Ampeg PF350/500 Part V

[xbud]

Oh yeah, if your interested Musicians Freind has the PF-500 on sale for $299. That is a smoking good deal.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampli...-bass-amp-head

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Evsm73

Can any of you make a recommendation here. I think I've found the rattle / noise problem with my cab. The foam surround on the speak has come lose in one area. I want to glue it back but not sure what to use. The original foam has sticky tape on it but I am being too logical in thinking that a glue will be fine? I don't want to affect the cone or metal frame etc. Any suggestions? Also I have decided t go with the LF 115 cab to finish off my set up so will let you know my thoughts.

Wish I knew, but I believe you can probably find out what to use with a google internet search. I've found you can pretty much find the answers to everything, including the meaning of life

[Bass 45]

If I thought that the foam was making noise, I would just pull it off. The manufacturer (Eminence) only put it on in case the speaker were front loaded.

[JimmyM]

Oh, I should have looked at the pic closer. Ya, that's no big deal. A little rubber cement should fix it, or you could yank it. I'd probably glue it myself.

[okcrum]

Funny. I put my backup PF500 into rotation a few weeks ago for sanity checking. I'd also rebuilt/retuned one of my 2x10s (BP102s on the bottom of a 4x10 line array) and replaced a bad driver in the other. Too many crimps and variables...

The rig (both cabs) started to cut out 1st set on the gig. Changed basses. Fixed it. I almost thought I had the dreaded cuttin' out syndrome for a sec. Talk about unrelated.

Funnier thing is, same set I broke my 1st string EVER...a .125 B (not old, bad, or burred)...must have been one of those nights.

[Frankjohnson]

Today - like 30 minutes ago -
I was using my replacement PF500 head, and it died - about like the first time.

Played through it earlier today, it was fine - plugged into it - turned it on, lights came on - fan did not - fault light stayed on.....nothing.

I gigged with it twice since I got it back (april) , but decided to relegate it to home use, just at living room levels - no more than that - because of trust issues with it.

I emailed Loud/Ampeg immediately, and will hope that they respond more quickly than last time. I won't have another one of these in my arsenal - there is no way I can rely on it.

I can't see this as an isolated incident -
Cables are all good quality, no electrical circuit issues in my home, nothing else has EVER given me this issue.

Utter garbage IMHO -

trust that I will let you know what they say at Ampeg - and how soon I hear back.
In fact - I will probably call anyway - just to be sure to get a body

This REALLY irks me.

[Dymond-]

Finally getting my pf500 back tomorrow. It crapped out on me, so I sent it back and it has been gone for a good 2 months. Looking forward to push the new one hard while its still under warranty.

[okcrum]

Originally Posted by Frankjohnson

This REALLY irks me.

That would really irk me too. I've had good luck with LOUD by email for SVT support, and good support through the local service center for parts (handles for my PFs ).

You go directly to the local service places with problems like yours. Problem is, you'd have to go to PA or NJ or ship your rig for even warranty service.

[mixtapelove]

I'm very happy with mine so far..... I have the 350 and I run it through a classic 410 HLF and my tone improved tenfold overnight.

Also records very nicely.... I plug the output from the head right into my 16-track Zoom and I get the tone I want.

I also find the mp3 input and headphone jack very useful.... it's allowed me to practice on a regular basis. I've programmed all our covers into one iPod playlist and away I go.

[Frankjohnson]

I can't help but laugh -

I was very happy with the first one - up to the point of implosion -
tried to be happy with the second one - and read a few more of the posts from folks who had not experienced issues. Many comments seemed like attempts to find fault with the uses who experienced issues. Then the poll - and results were scoffed by many.

I really don't care a lot about anyone Else's point of view on this - my opinion is that this is an amp that has potential, but also has a tainted record. in my book, its just not a reliable amp. Too bad - it has all the right sounds, features, etc.

If I have to take it to a repair shop for warranty repair - it probably my last ampeg product. There are too many other options out there.

I hope they choose to do something decent. I have a feeling that through the next years, I will probably continue to buy some new products, and would like to be able to trust theirs. I will say - they DID send me the replacement head quickly after much noise with them - and several trips to the repair shop on the first one.

I am really un frikken happy about this - I mean - REALLY!

[okcrum]

Originally Posted by Frankjohnson

I am really un frikken happy about this - I mean - REALLY!

