As always, the new amp is scooped while the old one had a fat midrange
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Ampeg PF-50/Ampeg PF-20 question
- Thread starter jesperbengtsson
- Start date
As always, the new amp is scooped while the old one had a fat midrange
I have a PF50T, and I'm not convinced that the flat point on the midrange knob is at noon, I usually run it with the mids between 3/4 and full. Used like that, it doesn't sound scooped to me.
I love both of these amps. The 20 isn't quite enough to gig with (though I have played smaller shows with it and been fine), but it's great for recording, as well as living room jams. I use the 50 all the time playing out, usually paired with a 4 ohm Bag End 210. I've never had a volume issue with it. The sound person usually appreciates the great DI signal as well. I play a lot of 70s rock, soul, funk, and country on a P-Bass with half rounds.
Doesn't the PF50T have a James tone stack? If so, cutting bass and treble should boost the mids even further.
I hear more treble with the 50t. it's a brighter sound. The vintage b15 seems to lack sparkle. please explain what I am hearing as I like the more vintage sound.
The 20 sounds a bit rounder, warmer and cannot really do harsh. The 50 is more your typical ampeg sound.
I've enjoyed the 20 more at home, but it's one of those amps you put on a cab in your living room, turn it halfway up and it's massive.
Massive for your living room, that is. While it feels like a beast there - when you bring it to the rehearsal space and the drummer starts playing, you're gone from the equation.
The 50 stands a chance of making it against a drum kit, provided you have enough cabinet to move some air.
I've enjoyed the 20 more at home, but it's one of those amps you put on a cab in your living room, turn it halfway up and it's massive.
Massive for your living room, that is. While it feels like a beast there - when you bring it to the rehearsal space and the drummer starts playing, you're gone from the equation.
The 50 stands a chance of making it against a drum kit, provided you have enough cabinet to move some air.
Basically every time I hear a vintage guitar, bass, amp or effect in videos, they always have a prominent midrange that makes them stand out in a mix and sound fat, while having a sweet high end that is present but not harsh. In other words, they sound compressed.
Modern gear, on the other hand, always sounds "hi-fi", with very clear, almost harsh treble and a tighter low end, with less midrange. I call this EQ profile scooped, and scooped mids make an instrument recede in a mix and sound thinner.
This is merely my personal understanding of those tones.
Now the important part: I can't tell if my blatant vintage-equals-better bias makes me hear things that are not there, but if I hear something, it matters to me.
I have had my PF50 since they first came out and it is the best sounding amp I have owned in 50 years of playing. I was looking for a really good cabinet to go with it that was not ridiculous in price and initially picked up an Ampeg PF112HLF which makes a great rig that I still own. It does great with upright or my fretless Alembic. The DI is dead silent and the rig is really more of a stage monitor for me. With a MarkBass Standard front ported 102 it KILLS for blues, especially in a smaller venue where FOH is poor or non existent.
I had Ampeg PF-T50 and made a few videos on that topic. Maybe You'll found it ineteresting 
Nice videos, love this cabinet comparison. The Ampeg cab sounds most balanced to me. The Orange is a bit too warm, and Eden is far too scooped.
Can you eq the OBC112 to sound slightly brighter? What's your general opinion about this cab? I can pick one up for a good price to pair with PF20T for home practice.
Can you eq the OBC112 to sound slightly brighter? What's your general opinion about this cab? I can pick one up for a good price to pair with PF20T for home practice.
I had Ampeg PF-T50 and made a few videos on that topic. Maybe You'll found it ineteresting
Love the Orange! The 410 sounds very scooped, not at all to my liking.
Any reason you put the mic straight in front of the center dome on the 15" cab? That will likely make it sound brighter compared to the others.
Edit: Wait! That was with the modern amp. The 410 sounds great with the B-15S!
Edit 2: I see now that you have the "response" on the B-15S set to "flat" instead of "bass". Could that explain the huge difference in tone?
Last edited:
I gave the best I can to make a fair comparison. B-15S with ''bass'' setup had to much bass compared to T50. Mic was positioned a bit to the one side of the cone center of 15''. I wanted to capture a little bit more of the highs from that 15'' speaker.
It was two years ago, can't remember all the details and conditions from the studio at that time
.Thanks for watching
I have the same rig, plus a second PF112 for scaleability. I'm also fretless + upright(EUB).
I have a PF20T and one PF112hlf. I have always wanted to know how much difference another cabinet would make tone wise and also volume. Any insight that you could provide would be greatly appreciated
Add a matching cab and you should get approximately +3dB more headroom. Also the sound should get a little fuller/thicker.
