Does the single tilt bar feel sturdy, like it won't get bent? Seems like I would want 2 of them on there. Or just bolt bass drum legs to the sides for tiltback legs. Or if you can't find those long enough, maybe the top arm/mechanism part of a ride cymbal stand or something.
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Ampeg Portaflex PF115HE Mods
- Thread starter stiles72
- Start date
Yes, it is very sturdy. You can cut one from steel if you want - but mine is aluminum and was designed for use with a B15S (which weighs twice as much as a PF500/115HE rig). I have never seen a bent one.
Would you be using 6061-T6 rod? Do you know what diameter and thread mates to the socket on my '63 B15? Thanks.
- Feb 13, 2008
- 1,247
- 1,916
- Disclosures
- Owner, Vintage Blue (repro cabinets)
P Town said:
It should be 1/2", unthreaded. In the past I've made replacements from 1/2" aluminum I got at Home Depot. I'm not sure if it would polish as well as what David uses or not.
Friday & Saturday I used my modded PF stack with my oldies/classic rock group for an outside show at a local biker restaraunt/bar. We play in the band shell, and they provide a great PA system and really cool soundman. After two nights with the T-bird & the P-bass (both strung with flats) I was very pleased with the extra volume and "feel" provided by the second ported cab. The T-bird runs pretty hot, and I never had the gain much higher than 10/11:00. I kept the master around the same, but by the end of both nights I did bump it to noon - but still had plenty of gain & master to spare. I don't think I'll be porting the main cab - the one was just enough to give me what I needed.
Attachments
Bass 45, what bolts or screws did you use with the side handles for the 115's? Did you buy them on the same site you bought the handles?
I purchased the screws and T-nuts at my local hardware store. I just got the shiny-est ones they had and I think I bought a handle to the store with me to confirm their fit into the handle's hardware.
Got these from eBay. 9.99 each delivered. Real Leather, (you can smell it) look identical to the stock handle. Metal reinforced inside the leather. Using 10-24 stainless screws and T-nuts. 
Haven't been on the site much lately - but thought I would dig up this old thread and provide another update on modding my cabs. I recently swapped the stock purple speakers for a set of SLM era JBL M151-8's - the same ones Ampeg used in the Simmons cab, and Crate used in their Thunderbass series. Noticeable difference with clearer highs, deeper lows and all around tighter sound. The aluminum dust caps also seem to add to the vintage vibe of the cabs.
The PF500 head went into fault mode for a 4th time - so I have given up on it. I smoked two units before this one and now this one is useless so I have written it off and plan to use one of my 3-Pros, which works very well with the JBL's. I also purchased some "Pro Series" emblems, and have thought of incorporating them somehow. Still not sure if I'll use them - but I'm leaning towards just mounting one on the left hand side above the speakon jack.
The PF500 head went into fault mode for a 4th time - so I have given up on it. I smoked two units before this one and now this one is useless so I have written it off and plan to use one of my 3-Pros, which works very well with the JBL's. I also purchased some "Pro Series" emblems, and have thought of incorporating them somehow. Still not sure if I'll use them - but I'm leaning towards just mounting one on the left hand side above the speakon jack.
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Sorry about your PF500.
I wanted to show you the a case I made in case you were thinking of making one for your SVT-3.
Did you go with different speakers in your Gene Simmons 2x15 - or you just wanted to try them out in the 1x15's?
I wanted to show you the a case I made in case you were thinking of making one for your SVT-3.
Did you go with different speakers in your Gene Simmons 2x15 - or you just wanted to try them out in the 1x15's?
That's hot! I was looking at getting an SKB case, but now you have me reconsidering building a pretty one again. Did you use black diamond tolex, or is it blue? I called Ampeg to see about getting some black diamond and the parts guy said he didn't have any.
I do still have the JBL's in the Simmons cab- These are are a pair I picked up from a seller in St. Louis who claimed they came from SLM after they shut down operations there.
I do still have the JBL's in the Simmons cab- These are are a pair I picked up from a seller in St. Louis who claimed they came from SLM after they shut down operations there.
Dude porting a pf115 would be exactly what I need for a personal monitor/practice amp. This is the coolest thread!
I spoke to Andre' himself, at Andre' audio in Manhattan, about replacing the Ampeg factory Canon 4 pins. His wife worked as an assembler at the original Ampeg factory- and he actually recognized her initials on an amp I brought him! This was WAY back in the mid 70's. He told me that those XLR type connectors had a safety feature- the head would not operate out of standby, unless the Canon speaker plug was inserted into a speaker cabinet. Smart idea. I'm sure it saved a lot of amps from being destroyed. He also told me how to remove the hard wired Canon speaker wire from my 1969 SVT, AND cabinet, in order to convert it to tip-sleeve 1/4" standard. As per his instructions, I did.
I had a BT-15c- with those EXACT handles. Lovely! and REALLY usable. I removed them from the BT-15C cabinet, and installed them on a BEAUTIFUL, mint 1966 B-15n with a JBL K-140, and they were totally functional in lifting that roughly 100 pound amp into a car, back in the day- circa mid- 1970's. They are a VERY strong handle.
I had a BT-15c- with those EXACT handles. Lovely! and REALLY usable. I removed them from the BT-15C cabinet, and installed them on a BEAUTIFUL, mint 1966 B-15n with a JBL K-140, and they were totally functional in lifting that roughly 100 pound amp into a car, back in the day- circa mid- 1970's. They are a VERY strong handle.
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