Jess Oliver's legacy - AMPEG PORTAFLEX CLUB part 9

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by ddbassGA

Which it deserved, though I don't understand how not wearing underwear gets at your Governor.

I just do that for my own special interests

[ddbassGA]

Originally Posted by coreyfyfe

I could still flip the amp with a K140 in mine. The one speaker I had trouble with was the eminence beta. The transformers bumped against the frame. I used a piece of foam on the inside while in transit to keep things from bumping around too much.

Yeah the K has the same Alnico mag as the D. I have had no problem with those. The E has a larger ceramic mag. I have an EV dlx in my '71 Thiele B-15N and it's a pretty close fit.

[sgiacomo]

Hey gang, first post here but have been looking for a while. I was just getting ready to ask a question on a portaflex thread and saw it had been closed. I am set on the PF tone for home studio and have been blessed with some funds and recently located a nice original B15R. What do you think is a reasonable price for a good condition? It seems I have searched every corner of the net looking for value info. Of course vintage or a new heritage are options. I'm not considering anything other than one flavor of Ampeg tube PF. Thanks!

[ddbassGA]

Prices vary. I bought one NOS a couple years ago for $1000, but it had a bad speaker from the factory. Ended uo trading it for a '70's SVT. I've seen them on Ebay for $1900. I'd say if you found a good one for $1200 that would be a good deal. What's that one going for?

[sgiacomo]

Thanks. This one is asking $2000, description and pics show very good condition. Price is negotiable and we are working on logistics of me checking it out in person.

[beans-on-toast]

That price is not unreasonable. Condition and location play a large roll. In some areas, you might wait years for a nice one to come up. When it comes to a once in a lifetime amp, better to bite the bullet than regret it later.

Good luck with the purchase.

[Bass 45]

You can search "completed listings" on Ebay. They have been going for about $2000.00 since the Heritage reissue came out - which is $6000.00 now.

[spacebassed]

Originally Posted by sgiacomo

Hey gang, first post here but have been trolling for a while. I was just getting ready to ask a question on a portaflex thread and saw it had been closed. I am set on the PF tone for home studio and have been blessed with some funds and recently located a nice original B15R. What do you think is a reasonable price for a good condition? It seems I have searched every corner of the net looking for value info. Of course vintage or a new heritage are options. I'm not considering anything other than one flavor of Ampeg tube PF. Thanks!

where are you located? maybe one of us can help you out... if not, i'm sure we can provide you with some info on current sales/prices to help you negotiate a fair price. i've seen B15r's go for anywhere from $1200 to over $2250 recently.

[sgiacomo]

Thanks guys, this is definitely a once in a lifetime deal thus my wondering about a vintage or Heritage as well. Not doing $6k though, just a bit too steep IMHO. It seems opinions vary around "they don't make em like they used to", then of course there are modern updates with a reissue. Fortunate to have such a "problem" though!

PS shout out to our vets!

[spacebassed]

i agree about the $6k price tag on the heritages - they are awesome, and the build quality is amazing, but i paid just less than half that for all three of my 60's B15's... but since the heritage B15n was released prices have almost doubled.

[Aussie Mark]

Another progress pic from the builder. Should be ready for load testing this week.

Originally Posted by Aussie Mark

I mentioned a few pages back that a local (ie. Downunder) tube amp guru by the name of Mal O'Neill is building me a 100 watt head based on the Ampeg B-15N circuit, with 4 power tubes. This build will have both the 1964 and 1966 preamp circuits, selectable via a toggle switch, a custom wound Hammond 2/4/8 ohm output transformer, speakon out, and a transformer balanced DI out. The case will be finished in Ampeg blue diamond cloth tolex with chrome corners.

I've already purchased a Fliptops B-15E repro cab to go with this amp.

The amp is still a couple of weeks away from being in my eager hands, taking into account burn-in and load testing, but here are some progress pics ....

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by sgiacomo

Thanks guys, this is definitely a once in a lifetime deal thus my wondering about a vintage or Heritage as well. Not doing $6k though, just a bit too steep IMHO. It seems opinions vary around "they don't make em like they used to", then of course there are modern updates with a reissue. Fortunate to have such a "problem" though!

Just to add a bit to your confusion, there are rumors swirling...

Originally Posted by hodgy

We're building a more affordable PCB version, not sure when it's supposed to be released. So that might be an option for you as well.

Originally Posted by hodgy

I don't have much more to tell. I know there will be a different colored light for the '64 and the '66 channel, and it's black instead of chrome so it will be easier for me to wipe my greasey fingerprints off of it. The speaker will be different, making it lighter. I haven't played the proto yet.
As far as a V4B, I got nothin'.

Originally Posted by hodgy

I haven't heard or seen the new one yet, I know they were doing some A/B-ing with the new speaker yesterday. I'm sure I'll get to check out the protos when we get them in.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by sgiacomo

Hey gang, first post here but have been trolling for a while. I was just getting ready to ask a question on a portaflex thread and saw it had been closed. I am set on the PF tone for home studio and have been blessed with some funds and recently located a nice original B15R. What do you think is a reasonable price for a good condition? It seems I have searched every corner of the net looking for value info. Of course vintage or a new heritage are options. I'm not considering anything other than one flavor of Ampeg tube PF. Thanks!

