Ampeg PF-800 Portaflex

I got it from an eBay bid and considering the money that I paid for it, it was a high value purchase. I was using an Ampeg PF350 so I loved the things that I got from the PF800, like the built in compressor (very useful for me, a non experienced slap technique player) and the power that obviously gets noticed as soon as you're tweaking the knobs.

However using the treble and low boost buttons was not add I expected because it doesn't only boost it but shapes the tone completely into something more plastic. Maybe for some genres is OK but for me playing jazz and 50s to 70s rock/rock&roll was a bit disappointing.

Long story short, is was good with EQ almost flat and getting all the sound shaping from the Bartolini 3 band EQ built in my bass. I sold it this past week since I got an SVT Pro 7 and a Markbass.

Having decided that I was not interested in lugging around a gargantuan tube head, the search for my next bass amp head had pretty much come down to Mesa or Genzler. I mean, if it's not an SVT, why even consider Ampeg, right?

But then, I got a helluva deal on a PF-800 with an SVT-410HEN. I initially thought I could just flip it, and get what I "wanted"--but then I tried it out... I was seriously blown away by how good it sounded. I knew right then and there that I was keeping it. And when I looked at it a little deeper, I realized that it had every feature I *really* wanted: 800W @ 4 ohms, 2 outputs (w/ speakON), mute, built-in compression, effects loop, simple 3-band EQ, DI out, and even an Aux In and headphone jack!

Sure, compared to the newer micro heads, the PF-800 is certainly on the larger and heavier side. Yet at under 12 pounds, it is still very easy to heft and transport. But that leads to my one complaint: given that heft, I think Ampeg missed the mark a little by making these heads so unfriendly for rack-mounting. I've seen a couple ingenious owners here on TB that have mounted it to a shelf, and it looks fine, but it's still a miss--these heads should have been designed to easily accommodate rack-mounting.

Still and all, the PF-800 is a great sounding head with a TON of features and a price that makes it an absolute bargain.

Was intended as backup for ageing hartke ha5500 but now my go to main rig. Everything I wanted plus more! Plus a lot smaller with plenty ballsy ampeg tone! Now hartke is backup!