Sorry to hear that. My two PF500 (from two different batches) have been no trouble at all, and they haven't been babied.

Like I said earlier in the thread, Markbass had these types of issues (and customer reactions) too, and they fixed them. The threads might still be around. They have the same service setup as Ampeg, only just a few centers in the US last I looked, instead of dozens.

[Frankjohnson]

Spoke with Loud today - very gracious - although a little concerned that the issues were so similar with both heads - as was I. I had actually purchased a new speaker cable because of concerns on the first head going.....and gigged with it A LOT. the other question was in regard to the cab I used - mostly the Avatar SB112, and also the Schroeder mini 12. both are 4 ohm - good cabs. My instrument cables are all good gig-worthy Peavey, Monster, Lava, similar......and the instruments all seem to work and play well with others.........

Fingers crossed - they are sending out a new one to me, and I send the one I have in.
not sure what I am going to do at this point.

I can't ask for better support from Loud on this - and want to openly recognize that as quick as I did the issue with the amp.

its just the trust aspect on the equipment that remains.......

[okcrum]

Originally Posted by Frankjohnson

Spoke with Loud today - very gracious - although a little concerned that the issues were so similar with both heads - as was I. I had actually purchased a new speaker cable because of concerns on the first head going.....and gigged with it A LOT. the other question was in regard to the cab I used - mostly the Avatar SB112, and also the Schroeder mini 12. both are 4 ohm - good cabs. My instrument cables are all good gig-worthy Peavey, Monster, Lava, similar......and the instruments all seem to work and play well with others.........

Fingers crossed - they are sending out a new one to me, and I send the one I have in.
not sure what I am going to do at this point.

I can't ask for better support from Loud on this - and want to openly recognize that as quick as I did the issue with the amp.

its just the trust aspect on the equipment that remains.......

Sweet! Beats driving up to Philly...

If it were me, I'd beat the crap out of (not liiterally, of course) the new one as soon as it arrived, in every possible way that could cause the amp to fail. And especially knowing I had cabs and cables I could trust.

[Steve Dallman]

I've done a few gigs, and a week in the pit for "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" with my PF500. It is doing fantastic! I love it. I used an SVT into various cabs in the late mid 70's till the early 80's. I remember when I first brought it to practice...the drummer hated the way it sounded. Switching from a GK1001RB to the PF500 was a similar situation. It took a while for the band to get used to the different tones, but I loved it all. There's definitely an Ampeg "voice" and it has to do with the midrange. I loved the SVT, and now I totally love this PF500. I'm running into a 15 with a pair of 4 1/2" mids crossed over at 800Hz, and it's perfect. I tried a couple 12 cabinets today, and the 15/4 1/2" cab has more punch, and solid low end. I've used different cabinets with it. I may build a couple sealed 2X10 cabinets. I have a sealed single 10" for practice that I rather like the sound of.

[Dymond-]

Does anyone here run a Tech21 SansAmp BDDI into their pf500? Good results?

[dogmeat08]

Originally Posted by Dymond-

Does anyone here run a Tech21 SansAmp BDDI into their pf500? Good results?

i run the Tech 21 SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver DI with the PF 500 and it works great !!! its my main pedal on my board

[Scott549]

I run a VT Bass Deluxe into a PF-500. Love it.

[GregT]

Originally Posted by dogmeat08

i run the Tech 21 SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver DI with the PF 500 and it works great !!! its my main pedal on my board

Exactly what I do. I love the SansAmp stuff. I also run one straight to the board sometimes.

[pokengkong]

My PF-500 crapped out for the 3rd time this year. I bought the thing in March. It did the "stuck in fault" mode in April. Warranty sent a new one. It "faulted" in July. Then, I took it to a local authorized Ampeg repair place for warranty work. That took a month, I got it back in late August, got a month of gigs out of it and it died in early October. It's been in warranty repair for a month. I haven't heard anything. But, as soon as I get it back, I'm gonna sell it. Sorry, Ampeg, I really wanted to love the PF-500. The small size, style and purple light is soooo cool. But, the just amp isn't reliable. I need to get a really old Ampeg. Those are much more reliable, I guess.

[AMJBASS]

That is one of the only things that bugged me about mine. I was always fearful that it would die on a gig. I ended up selling mine for that reason. They really are good sounding heads though. Very SVT like for not very much money.