Any idea what this Ampeg flip-top actually is?

[Phlipper]

My guitarist wants $500 for it. Says it's all original. But have no earthly idea what it is and couldn't find anything similar when digging online.

Any guesses?

 

[Redbrangus]

I've never seen anything like it. At least not yet.

 

[Phlipper]

Sorry ... photo editor giving me fits tonight.

The inputs are guitar and accordion. Lol. It is in amazing shape if it was made in the 60s. He said he changed some circuit from tube to transistor, but otherwise stock. A Punisher-like skull was painted on the grill when he was a kid but it has faded. I didn't have time to play it today. Might go back over next weekend if its not some kinda fugazi.

I can't find anything like it. Still looking.

 

[Redbrangus]

Paging @JimmyM

 

[msb]

Zee Velk Rocket .

 

[coreyfyfe]

The head looks line a B12XT or B15XT. The 12XT was usually a 2x12 cabinet, the 15 a single 15. I think there was a large box solid state flip top though?

Check out the various 60s catalogs here.

Sales Literature and Advertisements | TalkBass.com

 

[Phlipper]

Found it online finally ... it's a B-12-XTC 4x12 made in '67.

Weird. Maybe I should take up accordion.

 

[Redbrangus]

...Maybe I should take up accordion.

From the amount of fairly big gear that was being offered, it appears accordionists were working hard to be heard right at the dawn of the rock 'n' roll era. I'm thinking Wurlitzer, Baldwin, Selmer...they all had big amps aimed at the accordion trade, IIRC.

 

[coreyfyfe]

Found it online finally ... it's a B-12-XTC 4x12 made in '67.

Weird. Maybe I should take up accordion.

Thats the one. Not captured in the manuals in the wiki.

 

[bholder]

Very cool. And this place amazes me.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

JUST DO IT!

Happy to help.
Dirk

 

[Crater]

He said he changed some circuit from tube to transistor, but otherwise stock.

Probably the rectifier. I've seen tube rectifiers replaced with solid state diodes soldered into a rectifier tube base.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I dont even like tube amps all that much, and id pay $550 for that just for funk-factor, scoop it up quick if it makes loud noises. I wouldnt want to lug it around much, but a killer home or stationary rig.

 

[6thplanet]

$500? If it works, YES!

 

[Redbrangus]

Probably the rectifier. I've seen tube rectifiers replaced with solid state diodes soldered into a rectifier tube base.

That's almost certainly it -- there really isn't anything else you could do with "transistors" in this amp without some serious modifications. If it works at all, I'd say it's easily worth 5 bills.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I would bring a bass cab when you check it out. The cab may not be designed for bass, but accordions have extended range. See how it works for bass both as a unit and as a head.

 

[coreyfyfe]

Probably the rectifier. I've seen tube rectifiers replaced with solid state diodes soldered into a rectifier tube base.

This is the easiest approach, though some people solder diodes internally as well. Would be good to be sure of what was done on this amp. A number of companies make the plug in type. Weber offers a number of designs to replicate the sag of a tube rectifier, for example. These generic ones work pretty well for minimal cost, I have one in a parts drawer somewhere.

Invalid Link Removed

for the price it could be a cool amp to have around. I wouldn’t grab it expecting it to be a steal of an amp you can flip for big money, but a cool little amp if you’ve got the room and a desire for a funky tube amp.

 

[brianrost]

Although what we mostly see are the B12, B15 and B18 bass amps, there were Portaflex guitar amps, too and a few models with multiple speakers...the first one I ever saw (about 35 years ago) had the same head as a B15 but 2-15" speakers. Before that, I had no idea they even existed. These are all pretty rare. There's also a few solid state models that are even more rare.

 

[Wesley R]

I have paid more for less. If you can afford it, risk it.

 

[JMarkD]

Wow. That is cool.