• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Official Ampeg Portaflex Club

#27
I have a fairly late seventies B15 that I bought 20+ years ago from another bass player for $50. He wanted to "upgrade" to something like an SWR rig and was happy to unload the thing. I've played it nearly every day since then, and only every had to replace a pre-amp tube that went bad. It's got a luscious sound that never grows old. Not really loud enough to gig with a rock band, but I've recorded with it and used it in acoustic and other low volume venues. Sadly, my wife has the digital camera at work and I won't be able to post a picture til later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GreaserMatt
#28
Well, bought 'em both after all... a '72 B-15S w/ an Eminence Kappa15FL-2 speaker and an early '80s B-15T w/ an EV. I just finished making adapter cables so I can play each head through either cab. Cell phone pic, sorry... I'll post better pics when I get a chance.
 

Attachments

  • 05-02-08_0751.jpg
    05-02-08_0751.jpg
    35.7 KB · Views: 1,101
  • Like
Reactions: Donna78 and GreaserMatt
#29
Ya, I remember that thread and I remember you said you were going to get both. Those B-15T's are pretty rare. I don't see how you could not get it for the $200 they asked.

#11 ducknturtle
#12 tarzanalog
 
#31
JimmyM said:
Ya, the cab is almost definitely a 67. It's the single baffle design. If it were a 64, it would be the double baffle with a Jensen P15N. Personally, I like the CTS better. And recently a guy posted a thread about B-15's and got to try all the cabs, and he went home with a 66 similar to yours. So it's all good! Except for the chicken head knobs. When I sent mine to Jess, he informed me that there were stove-top knobs on B-15's, not chicken heads, and he actually seemed to express disdain for the chicken heads. Probably because they were a Fender thing ;)
Click to expand...


Ah I always thought the stove top referred to the round knobs, but yeah I really dig the sound of the CTS speaker in this cab. I was really just looking for one with the blue check when I bought it, the black vinyl ones just never seemed right to me (aesthetically at least) so this one being so close to me an all it was just perfect timing when I got it.
 
#32
I had a '60's B15 I bought in the mid-seventies for $100.00. I let an engineer at the TV station I worked take the head to do some repair on it and I never got it back. I still have the speaker cab and used it for many years with a Fender Bandmaster head. A few years ago, I bought a '60's vintage B15 on eBay, but sold it a year later. I now am the proud owner of a '60's B12 that my father-in-law used to gig with. I'll post pics soon.
 
#34
I've had a '64 since the early 80's and it has been my reference point for great tone ever since. Still in good shape. Had to get it worked on once but has been very reliable. Don't move it much though. I'll try to get a pic this weekend.

Anyone ever use the "amp in" jack? Wondering what that is for.
 
#35
morebass! said:
I've had a '64 since the early 80's and it has been my reference point for great tone ever since. Still in good shape. Had to get it worked on once but has been very reliable. Don't move it much though. I'll try to get a pic this weekend.

Anyone ever use the "amp in" jack? Wondering what that is for.
Click to expand...
I tried it once, but I must have done something wrong because it shut my B-15 down entirely.

#15 morebass!

Those of you without pics, I gave you a number anyway, but if you get a chance to post them, we'd all love to see them!
 
#36
The BT15C (1967 2-15" column cabinet) I found in a music store here in Columbus for $300 the day after Christmas.
The head has that cool "Electroluminensense" light up panel.
When the head died on me I almost parted it out but the guys here on TB wouldn't let me so $100 later it lives again.

The B15ND was pieced together.
I found the 67 head on the bay and just recently found the cab with it's extention cab here on TB.
 
#38
Actually I was wondering about the "Ext. amp" output on the back. That's not what I wrote earlier. I'm wondering if this is a preamp out that I can use to drive an external power amp.

Thanks for the number Jimmy. I'll try to get some pics. FYI the serial number is about 2200 and the speaker has a square magnet with a sticker on it saying it is an Ampeg Custom Design, whatever that is.

Sounds solid, punchy and sweet.
 
#39
morebass! said:
Actually I was wondering about the "Ext. amp" output on the back. That's not what I wrote earlier. I'm wondering if this is a preamp out that I can use to drive an external power amp.

Thanks for the number Jimmy. I'll try to get some pics. FYI the serial number is about 2200 and the speaker has a square magnet with a sticker on it saying it is an Ampeg Custom Design, whatever that is.

Sounds solid, punchy and sweet.
Click to expand...
Not sure about the serial, but the speaker is a CTS Ampeg Custom Design, which is what I have in my 64. It's not original (might be in yours but mine should have a Jensen) but it kicks.
 
#40
I just scored a great condition 1965 B15N yesterday at a local music shop (Brandon, Manitoba, Canada). Everything original and untouched. I paid a bunch for it ($600). It has no tubes (just ordered them) so I may have to do a bit of work re-capping etc. to get this piece up to speed. But, oh man, I'm looking forward to a couple of months of enjoyable restoration work. I'll get some pics up once it's cleaned up.

Please sign me up, Jimmy.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back