The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Bass Amps & Effects => Topic started by: drbassman on October 25, 2013, 05:28:44 AM
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Well, gear hound (I know, that's an understatement) that I am, I've been trolling for a B-15 for a couple years and found a pretty nice B-12 (same amp, smaller speaker). Not collector quality, but in good shape for its age. I had a B-15 as a kid, back in 1963-4. It was a great little amp, so I decided it would be fun to have one at home for old time's sake. The 12" speaker will be fine for noodling around. I got a good deal on this one. The amp and cab are original, but the speaker and speaker cable were replaced. No big deal. Can't wait till it gets here.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Ampeg%20B-12/99063de9-4404-4ade-9aa7-6ed27b713835_zps93c79ac7.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Ampeg%20B-12/99063de9-4404-4ade-9aa7-6ed27b713835_zps93c79ac7.jpg.html)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Ampeg%20B-12/B-123_zpsa355fce8.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Ampeg%20B-12/B-123_zpsa355fce8.jpg.html)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Ampeg%20B-12/c83b9895-6d3f-4b43-9457-e055e21e7d7d_zps23832ec5.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Ampeg%20B-12/c83b9895-6d3f-4b43-9457-e055e21e7d7d_zps23832ec5.jpg.html)
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that's a sexy little beast
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that's a sexy little beast
Thanks, those were the days when Ampeg amps were breaking ground with each new model. I had a B-15 similar to this one for 4 years or so then moved up to an SVT with a 2x15 cab as the band kept getting louder!
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I like it! Those are just dripping with "period coolness".
Another addition to Bill's Warehouse O'Amps.
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I like it! Those are just dripping with "period coolness".
Another addition to Bill's Warehouse O'Amps.
Yeah, it does take me back to my childhood, when I was definitely cooler than I am now! :P It'll be right at home with the Music Man and Prodigy.
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I grew up on Ampeg equipment and I have never seen a B-12. It's cool ;D.
Rick
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Nice score! I don't remember seeing a B-12 before either.
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Nice score! I don't remember seeing a B-12 before either.
Yeah, I don't remember them, but they were a companion model to the B-15. Same amp, smaller speaker. Since it's just for home, I didn't really care about the speaker size when I saw the condition of the amp and cab. I've been wanting one of these for years and prices are down. Thank you crappy economy. Pics/review when it arrives.
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Congrats, I saw that one on Ebay and passed. Glad someone here got it.
You will find everything you want and need to know about Portaflexes here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/jess-olivers-legacy-ampeg-portaflex-club-part-11-a-981538/index50.html#post15032872
A bunch of really nice, knowledgeable and helpful guys...especially "Beans on Toast". Yeah, on Talk Bass. There's also a Portaflex Wiki that has just been started there.
http://wiki.talkbass.com/index.php?title=Category:Ampeg_Portaflex_wiki
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Congrats, I saw that one on Ebay and passed. Glad someone here got it.
You will find everything you want and need to know about Portaflexes here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/jess-olivers-legacy-ampeg-portaflex-club-part-11-a-981538/index50.html#post15032872
A bunch of really nice, knowledgeable and helpful guys...especially "Beans on Toast". Yeah, on Talk Bass. There's also a Portaflex Wiki that has just been started there.
Hey thanks Carlo, I'll check them out. I'm excited about this little amp. Just trying to recapture my teens! ;D
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This is a nice site too. Lots of specs and info.
http://unofficialampeg.com/
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score. great "house" amps. love my 2 b15S's but they are 70's era and 60 watts so definately not the same. More a B25 in a portaflex cab - 7027A tubes (v-4 fame). I had a 72 B15 many years ago but have been yearning a 60's era b15/12 for a while now. Maybe when I finally go back to work.
I only played thru a b12 in a recording studio but I have loved 12's for many years. same head. Played lots of old b 15's in recording studios over the years. used to bring my amp and most of the time wound up on the b15..
Enjoy it in good health my man....
