B-15N Replacement Speaker for 60's Blue Tolex Model??

[Smitherafender]

Hey all-I've got an early 60's Blue Tolex B-15N Portaflex amp where the stock Jenson has seen better days.So I've decided to replace the speaker.

A few months ago I pulled the OEM 15' inch Eminence driver from my SLM USA made SVT CL115E speaker cab & replaced it with an Eminence Neo.So I was thinking of taking the stock OEM Eminence speaker(that I took out of the CL115 cab)and installing it into my B-15.

Since I didn't want to mess around with a vintage piece I brought it to my local amp tech to install it.The tech calls me yesterday to tell me that the OEM CL115 speaker won't install correctly into the B-15.Something about screws not being long enough or something.Then he went on & on trying to get me to buy some 15' inch speaker from him telling me that the speaker I provided won't fit.I dunno if I believe the guy.Am wondering if he's just trying to get me to buy a speaker from him?

So I guess my question is-Should a stock Eminence 15 inch driver work in the B-15?According to fliptops.net it should.The OEM CL115 Eminence speaker has the same exact mounting pattern as the Eminence speaker here from Fliptops that they recommend for the B-15:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Jim C]

Why not get the original speaker reconed?

 

[Smitherafender]

Reconing is definately an option.

Update-I met with the tech today & he showed me why the OEM SVT Eminence 15' speaker wouldn't work in the B-15.It's got a cast frame that is thicker than the original 60's Jenson.As a result of the cast frame being thicker,the mounting screws would not fit with the OEM SVT Eminence speaker.He didn't want to get into drilling holes into the baffle board(since it's a vintage piece)I agreed.He was right.

The store had an 8ohm Eminence Beta 15 in stock(same speaker that fliptops.net recommends for B-15's)The beta frame is definately a lot thinner than the OEM SVT 15 was.So I just had him install the Beta.Took him all of 10 minutes to dh well......Learned something new today..........

 

[JimmyM]

The Beta is a great speaker but don't throw out the Jensen in case you ever want to sell it. That sounds like a very old model. What year?

 

[Smitherafender]

The Beta sounds decent.Am definately holding onto & keeping the original Jenson.

Honestly can't tell what year this one was manufacturered.No visible serial numbers anywhere.It appears to be pre-light up plexi-logo.There is no evidence that a light up logo was ever intended for this particular amp.

Guess I could take it apart one of these days again & check the pot dates.It was recapped a few years back & it's point to point inside.Were all blue tolex B-15's point to point?

 

[JimmyM]

No, they went to PCB's somewhere around 64-65. And all Portaflexes up till 68 had the light up plexi logo. If there's no serial sticker in the cab, have you checked the inside of the chassis tray? Also, is the cab single or double baffle?