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Ampeg PF500/350, part 4

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#3
So I finally went down to the music shop yesterday to try out the PF350. As the store manager was plugging the power supply into the back of the head, it let out a huge spark and loud popping noise, and the head started smoking from all the openings. Luckily nobody was hurt. How could that happen? I've never seen anything like it.

So anyways, I never got to try it out. But I did place an order for the PF500 and matching 115. I gotta admit, I was pretty hesitant after witnessing that event. Hopefully the one that I get won't burn my house down.
 
#4
rollyolly said:
So I finally went down to the music shop yesterday to try out the PF350. As the store manager was plugging the power supply into the back of the head, it let out a huge spark and loud popping noise, and the head started smoking from all the openings. Luckily nobody was hurt. How could that happen? I've never seen anything like it.

So anyways, I never got to try it out. But I did place an order for the PF500 and matching 115. I gotta admit, I was pretty hesitant after witnessing that event. Hopefully the one that I get won't burn my house down.
Click to expand...

They way you describe it, it sounds like the shop owner A - had already plugged the plug into the wall and was then plugging it into the head, and B - was plugging in the head with the switch turned on. Both bad ideas. It may have had an inherent defect which is what caused the smoke etc, but always good to have the head powered off and plug into the amp first, then the outlet.
 
#5
rollyolly said:
So I finally went down to the music shop yesterday to try out the PF350. As the store manager was plugging the power supply into the back of the head, it let out a huge spark and loud popping noise, and the head started smoking from all the openings. Luckily nobody was hurt. How could that happen? I've never seen anything like it.
Click to expand...

Are you located outside North America where the line voltage is over 200VAC? If so, the amp may have its little voltage switch on the back set to 115 instead of 230. I did that once with a computer server. The power supply made a nice, loud POP. :help: Luckily, I did not have to pay for that mistake. :)
 
#6
Is it right to consider the PF 350 the exact same thing as the Micro VR, just with more watts?

I'm looking for a new head, and these two are at the same price in all online stores i've checked.
 
#8
rollyolly said:
So I finally went down to the music shop yesterday to try out the PF350. As the store manager was plugging the power supply into the back of the head, it let out a huge spark and loud popping noise, and the head started smoking from all the openings. Luckily nobody was hurt. How could that happen? I've never seen anything like it.
Click to expand...

I say its a good sign. What are the odds you'll have another one blow up on you. Kinda like in The world according to Garp when a plane crashes into the house he's looking at buying. That was the deal maker. :)
 
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#10
coreyfyfe said:
They way you describe it, it sounds like the shop owner A - had already plugged the plug into the wall and was then plugging it into the head, and B - was plugging in the head with the switch turned on. Both bad ideas. It may have had an inherent defect which is what caused the smoke etc, but always good to have the head powered off and plug into the amp first, then the outlet.
Click to expand...

That would be my guess too, was it new out of the box or was it a floor model?
 
#11
I just joined Talkbass after using it as a research resource for years. A lot of people have given a lot of valuable information in these PF threads. I started at the beginning weeks ago and I have read it all. If you wrote it, I read it! My take on the PF series is this: Ampeg has come up with a great amp concept loosly based on the old B15 that happens to have some design flaws. I was researching, hoping to feel good about a purchase and I can't say I do. My hopes are that someday Ampeg will design the next series to be pushed a little harder and not cut out, shut down, have wheels fall off, etc.. Before anyone would think I am down on Ampeg, our next gig, which is a Valentine's party, I will be using one of two Ampeg B100R amps. I can push them as hard as I want and they still rock. They sound a little better to my ears than even my Markbass Jeff Berlin, which is also a great amp. Anyway, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has told the true story of the PF series here on Talkbass. I had to weed through pages of opinions and personal experiences to come to my decision not to buy one. I am just not willing to chance the experience of dealing with an amp failure and a return and a wait. Percentage of failure seems extremely high compared with almost anything musically related ever made. If I mention and Edsel, am I showing my age?! I guess that would explain my using a B15N in the early 70's. As time goes by and the climate here on Talkbass changes, I may change my mind; I really do want one! Thank you again for helping me make an educated decision.
 
