Official Ampeg Portaflex Club

[RP50]

Sorry - didn't see a post new thread box. New to board. Will try to post a picture of my amp which I've had for years, a Ampeg Portaflex SB12 Fliptop. Can someone tell me how I can find out how old it is?
Thanks.

 

[JimmyM]

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#24 RP50

bebop, I don't think you're nuts, but I'll bet you get a 210 again later on down the line. Or maybe a 112, which is a good combo with a B-15 cab. A Markbass 410 is super easy to carry as 410's go, but it's still a 410

 

[JimmyM]

BTW, I should mention in the new Bass Player tube amp special, they open up an SB-12 and show you how each part works in a tube amp and the signal path and all that. A must-read for Fliptop fanatics, but pretty informative for those who have other types of tube amps.

 

[morebass!]

Just wondering what other B-15N users use when they need more volume. I have a SVT head and NV425 that sounds great but it's not the same tone at all. I'm looking for the punch, wump and clarity I get from my B-15N but in a larger package.

 

[esoxhntr]

Bebop,

I agree with Jimmy - you're not nuts at all. Seems like you got a nice variety of stuff to mix and match appropriately for gigs. I think I'm going to try a few things that you two guys have suggested, and see how some different head/cab combos match.

Heads:

Genz Benz GBE 750
Genz Benz Neopak
Ampeg B15N
Fender Bassman

Cabs:

Bergantino HS210 (two of them)
Ampeg Portaflex (72 Thiele design)

I'm thinking of picking up a Fliptops B15 double baffle cab just to try that flavour too. I was also considering grabbing a Mesa 400+ amp, but it's a lot of weight and excess power for my needs. I figure with the four amps and three cabs listed above I'll get a decent variety of sounds that will keep me amused, productive, and "GAS-free" for at least a few months. I'm intrigued by the notion of using the two older heads with the Bergantino cabs, which are fairly sensitive and very efficient.

 

[Sliderbass]

It's a 67 SB-12. The head is origonal. The cabinet is from Vintage Blue (Thanks Mark!)Invalid Link Removed

 

[bebop1]

Just groovin' on what esox and Jimmy have been suggesting. I am finding that my Markbass SA-450 and a single 410H 8 ohm cab is proving to be plenty so far on stage and I'm not missing the big Ampeg rig yet. Hopefully that good experience continues.

Now, for smaller gigs, I love the idea Markbass and B15N cab or the B15N with Portaflex head for more intimate (rare) shows. But, I am also considering investing in a Fliptop cab to use with my Markbass head rather than exposing the 43 year-old cab to to many gigs. I know that I can get the power handling I need from either the Beta or Delta Eminence drivers so I am not concerned with lack of volume with this setup.

A question, though...
What are the real-world differences (tone and driver efficiency) between the single baffle and double baffle designs? I am familiar with the tone of the single baffle, non ported, iteration.

 

[JimmyM]

Wish I could tell you but I'm not familiar with the single baffle cab.

 

[RED5]

I know you guys can shed some light here. I Just read Bassplayer's Tube Amp Issue. It struck me as odd that they chose an SB-12 to represent the family? The first two things that made me want to play bass were a Fender Jazz through a B-15 Portaflex, at a teen dance. It was the one with the lit logo. (And the Jazz was a sunburst with the covers AND the buckle-guard!) Why would they not go to the Iconic amp, or is it just an icon to me? I know there was a variety of B-somethings out there but The B-15 in it's incarnations was the stuff!

 

[JimmyM]

The SB-12 is different, but it works the same way, so it's just as good as a B-15 for BP's purposes. And it's possible that nobody on the staff owns a B-15.

 

[RED5]

The SB-12 is different, but it works the same way, so it's just as good as a B-15 for BP's purposes. And it's possible that nobody on the staff owns a B-15.

Yeah the first thing struck me was "different" it looks like a chopped version. I always dug that Deco-Skyline look of the separate covers. Imagine? no one at Bassplayer has a B-15? Seems heretical.thanks for the reply.

 

[jnewmark]

On the back of my B15N head, there is an input/output( ? ) that is labeled : " Ext Amp ". What is this exactly? I never noticed it before!

 

[Vintage-Blue]

On the back of my B15N head, there is an input/output( ? ) that is labeled : " Ext Amp ". What is this exactly? I never noticed it before!

