Jess Oliver's legacy - AMPEG PORTAFLEX CLUB part 9 - Page 19

Ric Vice · #**361** 11-14-2012, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemfleabass

Hi Guys,

I have the chance to own a B15S head, but I don't have the cab. I from Belgium and as the B15 were not available in Europe, it is very hard to find a cab. I know that fliptops.net can provide me a replica but the shipping and customs cost are too expensive.

So I decided to build a replica with the help of a friend joiner.

The only problem is that I can't find any accurate drawing and measures for a B15S cab and wich kind of wood is needed.

Does someone could provide me these informations?

btw, wich speaker would be the most appropriate? I heard that eminence are nice

Thanks

(sorry for my bad english)

Gem Flea Bass,
If you do an internet search under Electrovoice Thiel Design, 15" Speaker you'll likely find the plans for a speaker cabinet that's similar to the B-15S Designs. I don't know if anyone has ever measured an actual B-15S cabinet and posted drawings, but that's also possible.

Ric

Ric Vice · #**362** 11-14-2012, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spacebassed

Ric, the B15N(A) was a blue check amp with a solid state rectifier made in '63. It was a very close relative to the B15N(B) that followed later that same year (what was the difference in those two circuits anyway? it's slipped my memory). The "prototype" or "pilot light" B15N's are the same circuit as the other '61-'62 B15N's, they just don't have the plexi logo (or the slot for one) that the production amps do - and in the case of the pre-June '61 amps, they have the convertible side ports that the original B15's had.

...And Bass45 is right, there were probably only around 10 of them ever made.

Space Bassed,
Wow, this stuff just gets more and more interesting. Since original B-15's were single channel amps, we're the next dual channel, NRF then designated simply B-15N, to differentiate them from the single channel ones? One day, I'm gonna mine these threads, and do a chronological post, with all the great pictures we have! It's this fabulous treasure trove of photos that no one has ever seen but us.

Ric

JimmyM · #**363** 11-14-2012, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Gem Flea Bass,
If you do an internet search under Electrovoice Thiel Design, 15" Speaker you'll likely find the plans for a speaker cabinet that's similar to the B-15S Designs. I don't know if anyone has ever measured an actual B-15S cabinet and posted drawings, but that's also possible.

Ric

Close enough.

**ddbassGA** · #**364** 11-14-2012, 11:17 AM

I have am EV TL606 box that seems closer in dimensions to the Ampeg "Thiele" B-15N cab than to a B-15S cab. The S cab is a considerably larger box, I believe, though I've been wrong before.

Here's a link to the TL606 specs:
http://www.thebismarck.net/pdf/tl606.pdf

adambomb · #**365** 11-14-2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

Here is the B-15NA schematic.

Here is the B-15NB schematic.

Ooooooooo...........aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh.............. oooooooooooooo...............aaaaaaaahhhhhhh

beans-on-toast · #**366** 11-14-2012, 12:41 PM

Ooh Eeh Ooh Ah Aah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang!

adambomb · #**367** 11-14-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

Ooh Eeh Ooh Ah Aah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing Bang!

Haaaaahahahahahaaahaahaaaheeeheeee hilarious........ coffee almost came out my nose

adambomb · #**368** 11-15-2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adambomb

........ coffee almost came out my nose

No posts since yesterday around 5:30 (24 hours). A thread shutter

sorry guys.... Continue.....

**Bass 45** · #**369** 11-15-2012, 03:08 PM

B-15X on Ebay! This is the first one I have ever seen.

And it says "Little Walter" on the name plate. Great Blues artist.

Observation addition: The port doubles as an opening for the mid drivers. Pretty neat.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ampeg-B-15X-...item2c69e80910

beans-on-toast · #**370** 11-15-2012, 03:21 PM

It's hard to follow a spit take.

Don't you just hate computers? I was looking at a new MacBook Pro with a bunch of accessories, an external disk, more memory, a big monitor. Then I start dreaming of what gear I could get instead. Everything else gets measured in terms of equipment. Unlike a computer, you buy a bass and you can keep it for a lifetime.

beans-on-toast · #**371** 11-15-2012, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass 45

B-15X on Ebay! This is the first one I have ever seen.

And it says "Little Walter" on the name plate. Great Blues artist.

Very good price if that is what it sells for.

Back in 64 Ampeg used to engrave one line of up to sic characters. Little Walter is done in two lines which you don't tend to see. An interesting amp.

coreyfyfe · #**372** 11-15-2012, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

It's hard to follow a spit take.

Don't you just hate computers? I was looking at a new MacBook Pro with a bunch of accessories, an external disk, more memory, a big monitor. Then I start dreaming of what gear I could get instead. Everything else gets measured in terms of equipment. Unlike a computer, you buy a bass and you can keep it for a lifetime.

The wife likes to use this one against me. It's not a new bass I'm going to enjoy for a life time it's less kitschy junk to decorate the apartment. Well, those might be my words...

beans-on-toast · #**373** 11-15-2012, 05:50 PM

The extent to which technology has permeated into society is nuts. Makes you appreciate the simplicity of a fliptop amp.

Did Wilson Picket have a computer? Did Otis Redding have a computer? No, I tell you. Amen.

**ddbassGA** · #**374** 11-15-2012, 06:57 PM

Amen!

Love that B-15X. Very cool. I've never seen one in person.

christw · #**375** 11-16-2012, 04:01 PM

Well, it's been a good day. I figured out that my B-15 baffle rattle was some lifted tolex in the upper right corner of the port gap and my Bassman 300 woes were caused by a cracked 12AT7.

I also realized that some '60's Kustom cabs (including this '69) use the exact same black frame CTS 15" speaker as the B-15 of the era, including my '67. I think this $100 CL score will cure me of B-15 tower GAS for a while.

JimmyM · #**376** 11-16-2012, 11:16 PM

Tolex loose inside the ports is a BIG problem with old B-15's. That's what makes the Heritage B-15's a little cooler. Mark had the good sense to move the port slots in on the baffle rather than being flush with the cab walls like the old ones, and it prevents rattling from loose tolex.

pgk · #**377** 11-17-2012, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass 45

B-15X on Ebay! This is the first one I have ever seen.

And it says "Little Walter" on the name plate. Great Blues artist.

Observation addition: The port doubles as an opening for the mid drivers. Pretty neat.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ampeg-B-15X-...item2c69e80910

WOW, incredible. no real way to tell if it belonged to That little walter though

JimmyM · #**378** 11-17-2012, 01:22 PM

I wouldn't be surprised. Lots of harp players loved using amps like that in the 60's. They still do, too.

JimmyM · #**379** 11-17-2012, 01:32 PM

Hmmm, just did a google search on Little Walter to see if I could find that amp with him, and it's a funny thing...it seems that nobody likes to take pictures of harmonica players with their amp in the shot.

spacebassed · #**380** 11-17-2012, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgk

WOW, incredible. no real way to tell if it belonged to That little walter though

How many Little Walters can there be?

... but, you're right, without provenance there's really no way to prove it.
I will say that a lot of the Chicago blues guys used smaller "Champ" style amps because they could get them to distort easily, but Little Walter had a cleaner tone - and I have heard recordings where there WAS obvious reverb on his harp.