Jess Oliver's legacy - AMPEG PORTAFLEX CLUB part 9 - Page 35

**ddbassGA** · #**681** 01-04-2013, 11:36 AM

Yeah, that's full retail, but maybe still a good buy for someone if it's a goodun.

JimmyM · #**682** 01-04-2013, 11:44 AM

It would have to be pretty much dead mint at that price to attract me.

Ric Vice · #**683** 01-04-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stringmaster54

Thanks all for the input on the SB12. The seller wants $1100, and I don't think he'll budge much--it's in a shop and I assume sales tax would also be a part of the equation. It's a couple of hours away so I can't just pop in and make a "take it or leave it" cash offer. It's real clean, but sounds like it's overpriced.

Yeah,
Jimmy's right, unless it was in cherry condition. I'd pass on that one. That amount could possibly get you a B-15N. That's worth the wait IMHO.

Ric

AverageWhiteBassist · #**684** 01-04-2013, 12:30 PM

When I sold my '64 (I think it was that year) SB-12 I got $675 for it and it was exceptionally clean, original speaker reconed 4 years ago. I agree with Ric, unless you love the sound of a SB-12 and some do favor it over a B-15N, that portaflex cash could be better spent.

portaflexer · #**685** 01-04-2013, 12:35 PM

I bought my '69 SB-12 for something like $375. Granted that was ten years ago and it had a blown speaker... but still.

**Bass 45** · #**686** 01-04-2013, 12:46 PM

If you search the recent Ampeg SB-12 completed listings on Ebay, one seller got lucky and sold one for $1199.00. The other six ranged from $460 - $678.

Keep looking

kuratacus · #**687** 01-04-2013, 05:46 PM

hey i just got a near mint 63' B15, sounds amazing, but sounds better hooked up to my micro VR 2x10 cabinet, which got me thinking...... i'd love to get an orphaned B15 cabinet to go with it instead. anyone on the forum have one they'd like to part with? i don't like the newer blue diamond tolex doesnt seem "right" to me. as well any one know where an original cover could be acquired?

**ddbassGA** · #**688** 01-04-2013, 06:16 PM

Get in line brother

Luckily there are two sources for accurate reproductions: Fliptops and Vintage Blue.

Ric Vice · #**689** 01-04-2013, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuratacus

hey i just got a near mint 63' B15, sounds amazing, but sounds better hooked up to my micro VR 2x10 cabinet, which got me thinking...... i'd love to get an orphaned B15 cabinet to go with it instead. anyone on the forum have one they'd like to part with? i don't like the newer blue diamond tolex doesnt seem "right" to me. as well any one know where an original cover could be acquired?

Kuratacus,
If you're looking at the Heritage B-15N, it's not blue, then are Black Diamond Tolex. Your 63 should be a Blue Diamond Tolex, however I guess with age, and newer runs of the covering, their may be some differences from batch to batch. It could just be that your amp has aged gracefully, and doesn't have the higher gloss that a newly covered cabinet has. Incidentally, adding an additional cabinet will certainly work, but when Ampeg offered that, they used the B-18 head matched with a pair of B-15N cabinets, that bumped the output power to 50 watts. It was called the B-15ND.

Take a look here http://www.vintage-blue.us/products.htm and compare it with the two pictures I've attached. The first cabinet is one from Fliptops, the second one is a mint condition B-15N(C) from 1964. I think Mark at Vintage Blue, builds a cabinet that's as close as you get to an original, and it's a baltic birch cabinet.

Ric

gimp · #**690** 01-04-2013, 07:56 PM

I've been on the hunt for an orphan cab for my '67 for a while now. I think a VB cab will be in my future, but I have so much other gear to buy before then!

JimmyM · #**691** 01-04-2013, 10:22 PM

#325 kuratacus

Mark's cabs are even better than the originals. Only B-15 cab I've had that didn't rattle when I got it.

christw · #**692** 01-04-2013, 11:59 PM

Mine didnt until I pushed it! Oh wait...

kuratacus · #**693** 01-05-2013, 12:40 PM

i guess i just find the blue to be a different colour, i had a B100r and it seemed more sea blue than the dark navy of the old amps. maybe it's just me. never saw the old blue diamond next to the new stuff in a side by side comparison.

so you all agree the vintage blue cabs are better than the originals? how do they compare to the fliptops.net cabinets?

here's a pict of the 63 i have

jnewmark · #**694** 01-05-2013, 12:51 PM

I don't know for sure, but it sounds like Vintage Blue makes one kind of B15 cab, and one kind only. He specifically states he does not do " custom " jobs, something that I would be interested in for my '71 B15N with black tolex. Fliptops is another story as they will do a custom B15 cab for you, along with other Ampeg cabs, IIRC.

JimmyM · #**695** 01-05-2013, 12:54 PM

Fliptops is a great company, and their cabs are good and well made (I have one of each) but it's not at the level of Vintage Blue's work. Fliptops makes them closer to the way the old ones were made with the original style latches that break on me all the time when I flip the head, the lid isn't quite even with the top of the cab, the inside isn't stained all pretty, and it had a couple rattles I had to get rid of. That said, it sounds as good and looks good onstage, but Vintage Blue is worth the extra scratch IMHO.

And yes, VB has a pretty narrow focus whereas Fliptops will build you any Ampeg cab that Ampeg themselves don't make anymore plus custom models.

stiles72 · #**696** 01-05-2013, 01:46 PM

I think Bruce has "stepped his game up a bit" from looking at his new website and his photos of his B15 cabs. I believe he is staining them on the inside, and they do look a little better than the ones that were even being made a few years ago. No doubt, I'm sure this trend is probably influenced by Mark's work, and by the roll out of the HB-15. Anytime things improve, it's always a win for the customer.

kuratacus · #**697** 01-05-2013, 01:55 PM

just noticed there's a B15r can on ebay right now. anyone know if there was a size difference compared to the vintage cabs?

and whats this i hear about a new B15 coming out and a new 100 watt head?

JimmyM · #**698** 01-05-2013, 01:58 PM

New B-15 and new 100w head are coming out. Nothing official yet but it's been confirmed by Ampeg employees.

B-15R is a different ballgame since the cab is sealed and has a tweeter. Don't know anything else about it, though.

Ric Vice · #**699** 01-05-2013, 02:20 PM

Anytime Ampeg Introduces a new B-15N, my amp just smiles back at me.

Ric

**Bass 45** · #**700** 01-05-2013, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuratacus

just noticed there's a B15r can on ebay right now. anyone know if there was a size difference compared to the vintage cabs?

and whats this i hear about a new B15 coming out and a new 100 watt head?

Here is a link to the B15R's owner's manual:

http://www.ampeg.com/pdf/B-15R.PDF

I love my B15R. I have been using it for about 10 years steady - for any and all type of gig situations. I have bought and sold a few vintage models over time - but I believe I will always have my "R.

It is a different animal though. We recently discovered (on this thread) the preamp section is the same as the SVT-CL.

The sealed cab is not the most efficient, but I like the tone and I made a separate platform so I can use the head with other cabs (I also have a B15Ex. cab and it really blooms with the 2 15's).

It can run full power at 4 or 8 ohms, so it is very versatile in that respect.