PS the TB site is actually great and Beans on toast and several others really know their stuff. they make those lucite with custom names if you are interested.
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Very cool Jim. I didn't realize so many folks had experience with or owned Portaflexes. Great amps for sure. I am, BTW, in great health as I hope you are too! All tests normal these days. Whew!!
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So this would be the newer series, right? (BT-15)
http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/4094811344.html
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Nice...
I've always thought they look somewhat art-deco, or maybe something that Professor Zarkhov might have created...
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So this would be the newer series, right? (BT-15)
http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/4094811344.html
Yeah, that is solid state vs. all tube. Check out the unofficial Ampeg site for more info.
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mmm tasty.
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So this would be the newer series, right? (BT-15)
http://denver.craigslist.org/msg/4094811344.html
newer series as in early/mid 70's. I have a early 90's version (black look) of that. Very underwhelming sounding amp compared to what you would expect from ampeg. Very ampeg solid state sounding....blah but the cab is a prettty good updated versions of the portaflex cabs with better speakers. Can't say i ever heard that particular amp.
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac102/desantisjn/AMPEG%20STUFF/ampegbt4.jpg) (http://s890.photobucket.com/user/desantisjn/media/AMPEG%20STUFF/ampegbt4.jpg.html)
got a matching cab without the head for around $100. makes a nice looking stack and sounds really good with other heads. BTW it is sitting under a early 70's SBT which was ampegs answer to the acoustic 360 rig. SS head (preamp only) and you could get powered cabs, 2 15's IIRC. Not very popular but there some vids on youtube with Steppenwolf and the bass player using the amp and an ampeg AMB. That guy is around on TB once in a while on a scroll bass thread. Really nice guy.
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Back in the late 90's I picked up an SB-12 (late 60's) for $180 at a pawn shop. They had it marked as just a speaker! (the head was flipped into the cab) It had the original 12 inch Jensen speaker. I think I sold it for close to $800.
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2rxyvcn.jpg)
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Back in the late 90's I picked up an SB-12 (late 60's) for $180 at a pawn shop. They had it marked as just a speaker! (the head was flipped into the cab) It had the original 12 inch Jensen speaker. I think I sold it for close to $800.
(http://i43.tinypic.com/2rxyvcn.jpg)
Freakin' amazing that it was listed as only a speaker :o. That's a pawn shop to spend some time shopping at ;D.
Rick
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When I get mine, I might upgrade the cab to 15 if the 12 in there is crap. We'll see how she sounds.
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Is it the same cab...?
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Is it the same cab...?
Yep, just a different baffle board.
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Nice score. My SB-12 is a super little recording rig and home practice amp. Studio engineers drool when they've seen me wheel it in to record.
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Yep, just a different baffle board.
Interesting... it would be possible to have both in an easily removable fashion...
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Interesting... it would be possible to have both in an easily removable fashion...
I refurbed this '67 single baffle cab a few months ago. Getting the baffle out was a royal PITA, ditto reinstalling.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/B-15N/P1040504_zps9f68f7f7.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/B-15N/P1040504_zps9f68f7f7.jpg.html)
Magic Marker, Armorall and elbow grease work wonders. Current PF-500 head with speaker upgraded to an Eminence Delta.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/B-15N/P1040735_zps18c5ce62.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/B-15N/P1040735_zps18c5ce62.jpg.html)
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I refurbed this '67 single baffle cab a few months ago. Getting the baffle out was a royal PITA, ditto reinstalling.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/B-15N/P1040504_zps9f68f7f7.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/B-15N/P1040504_zps9f68f7f7.jpg.html)
Magic Marker, Armorall and elbow grease work wonders. Current PF-500 head with speaker upgraded to an Eminence Delta.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/B-15N/P1040735_zps18c5ce62.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/B-15N/P1040735_zps18c5ce62.jpg.html)
OK, give me some hints on what I would be in for if I tried this..........
