Is There Demand for Ampeg B-18s?

[OldFenderPlayer]

I have an opportunity to buy a vintage Ampeg B-18 portaflex at a fair price. The amp works but has a little noise when played. Besides the necessary cleaning and maintenance, it will need to be recovered with new tolex (a past owner covered it with tuck-n-roll to make it look like a Kustom amp).

Its obvious that a market exists for the B-15s and B-12s, but I don't see much on the B-18s. Is this because they are rarer and are not sold very often, or does the low power (50 watts, I think) and the deeper tone make it less desirable than its little brothers?

[nysbob]

They're nice amps, as you said just rarer so you don't hear as much about them. If it's all reasonable, grab it up.

[NKBassman]

Are you planning on flipping it and reselling it, or are you going to use it for yourself?

[OldFenderPlayer]

I will likely sell the B-18. I bought a 1970s B-15N from the same guy (it was part of his dad's estate - he had 3 B-15s and the B-18). The family is keeping the oldest B-15 and the other B-15 doesn't work.

[anderbass]

Hey OldFender, I'm in the middle of restoring my 1966 B-18N right now.



One of the previous owners installed this 15' Altec 421 w/a plywood adaptor in mine:

[/quote]



I know most guys prefer the B-15 models but the most common complaint you run across is: not being loud enough. So for that reason alone, I think the higher output power and larger cab size gives the B18N advantages over the smaller fliptops.

If you didn't like the tone of the 18" speaker you could always install a 15" speaker with a simple adaptor ring cut out of plywood like mine here and still be utilising the advantages of more power and larger cab dimensions.

Originally Posted by OldFenderPlayer

1 - Is this because they are rarer and are not sold very often,


2 - or does the low power (50 watts, I think) and the deeper tone make it less desirable than its little brothers?

1 - Yes.

2 - The B-18N (yes its 50-watt) has more power than a B-15N (35-watt).

Check out this thread:--> Ampeg B18N Question
One of the posters on this thread claims to of sold a nice B-18N for $1600...

[dbase]

I had one of those in the late 60's. Not loud enough for a rock band. You could hear it a block away but up close it just flapped you pant legs. Oh, and its bulky and weighs a ton. Other than that its a nice amp.

[Groover]

I'm the other guy with the other B18N question mentioned above. I've concluded that if I could just get the head for cheap, I'd go for it and re-purpose it for home studio type deal. I have't bit the bullet on it yet, but still considering...

[stiles72]

I used an Oliver Powerflex head with my hard rock project on Saturday night and it was great. Like the B-18, the Oliver is 50 watts and uses 7027's, and had more than enough juice to push a 4x12 guitar cab alongside my 3-Pro/2x15. I sometimes run a B15 , and the extra juice the Oliver put out was noticeable - so I'm sure a B18 would rock as well.

[FenderP]

I just finally tracked down a good B-18N a few months back. I also have my B-15N and have owned a SB-12 in the past. They are definitely bigger and heavier than a B-15N - no question. Not an amp I'll gig a lot, but it sounded great on a recording I was doing. The head is also basically the same as the later B-25B one Ampeg sold.

[jimbilly]

My friend used to work at a well known vintage shop, he told me they sold a number of B18s to Jeff Ament, apparently he was/is quite a fan of those.

[main_sale]

Someday I hope to own a B-18 to go with my '67 B-15-N. This nagging recession is holding me back.

[JimmyM]

the b-18n is rob grange's portaflex of choice. he said he recorded "stranglehold" by ted nugent with one and a di. i think just by virtue of that, it's a totally worthy amp.

[NKBassman]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

the b-18n is rob grange's portaflex of choice. he said he recorded "stranglehold" by ted nugent with one and a di. i think just by virtue of that, it's a totally worthy amp.

I'm sold! Love that song.

[doktorfeelgood]

I have an all original 1966 B-18 that still has the original 7027 power tubes that says Ampeg on them. It still works but I don't play thru it at all. I'm worried that if one of those tubes goes down, it'll take the power transformer with it. I have played thru it an it is loud alright, but absolutely no high end and so-so in the midrange. But a BOTTOM to die for. Would probably sound killer if whom ever was playing thru it used a pick.I don't...
I'd like to know what the OP paid for the one he gets just so I have somewhat of a ballpark as to what mine might be worth on the market. I would never sell it as it's a family heirloom, but I'd still like to know the value of it. )-(

[ddbassGA]

Back in the day growing up near Linden the cool thing was a B18 head on a stack of 2 B15 cabs. A couple of guys I knew had this rig I guess from buying components out of the factory. I came close...got the extension cab to stack under my B15 but never scored the more powerful head. Ampeg later marketed that stack as the B15ND in '67 but I saw it in the field at least a year earlier. And yeah the B18 head essentially got repackaged as the B25B head. I'd love to find a B18 head.