PF500 toasted? Fault light, not an obvious overheating issue...

christw · #1 11-21-2011, 03:15 PM

So, my PF500 that I've had for all of two days seems to have roasted when I turned it on today. It in rather short time smelled like burned electronic components do after power on and the fault light won't turn off. It makes a brief pop through the speaker cab when powered on but won't play anything. I hadn't seen any symptoms previous to this, smelled any off smells, or pushed it anywhere near hard.

I'm assuming it's toast... recommendations? I was thinking of seeing if GC can help. Don't think Ampeg's warranty is transferrable?

slaphappychappy · #2 11-21-2011, 03:48 PM

Just contact Ampeg. See what they say. The only concern I have about my one of these is a lack of cooling fans. I had a problem with an amp that used to overheard and cut out. I put in an internal secondary fan next to the Freakin HUGE transformer and it never happened again. I'm considering this with mine cos most of the problems I hear seem to be about overheating and shutting down, although yours may need some jam on it cos its toast.

JimmyM · #3 11-21-2011, 04:06 PM

Ya, unfortunately the warranty isn't transferable. But I'd still call Ampeg. Maybe they can fix it for cheap.

christw · #4 11-21-2011, 04:49 PM

I sent them an email. Gah, this had to come just as I was about to buy a PF115 to complement this head. Now I have to keep or trade my SVT

username1 · #5 11-21-2011, 04:53 PM

Same thing happened to my pf 350 the second time i used it. It lit up like an arc welder. Luckily they are replacing the boards on it right now under warrentee. I got a pf500 in the meantime and have used it quite a few times now with no problems. I am surprised by how cool this head runs. It is always cold to the touch even after a good workout so there is obviously no problem with these heads overheating.

christw · #6 11-21-2011, 05:03 PM

Yeah, I'm without proof of purchase at the moment. I got it in trade recently. That's my problem...

slaphappychappy · #7 11-21-2011, 05:11 PM

Yeah. But I've heard a few people complain about them shutting down a lot. I haven't had the problem, but it seems to be a common occourance.

christw · #8 11-21-2011, 05:14 PM

I've pushed mine to normal "reasonable" gig levels twice yesterday during jams which was certainly still within it's capabilities, especially running efficient cabs at 5.33 ohms. It never even began to heat up. That's why this is so bizarre.

Selta · #9 11-21-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

I've pushed mine to normal "reasonable" gig levels twice yesterday during jams which was certainly still within it's capabilities, especially running efficient cabs at 5.33 ohms. It never even began to heat up. That's why this is so bizarre.

You're running a 16 and an 8 ohm cab?

p5string · #10 11-21-2011, 05:30 PM

Geez-my 500 has a fan

christw · #11 11-21-2011, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

You're running a 16 and an 8 ohm cab?

Yes. I rewired my D10BX-D from 4 ohms (two parallel 8 ohm drivers) to series for a 16 ohm load to make sure that each speaker gets the same amount of power when I run it with my 8 ohm Q10BX-D 410 cab. They've been inseparable since.

Basically it was: PF500 -in> Bag End 210 (16 ohm) -out> Bag End 410 (8 ohm)

Quote:

Originally Posted by p5string

Geez-my 500 has a fan

Mine too. It was blowing that "something isn't right inside the amp" burnt electronics smell all over me as I was trying to figure out why it wouldn't power on.

username1 · #12 11-22-2011, 07:27 AM

I would contact the person you got the ampeg from and get them to return it for warrantee. Even if he doesnt have the sales receipt his name should be in their computer system. I lost the receipt for my 350 but had no trouble returning it for warrantee because they just looked it up on their computer.

BassBrass · #13 11-22-2011, 07:42 AM

I'll be taking my 500 back this week. First the 1/4 jack didn't work (no problem, I bought a speakon) now it doesn't power up for 10 minutes and cuts out on some notes when it does. I've gone back to my Hartke that never breaks and I have confidence in. Jeepers. This isn't Ampeg, it's Loud Inc. or whatever company bought the name.

coreyfyfe · #14 11-22-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by username1

I would contact the person you got the ampeg from and get them to return it for warrantee. Even if he doesnt have the sales receipt his name should be in their computer system. I lost the receipt for my 350 but had no trouble returning it for warrantee because they just looked it up on their computer.

+1, this would probably be the best way to go if the original seller is local/willing to work with you.

JimmyM · #15 11-22-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassBrass

I'll be taking my 500 back this week. First the 1/4 jack didn't work (no problem, I bought a speakon) now it doesn't power up for 10 minutes and cuts out on some notes when it does. I've gone back to my Hartke that never breaks and I have confidence in. Jeepers. This isn't Ampeg, it's Loud Inc. or whatever company bought the name.

No, it's Ampeg. Says so right on the box

NicJimBass · #16 11-22-2011, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by username1

I would contact the person you got the ampeg from and get them to return it for warrantee. Even if he doesnt have the sales receipt his name should be in their computer system. I lost the receipt for my 350 but had no trouble returning it for warrantee because they just looked it up on their computer.

I'm the guy he got it from, and I got it from another TB'r, who in turn got it from yet another TB'r. Hopefully there isn't a huge list of people who owned this, so we can track down the original owner soon! It sucks that this happened, especially so soon after our trade. I played probably close to 10 gigs with it, on top of playing it at home when I practiced, and had no problems with it at all. It sounds like there may be issues like this with other heads in this series, so hopefully Ampeg will take care of it.

jeff7bass · #17 11-22-2011, 04:47 PM

I've been rockin my PF-350 pretty hard but when I notice the light coming on a lot I engage the limiter, which protects the amp without squashing the sound.

slaphappychappy · #18 11-22-2011, 04:53 PM

The funny thing about mine was that when I went to try it out the demo head was out getting fixed, lol.
Look, mines been good, touch wood, but I don't use the Ampeg cab either. Whether or not that makes a difference, I'm not sure, but is definitely by ashdown speakers again.

christw · #19 11-23-2011, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NicJimBass

I'm the guy he got it from, and I got it from another TB'r, who in turn got it from yet another TB'r. Hopefully there isn't a huge list of people who owned this, so we can track down the original owner soon! It sucks that this happened, especially so soon after our trade. I played probably close to 10 gigs with it, on top of playing it at home when I practiced, and had no problems with it at all. It sounds like there may be issues like this with other heads in this series, so hopefully Ampeg will take care of it.

Dude, like I said in the PM, you have been incredibly helpful and I very much appreciate it. I just wasn't quite sure what to do at that point, haha.

Anyways, will update this later but I'll be getting Ampeg some proof of purchase I hope!

jthurston · #20 11-23-2011, 08:54 AM

Not that it helps much, but my PF500 never overheated at all. That might be because it never worked long enough to get hot. It cuts out almost as soon as I start playing.

Ampeg (Loud Technologies, I guess) are replacing it in December when they get them in stock. If the replacement cuts out on me during a show, it'll go back too. I don't care what the reason is, a silent amp is a $400 doorstop. Meanwhile I'll be using my Marshall MB450.