Ampeg Portaflex: PF-350 vs 500?

[tonymcbony]

Hi folks,

I've got a bit of a dilemma.
I'm after the tone, size, and controls of the PF-350 but would probably make use of the 500 watts of the PF-500.

This is going to be my practice and small gig amp, I currently have an SVT-CL for the big gigs.

I don't really like the size or care for the extras of the PF-500 you see.

Suggestions?

[Hnz]

For practice and small gigs the PF350 should do. Except of course if you're playing with guitarists that play as loud as their (big) amps will go.
Make sure the cab(s) you use is/are efficient and preferably a total of 4 ohm.

[slaphappychappy]

The pf500 is so light, it is worth it for all th extras it has. Great amp so far for me.

[slaphappychappy]

Now I just gotta learn to play bass

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by slaphappychappy

The pf500 is so light, it is worth it for all th extras it has. Great amp so far for me.

+1 on this. For the extra $100 you get a little more power, more flexibility in the eq, a pretty decent compressor, and a bunch of other features you probably will never use but would come in handy should you need them.

I'm really digging my PF-500, and it's served me pretty well. I mostly use it just for rehearsal and practice at home, but I've had to pull it out for a few gigs and it did a pretty decent job. I'd still rather have my SVT, but the PF-500 wasn't bad, and I could get pretty close to SVT tone with the EQ and compressor.

[JimmyM]

I didn't need the PF500's extra features so I got the PF350. It's been just great for my purposes, and I saved a hundy, and even at artist pricing, that's very cool

[Gearhead17]

Go for more watts and you will always have a good backup at future shows. You really can not go wrong with extra watts - that's why you have tone controls and a volume knob!

[MODELL]

Even if you look at it from the financial side, for 25% more $$$ you get 30% more watts not to mention the other bells and wistles others have talked about. Go with the PF 500. Ampeg priced this right as far as "bang for your buck"

[stiles72]

On the Ampeg FB page, someone posted a photo of the PF500 fitting inside a standard sized briefcase. Unless you need an amp to fit in something smaller like a lunch box I'd just get the 500 for the price difference

[Wes Whitmore]

For $100, you get a usable DI that is pre/post output...sure it's live level and not mic level, but the the thought was there. Plus, it has ground lift, and sounds pretty good.
Wes

[tonymcbony]

Thanks folks, much obliged.

[Dustin Teel]

I've never agreed with some of the posters who say these new Ampeg Portaflex heads aren't loud enough. I've used both and, with the proper cab and efficient speakers, the PF-350 is plently loud enough for small to medium sized gigs.

Remember, you have to turn the gain past noon before you even get these heads to really sing.

[slaphappychappy]

It's the second best financial descision I made, apart from the entire boxed series of macgyver.

[Wes Whitmore]

Originally Posted by Dustin Teel

I've never agreed with some of the posters who say these new Ampeg Portaflex heads aren't loud enough. I've used both and, with the proper cab and efficient speakers, the PF-350 is plently loud enough for small to medium sized gigs.

Remember, you have to turn the gain past noon before you even get these heads to really sing.

I wish i could, but it makes the di too hot to crank the preamp. I have it at around 9 oclock now. The -40db pad reduces the signal too much. The majority if people plug their di into a mic level. If the -40 was a -20db, i would probably be able to crank the preamp and have perfect di level with it engaged.
Wes

[Slackerprince]

IMO, the compressor and 5 position mid control of the 500 make the extra $100 totally worth it.


S

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

Go for more watts and you will always have a good backup at future shows. You really can not go wrong with extra watts - that's why you have tone controls and a volume knob!

I do have to agree with this. The PF500 has been the most popular head on the market since it came out for a reason, and the 500w is a good part of it, I'm sure. I just don't use any of the features that make the wattage $100 more attractive to me, and I can easily do all of my gigs with a PF350 no matter how loud I need to be.

[tonymcbony]

I ended up having to go with the 350 anyway because it was the only one the distributor in NZ had. Gave me a good discount too!

(begin rationising)
Like you Jimmy, there was too much on the PF500 that I didn't care about;
fx loop and blend - I never use loops
Ultra-hi, ultra-lo - don't even use them on my SVT-CL
Compressor - got a diamond bass comp so no need
Tuner output and mute - I use a floor tuner that mutes

It also is a lot bigger and heavier than I wanted.

The extra watts would have been handy, as well as the midrange selector and DI pad, but I just felt that I could make do without and if I was really concerned I could always mod it to have a frequency selector or DI. I'd be using either amp through only one cab at practice 90% of the time and the difference in watts in that scenario is negligible.

Besides, I think adding speakers is far more useful than adding Watts most of the time.

I really like simplicity. I'm not one of those dudes that likes being able to tweak absolutely everything. Having more options usually ends up with crapper tone for me, hence my favorite bass being a P!

(end rationalising)

[JimmyM]

I think that's good rationalizing Honestly, though, while the mid selector is cool to have, the mid knob on the PF350 is centered at a good frequency that works well (500hz) and has a very musical sounding sweep in this context.

[solitario]

I know it is an old post but maybe you can help me. have you ever used the pf 350 or pf 500 with a pf cab live? I love the look of the cab but I dont know if running those digital amps in 8 ohm mode will be loud enought for playing hard rock in pubs.

maybe is beter to used them with a 4ohm ratther than a pf cab?

[Fletz]

See my video here to see why you need the PF-500. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The best $400 a bassist can spend.

Ampeg PF-500 Test Drive - YouTube