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There are 2 different kinds of baffle for 15" cabinets. On a single baffle the screws are difficult to get to and there are 1/8 spacers on each screw between the front of the baffle and the frame. I messed up somehow and it took me quite a while to reinstall the baffle. I don't think it would be much easier on my double baffle cab.
http://wiki.talkbass.com/index.php?title=Technical_-_Speaker_Cabinet
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/B-15N/P1040141_zpsfcf74870.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/B-15N/P1040141_zpsfcf74870.jpg.html)
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There are 2 different kinds of baffle for 15" cabinets. On a single baffle the screws are difficult to get to and there are 1/8 spacers on each screw between the front of the baffle and the frame. I messed up somehow and it took me quite a while to reinstall the baffle. I don't think it would be much easier on my double baffle cab.
http://wiki.talkbass.com/index.php?title=Technical_-_Speaker_Cabinet
How's the double baffle different from the single baffle? Never mind, I just clicked on your link! BTW, that amp and cab are beautiful!
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Yep, just a different baffle board.
I always thought the 12 was a smaller profile. my early 70's b15 is 21" wide by 24 tall.
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I always thought the 12 was a smaller profile. my early 70's b15 is 21" wide by 24 tall.
I was always told they used the same cab for both. I just read some post at TB about the B-12 and it seems it is a smaller cab. A little less heavy could be nice. I might just set the amp on top of my Ampeg PF115 for practice at home purposes! I'll find out when it arrives!
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I checked pictures of the inside of the cab and I don't see the oblong double baffle slots, so it's probably just a single baffle. Man, I am way off base today, think I'll go back to bed! The B-12 cab coming in does have the typical vertical baffles.
So, I've learned today that the cab is smaller than a B-15 and the baffle board is a different configuration.
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BTW, that amp and cab are beautiful!
Thanks, bought it from the original owner's nephew. It had been sitting in a cedar closet for a long time.
Cabinet size on both my '64 and '67 is 19x19x14 inches. Speaker "frame" is larger on the 67. The 70s cabs are "Thiele" cabs, shelf port takes up the added 4 inches in height.
PF115 should be a good match.
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PF115 should be a good match.
Yeah, it sounds good with the Prodigy when I'm practicing, the Ampeg should be right at home with the PF 115.
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Am I crazy or was there a B18?
I think I remember playing through one during a recording session about 15 years ago. It was definitely a portaflex of some sort. I remember what song it was - I got a very dark, smooth sound compared to my usual sound of the time - but I can't remember exactly what the amp was.
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There was a B18. I've heard they sounded kind of tubby due to the speaker size, but I've never played through one.
(http://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/so-many-guitars-so-little-time/194974d1285670299-ampeg-portaflex-b18-ampexb18-.jpg)
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Yep, there was a B-18 as well. Big cabinet for a Portaflex!
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A few years ago at Bass Emporium they had either a 2x15 or 2x18 Ampeg Portaflex. Wish I took a photo of it.
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IIRC the 2 speaker units were only solid state heads but i could be wrong....
Guy named styles72 or something like that has one. He is a TB guy but i thought he also was on this site a while ago.
B18 I played thru was rather tubby compared to the B15 but I rather liked it.....
I also believe the b18 was only with the 30 watt head. the b15 has either 25 or 30 watt heads and i think the b12 was only 25 watts.
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IIRC the 2 speaker units were only solid state heads but i could be wrong....
Guy named styles72 or something like that has one. He is a TB guy but i thought he also was on this site a while ago.
B18 I played thru was rather tubby compared to the B15 but I rather liked it.....
I also believe the b18 was only with the 30 watt head. the b15 has either 25 or 30 watt heads and i think the b12 was only 25 watts.
stiles72, with an "i"
He was showing an Ampeg combo in Doc's "MusicMan HD130 and Ampeg cab review" thread.
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Yep, there was a B-18 as well. Big cabinet for a Portaflex!
