Ampeg PF-500...Fried

[Texan]

I picked up an Ampeg PF-500 this past Saturday for a gig that night, got it to the venue, hooked it up to my stack (two Goliath III 410's) and it sounded pretty good. Nice power and presence. Last night I hook it up at another gig and about 1 minute into sound check it fried...good thing I had my Trace as a backup. I'm taking it back to GC and getting my money back. Is there a class D amp that can handle my two cabs?

[BassmanPaul]

What are the impedances of your two cabs??

[Texan]

Both 8...gives me a 4 ohm final. Well within the stated range of the amp.

[dbhokie]

Sounds like a lemon, or possibly power supply overload, perhaps a good surge through the circuit you were hooked into? I can't imagine that head frying with 2 8 ohm cabs 95% of the time under normal circumstances, but then, maybe its just me.

[GSTAG]

I really dig the sound of my Ampeg B2 exept for one thing, the freakin imput jack is possessed! It's frustrating because I'll be thumpin' along at about 60 to 65 % and my jack is being forced out so I have to push it back in, turn it etc. It's the only amp I own but it's important to me as the band I'm in plays quite a bit. There is no extra $$$ to get it professionally repaired. Is there anything I can do to correct this situation, or am I basically screwed? Thanks

[shoot-r]

Originally Posted by Texan

I picked up an Ampeg PF-500 this past Saturday for a gig that night, got it to the venue, hooked it up to my stack (two Goliath III 410's) and it sounded pretty good. Nice power and presence. Last night I hook it up at another gig and about 1 minute into sound check it fried...good thing I had my Trace as a backup. I'm taking it back to GC and getting my money back. Is there a class D amp that can handle my two cabs?

I'd suggest yor checking out a Gallien-Krueger MB-500 head into your Goliath cabinets. (One of my favorite pairings...SWR Goliath's powered by a G.K. head.)

I've many times over the years played a GK 800 head through Goliath 410 cabs or their 610 Senior cab, GREAT sound!
Recently played a show where two Goliaths were on stage and I used my fairly new GK MB-500 head into them... ...I liked the MB through them even more than the old G.K. 800.

[blastjv]

Are you SURE the amp is what's fried? I ask because I once purchased an amp and decided to treat myself to new speaker cables at the same time. The amp kept going into protect mode and NOTHING would work!!! Turned out one of the speaker cables was shorting out, but I never considered it, because it was brand new.....what could be wrong with a brand new cable.....????? D'oh!!!

-JV

[Texan]

I ALWAYS use a Furman power conditioner and make sure that I am the only load on that circuit (which I was), if possible. Swapped speaker cords, no luck. When it went I got a bad hum, fault light then nothing. I wasn't pushing the head very hard either, I had the gain on 3 and the master at about 3-1/2. Plugged in my trace with the same speaker cord and beautiful sound ensued...

Oh well. I just want a reliable head with at least 500 watts at 4 ohms that won't break the bank.

[shoot-r]

Originally Posted by shoot-r

I'd suggest yor checking out a Gallien-Krueger MB-500 head into your Goliath cabinets. (One of my favorite pairings...SWR Goliath's powered by a G.K. head.)

I've many times over the years played a GK 800 head through Goliath 410 cabs or their 610 Senior cab, GREAT sound!
Recently played a show where two Goliaths were on stage and I used my fairly new GK MB-500 head into them... ...I liked the MB through them even more than the old G.K. 800.

G.K. MB-500 Head:
350 watts at 8 ohms.
500 watts at 4 ohms.
580 watts at 4 ohms total power.
3.8 lbs.
$499.00

[okcrum]

Sounds like a dud. I've been running my PF-500 through 2x2x10 or 2x1x15 and have had no trouble with a 4 ohm load.

[raytsmith]

Try different cords ..? maybe you've got some cable connectors that aren't up to spec.

And it might help to loop the cord through an amp handle before you plug it in - that keeps the weight of the cable from pulling on the jack.

If that doesn't work, open it up and bend the connector prong thingie on the jack in just a bit so it'll have more grip on the end of the connector.

Originally Posted by GSTAG

I really dig the sound of my Ampeg B2 exept for one thing, the freakin imput jack is possessed! It's frustrating because I'll be thumpin' along at about 60 to 65 % and my jack is being forced out so I have to push it back in, turn it etc. It's the only amp I own but it's important to me as the band I'm in plays quite a bit. There is no extra $$$ to get it professionally repaired. Is there anything I can do to correct this situation, or am I basically screwed? Thanks

[JimmyM]

i don't think it's the cables. he said he hooked it up once and it worked fine. and then i assume he used the same cables for his trace head and it worked fine.

i think it's just you got a dud. happens.