Jess Oliver's legacy - AMPEG PORTAFLEX CLUB part 10

[portaflexer]

Yeah... somehow a solid state stepchild snuck in there.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

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.

They still do, too...at least Darryl does

Thanks David...it was an exhausting cruise because we did two shows most days and 3 shows one day, but I get 3 days to recuperate

[coreyfyfe]

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!

Finally going to get your hands on one, eh? Best of luck! Let us know how it compares to the 69.

Originally Posted by jnewmark

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

Same here, though I've been skirting that with my last few purchases. Can't help it if no one's buying

[beans-on-toast]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

...it was an exhausting cruise because we did two shows most days and 3 shows one day, but I get 3 days to recuperate

Do they let you repeat any songs or do you get to keep the same set list? I always get sick like a dog on boats unless I'm driving.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

Do they let you repeat any songs or do you get to keep the same set list? I always get sick like a dog on boats unless I'm driving.

The only times we repeated any songs were the two Bowzer shows, and we had Vito Picone and the Elegants sing "Little Star" twice. But we have a huge setlist and could probably do seven or eight 90 minute shows and not repeat anything.

[Aussie Mark]

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

These guys liked their Ampeg rigs.

I can relate, there's plenty of Ampeg on our stage - although our guitarists' cabs are rebadged Fender Bandmasters ....

[beans-on-toast]

I imagine that finding that many '69 SVT's would be a bit difficult.

Have you taken final delivery of your B15 based amp?

[beans-on-toast]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The only times we repeated any songs were the two Bowzer shows, and we had Vito Picone and the Elegants sing "Little Star" twice. But we have a huge setlist and could probably do seven or eight 90 minute shows and not repeat anything.

Those guys could sing. Sounds like a good time was had by all!

That's a lot of songs. I'd need to pull out a fake book.

[Aussie Mark]

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

Have you taken final delivery of your B15 based amp?

Not yet - the builder has had some major distractions via a seriously ill family member. Last week he told me he's probably at least another 3 weeks away from having my amp completed.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

Those guys could sing. Sounds like a good time was had by all!

That's a lot of songs. I'd need to pull out a fake book.

Well bear in mind that a lot of our songs are 1-6-4-5 or 1-4-5

[beans-on-toast]

Originally Posted by Aussie Mark

Last week he told me he's probably at least another 3 weeks away from having my amp completed.

Good things are worth the wait. Nice band pic. Your guys clearly have a great attention to detail.

[xoir]

Customized graphics, nice!

[beans-on-toast]

Nice. I wonder what's in those shorter cabs with the SVT's on top. The height looks right for a straight back 810 but it looks too wide to be that. Too big for a 412. Maybe a 612? There's a six speaker cab above without a grille cloth in the image above. Maybe a 215 like the one that came with the V4B but it looks kinda wide.

With two 421A's, the V4B cab would be nice to try with a B15.

[kuratacus]

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

Nice. I wonder what's in those shorter cabs with the SVT's on top. They look big for a 412. Maybe a 612? There's a six speaker cab above without a grille cloth in the image above. Maybe a 215 like the one that came with the V4B but it looks kinda wide.

With two 421A's, the V4B cab would be nice to try with a B15.

the bigger cabs could be the V2 or B42x 4x12 cabinets. i have a B42x that i run with my B15, sounds amazing i;m actually about to stand out during band practice and only have the B15 on half volume. pushes a lot of air, sweet sweet sounding air.

as for the V4b cabinet and a B15, i'll let you know i just aquired one. just re-tolex and grill clothed it. needs new speakers though. thinking of putting two 4 ohm speakers in so i can get the load to 8ohms. normally it's made for 4 or 16 ohms. once i try i'll let you know.

in other news just got a solid state 1963 b15 almost complete. the odd speaker was a celestion G 15 c guess it's rare. sounds OK. the ampeg logo got broken during shipping so i guess i have my logo to make a mold from. brke between the A and M and Peg, i'm amazed i didnt lose the M. Anyways i'll start working on a mold and see what i can come up with for accurate 60's replicas

[Apex_speed]

Originally Posted by kuratacus

The ampeg logo got broken during shipping so i guess i have my logo to make a mold from. brke between the A and M and Peg, i'm amazed i didnt lose the M. Anyways i'll start working on a mold and see what i can come up with for accurate 60's replicas

Doesn't Fiptops have an accurate reproduction? I have not seen one in person as all of mine have been intact but I am told it is dead on.

[kuratacus]

Originally Posted by Apex_speed

Doesn't Fiptops have an accurate reproduction? I have not seen one in person as all of mine have been intact but I am told it is dead on.

it's a modernized version, like on the heritage and new portaflex series. Slightly different

[beans-on-toast]

Be careful what you wish for. You wanted a broken script logo and unfortunately got one. It'll be an interesting project.

My 63 B15N came stock with a Jensen Concert speaker.

All that and a V4B cab to work on. How sweet it is.

[kuratacus]

the V4b is pretty much done, took me 2 days to tolex the thing. they are HUGE....just finished making a new grill cloth frame today. get to staple on the cloth tomorrow. add the logo and decide on speakers.

but you are right, i probably jinxed myself on the logo. didnt think i'd get another B15 so soon. wasnt int he market for one at all since i got my first one xmas time. but $1100 for one is hard to pass up. tilt back rod and original cover. fairly clean tolex, no dolly and a replace transformer, speaker and make shift handle (bent iron put back into the original plastic handles mount)

thinking i'll keep the cabinet for my other one and sell the head

[beans-on-toast]

It will be interesting to see how the badge work goes.

The 63 head is relatively rare. If you don't like the sand state rectifier, you can punch a hole in the chassis and add a socket for a tube rectifier. The wires for the 5V heater should be tucked away. This would convert it to a B-15NC. Even more desirable a model in my mind.

[wessman]

Hi,

Just tested some tubes on my new heritage b15 with a Compu-Bias...

Original JJ tubes gave on 1964 side:
Vp = 383/383 Cathode current 65/65 Wattage 24.8/24.8

On 1966 side:
Vp = 438/438 Cathode current 40/39 Wattage 17.4/17.0

Isn't it a bit too high that 24.8 w?

Then tried Heatkit and got these fig on 1964 side:
Vp = 385/386 Cathode current 63/68 Wattage 24.3/26.2

Seems I must adjust the bias a bit otherwise the new tubes will melt down...

To get access to bias pot I should first remove those 4 big screws on the top's corners, right?

Yep, I ever adjusted the bias on my Marshall 1959HW amp.

Thanks and best regards
Yeppe