Ampeg PF350/500 Part VI

[P Town]

Grateful,

Thanks for the report on the PF-115LF. I see these are only 350 bucks. That does not seem too bad. Do you know if it is plywood, or particle board?

[JimmyM]

Plywood. Poplar, to be exact.

[Grateful]

Originally Posted by Grateful

Rehearsal report #1.

I took the PF-115LF and PF-500 to their first rehearsal... As you can see in the background, the band is used to hearing the 810e.

I asked the drummer if he was able to hear everything at rehearsal and just got the official response: "I did not notice a lack of bass last night."

That has not been the answer with a couple of other cabs...The guitarist loved it as well. Looks like a keeper!

[Spirit King]

PF500 and PF115 owner here

I've had this setup for about 3 months now and it's done me proud in that it's practical and a little beast tone wise.

I'm now considering getting another PF115 to pair up with my half stack as I've heard that it will help with volume levels and headroom for larger gigs?

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Spirit King

PF500 and PF115 owner here

I've had this setup for about 3 months now and it's done me proud in that it's practical and a little beast tone wise.

I'm now considering getting another PF115 to pair up with my half stack as I've heard that it will help with volume levels and headroom for larger gigs?

It will, definitely.

[Spirit King]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

It will, definitely.

That's great to know because at the moment I feel that I'm not getting all the power out the rig out of concern that I don't want to damage the speaker.

It is noticeable with two speakers? I'm not well versed on how it works with 2 speakers and the resistance of the head? I've heard that with two 8 ohm cabs the PF 500 can potentially move more air over the surface area.

[JimmyM]

Adding a second cab will increase the wattage by about 70%, which isn't a ton of extra wattage in the grand scheme of things, but combine that with adding a second cab and the gains are significant.

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by Spirit King

That's great to know because at the moment I feel that I'm not getting all the power out the rig out of concern that I don't want to damage the speaker.

It is noticeable with two speakers? I'm not well versed on how it works with 2 speakers and the resistance of the head? I've heard that with two 8 ohm cabs the PF 500 can potentially move more air over the surface area.

I use a PF500+115HE from time to time, and have had the chance to run 2 115HE's occasionally, so I have some 'hands- on/ears-on' experience with this very nice sounding rig.

Your PF500 puts out 500w @ 4 ohms, so when you use just one 8 ohm 115HE or LF cab, you are only getting about 300w or so out of the PF500. With the second 8ohm 115, you will get the full 500w from the amp, and the added umph of the second driver. The net effect will be a very noticeable increase in stage volume and presence from your rig.

enjoy!

[arai]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Adding a second cab will increase the wattage by about 70%,

[PrietoBass]

Originally Posted by arai

pfschim mentioned that with one cab (@ 8 ohms) wattage output is (about) 300. With another cab, the load goes to 4 ohms, and the watts go to the full 500.

So, from 300 watts with one cab, to 500 watts with 2 cabs, total watts increased 200.

200/300 = 66.67% increase to be exact (unless my math is off). Round that off to 70% and that is close to what Jimmy said.

[JimmyM]

I just didn't feel like doing the math.

[pfschim]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I just didn't feel like doing the math.

he's just funny that way

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by pfschim

With the second 8ohm 115, you will get the full 500w from the amp, and the added umph of the second driver. The net effect will be a very noticeable increase in stage volume and presence from your rig.

Yup, this.

I normally only need one 1x15 for most of my stuff, but I've got the second PF115HE when I need it (like for my gospel band). Sounds awesome, lots of big warm low end without getting muddy, and quite a bit more volume. The full rig really sings when you get the master up into the 12:00-2:00 range. Pretty burly.

Another way to think about the math... One PF115 with the PF500 gets 300 watts. Add a second, and each PF115 then gets 250 watts. Two cabs with only a few less watts each = quite a bit more volume. Double your pleasure, double your fun. lol

And man, the tone on that full rig usually blows people away. Nothing but compliments. I used to be a 10's guy, this is my first rig with 15's and I love it.

5sg.

[arai]

Originally Posted by PrietoBass

pfschim mentioned that with one cab (@ 8 ohms) wattage output is (about) 300. With another cab, the load goes to 4 ohms, and the watts go to the full 500.

So, from 300 watts with one cab, to 500 watts with 2 cabs, total watts increased 200.

200/300 = 66.67% increase to be exact (unless my math is off). Round that off to 70% and that is close to what Jimmy said.

Maths is obviously not my strong point. I thought is was more around the 30% for some reason

[Spirit King]

Originally Posted by pfschim

I use a PF500+115HE from time to time, and have had the chance to run 2 115HE's occasionally, so I have some 'hands- on/ears-on' experience with this very nice sounding rig.

Your PF500 puts out 500w @ 4 ohms, so when you use just one 8 ohm 115HE or LF cab, you are only getting about 300w or so out of the PF500. With the second 8ohm 115, you will get the full 500w from the amp, and the added umph of the second driver. The net effect will be a very noticeable increase in stage volume and presence from your rig.

enjoy!

That has made my day, thanks for the info!!!

Time to save up for another PF115

[samjazz]

I own a PF-350 and a PF-115-HE. I love the sound I am getting. I have a question for the experts:

If I wanted to mic the PH 115 HE for live performances (I own a Shure SM-57);

• What would be the ideal mic placement location?
  
• Should I worry about the horn?
  
• How far away should the mic be placed?
  
• How loud should the cab be if mic-ing?

Currently I am playing into the PF 115 HE as a monitor only and DIing into the house and have never attempted any other situation. Any expert advice that can help me jumpstart this would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by samjazz

I own a PF-350 and a PF-115-HE. I love the sound I am getting. I have a question for the experts:

If I wanted to mic the PH 115 HE for live performances (I own a Shure SM-57);

• What would be the ideal mic placement location?
  
• Should I worry about the horn?
  
• How far away should the mic be placed?
  
• How loud should the cab be if mic-ing?

Currently I am playing into the PF 115 HE as a monitor only and DIing into the house and have never attempted any other situation. Any expert advice that can help me jumpstart this would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

1. Dead in the middle of the woofer unless you want the tweeter, and then you'll likely have to experiment a little with it. Me, I turn the tweeter off so no matter.

2. Depends on the mic...with a 57, right on it.

3. Whatever...I did it at a medium volume, and I did it at a low volume. If you can give it some juice, you can keep mic volume down and reduce bleed, but don't blow out the rest of the band or anything.

Also, with a 57, I recommend blending mic with a DI for the lows since the 57 doesn't have much on the low end.

[Woodstockz]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

1. Dead in the middle of the woofer unless you want the tweeter, and then you'll likely have to experiment a little with it. Me, I turn the tweeter off so no matter.

2. Depends on the mic...with a 57, right on it.

3. Whatever...I did it at a medium volume, and I did it at a low volume. If you can give it some juice, you can keep mic volume down and reduce bleed, but don't blow out the rest of the band or anything.

Also, with a 57, I recommend blending mic with a DI for the lows since the 57 doesn't have much on the low end.

Question: How would you mike 2 10's.

Thanks!

[fivestringgecko]

Originally Posted by Woodstockz

Question: How would you mike 2 10's.

Thanks!

Pick a 10 and mic it? lol

5sg.

[joelb79]

Originally Posted by Woodstockz

Question: How would you mike 2 10's.

Thanks!

I would do what the other poster said; pick a 10 and mic it. Preferably with a microphone that sounds good in the application (PR40's get rave reviews around here, but I like to use whats available, like an Audix D4). I would also choose either the mic or the DI, unless I had a way to align the phase (like a Radial Engineering Phazer)

/soundguyoff