One of the forgotten Ampegs, the B-18. I love them ;D. A lot of people didn't. I sat in with a really good Blues group many years ago and used their bass players B-18 and was really impressed. Although not a real powerhouse, it still had the ability to fill the room. 18 inch speakers have a tendency to do that. The bottom end tone fills the room and doesn't dilute. You feel that rich bottom end throughout the room without a boatload of wattage to make it happen. I can't think of another amp that can do that as well as the B-18. Still, they were not very popular. I went on a quest about 20 years ago to find one, and believe me, there aren't a whole lot of them around. There was also a B-18X with a horn added which was mainly for keyboards. Very rare.
Rick
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I have a B-18N that is a very sweet amp but I can't use it with my band cause we're too loud. I also have the 2x15" version of the Portaflex (BT-15C) but I sold off the crappy SS amp and modified the top board to hold a very early B-18N chassis that I had. That's a cool amp too but I'm not crazy about the stock speakers. By the way, the B-18's were rated at 50W.
According to the Ampeg book, there was also a very short-lived tube Portaflex amp with a 2x15" cabinet dubbed the B-15NC, although I've never seen one or even pictures of one. Growing up in NJ, there were always lots of Ampegs around.
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I have a B-18N that is a very sweet amp but I can't use it with my band cause we're too loud. I also have the 2x15" version of the Portaflex (BT-15C) but I sold off the crappy SS amp and modified the top board to hold a very early B-18N chassis that I had. That's a cool amp too but I'm not crazy about the stock speakers. By the way, the B-18's were rated at 50W.
According to the Ampeg book, there was also a very short-lived tube Portaflex amp with a 2x15" cabinet dubbed the B-15NC, although I've never seen one or even pictures of one. Growing up in NJ, there were always lots of Ampegs around.
I've still got a BT-15 something portaflex with 2 15" Altec Lansings and 235 watts. They had 3 different model numbers for one with CTS speakers, another with Altecs and yet another with JBLs. I've got it written down somewhere, but I can't remember what number mine is ???. It served me well for many years but it has been tucked away in favor of better and smaller gear for 20 some years.
Rick
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I've still got a BT-15 something portaflex with 2 15" Altec Lansings and 235 watts. They had 3 different model numbers for one with CTS speakers, another with Altecs and yet another with JBLs. I've got it written down somewhere, but I can't remember what number mine is ???. It served me well for many years but it has been tucked away in favor of better and smaller gear for 20 some years.
Rick
I'm pretty sure mine has the CTS speakers. They're definitely not Altecs or JBLs. Not a great rig but it sure looks cool! Are you sure about that 235W rating? That seems somewhat high for the technology of the time.
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I'm pretty sure mine has the CTS speakers. They're definitely not Altecs or JBLs. Not a great rig but it sure looks cool! Are you sure about that 235W rating? That seems somewhat high for the technology of the time.
I got that power rating from the unofficial Ampeg site. They are a pretty good source of info. I also tracked the year it was made by serial number through that site. Mine is a 1967. I've had it since late 68 or early 69. I had some work done on mine to beef the output a little back in the early 70s when I cooked the head. I've blown the top speaker several times. I used to run an extension cabinet with 2 more Altec 15s. It never had a real big bottom sound but it was great for that treble zingy sound that I used to like. I have since outgrown that and gone to the big bottom sound and the old Ampeg has been in mothballs ever since.
Rick
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I've still got a BT-15 something portaflex with 2 15" Altec Lansings and 235 watts. They had 3 different model numbers for one with CTS speakers, another with Altecs and yet another with JBLs. I've got it written down somewhere, but I can't remember what number mine is ???. It served me well for many years but it has been tucked away in favor of better and smaller gear for 20 some years.
Rick
Is that one of the ones with the backlit control panel?
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No, just one red on/off light. The control panel is pretty simple. Just brushed aluminum, two channels with four inputs total, volume ,bass, and treble with a pull out boost on the treble control. I think that's all,I have not even looked at it in four or five years :-[.
