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Official Ampeg Portaflex Club

#42
I'm still waiting on tubes for my newly acquired '65 B15N and I am sure that I will likely need a full cap job etc., but I'll wait for the tubes and take it step by step. I have a good local tech guy so I feel set and confident that I'll get the head going soon.

I hooked up the speaker (Ampeg Custom Design, New Jersey - round magnet) and it passed a signal but was tinny and distorted. Something is definately wrong with it. I replaced the speaker (temporarilly) with an Eminence 8 ohm bass driver. The cabinet sounds great with my '68 Bassman driving it and is nice and warm with no serious rattles - I wonder what the original speaker sounded like.

Question 1. Is this an original CTS speaker? Can it be repaired and is it worth it to do so? The cone seems to have no travel (i.e. not scratchy) and feels seized. Any ideas? What is the good replacement (fliptops has the Delta Eminence - is that close to the original CTS or Jensen's)?

Question 2. Does adding an extension cab (like Fliptop's repro 15" cab) make much of a volume difference when added to the B15N?
 
#43
1. Ya, it's a CTS. It would probably be over $100 to recone. Worth it if you want to keep a classic speaker that sounds great in working condition. But the CTS sounds very similar to the Eminence Delta 15A in my Fliptops cab, and I hear the Beta 15 is even closer to the mark with 100w less handling ability. So it may be worth it to recone, but it's not your only option if you want that sound.

2. I never liked using an extension cab. It splits 25w into two cabs so each one does 12 1/2 w. Kind of underwhelming if you ask me.
 
#45
Hey, can I join?
 

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#46
I don't have pictures yet but have a late 70's B-15S all original even has most Magnavox tubes including power tubes and a 1959 Bassamp 835 with a replacement early 60's Utah Co-Axial speaker, sounds great. I will try to remember to take pictures of them and post them tomorrow. I've also owned a mid 60's B-15N and a late 70's B-15N.
 
#47
I was the proud owner of a '70 Ampeg B15S with the Altec 421A speaker. I bought it new in '70 and played it for about ten years before I regretfully let it go. What a great amp, the only complaint I had was that it was way too heavy at about 117 lbs. I've commented before that I consider it one of the 3 best sounding bass amps I have ever owned. The other two being my '70 SVT with 2 V4B 215 w/Altec 421 cabs and my Sunn 200S with 2-215 Sunn cabs w/JBL's. My B15S was so perfect for the studio and intimate club gigs when I didn't need the SVT. Sorry no pics, just Great sonic memories.

George
 
#48
#18 BluesDawg
#19 bobyoung53
#20 X Wolf

X Wolf, even though you don't have it anymore, I can see you're a man of distinction. Plus you had a good story. So you're in!

BluesDawg, nice pic! Please tell us more about your SB-12. Never got to hear one.

Bob, I'm real curious about those Bassamps. I don't know how they would do for bass in today's world, but I'll bet they smoke for guitar. IIRC, they're 18 watts?
 
#53
On another note, does anyone have any thoughts on mating a modern head to a repro cab like the Fliptops or Vintage Blue? I've become addicted to the sound of my B15N (pics coming in a couple of hours), but I'm not crazy about the idea of hauling the amp in particular out to gigs. I'm happy to get another cab too, but finding an orphaned head does not seem to be an easy proposition. Thoughts? If it helps, this is primarily for work with a jazz trio (I have Genz Benz and Berg for pop/modern/loud) and does not have to be loud, just tubey.
 

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