Although the B-15R is really a horse of a different color, it's a very pretty color and sounds good to my ears. It's a more modern sounding amp with some of the characteristics of a B-15N. Just for comparison, here are two pictures of the B-15N(C) that appeared on eBay last January. The winning bid was $4,000.00.

Ric

[sgiacomo]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Although the B-15R is really a horse of a different color, it's a very pretty color and sounds good to my ears. It's a more modern sounding amp with some of the characteristics of a B-15N. Just for comparison, here are two pictures of the B-15N(C) that appeared on eBay last January. The winning bid was $4,000.00.

Ric

Wow, that is sweet! Thanks for the info.

[ddbassGA]

Originally Posted by sgiacomo

Thanks guys, this is definitely a once in a lifetime deal thus my wondering about a vintage or Heritage as well. Not doing $6k though, just a bit too steep IMHO. It seems opinions vary around "they don't make em like they used to", ...

I first became a B-15 fan at ~15 when I bought my first one brand new (1966). Unfortunately I sold that one when I went acoustic in '77. But soon had another '66 B-15N which I've kept to this day. I tried a SS one in the 90's and recently a '71 "Thiele"cab version and an older '64 double baffle model, plus a B-18 head.

About 2 years ago I got a hankerin' for a B-15R. I thought it would be the ultimate -- a higher powered B-15 that would give me the B-15 tone at higher gigging volumes. I picked up the R as a NOS amp out of a Nashville studio that had bought several. It was mint except had a bad speaker. Once sorted out I tried to love that amp but it just didn't have the same soul as the vintage amps. It had a more modern sound. The sealed cab gave it a tight, controlled response, not the buttery oozey sound I was looking for. And because the sealed cab isn't as efficient those 100 watts weren't much louder than my 30 watt B-15N. Call me an old-timer but I love ported cabs. I also didn't like the tweeter. Check the archives here, some guys canned the tweet and cut new ported baffles for their Rs.

The breaking point (literally) for me was the weight. The R cab is enough bigger than the N cab to be noticeably bulkier. But the weight is around double...like 130 lbs or more. I found it painful to move around. Ironically, I traded my B-15R for a 70's SVT head and fridge! Those stay in a practice space. For regular gigging I've gone to a modern Portaflex PF500/115 which gives a great tone and plenty of volume in a light package The vintage B-15's and18 get work at jams, recording, and special occasion gigs.

These are just my experiences. YMMV. For my money I much prefer vintage to the R series and the H is out of the question. With a $2000 budget you could easily find a good vintage B-15N AND buy a modern Portaflex system.

[sgiacomo]

Originally Posted by ddbassGA

I first became a B-15 fan at ~15 when I bought my first one brand new (1966). Unfortunately I sold that one when I went acoustic in '77. But soon had another '66 B-15N which I've kept to this day. I tried a SS one in the 90's and recently a '71 "Thiele"cab version and an older '64 double baffle model, plus a B-18 head.

About 2 years ago I got a hankerin' for a B-15R. I thought it would be the ultimate -- a higher powered B-15 that would give me the B-15 tone at higher gigging volumes. I picked up the R as a NOS amp out of a Nashville studio that had bought several. It was mint except had a bad speaker. Once sorted out I tried to love that amp but it just didn't have the same soul as the vintage amps. It had a more modern sound. The sealed cab gave it a tight, controlled response, not the buttery oozey sound I was looking for. And because the sealed cab isn't as efficient those 100 watts weren't much louder than my 30 watt B-15N. Call me an old-timer but I love ported cabs. I also didn't like the tweeter. Check the archives here, some guys canned the tweet and cut new ported baffles for their Rs.

The breaking point (literally) for me was the weight. The R cab is enough bigger than the N cab to be noticeably bulkier. But the weight is around double...like 130 lbs or more. I found it painful to move around. Ironically, I traded my B-15R for a 70's SVT head and fridge! Those stay in a practice space. For regular gigging I've gone to a modern Portaflex PF500/115 which gives a great tone and plenty of volume in a light package The vintage B-15's and18 get work at jams, recording, and special occasion gigs.

These are just my experiences. YMMV. For my money I much prefer vintage to the R series and the H is out of the question. With a $2000 budget you could easily find a good vintage B-15N AND buy a modern Portaflex system.

Yet again some great ideas to consider. Thanks for all of the insight and experiences, it is truly appreciated!

[christw]

I'm pretty sure that you guys just hit on all of my apprehensions about the B15R. I'm glad I kept my B-15N.

[TheDialog]

Finally getting my '61 back today.
Needed a tune up from sitting for 20 years +, but some of the parts my tech ordered were on back order.
I can't wait to pick it up and get busy with it

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by TheDialog

Finally getting my '61 back today.
Needed a tune up from sitting for 20 years +, but some of the parts my tech ordered were on back order.
I can't wait to pick it up and get busy with it

From all the posts I've read on this Jess Oliver thread,
you sir have a very rare B-15N indeed. There weren't to many of those built. I think that what you have is one of the first B-15N(A)'s, that follows very first single channel B-15's just before the went with the lucite logo. Not to many of these still around. Very easy on the eyes, and ears.

Ric

[Bass 45]

There may only be about ten of them - and there are three of them (that I know of) among our little group.