Is This '67 B-15NC Portaflex a Genuine Ampeg Product?

OldFenderPlayer

OldFenderPlayer

Nov 19, 2010
718
1,096
5,216
Richmond, Virginia
www.facebook.com
#1
Leland Sklar, the bass luminary and my Friend on FaceBook, posted "If anyone is interested I am disposing of a lot of gear. It is being handled by: Techno Empire." What better recommendation could you have? So I surf over to the site and soon find myself drooling over this amp, which I don't need and can't afford if I did need it (asking price is $2,700 with road case).

1967 Ampeg B-15NC Portaflex Bass Amplifier 2x15" Flip-Top & Road Case B15 #32239 . Techno Empire

Its an Ampeg B-15, but with two stacked 15 inch speakers in a single cabinet. I did a quick web search and the only reference I find to this amp existing is on the Techno Empire website. I have an Ampeg 2x15 B25B cabinet, and I've owned a Fender Bassman 2x15, but I've never seen a Portaflex with 2x15.

Is this an actual Ampeg product, or is it a modification someone made?
 

Attachments

  • Ampeg_B15NC_2x15.JPG
    Ampeg_B15NC_2x15.JPG
    71 KB · Views: 270
  • Like
Reactions: JimmyM and DJ Bebop
#3
Also an interesting combination. The amp portion used for these is essentially a B18N, 50 watts from a pair of 7027A. If you go to the wiki link at the top, head to the portaflex wiki and check out the sales literature there. There is a 1967 models catalog which shows the B15ND and BT15C, the ND is the same 50 watt amp sold with “dual” cabs while the BT/C was a transistor amp with the 2x15 column. The amp you’ve linked here was a similar model offered, 50 watt head with the column cab. Usually you see the transistor heads with a double inlaid metal ring around the baffle while the tube amps from this era used the single ring.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop, OldFenderPlayer and beans-on-toast
#4
ohhh yes thats the one thats the one

just mentioned this puppy in another thread.

not this specific sale or seller.

that cabinet though

so imperial so uniform

Jesus do they really go for that much, or is this some jibble jabble and high price?

cause i want one...yesss

coreyfyfe said:
Also an interesting combination. The amp portion used for these is essentially a B18N, 50 watts from a pair of 7027A. If you go to the wiki link at the top, head to the portaflex wiki and check out the sales literature there. There is a 1967 models catalog which shows the B15ND and BT15C, the ND is the same 50 watt amp sold with “dual” cabs while the BT/C was a transistor amp with the 2x15 column. The amp you’ve linked here was a similar model offered, 50 watt head with the column cab. Usually you see the transistor heads with a double inlaid metal ring around the baffle while the tube amps from this era used the single ring.
Click to expand...

ahhh learn new thing everyday. didnt know there was a single and double line.
talking about the outline on the face of the cabinet right?
first ive ever seen of this was the double line. i like either

and actually wanna say
I think i like the double solid state line better

so is the higher price for the single line and the doubles slightly more affordable?
 
  • Like
Reactions: DJ Bebop and OldFenderPlayer
#5
BogeyBass said:
ahhh learn new thing everyday. didnt know there was a single and double line.
talking about the outline on the face of the cabinet right?
first ive ever seen of this was the double line. i like either

and actually wanna say
I think i like the double solid state line better

so is the higher price for the single line and the doubles slightly more affordable?
Click to expand...

The only exception I’ve seen is the BT18C in the previously mentioned 67 catalog. It has a single metal trim line while the other solid state amps have a double. The tube amps shown all have a single trim line. I think the tube fliptop heads also used the narrower top panel on the cab like a standard B15/18 while the solid states had a larger top panel.

The guitar combos were the same with the metal trim, I had this G15 for a brief time.

1Q1MxR2.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: OldFenderPlayer
#7
beans-on-toast said:
...The cab also came with a solid state amp.
View attachment 3547932
Click to expand...

I very briefly saw and heard one of these with the solid state amp once in 1968 or 1967 at a high school dance in Bristol, Rhode Island.

The sound made no impression that I recall, so it was probably OK. I had already had bad experiences with several B-15's, a B-12, and a really bad B-18, which obviously scarred me for life, LOL! :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:
 
  • Like
Reactions: beans-on-toast and DJ Bebop
#8
beans-on-toast said:
Note the triangle porting used between each 115 chamber, there's a shelf in the middle. Similar port cutouts are used in the Simplexx Series by Bill Fitzmaurice.
Click to expand...
I saw something that Bill came up with that port shape all by himself, though others (including me) clearly used it long before ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: beans-on-toast, DJ Bebop and nbsipics
#10
Yep, I used to play thru one back in the early 1970's. I've always thought these worked better in the studio than as a live rig. Decent, but no top end to speak of at all. I still have the top around somewhere. Not sure what happened to the 2x15 cab though.
 
#20
beans-on-toast said:
Gone are the days of a low priced B-15.
Click to expand...

Yeah :(
Not only B-15 but scores of other tube amps and low powered cabinets.
Im use to 90s prices, and all kinds of equipment available then, nobody wanted them.
Back then it was fun, you knew the limits of the cabinets and the amps were fun projects.

In the end they sounded ok to actually pretty amazing
Had the look, the smell, the sound
was pretty wonderful.

i see 100 to 150 dollar amps going anywhere from 700 to 2000 these days lol

Same with cars i didnt care for. like a krap fun beater Datsun for 300 bucks.
Guys are asking 2 to 3 grand for absolutely horrible condition cars
and are " collectors" items.

LOL no its not. its a 300 dollar car
 
  • Like
Reactions: beans-on-toast
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back