Frogeye Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Are there any Ampeg experts out there that can advise me which speaker I should be using in an old B15 flip top, I bought this without a speaker and loaded it with a JBL K140, but it sounds a bit thin to my ears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 I might be tempted to contact Andy Baxter as he sells plenty of them and many with non-standard speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubis Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 You might find some information here, as far as I am aware, different models, or years of manufacture, used different speakers https://www.talkbass.com/threads/official-ampeg-portaflex-club.437266/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boroman Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 I had like 30 B15N's in my life. Those all "official upgrade" speakers ampeg offered for B15 (JBL, Altec and EV [in the late 70s]) were "hi-fi" upgrades with extended clarity and upper frequency spectrum so that's why it may sound "thin" to your ears at first. They handled more power and they were cleaner. B15Ns preamp has broad tone control, so you can easily dial the high end back... I had them all, I love JBL and Altecs they have something special and wide in the tone (I don't care for EV's), but in the end I still prefer the square magnet CTSs and early Jensens (both sounding equally dark, farty and creamy). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 (edited) I once owned the 60W B15-S, 1969 version of this classic amp, really regret selling, loved how it sounded, and it was just loud enough to be used in a loud playing rock band. And got to be about the most cool looking amp ever made as well. Got it amazingly cheap in the mid 90's from a local 2nd hand music instrument and gear shop. Regret so much selling it. Unfortunately I can't help you though, since I have no idea which speaker unit my flip top cab was actually equipped with. Edited June 21, 2020 by Baloney Balderdash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 (edited) You need an efficient driver because of the limited power (such as the JBL you have), but efficient drivers can be not so great for bass, especially in a cab which is just a plain box, such as you have with your B15. Why not ask Bill Fitzmaurice for suggestions? Edited June 22, 2020 by Dan Dare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassmanPaul Posted June 22, 2020 Share Posted June 22, 2020 (edited) Hi @boromanwe haven't' talked in a while. Trust everything is well with you and yours in these troubling times. In my B15 I tried a JBL 2225 and an Altec something or other but I preferred the tonality of the original square magnet CTS. That's what is in there now. The unit will never be a bass pounding monster 'cos of the small size of the speaker box. It is, however, a wonderful amplifier and handles everything my six string basses can throw at it. Edited June 22, 2020 by BassmanPaul 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boroman Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 On 22/06/2020 at 20:26, BassmanPaul said: Hi @boromanwe haven't' talked in a while. Trust everything is well with you and yours in these troubling times. In my B15 I tried a JBL 2225 and an Altec something or other but I preferred the tonality of the original square magnet CTS. That's what is in there now. The unit will never be a bass pounding monster 'cos of the small size of the speaker box. It is, however, a wonderful amplifier and handles everything my six string basses can throw at it. Exactly, Paul! - the B15N is not about volume and efficiency. The sound comes from a raw designed amp and contruction of a cab with low-power rated speaker. Hope you're safe too! Nice chat to you, always, and lots of help from your side. thanks so much! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99ster Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 This is the guy you want to contact - the guru of vintage Ampegs: https://www.fliptops.net/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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