Official Ampeg Portaflex Club

[coreyfyfe]

enthusiasm up....enthusiasm down.... in less than 5 mins...

Thanks for clarifying though!

They aren't all that uncommon, in fact there are two for sale in the TB classifieds at the moment, although you may have more trouble in Spain. Given that they were SLM made, they are probably easier to convert to 220V (probably a switch like the other newer amps), but it's been a long time since I've seen one in person, and I don't know if I ever even looked at that.

Edit - I just looked at a picture of the back of the amp, and it does appear to have a line voltage selector.

I believe what Mark was referring to in the text you quoted was a more "faithful" reproduction of the original B15 amplifier, rather than the updated reissue that the B15R was. As I said before, the B15R is a great amp in it's own right, but the cost for the amplifier was more than the market was willing to pay, thus it didn't have the staying power that they were probably hoping it would. Although, this new reissue, if there is one, may encounter some of the same problems, it is also more likely to find a home with people looking for a small, studio-purposed amplifier with modern accouterments.

 

[powellmacaque]

I browsed through the first few pages, didn't find anything.

How good are the flip tops for guitar tones? Do they have a nice overdriven tone? I'm looking to use a baritone guitar through a flip-top and I want to get a nice bit of overdrive.

 

[Vintage-Blue]

Does anybody know to what frequency the double baffle cabinet's ports are tune to?

I don't know that this really answers your question but I found this in an old email from Jess:
"Anyway, I carefully tuned the enclosure using a speaker with a resonance of 50 cycles, to smooth out the typical hump in the low frequency response."

 

[JimmyM]

I browsed through the first few pages, didn't find anything.

How good are the flip tops for guitar tones? Do they have a nice overdriven tone? I'm looking to use a baritone guitar through a flip-top and I want to get a nice bit of overdrive.

my b-15n is a little darker sounding than your typical guitar amp, but i think it's a really strong sound, and it would be excellent with a baritone imho.

 

[marsbel]

"Anyway, I carefully tuned the enclosure using a speaker with a resonance of 50 cycles, to smooth out the typical hump in the low frequency response."

Thanks Mark.
I'm not really sure... When I first read this I understood he used a speaker with a fs (resonant frequency) of 50Hz.
But then the first part says he tuned the enclosure...
It could be both.
Anyone else?

Any other tips I should include in my design in order to retain the original sound?

Regards,
Mark

PS.: anyone knows if Jess is alright? Last I heard was that suffered a stroke or something.

 

[marsbel]

I browsed through the first few pages, didn't find anything.

How good are the flip tops for guitar tones? Do they have a nice overdriven tone? I'm looking to use a baritone guitar through a flip-top and I want to get a nice bit of overdrive.

Hi,

Judge yourself:


MArk

 

[stiles72]

I browsed through the first few pages, didn't find anything.

How good are the flip tops for guitar tones? Do they have a nice overdriven tone? I'm looking to use a baritone guitar through a flip-top and I want to get a nice bit of overdrive.

My guitarists and I got together the other night just to work out some new tunes, and we thought it would be fun to all plug into the Portaflex like I'm sure they used to back in the old days. We plugged a 335 and a PRS Custom into channel one, and I plugged my P-bass into channel two. The guitars sounded slightly dark, but they had all the natural overtones. We were very surprised at just how well all three instruments sounded mixed together, and no one stepped on any one else. It sounded so good in fact we think that we might try this set up at an upcoming "acoustic" show, rather than using our standard acoustics through a small PA head.

 

[JimmyM]

btw, advance word on the american ampeg line from bp is not good. a cl that retails for $3200. i guess that'll be around $2400. so they take them to china, keep the prices the same, then bring them back and add $800 to the price? all i can say is that i'm glad i got my vintage rigs, they're working just fine, and i have a feeling i won't be getting a new b-15n at any price.

 

[TwoGearGeeks]

Howdy folks! I am interesting in joining the group! Here's a picture of my 1971 B-15N. I also have a 1965.

To whom do I speak about a number??

 

[JimmyM]

me. nice! is that an altec in there? would love to see the 65 too since some were transition models.

#121 TwoGearGeeks

 

[Wannabass]

Happy new year everyone!
First resolution just met, after building a house (never done) I have unearthed my amps.
The B-18 is all original including the plug. I dont get to close when playing and I have to say I like the tone better than the B-15.
The B-15 was gone thur by the master, Jess in 2007. He did the grill cover and foam under it. Voice coil on the speaker and checked over the internals. Said it is a very rare model with the solid state rectifier.

"I've got it all finished except the speaker. Most likely, I'll have every thing finished next
week. My assistant and I put a lot of work on your amp. Electronically, the head was easy.
The tubes are all perfect. Your amp is a rare since it has no 5AR4 tube but built-in solid state rectification. (I forgot we even made any like this.) I should note that the power transformer had been replaced but everything looks proper on a bench check, and further, I "hot benched" it for several hours. "

Just spoke with Jess via email a couple weeks ago as the local music shop had a very early B-15 with the indicator light on top not the plexiglass. No sticker though and replaced speaker. Stated he had a stroke and is retired. Sounded in good spirits!

