New Ampeg Portaflex Anyone?

Foxrock321 · #1 05-16-2011, 01:19 PM

I just sold my SWR Goliath III 4x10 Eden D15 XLT, and SWR 350 Amp...I am thinking of buying the new Ampeg PF-500 amp, and the PF-210 cab...everything folds together. for a great price. and it sounds great1. Has anyone bought this rig yet or is thinking of it..? Let me know what you think?

Foxrock

Thwack · #2 05-16-2011, 01:30 PM

Ampeg PF500/PF350

plenty to read here. Reviews don't start till many pages in.

Foxrock321 · #3 05-18-2011, 12:27 PM

So I went into our Guitar Center last nite and ordered the PF-500 amp and PF 210 cab. I wanted a fresh one out of the crate...cant wait to crank up a little Birdland...I love to test amps playing the Jaco thing harmonics come clean!

JimmyM · #4 05-18-2011, 12:46 PM

not tried the cabs yet but the pf-500 is awfully sweet, especially considering its insane price.

Duke21 · #5 05-18-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

not tried the cabs yet but the pf-500 is awfully sweet, especially considering its insane price.

Jimmy, how would you rank the pf500 compares to the over new micro rigs?
I love the SVT tone, and the lovely B15 I've played in Denmark st. In London was awesome! It was a late 60s unit in mint condition. Will the pf500 deliver the Ampeg vibe? How is the pf500 priced compares to the rest?

JimmyM · #6 05-18-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke21

Jimmy, how would you rank the pf500 compares to the over new micro rigs?
I love the SVT tone, and the lovely B15 I've played in Denmark st. In London was awesome! It was a late 60s unit in mint condition. Will the pf500 deliver the Ampeg vibe? How is the pf500 priced compares to the rest?

honestly, i have no clue what's doing with new micro rigs. i hear the genz benz streamliner is pretty sweet, that's about all i know. the pf500 does have the ampeg vibe, although let's face it...it's not going to be as sweet sounding as a b-15 or svt. as for price, in america it's about $200 lower than the price of the markbass little mark 3, which goes for $600 here. i don't know what the situation would be in england or norway, though.

stiles72 · #7 05-18-2011, 05:44 PM

+1 = price

For the price, the PF500 is a no brainer. I scored a used one for $240. That's about 50 cents a watt. On it's own - it's a nice head. The build quality appears nicely done, and it does have an Ampeg sound. But it is solid sate, and it is class D, and isn't going to have the magic of a tube amp - or IMO the B-100R. But for the price, it's a helluva nice amp. I plan to use mine for practices, jam nights, and gigs where I'm just fealing lazy to lug anything esle. I'll even throw it in the trailer as a back up head for when I run sound for a couple of other local bands. More than once have their bass players rigs died on them and they ask me "You got your Ampegs in the trailer???"

**ddbassGA** · #8 05-18-2011, 05:59 PM

I got my PF 500/115 in a special deal MF promoted back in Feb. They took $100 off if you ordered both head and cab...so that made it $698 for the pair. Then they honored the Presidents Day 15% off sale which took another $105 off. So what a heck of a deal for $593 delivered to my door.

LeeP · #9 05-18-2011, 06:21 PM

I was in GC today hoping to try out a 500/115. They had the pf500 head, but no cabs, and they didn't think they would be getting any in. I could order one and do the return deal if I didn't like it, but I'd really like to try it out first.

They had the price tag for the 350 on the 500 head. I should have picked it up to see if they'd take $299 for it!

greggster59 · #10 05-18-2011, 07:44 PM

I played the PF 350 through the 210 PF cab at GC last week. There was a blues guitar event going on so I couldn't crank it up it could get but it definitely had the Ampeg growl.

bring the noise · #11 05-18-2011, 08:11 PM

Anyone try one with a tech 21 vt pedal?

JimmyM · #12 05-18-2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bring the noise

Anyone try one with a tech 21 vt pedal?

no but i use a micro vr with a vt all the time, and the pf350 is basically a higher power micro vr. two different products with two different design goals. the vt will give you most of the ampeg sounds but it can be a pita to dial in because the knobs are so sensitive. the ampeg heads give you less grindability (there's some but it's mild), but it's much easier to cop a good sound quickly.

BillyIVbass · #13 05-18-2011, 09:04 PM

The PF350 really didn't do much for me, but I was only running it at 8ohms. I wanted something to pair with my SVT210AV. Hoping a 500 shows up local for me to hear.

Foxrock321 · #14 05-23-2011, 07:36 AM

Just bought the Ampeg PF-500 amp and PF-210 cab. (by the way the casters are in a zipper bag at the bottom of the cab) I played it last night with the Dallas Jazz Orchestra. an 18 pc. group which is one of the loudest band you will hear...This bass rig cut through without even breathing hard.. It has compression and a 5 select midrange dial. I really enjoyed playing again with the sounds I was getting.. I play Yamaha BB-nathan east model and it has a lot of tone flexibilities. If your looking for one rig that you can use for most applications this is the one.. Great price! and if you need more punch, get the PF-15 cab and stack em..
Way to go Ampeg, you hit a home run.

ButtUglyJeff · #15 05-23-2011, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeP

I was in GC today hoping to try out a 500/115. They had the pf500 head, but no cabs, and they didn't think they would be getting any in. I could order one and do the return deal if I didn't like it, but I'd really like to try it out first.

Wow, that's the opposite of what I've been told in three GCs. They all were amped (pun) about them, and thought they would be a mover.

I have ordered a pf500 and two pf-115 cabs, and now I'm playing the waiting game. I'm really curious about how it cuts through my son's 20-25 piece jazz band. I'm not worried about the friends I play with, they've all outgrown the volume battle...

**ddbassGA** · #16 05-23-2011, 08:49 AM

Worth the wait. It will cut through under all that brass. Man I'd love to play bass in big band.

ButtUglyJeff · #17 05-23-2011, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddbassGA

Worth the wait. It will cut through under all that brass. Man I'd love to play bass in big band.

I'm quite confident. I only worry because he's my son, and there are 4 alto saxes. But I agree, I'd like to take his place just once...

Foxrock321 · #18 05-24-2011, 10:50 AM

Playing bass in a Big Band is a Kick, its like being the captain! You and the Drummer drive the Ship!

Texan · #19 05-24-2011, 11:10 AM

I picked up a PF-500 last saturday, it died two days later on monday. I hope your experience with this amp is better than mine. They do sound good...

Foxrock321 · #20 05-24-2011, 12:11 PM

I've had mine a week, no problems. I drove the Dallas Jazz Orchestra Sunday. The amp did fine...I use Monster cable for both the patch and the bass cable. I use the Portaflex 210 cab so there's not a challenge for the amp. Texan..dont know what to say about your PF500. Do you use a power conditioner? I keep mine plugged into a Furman. The Electric is really dirty at the Club where we play..The Dallas Jazz Orchestra has been there for 20 years...How bout that??