Ampeg PF350/500 Part VI

[Newbie-Doo]

Originally Posted by SpectorDetector

Thanks for the additional info. I'm having a tough time coming to grips with 3 amp options:
#1 New PF350 from local dealer (no cab yet, must use headphones) Would get the PF-210 at a later date.

#2 GK MB112II, mostly a good idea, has speaker of course, but lack of gain control to dial in dirt leaves me a bit cold, no boost either ( I used to own a MB210 and had to sell it about a year ago, so got used to those features). It also does the headphone/iPod thing. I know I'd end up having to get a VTBass pedal to get the sound I want.

#3 Used PF500, can get one for about $300 very slightly used. Has more features than the PF350, wouldn't need a compressor or the VTBass. Even has an extended warranty at GC in case I have any of the issues mentioned here on TB. Again, would get a PF-210 eventually.

Right now I need to use primarily headphones. I am using a Zoom B3 right now but have to use my work laptop to play along with music through the USB port, rather use my iPod. Also, not CRAZY about all the effects, give me a good warm analog type sound and I am good, never really use effects except fora bit of chorus now and again.

Any incite or advice welcome.

For the same price and with a warranty, I'd jump on the PF500. If you play with a band the extra power and EQ will come in handy.

[SpectorDetector]

Originally Posted by Newbie-Doo

For the same price and with a warranty, I'd jump on the PF500. If you play with a band the extra power and EQ will come in handy.

Local dealer made me a killer deal on a new PF500! Got it this afternoon

[Jwood]

ConGrats on the new amp!

[Newbie-Doo]

Originally Posted by SpectorDetector

Local dealer made me a killer deal on a new PF500! Got it this afternoon

Sweet! Congrats, man.

[JvN]

New family member: PF500. Loving It!

[SpectorDetector]

Thanks guys, really enjoying it so far! As of right now it's just a headphone practice amp, but I do prefer it to the Zoom B3 for that purpose. I tried the GK combo's aux input and headphone out before I made my decision and it turned the input signal to mono, which the Ampeg does not do, so that was pretty much the end of that, even though the Ampeg's input is a bit on the noisy side for some reason? Overall very happy and can't wait to get a cab for it, it's just going to be a while...some sort of 2x10 more than likely.

[Tele295]

Originally Posted by JvN

Attachment 313660

New family member: PF500. Loving It!

Awesome rig. What year is that Tele Bass?

[RadioRob]

My original post

Originally Posted by RadioRob

Attachment 312448
I pulled the trigger on the PF500 at Sam Ash. I traded in a 4 string Bass I didn't use and my old B2R amp plus $100 off purchase. So much lighter than my old big rig. I haven't decided on attaching the head on the cab yet. I like that its so light by themselves for now. I kept my old Crate 410 because they didn't want to give me much for it. I could run it with the PF500 but defeats the purpose of lightness. lol...

I originally bought an Ampeg PF-500 with the 115HE.
The first cab the horn stopped working after I brought it home. The second cab, fartted out most of the time on all low notes.
I returned the 115HE to Sam Ash where I bought it with no problems. After trying out some other 115's and 410's I ended up getting a 500w 4 Ohm Fender Rumble 410.
This is all I will need because its 4 ohm and very loud. I don't want to carry around 2 8ohm amps for a louder sound.
Sam Ash did not have any 210HE to try, but they where very helpful by letting me try my PF-500 with any speaker I wanted.


The top box is just an extra pizeo tweeters I got off of Ebay for added highs

[JvN]

Originally Posted by Tele295

What year is that Tele Bass?

This one is an all-original '71, my main bass. Got another '69-'70 as a spare, but that one does not have the original pick-up. Very, very good replica though, and thus sounding almost the same. What about yours? Or should we shift to the Tele threads for that one ;-) ...?

[Newbie-Doo]

Originally Posted by RadioRob

My original post



I originally bought an Ampeg PF-500 with the 115HE.
The first cab the horn stopped working after I brought it home. The second cab, fartted out most of the time on all low notes.
I returned the 115HE to Sam Ash where I bought it with no problems. After trying out some other 115's and 410's I ended up getting a 500w 4 Ohm Fender Rumble 410.
This is all I will need because its 4 ohm and very loud. I don't want to carry around 2 8ohm amps for a louder sound.
Sam Ash did not have any 210HE to try, but they where very helpful by letting me try my PF-500 with any speaker I wanted.


The top box is just an extra pizeo tweeters I got off of Ebay for added highs

How does that affect the Ohms/speaker load?

[RadioRob]

The tweeters draw almost nothing from the amp, but I don't know if its causing more of a load. Most people just add tweeters to there cabs and wire them in with the speakers and not change the ohm ratings. Mine is movable and removable.

[SpectorDetector]

Shouldn't effect the impedance at all as long as there is not frequency overlap, which there should not be in this situation.

[Newbie-Doo]

Originally Posted by SpectorDetector

Shouldn't effect the impedance at all as long as there is not frequency overlap, which there should not be in this situation.

Good info. Thanks.

[Tele295]

Originally Posted by JvN

This one is an all-original '71, my main bass. Got another '69-'70 as a spare, but that one does not have the original pick-up. Very, very good replica though, and thus sounding almost the same. What about yours? Or should we shift to the Tele threads for that one ;-) ...?

All I've got is the blue Squier SCPB, but it does sound fantastic with the PF350, gain around 2pm. It's got a good growl.

I had a '55 SCPB once upon a time, but, in truth, the Squier plays and sounds better. 55 looked cooler, but went away to pay the bills years ago. I wouldn't mind having a 68 if I ever had the chance

[JvN]

There are some on Gbase.

[PaperbackRyder]

so I need to learn some tunes for tonight while my wife watches the celtics game. good time to try the PF500 aux in / phones out. Plug it all in, put on the earbuds and lawd hav mercy what a great tone!
but I wonder why my feet feel it also. turns out the speaker is working. i thought it got cut off when the aux was active...???
So I will unplug the speaker and go about my business. hope nothing goes wanky on me.
Anybody else find this to be true?

[SkiFor3]

Originally Posted by PaperbackRyder

so I need to learn some tunes for tonight while my wife watches the celtics game. good time to try the PF500 aux in / phones out. Plug it all in, put on the earbuds and lawd hav mercy what a great tone!
but I wonder why my feet feel it also. turns out the speaker is working. i thought it got cut off when the aux was active...???
So I will unplug the speaker and go about my business. hope nothing goes wanky on me.
Anybody else find this to be true?

This is correct. You have to unplug from the cab.

[ddbassGA]

Grueling 3 1/2 hour show tonight after long rehearsal this afternoon. My PF500/PF115e took it in stride, sounded great on stage with my upright and delivered a sweet DI signal for FOH. Going on 22 months and not a hint of trouble.

[JvN]

Originally Posted by PaperbackRyder

try the PF500 aux in / phones out. Plug it all in, put on the earbuds and lawd hav mercy what a great tone!

The PF500 is definitely worth its money just as a practice tool, let alone with a decent cab attached :-D !

[johnpbass]

The more I play through my PF350 the more I like it. It's flat out just a great little amp!
Great warm tone, simple effective EQ, right amount of power for small to medium gigs.