Rick
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Got the B-12 in today and hooked it up right away. Ummmmm....DOA. No sound at all out of the amp. The tubes are old, mismatched and a couple were barely glowing. The seller sent it with the tubes out and wrapped up, so they actually had a pretty cushy ride. I tried it with different cords and speakers and nothing. So, the seller and I chatted and I'm going to have my local tech check it out. We'll see what needs to be done and then discuss who will pay and how much. He seems pretty reasonable and with over 1,000 sales, things should work out. I'll have tubes and other stuff done anyway as long as the amp is sound and can be up and running without a major hassle/cost. If not, back she goes! Naturally, I do want to keep it, so we're pulling for a simple rehab plan.
BTW, it is a quite a little troll. Significantly smaller than a B-15, a perfect practice size. I honestly had never seen one before. Now it's got me wanting a B-15 too. Oy! I don't have the room for it though.
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I'm sure they can stack... ;)
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Got the B-12 in today and hooked it up right away. Ummmmm....DOA. No sound at all out of the amp. The tubes are old, mismatched and a couple were barely glowing. The seller sent it with the tubes out and wrapped up, so they actually had a pretty cushy ride. I tried it with different cords and speakers and nothing. So, the seller and I chatted and I'm going to have my local tech check it out. We'll see what needs to be done and then discuss who will pay and how much. He seems pretty reasonable and with over 1,000 sales, things should work out. I'll have tubes and other stuff done anyway as long as the amp is sound and can be up and running without a major hassle/cost. If not, back she goes! Naturally, I do want to keep it, so we're pulling for a simple rehab plan.
BTW, it is a quite a little troll. Significantly smaller than a B-15, a perfect practice size. I honestly had never seen one before. Now it's got me wanting a B-15 too. Oy! I don't have the room for it though.
Or maybe it's big brother - a B15S from 72 - 60 watts, 7027A tubes , actually powerful enough for small gigs but weighs a ton.....
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If you're tube shopping , Tesla 6L6GCs will give you a nice clean sound with a bit more headroom before break up. If you want a dead on match for that old Sylvania sound with a warm sound and lower volume break up, Winged C is the way to go. Personally, I like Teslas for a bass amp and Winged C for a guitar amp in most cases.
Rick
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If you're tube shopping , Tesla 6L6GCs will give you a nice clean sound with a bit more headroom before break up. If you want a dead on match for that old Sylvania sound with a warm sound and lower volume break up, Winged C is the way to go. Personally, I like Teslas for a bass amp and Winged C for a guitar amp in most cases.
Rick
Thanks for the pointers. I dropped the amp off this morning and the tech said he'd let me know Monday what's going on with it. We'll see what shakes out.
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Ain't nothin' cooler than bringing a fine vintage piece like that back to life 8) ;D.
Rick
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Ain't nothin' cooler than bringing a fine vintage piece like that back to life 8) ;D.
Rick
I hope so!
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it's never easy!
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it's never easy!
Thank heaven we have John Nau to help us!
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Thank heaven we have John Nau to help us!
Is that your amp guy?
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Is that your amp guy?
Yep.
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wish i was closer. My amp guy is beyond slow and pricey on top of that.
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The guy we had in the Detroit area long ago was Eddie Futrell. He's been gone for many years but I still miss him. He and Leo Fender were old buddies. On a couple of occasions I witnessed him dialing Leo on the phone to give him some crap about a screwed up design or malfunctioning component. This guy was the greatest :sad:.
Rick
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Yeah, we're lucky here on Rochester. John's a good tech, even custom builds and sells his own line of tube amps and cabs. He called the other day and the B-12 head is fine. He didn't find anything wrong with it! Maybe something was loose, I'm not sure. I'll pick her up today and see what's up with that.
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Got the amp back and all is well. We found a broken fuse that was still functional. The lack of output was me using the wrong speaker jack, we think. She sounds really sweet with my new Ampeg 15" cab and the original cab isn't bad either. It's gonna be a great practice amp. There's some rust and a faint musty smell, I suspect she sat in someone's basement for some time. We'll clean it up a little and it should be fine.