Need a number please,
Thanks JimmyM,
WB

 

[JimmyM]

wow, i am sorry to hear that about jess. that's the end of an era. shame we all have to get old.

your stuff is gorgeous, btw. is that part of an oliver powerflex i see in there, too?

#122 Wannabass

 

[Wannabass]

Actually it's an Oliver B120, designed by Jess when he was doing the powerflex models. Would love to find one of those too!
Found this one locally and had Jess look it over in 05 or so, non original speaker and sounds great.
Just does my heart good to know what a brilliant and honest man Jess is.
Peace,
WB

 

[JimmyM]

just wanted to mention the love that bass gear mag showed our own Mark Gandenberger from Vintage Blue. tom showed off his old 66 b-15nf in there and replaced the original cab with a VB cab. being a VB owner myself, i totally agree with the assessment of Mark's cabs.

Link Removed
www.bassgearmag.com

 

[beans-on-toast]

I enjoyed reading the restoration article and it was great to see Mark's cabinet featured in such a positive and well deserved way.

Congratulations Mark!



David

 

[stiles72]

Said it is a very rare model with the solid state rectifier.



Just spoke with Jess via email a couple weeks ago as the local music shop had a very early B-15 with the indicator light on top not the plexiglass.


Stated he had a stroke and is retired. Sounded in good spirits!

Sounds like you got a nice one - a few of us have the SS rectifier B15 version. Welcome to the club!

Curious to hear more about the "pilot light" amp you came across. Sounds like maybe a '60 or '61. Even harder to find are the A15's which were the same as the pilot light B15, just labled "A" and marketed to Accordian players.

Sad to hear about Jess. I think we can all consider ourselveves very fortunate to have had him availble for questions, insight, and repairs as long as we have. I wish him well...

 

[Farfetched]

Any info on the B12XT? Is it suitable for bass? Is 500 a good deal for just the head? Would it even sound decent without the matching cab?

 

[Wannabass]

Sounds like you got a nice one - a few of us have the SS rectifier B15 version. Welcome to the club!

Curious to hear more about the "pilot light" amp you came across. Sounds like maybe a '60 or '61. Even harder to find are the A15's which were the same as the pilot light B15, just labled "A" and marketed to Accordian players.

Sad to hear about Jess. I think we can all consider ourselveves very fortunate to have had him availble for questions, insight, and repairs as long as we have. I wish him well...

Thanks, I was pretty happy when Jess looked it over and found this. The thing is loud!

As much as I can tell the amp with the pilot light at the local music store was a very early model. Jess was kind to reply and since he could not check them over anymore I passed on it. Lucky for me it sold anyway for $1200. It did not have the original speaker or any sticker. No removal side baffles either. It did have the prop rod.

When Jess replied he sounded in good spirits and healthy. I dought he will ever stop playing with his amps..

 

[Vintage-Blue]

Any info on the B12XT? Is it suitable for bass?

Although not really designed for bass, I don't know that the head wouldn't work well through a proper bass cabinet. I can't remember if I've ever tried mine with a bass and the standard 2x12 cabinet, but my guess is that it wouldn't sound real great, especially at higher volumes. I know I've never tried it plugged into one of my B15 cabinets. I'm curious as to how that would sound, although if I was doing the testing it wouldn't matter, due to my playing "skills" (garbage in = garbage out). My son has a B12XT as well as a B15 - I'll have to see if I can get him to try it some time.

Is 500 a good deal for just the head?

Good question. I've seen B15N heads often go for that, or more. If you just compare the actual electronics and capabilities of the amps you are getting much more with a B12XT. However, history, "mojo", perceived value, etc. also comes into play. I think it certainly drives up the cost of vintage B15N's.

Early last year I had a B12XT that I put on eBay. I had fixed a few things in the head and the amplifier sounded wonderful. The cabinet was literally starting to come apart, so it was well beyond the road-worn look that appeals to many.

I stripped the cabinet, repaired it and recovered it with new Diamond Blue Tolex and new hardware. (That's when I learned that I don't care for working on old cabinets!) However, it sounded good, the cabinet was solid again and it looked good. I figured that was a reasonable combination. The week before I listed mine I had seen two B12XT's sell for around $1,000 each. They both looked rough, were missing parts and had no dolly. I think one of them wasn't even working at the time. I listed my cabinet and new dolly with a reserve of $500 and a buy-it-now of $900. It was a 10 day listing and never got close to hitting the reserve. That's when I decided I don't understand how people value things and what they are willing to pay. I also realize that I'm talking about eBay (and potential shill bidding) and that those other two B12XT's may not have really sold.

I guess if the head looked good, didn't seem to need any work, and sounded good I wouldn't really have a problem paying $500 for it. Does that mean it's worth it? I'm not sure.

 

[sedan_dad]

.........................the road-worn look that appeals to many.
.

Here's your Road -worn look.

I'm lucky in that they don't rattle at all.