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David - the baffle was a standard B12 baffle (single), with (2) vertical port slots on each side of the speaker and internal port covers.
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Official Ampeg Portaflex Club
- Thread starter JimmyM
- Start date
That’s interesting Mark. The slots are reminiscent of the SB-12 design which also used a 12” speaker. With the internal B-12 port covers, it kind of looks like it would be less work scale down the double baffle cabinet design. At least you know that B-12 design works.
This is from the wiki, Roberto’s SB-12 baffle. It looks like a wider oblong port. Note that they retained the speaker cutout cross member.
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For reference the slots on the B12 are 1/2" x 8" each and the slot on the SB-12 is 3/4" x 12"
Thats pretty cool looking…thanks for chiming in Mark!
Stumbled across this pic of Buddy Guy. B15 head way up on top in the backline.
I assume that similar questions have been asked, so I apologize for being repetitive.
I have a 1980’s B15 N which I would Ike to “modernize.” Don’t judge me.
Anyway, first, I’d like to replace the original square magnet speaker with a neo. Secondly, has anyone retrofitted the original head with one of the newer, more powerful, flip top heads?
Your suggestions would be appreciated.
I have a 1980’s B15 N which I would Ike to “modernize.” Don’t judge me.
Anyway, first, I’d like to replace the original square magnet speaker with a neo. Secondly, has anyone retrofitted the original head with one of the newer, more powerful, flip top heads?
Your suggestions would be appreciated.
Might be a challenge to match the new speaker to the enclosure. I would talk to the speaker manufacturer about what you are doing so they can make a recommendation. The neo magnet vs. any other magnet doesn't matter. Make sure the speaker can handle the amp's power.
Some have reported using an Eminence Deltalite 2515 in the 80’s B15 cabinet.
I wouldn’t replace a B-15 head with a solid state amp. It would be a very different amp.I’m not aware of anyone doing this.
I wonder if they are using the pre-amp out into the head below it.
He might be referring to a PF20 or more likely a PF50.
Hi all. I'm looking for the Ampeg historians here. I just picked up a pair B15S cabs this weekend. While I'm sure they're B15S's, and I'm sure they're going to be awesome, I'm curious about some of the little details and differences between the two. Maybe early 70s vs late 70s? I can't find much info online about these, so I'm posting the some details and photos here for posterity, and I'd also like to see what you all think.
I did look at the old sales brochures that are posted elsewhere in this thread: https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/sales-literature-and-advertisements/#14-b-15s-brochure. I don't see any mention of a separately available B15S extension cab. But everything lines up with it being a B15S - the dimensions match. Otherwise, though, there are no labels on the inside or outside, no indication of model number or anything.
Here they are (as I refer to them below, cab #1 is on the left, and cab #2 is on the right). The dimensions are the same, even though they look a little different in this photo.
First thing that's interesting (on both cabs): there are no signs that an amp head was ever mounted on the lid. They also don't have the hardware attached to the sides/lids to open/close the lids (and no screw holes). The lids are screwed on with 6 flat/standard screws.
I spent the day taking them apart and cleaning them up, vacuuming out a mouse nest from one, and removing some very 70s carpet from the other, which was held in place with about 4,000 staples. Here's a sample of the carpet (the other one still had the original fiberglass (?) insulation).
Here they are cleaned up and empty. Sorry they're reversed from the first picture. Cab #2 on the left, cab #1 on the right.
The construction is nearly identical, but different wood. Or at least, cab #1 (right) is stained on the inside, and cab #2 (left) is just the raw pine (?) on the inside, and painted black on the front. You can also see in this picture, #2 does not have the velcro grill attachments - the grill was just wedged into place. Cab #1 has the velcro grill attachments like I'd expect. Cab #1 also has a foam hump glued in at the very bottom, the other does not.
Cab #1 has one 1/4" jack on the back. Inside, it does have a hole for a kickback leg, but no hole in the tolex or mounting hardware on the outside.
Cab #2 has two 1/4" jacks, one on the back,one on the side. No hole for the kickback leg.
One other difference is the logo plates. Cab #1:
Cab #2:
I know Ampeg did some goofy things at the factory sometimes, and there are anomalies out there. I'm just curious as to what exactly these are, and if anyone has any insight on the little oddities, like the lids being screwed on, or the hole for the kickback leg without a hole in the tolex. Please let me know know if you have any insight. Also, please let me know if there are any other details I should look for.
One more photo just for fun: here's how they compare, size-wise, to a '67 B15.
I did look at the old sales brochures that are posted elsewhere in this thread: https://www.talkbass.com/wiki/sales-literature-and-advertisements/#14-b-15s-brochure. I don't see any mention of a separately available B15S extension cab. But everything lines up with it being a B15S - the dimensions match. Otherwise, though, there are no labels on the inside or outside, no indication of model number or anything.
Here they are (as I refer to them below, cab #1 is on the left, and cab #2 is on the right). The dimensions are the same, even though they look a little different in this photo.
First thing that's interesting (on both cabs): there are no signs that an amp head was ever mounted on the lid. They also don't have the hardware attached to the sides/lids to open/close the lids (and no screw holes). The lids are screwed on with 6 flat/standard screws.
I spent the day taking them apart and cleaning them up, vacuuming out a mouse nest from one, and removing some very 70s carpet from the other, which was held in place with about 4,000 staples. Here's a sample of the carpet (the other one still had the original fiberglass (?) insulation).
Here they are cleaned up and empty. Sorry they're reversed from the first picture. Cab #2 on the left, cab #1 on the right.