I wanted to date the amp, but can't find a serial number. I've had it apart twice and can't find anything. The schematic glued into the bottom of the tray says B-12NC and B-15NC. No other labels or sets of numbers. Any ideas?
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/AMPS/DSCN1118_zps2849f743.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/AMPS/DSCN1118_zps2849f743.jpg.html)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/AMPS/DSCN1120_zpsdce828b7.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/AMPS/DSCN1120_zpsdce828b7.jpg.html)
Here's the original cab. Cute little thing, isn't it? In pretty good shape, the grill cloth needs some restretching.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/AMPS/DSCN1121_zps2f203ced.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/AMPS/DSCN1121_zps2f203ced.jpg.html)
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NICE!
The serial number on mine is in 2 places: stamped on the chassis below the power cord and on a paper label inside the cabinet.
My serial # is 0039xx, schematic has "165" printed in the bottom LH corner.
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The label on mine has fallen off. Just glue residue left. I'll look closer with a flashlight on the chassis. Thanks.
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Some Portaflex heads won't have a serial # (my '63 B15 doesn't) but you can look at the pot codes to get a rough idea of when your amp was made. The amp should have CTS pots, and they should have a seven digit # starting with 137. The middle two digits are the year, the last two digits are the week the pot was made. You could then estimate that the amp itself was probably built 4-8 weeks after the pots were made, since Ampeg was turning them out pretty quickly back then.
Example: #1376302 (137 = CTS pot, 63 = 1963, 02 = second week of )
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Great idea, I'll try that.
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Or maybe it's big brother - a B15S from 72 - 60 watts, 7027A tubes , actually powerful enough for small gigs but weighs a ton.....
As a heads up on 7027A's, they're just 6L6GC's. RCA made them for the hifi market and gave them extra suppressor grid connections and sold them to Ampeg cheaper than 6L6GC's as part of their marketing plan. Other than the extra connection at the base, which no Ampeg uses, they are literally just 6L6GC's.
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Finally had a minute to open up the B-15 head and the CTS pots are 1376341 and 33. So it looks like it's probably a 1963 model or 64 at the latest. Very cool!
If you look closely, you can see my old B-15 in the lower left corner. Sure was a fine little amp. It's nice to have another, even with the 12" speaker. This picture would have been right around 1964.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Fender%20Pics/63jazzbass1.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Fender%20Pics/63jazzbass1.jpg.html)
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Hey you with the long hair! Are you a girl??
Seriously though... Great photo. That is very cool. What did the band sound like?
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Finally had a minute to open up the B-155 head and the CTS pots are 1376341 and 33. So it looks like it's probably a 1963 model or 64 at the latest. Very cool!
If you look closely, you can see my old B-15 in the lower left corner. Sure was a fine little amp. It's nice to have another, even with the 12" speaker. This picture would have been right around 1964.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Fender%20Pics/63jazzbass1.jpg) (http://s2.photobucket.com/user/drbassman/media/Fender%20Pics/63jazzbass1.jpg.html)
Yep - probably a '64, since the pots are late in the year, the tray schematic says "B15NC", and the amp has a rectifier tube. Very desirable amp! Most '63's were labled B15NA (cabs were marked NB) and they had a solid state rectifier.
Nice photo too btw!
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Hey you with the long hair! Are you a girl??
Seriously though... Great photo. That is very cool. What did the band sound like?
Geez, I haven't heard that in a long time! Sure wish I had more hair now!!! The band was pretty good actually. We played a lot of Beatles, Animals, Rascals, Yardbirds, John Mayall, Stones, etc. Those were great times! We started out in 6th or 7th. grade as a surfer band in south western Ohio, no less! The closest waves were on the local Miami River, usually around 6 inches on windy days.
When the Beatles hit the US, we were transformed immediately and the music fit us perfectly. I'm happy a few of those photos survived all of the moving I did as a kid and young adult.
