fliptops have covers for when they are flipped in - but I think I am too cheap to get two covers for each amp. Maybe shower curtains with over head rails are the answer.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by Bass 45

The new B15N is on M.F.

$3000

*Expected to ship June 7th

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampli...bass-combo-amp

As nice as that amp looks, if I were to choose between the two amplifiers, I'd go with the more expensive Heritage B-15N or a used B-15N. Looking at them both, the newer Heritage B-15N may have a little difficulty competing with used B-15N's and the Heritage B-15. Purists are going to will probably want to go with the original tube compliment. At that $2,999.00 price point, it's a 30 watt all tube amplifier that's not quite a B-15N or a Heritage B-15N. You do get the multiple biases, so I guess that's something. Just my opinion though.

Ric

[Apex_speed]

Originally Posted by spacebassed

You might want to give Bruce at Fliptops a call to see of he has any of those caps. If not, he may at least be able to point you in the right direction.



This has me thinking... There are a lot of us, including myself, who have Fliptops that we rarely, if ever, flip. Wouldn't it be nice to have some covers made to fit the amp and cab while the amp is up? I know I'd be interested in one or two myself. We'd likely be able to get a better price if we bought a number of covers at the same time, rather than just having custom one-offs made - would anybody else be interested in a cover like this?

Bruce sadly has no caps.

As to the cover, I would be in (make mine clear).

[shadven]

I have been working my way through the many threads starting with the Ampeg Portaflex Club I . Below is my 19?? B-15n. I think it's between 1969-1973 because of the black rocker switches. You input may help me identify the exact year. When I was doing my research online 6 months ago when i got it, I could definatively tell what year it was.
My first B-15 was back in the early 70's and it was my first amp, I'd say it was mid 60's and my twin brother had one too that was the older early 60's B-15. My brother played guitar and didn't like the B-15 because it didn't have reverb or tremolo We were 10 - 12 years old
Number please.

[JimmyM]

#337 shadven

IDing year made is a little tricky for Ampegs made between 69 and 86. Can't do it with serial alone, so you either need to date it with the speaker code if it's original, or the pot code(s) if the speaker's a replacement. But you are firmly in the ballpark for the years that model was made.

[shadven]

On my local Craigslist I just found two interesting amps:

- Ampeg SB-12 in rough but complete/playable condition (missing grill cloth) / $695

- "60's Ampeg Solid State Flip Top" - Looks to be in fair shape no dolly $400

Is the SB-12 a great deal that I should jump on?

[JimmyM]

Just looked up the SB-12...personally I'd pass, but if he dropped it to $500, I'd reconsider.

[shadven]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Just looked up the SB-12...personally I'd pass, but if he dropped it to $500, I'd reconsider.

That is kinda what I was thinking. I'll probably reach out to the seller and se if I could make a low-ball deal. I just bought a Rickenbacker 4003 and an SVT VR, my wife will kill me if I come home with another amp But, sometimes it's better to ask for forgivness than permission.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by shadven

That is kinda what I was thinking. I'll probably reach out to the seller and se if I could make a low-ball deal. I just bought a Rickenbacker 4003 and an SVT VR, my wife will kill me if I come home with another amp But, sometimes it's better to ask for forgivness than permission.

Marry my wife and you'll rethink that OTOH, once in a while she does grant permission, so I'm snagging a Heritage SVT rig real soon! Love you, honey!

[AverageWhiteBassist]

Originally Posted by Bass 45

I rehearse with a couple of bands in my studio (which also houses my vintage Ampegs - most of which are fairly mint and well documented among us). Before each rehearsal I turn a certain number of them towards the wall because I am fearful of spills soiling the grills. I kind of feel justified, but like a ninny at the same time. It would be nice to have over-sized covers - but I also like being able to effortlessly plug and play any of my amps - or the the Bass/guitars that are hanging over them. most of my Fliptops have covers for when they are flipped in - but I think I am too cheap to get two covers for each amp. Maybe shower curtains with over head rails are the answer.

I have a cat that I fear will shred the grill cloth and it is totally ghetto, but I cut the top and bottom off a cardboard box and place it over the cab/around it when I am not using it. A slip cover would be nice.

[jnewmark]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Marry my wife and you'll rethink that OTOH, once in a while she does grant permission, so I'm snagging a Heritage SVT rig real soon! Love you, honey!

My agreement with my wife is, one in , one out. Only, I'm a little behind in the " out " department.

[beans-on-toast]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Marry my wife and you'll rethink that OTOH, once in a while she does grant permission, so I'm snagging a Heritage SVT rig real soon! Love you, honey!

Welcome back Jimmy. Hope that you had a good cruise.

Let us know what you think of the new rig when you get it. Those moments of weakness are what makes life special.

These guys liked their Ampeg rigs.

[beans-on-toast]

Originally Posted by jnewmark

My agreement with my wife is, one in , one out. Only, I'm a little behind in the " out " department.

My wife will happily trade more gear for a bigger place. She never fails to remind me of that.

[portaflexer]

I know there's only 1 Portaflex in this pic, but I thought all the Ampeggers on this thread might appreciate this shot. I was vacuuming yesterday, so I moved some of my amps. They were sitting in the hallway and I thought... what a cute little Ampeg family.



1969 SB-12 (Left), 1971 GU-12 (Right), & 1972 GT-10 (Center).

[beans-on-toast]

That middle kid looks like trouble.