The construction is nearly identical, but different wood. Or at least, cab #1 (right) is stained on the inside, and cab #2 (left) is just the raw pine (?) on the inside, and painted black on the front. You can also see in this picture, #2 does not have the velcro grill attachments - the grill was just wedged into place. Cab #1 has the velcro grill attachments like I'd expect. Cab #1 also has a foam hump glued in at the very bottom, the other does not.
Cab #1 has one 1/4" jack on the back. Inside, it does have a hole for a kickback leg, but no hole in the tolex or mounting hardware on the outside.
Cab #2 has two 1/4" jacks, one on the back,one on the side. No hole for the kickback leg.
One other difference is the logo plates. Cab #1:
Cab #2:
I know Ampeg did some goofy things at the factory sometimes, and there are anomalies out there. I'm just curious as to what exactly these are, and if anyone has any insight on the little oddities, like the lids being screwed on, or the hole for the kickback leg without a hole in the tolex. Please let me know know if you have any insight. Also, please let me know if there are any other details I should look for.
One more photo just for fun: here's how they compare, size-wise, to a '67 B15.
Nice looking cabs. Ampeg did offer extension cabs, including one for the B-15S.
Cab #2 may be a very well made clone. If done well, that isn’t a bad thing at all. The vinyl doesn’t look right and Ampeg didn’t use staples like that. The cab may have been recovered. Usually the inside of the cab was stained.
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Wow, that's interesting. I don't think you make a B15S, right Mark? Maybe this is one from Fliptops.net?
If it is a clone, it's definitely good work. The inside construction looks identical to me, and all the hardware is exactly the same, including the handles, feet, and jack plates. I didn't notice anything "off" about the tolex - are you talking about the way it's attached just inside the lid, or is there another giveaway?
Speaking of which, would these have originally had the 3 or 4 pin XLR type speaker plug? Or were they using 1/4" by this time?
Thanks for the input.
If it is a clone, it's definitely good work. The inside construction looks identical to me, and all the hardware is exactly the same, including the handles, feet, and jack plates. I didn't notice anything "off" about the tolex - are you talking about the way it's attached just inside the lid, or is there another giveaway?
Speaking of which, would these have originally had the 3 or 4 pin XLR type speaker plug? Or were they using 1/4" by this time?
Thanks for the input.
I can’t double-check because it’s at our sax player’s house, but I’m 99.44% sure my ‘72 B-15S connects to its cab via XLR, but an extension cabinet jack on the back of the amp head would be 1/4”.
The texture of the vinyl doesn’t look right, the impression appears deeper. The staples weren’t used to hold the vinyl down inside the cab. The gasket around the top that mates with the lid is not the right type. It could very well have been a reskin.
Things to look for. Does the wood look like it’s the same type in the two cabs. Is the construction the same. Note the thin band of four pieces on the inside around the gasket. #1 looks like poplar which is correct.
The B-15S amps that I’ve seen are what Bob above described. A 4-pin XLR that had the cable attached to the chassis and a ¼” for the extension cab. The other end plugged into the ext cab jack on the chassis. The XLR speaker cable is often removed and replaced with a chassis 1/4” jack, it was a common mod.
You guys are amazing. This is why I love this forum.
I'll try to get some closer photos of some details on the construction tomorrow.
I bought them from Craigslist, and the price was right, so I'm not worried about that. The guy I bought them from didn't have them long - he said he recently picked them up from some lady getting rid of her husband's old stuff. So no historical information there. They apparently both had Altec 421A speakers originally, but I bought them unloaded.
I happened to have an old JBL D140F laying around, so that's in one cab now. And I've ordered an Eminence Delta 15A for the other, and that should be here later this week. I'm looking forward to getting some use out of them.
I'll try to get some closer photos of some details on the construction tomorrow.
I bought them from Craigslist, and the price was right, so I'm not worried about that. The guy I bought them from didn't have them long - he said he recently picked them up from some lady getting rid of her husband's old stuff. So no historical information there. They apparently both had Altec 421A speakers originally, but I bought them unloaded.
I happened to have an old JBL D140F laying around, so that's in one cab now. And I've ordered an Eminence Delta 15A for the other, and that should be here later this week. I'm looking forward to getting some use out of them.
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No, I don't do a B15S. I'm not sure how long Fliptops has been in business but both of those cabinets look to have quite a few years on them. As David mentioned, the style of tolex doesn't look right for what Ampeg was using at the time, plus the tolex application looks to be a real hack job, especially on the unstained cabinet. The use of staples like that is unprofessional, and not even well done - they're just all over the place. On top of that the tops of the side pieces that are folded into the cabinet opening look like they've been cut with a butcher knife. Lastly, it's odd that those pieces fold in like that to begin with. Normally they would be glued down to the top of the side and trimmed straight before they get to the gasket. As it is they must have actually finished the tolex down into the gasket groove and then installed the gasket. If they just finished over the groove you would need to cut through the tolex in order to install the gasket, which would make it pointless to leave any tolex attached to the inner side of the cabinet.
Edit: as I look at the photos again it doesn't even look like there's a groove for the gasket and it's just stapled down. I see that David also mentioned that the gasket on that cabinet wasn't correct.
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Since I feel like I’ve been a bit critical of the tolex work I feel like it’s only fair to comment on the cabinet construction itself. From what I can see the woodworking on the unstained cabinet looks pretty good. In some ways parts of it look better than what you sometimes see from Ampeg. Something that I noticed is missing from both cabinets are the metal corners that you would typically find.