That is a preamp out that can be sent to another amp. Here is a quote from the mid-60's B15N owner's manual:

"If you feel you need more power than your equipment is designed to produce, you might consider obtaining an additional PORTAFLEX. All PORTAFLEX models are equipped with an external amplifier jack. This enables you to hook two complete PORTAFLEX amps in tandem, which, depending on the model, can double your output wattage. This tandem set-up is accomplished by using a regular mike cable with a phone plug on each end, connected to the external amp jacks of any two PORTAFLEX units; or, you may plug the other end of the cable into the input of any amp. If used in this manner, adjust the volume on the PORTAFLEX first, then adjust the volume on the secondary amp, which in most cases will be a very low setting. What happens is this: The signal from the pre-amp on the PORTAFLEX is also sent into the second amp, so you get the output from both units. If the second amp has vibrato or tremolo, it will sound as if both units have it. This is another way to get more power if you ever feel you need it."

 

[jnewmark]

Thanks!

 

[Chebass88]

Hey all,

This thread inspired me to grab my trusty Nikon D80 & my old Ampeg B-15N. I have a lot of questions about this, so I hope somebody can help me!

History: My father (a professional bassist in the Philadelphia / Atlantic City regions) came to use Ampeg B-15N's & Pre-CBS Fenders (mostly a 1961 PBass) exclusively, so I grew up with 3 of these in the house. As a teen, it was my task to load the amp in & out of the car before & after he played a gig - lifting these things into the trunk of a Mercury Grand Marquis is NOT fun! I was allowed to play one whenever I had a gig, and my HS graduation present consisted of this amp as well as a 1978 Fender PBass & one half of the cost of a 1940s German Plywood Upright. I played this at U of DE, and for every gig up until I bought a BA-115 in 2004. It was delegated to rehearsal amp, as I didn't like carrying 105 pounds up & down stairs.

I was playing a rehearsal in early 2005, and let the guitarist plug his acoustic into the B-15 as well. I was playing a Spector Q5, and playing a low note repeatedly (low G on E string). In the middle of the song, there was a "popping" noise, and the amp ceased to work. The lights still come on, but there is no sound when plugging an instrument into it. I really don't have a clue on what happened - any help or advice would be extremely appreciated. About a year ago, I bought an Eden WTX-260 & plugged it into the cabinet, as I REALLY like the sound of a 15" speaker. The speaker is EXCEPTIONALLY crackly with lots of static. This isn't too bad, as the weight fo the speaker alone makes it nearly ungiggable. My current rig is an Acoustic Image Clarus II Series 3 into a Schroeder 1210L. I would like to make this amp playable again, as it has a sound that none of my other amps (despite their light weight benefits) can achieve. Your wisdom is appreciated. Also, I'm not sure of the year either - any help on this is appreciated also!

Since a TB club requires photos, here they are:

Here is my B-15N serving its current duty as lunchbox / work bag stand:

The handle was replaced some time ago:

The inside is a mess!

Speaker reads: "Ampeg Custom Design", square magnet, speaker design - is this the so-called "Double Baffle"?

External Views:

Knob shot for fun

Thanks for your help & sorry for the long post. I'd like to bring this amp back to its former glory without spending too much money!

Best,

imp.

 

[Vintage-Blue]

I hope you take the time and are able to get your amp working again (without too much expense). It sounds like there are a lot of good memories attached to it!

BTW, the cabinet you have is the single baffle version.

 

[JimmyM]

I can't tell what the number after the 137 6_ is, but it's a CTS speaker, which is pretty sweet. It probably just needs recapped and possibly it might have some dead tubes. But maybe not...tubes can last a long time. I'm still using 40 year old tubes in some of my stuff. It would totally be worth fixing up.

 

[JimmyM]

These fliptop cabs are the shizzy, except it takes forever to chase down rattles. I have an air leak in my 64 somewhere that's driving me nuts. I think I've narrowed it down to the gasket stripping wearing out, but I'm not entirely sure. I'm going to replace it so we'll see.

But because of this, I've been thinking about how you could redesign the fliptop cab as a dedicated extension cab without the fliptop. The problem is that the speaker is rear-mounted, so without the fliptop, you don't get access to the insides. It's possible that you could front-mount the speaker though I don't know what would happen to the sound, but assuming you want to preserve the integrity of the original design and rear-mount the speaker, how would you get access to the inside and not have the fliptop? I've thought of a screw off panel in the back, but it would have to be a pretty big one to get a 15" in and out. That would create as much potential for air leaks and rattles as the fliptop, no?

 

[Mastersonics]

Hi guys

I used to have one way back and would love to have one again.

could you let me know where can I find one or where to look?

thanks a lot
regards,
Charles

 

[JimmyM]

Ebay always has a few for sale. Craigslist has them occasionally, too.