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Yep - probably a '64, since the pots are late in the year, the tray schematic says "B15NC", and the amp has a rectifier tube. Very desirable amp! Most '63's were labled B15NA (cabs were marked NB) and they had a solid state rectifier.
Nice photo too btw!
Cool, I was wondering about the rectifier as I was reading about those over the weekend. I'm just as happy that I don't have one. So, 1964 it is. A good year as I recall: freshman in high school and a great band to play in. Those were the days!
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.... So, 1964 it is. A good year as I recall: freshman in high school and a great band to play in. Those were the days!
Dang, Bill, that was my freshman year in High School too!
No band though, orchestra, wrasslin' an upright bass.
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Damn, you're making me feel young. I graduated in 1970. Thanks guys, I needed that ;D.
Rick
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This will make you fell even younger. I graduated HS in '64...do have all my hair, though.
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Dang, Bill, that was my freshman year in High School too!
No band though, orchestra, wrasslin' an upright bass.
1964 was a great year. We gigged just about every weekend and all through the summers. Life was good and we had a ball.
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This will make you fell even younger. I graduated HS in '64...do have all my hair, though.
Still have most of my hair , but I have four blown discs in my back and a new hip. I was talking with an 81 year old guy the other day and he was complaining about all the stuff he can no longer do. Between the two of us , I think I'd call it a draw :-[.
Rick
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Damn, you're making me feel young. I graduated in 1970. Thanks guys, I needed that ;D.
Rick
1970? I got t-shirts older than that! Enjoy your youth, it's gone before you know it! :P
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This will make you fell even younger. I graduated HS in '64...do have all my hair, though.
Ah, it's good to have a wiser and older mentor in the forum. Hair is way overrated. I save a ton on combs and shampoo!
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Still have most of my hair , but I have four blown discs in my back and a new hip. I was talking with an 81 year old guy the other day and he was complaining about all the stuff he can no longer do. Between the two of us , I think I'd call it a draw :-[.
Rick
Wow, you've been through the mill. Hope you don't have to go through any more of those ortho issues, they can be nasty and chronic. Stay healthy!
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Still have most of my hair , but I have four blown discs in my back and a new hip. I was talking with an 81 year old guy the other day and he was complaining about all the stuff he can no longer do. Between the two of us , I think I'd call it a draw :-[.
Rick
How's it going with the hip? A buddy of mine had his done, took a LOT longer to heal than the docs said it would.
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Heh, I like hearing from you guys that were gigging back when rock and roll was actually a thing that still freaked out a lot of parents.
Me, I was BORN in 1970 ... on the other hand, since I work in the world of "tech", I've gotten used to often being the oldest guy in the office by a wide margin, and more recently I've had to come to terms with having some coworkers who were born after I graduated college.
I have apparently just hit the age when I start seeing medical professionals younger than me. That's going to get irksome over the next however-many-decades-i-have...
I thought of a fun "how to feel old" game. Start making a list of things and events that, if they were people, would be at least old enough to legally drink in the US.
- Punk
- "New Wave"
- "The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal"
- The Who's "Farewell" tour ( hahahahahhaha)
- The Who's first reunion tour
- Live Aid
- "Hair metal"
- "Death metal"
- a thousand other flavors of metal
- Fall of the Berlin Wall
- The entire f***ing decade of the 80s
- Nirvana and all the Seattle / northwest / grunge bands
- Sinead O'Connor ripping up the Pope photo
- Prince making no sense
- Bill Clinton getting elected
And so on and so on.
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^ ^ ^
Some of us were already in our thirties before any of the above happened.
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^ ^ ^
Some of us were already in our thirties before any of the above happened.
Yep, it's hard for me even consider I was 30 already in 1980! I essentially shut down musically in the early 80's. I quit listening to the radio much and purchased even fewer cassettes and then CDs. The joke in my family is everything from that era sounds like Journey to me! ;D I rediscovered classic rock about 10 years ago and it's been a kick ever since.