#12
GregT,
I purchased one at GC a while ago, and I have had 0 issues. It cost $350 out the door. Best micro amp I have ever owned. It is dead silent, and offers a sound I really enjoy. In contrast, I had lots of problems with my other micro amps, and even normal bass amps from other makers. This has been 100% solid. The PF-500 was the #1 selling micro head last year, so there will be more failures reported. I really think failures are just to be expected with something that is so mass produced. I will trust it until I can't, but I recommend this amp all the time for someone who wants a great sounding amp with great featuers for under $400 new. I don't think anything out there can really touch it for the price. I just carry backup amps in my backpack. I've needed them.
Wes
 
#14
I've had my PF-500 going on 8 months now with no issue. I use it 2-3 (sometimes more) times a week for 3+ hour rehearsals, regularly at home with headphones for silent practice, and have used it on a few gigs with no problems. I typically run a 4 ohm load (either one cab or two), though sometimes I use my PF-210. I've only gigged the 210 once and only used it for a handful of rehearsals as I got it as a christmas present to myself and not with the head, but the wheels have stood up pretty well so far. I read somewhere they had upgraded the nuts/bolts they were using in response to some of the issues people we're having but I'm not 100% certain on that. All in all, it's been very reliable for me, and from what I've witnessed ampeg has been standing behind the amps with great CS, and replacing any amp that has had an issue.
 
#16
GregT said:
I just joined Talkbass after using it as a research resource for years. A lot of people have given a lot of valuable information in these PF threads. I started at the beginning weeks ago and I have read it all. If you wrote it, I read it! My take on the PF series is this: Ampeg has come up with a great amp concept loosly based on the old B15 that happens to have some design flaws. I was researching, hoping to feel good about a purchase and I can't say I do. My hopes are that someday Ampeg will design the next series to be pushed a little harder and not cut out, shut down, have wheels fall off, etc.. Before anyone would think I am down on Ampeg, our next gig, which is a Valentine's party, I will be using one of two Ampeg B100R amps. I can push them as hard as I want and they still rock. They sound a little better to my ears than even my Markbass Jeff Berlin, which is also a great amp. Anyway, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has told the true story of the PF series here on Talkbass. I had to weed through pages of opinions and personal experiences to come to my decision not to buy one. I am just not willing to chance the experience of dealing with an amp failure and a return and a wait. Percentage of failure seems extremely high compared with almost anything musically related ever made. If I mention and Edsel, am I showing my age?! I guess that would explain my using a B15N in the early 70's. As time goes by and the climate here on Talkbass changes, I may change my mind; I really do want one! Thank you again for helping me make an educated decision.
Click to expand...

The PF500/PF115 to me is more similar to the solid state BT15's of the 1960's than the tube B15's both in terms of tone and in build design. And that's fine with me- I have both a '63 B15 and a couple solid state BT15's and they all rock. I also have a B100R - and while I find the B100R has a little more "mojo" working for it - the PF series is built just as well. The cabinets especially are high quality and are as good or better than any fliptop Ampeg has ever put out in the past. If you look at the total number of units sold comapred to the few who have issues - I think you'd find that those returns fall within normal production parameters. Very few people have actually had an amp blow up (I can only think of three here) - and the "cutting out" issue has been attributed mainly to the users gain & compressor settings. I wouldn't write these amps off until you actually try them out. But gigging a pair of B100R's is always good in my book too ;)
 
#18
GregT said:
Thank you all for your polite and respectful responses. That's one of the reasons I went ahead and joined. I still really want a PF115 and one of the heads too. I'm just on the fence, I suppose.
Click to expand...

I too was on the fence about the PF500. In the end, it came down to two things:

1. Price. Very good deal for a 500 watt amp

2. Warranty. Two years ain't bad.

It just so happens I really like the tone. And it's very light weight. And you can mount it to the lid of the cabinet. Ok that's like, five things...
 
#19
Ya, there's nothing wrong the way the amps are designed. It's insane demand making it look like a higher percentage are failing than really are. I've yet to plug into a problematic PF head and I've tried several, and my PF350 has about 6 months on it with nary a hiccup.
 
#20
I agree with Stiles. I think most of the problems that you've read about are the few people that have had problems informing the rest of us. I think the number of problems are relatively few compared to the actual number of units produced. When I tried to order a second PF115 a few months ago, my friend at Guitar Center said that no store in their whole chain can keep these amps/cabs in stock due to popularity. His store can't even keep one in the demo room. I don't think there would be that kind of demand if they were really having as many problems as we might perceive here on Talkbass.

You've read the other threads, so you might remember that I was one who had issues with cutting out... I'll be the first to admit that my problem was user error like Stiles said, which I also posted previously. I'd never had an amp with an on-board compressor and once I understood how the compressor and gain work together, I haven't had any problems since. I wouldn't have bought the second PF115 if I felt like this Portaflex gear was sub-par equipment.

In the end, we all have to decide on our own about what gear is right for us. If the Portaflex stuff isn't your thing for ANY reason, there's certainly nothing wrong with that. Gear is purely subjective and personal preference is king. Something to remember though is that while Talkbass is a great community of people, we are just a small percentage of the actual number of bassists out there, and those of us with Portaflex equipment make up only a small percentage of Talkbass. Because of that, problems reported seem like a bigger deal than they actually are.

5sg.
 
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