Ampeg Portaflex B-15NB

[amgard]

I recently got this Ampeg Portaflex B-15NB into the workshop for repair. The customer didn't want a full restoration job, but did want it working again.
I've guessed it dates from 1967, but I could be way out, any help in dating it would be appreciated.



Probably easier to link to the page on my site than upload all the stuff here.

click here for info

Interesting job...

[Enzo]

Personally I never concern myself with the year, I leave that to the fans and collectors. But when someone MUST know, I suggest looking at the controls and other large parts for date codes.

Date codes are usually on pots, that old can cap probably had one on it. Transformers often do, but the potted ones often don't. And don;t forget the speaker.

The amp can;t be any older than the youngest parts it was made with.

[amgard]

The pots look like 1966, can't find a code on the cap or the speaker - so my guess is probably pretty close.

[woodyc]

Wow, that wax pic made my day. Thanks.

I've seen wax stalactites and stalagmites under transformers, but never anything like that.

Should be really rewarding to get the amp going again.

A fun thing to do with those for guitar is jumper the channels with one all bass and the other all treble.

[RWood]

Beautiful cleanup job from this:



to this!




Fantastic work.

And yes, 1967 looks about right to me.


RWood

[Ted]

That's actually a 1963(ish) B15. The B15NB had a semiconductor rectifier. Earlier and later models used valves
It looks like it also has the correct (pre 1964) Double Baffle cabinet. Nice amp.

[amgard]

That's actually a 1963(ish) B15. The B15NB had a semiconductor rectifier. Earlier and later models used valves
It looks like it also has the correct (pre 1964) Double Baffle cabinet. Nice amp.

Thanks for your info Ted. Interesting that both post AND pre '63 had valve rectifiers - I didn't know that !

[Tom Phillips]

Very nice work Allan.
You wrote that the customer didn't want a full restoration, just get it working.
Wow. You did a lot more than just get it working.
Regards,
Tom

[amgard]

Very nice work Allan.
You wrote that the customer didn't want a full restoration, just get it working.
Wow. You did a lot more than just get it working.
Regards,
Tom

Thanks Tom

When I said he didn't want a full restoration I meant that he didn't want the cabinet restored, so I just gave it a clean and spent all the time (and his money) on the amp itself.

He is very happy with the end result, and uses it for recording. He produces other bands now more than he performs so a number of bands are getting the benefit.

[loudthud]

Ampeg dating information can be found here: The Unofficial Ampeg Page

[amgard]

Ampeg dating information can be found here: The Unofficial Ampeg Page

Thanks for that!

As it's SerNo. is 402494 it would seem that it dates from February 1964.