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How's it going with the hip? A buddy of mine had his done, took a LOT longer to heal than the docs said it would.
I'm far from being the poster child for hip replacement surgery :sad:. They put a hairline fracture in my femur when they hammered the ball portion of the joint in. That really slowed the recovery down and added a fair dose of additional pain. It's been about seven months and things are OK, but nothing to brag about. It did very little to ease back pain. In my defense, I still work out an hour a day ,5 days a week and can toss around more weight than most guys my age. Too bad that's all I can do. As far as doing anything practical, I'm freakin' useless. Can't bend , can't reach , can't stand on a ladder etc..
Rick
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I'm far from being the poster child for hip replacement surgery :sad:. They put a hairline fracture in my femur when they hammered the ball portion of the joint in. That really slowed the recovery down and added a fair dose of additional pain. It's been about seven months and things are OK, but nothing to brag about. It did very little to ease back pain. In my defense, I still work out an hour a day ,5 days a week and can toss around more weight than most guys my age. Too bad that's all I can do. As far as doing anything practical, I'm freakin' useless. Can't bend , can't reach , can't stand on a ladder etc..
Rick
I think it takes a year to recuperate from hip or knee replacement in the best case scenario. Sounds like they did a bad job on yours.
I've had back pain most of my life. I'm a little guy and moving SVT fridge cabs and lifting 80 lb sheets of MDF did its damage. These days if lucky I can catch tweaks and take it easy before I'm left prone for a few days. Had a slight one yesterday that 'encouraged' me to adjust the height of my workbench immediately to 46" off the floor. I'll see how that works today for buffing a body. Seems to be just about right for soldering a wiring harness standing up, which is how I work.
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I think it takes a year to recuperate from hip or knee replacement in the best case scenario. Sounds like they did a bad job on yours.
I've had back pain most of my life. I'm a little guy and moving SVT fridge cabs and lifting 80 lb sheets of MDF did its damage. These days if lucky I can catch tweaks and take it easy before I'm left prone for a few days. Had a slight one yesterday that 'encouraged' me to adjust the height of my workbench immediately to 46" off the floor. I'll see how that works today for buffing a body. Seems to be just about right for soldering a wiring harness standing up, which is how I work.
It kills me to see these 80 year old women who have been through both hips that can run circles around me >:(. I went to the best hip surgeon in the state and landed in the less than 10% category that gets the fracture in the femur(typical for me). My back has been screwed up for about 31 years, but the age thing is making it a whole lot tougher to deal with. So, that's why I sing the Blues ;D.
Rick
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Wow Rick, sorry to hear about your back and hip issues. I feel blessed that my neck and should issues are minor in comparison. I hope things improve for you and that you heal quickly and as completely as possible!
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I feel the same way about occasional back complaints here...be better, Rick!
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Thanks guys ;D. I didn't mean to turn this in to the let's feel sorry for Rick thread :-[. On the brighter side, I'm walking without a cane for the first time in 18 years, taking less pain meds, and I'm working out like crazy. Everyone tells me I look like I'm in great shape. So, I prescribe to the "it's better to look good than to feel good " philosophy. I'm not so sure I believe it but, what the hell, you play what you're dealt ;D.
Rick
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Yep, life is a journey that takes many twists and turns. We just have to learn how to navigate it all and enjoy it no matter what comes. Best wishes!
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Had a few minutes to putz a round this morning and plugged the LP Triumph into the B-15 (using my new Ampeg 15" cab for practicing at home). Wow, what a kick butt sound with a tube amp and the LP low z pups and flats.
I've been on a search to find a good combination with the tube amp and bass. So far, the ThunderJet, an anniversary j-bass and the Triumph all sound fantastic through a tuber. I tried my 60's NR and 68 Tele bass and they sound really good, but I'm struggling with the thick necks. Heck, probably about any bass sounds good through a tube amp if dialed in the way you want it.
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Every first edition Tele Bass neck I've played has been way too big for me.