I got mine for Christmas in 2011, so about a year and a half ago. I only managed to play one gig with it before my country band broke up. But my rig (PF-500 and a GK 4x10 cab) gets used in my rock band. We practice at my house and I let the bass player use my rig, no problems whatsoever.
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Ampeg PF-500 - Problem Free Roll Call
- Thread starter Bitterdale
- Start date
One of the most unusual and disturbing posts ever^
I have had no trouble in the two weeks I've owned mine.
Great to hear! I am coming to believe I am the cursed one. Either that or the PF-500s I owned did not like my basses. Glad she's treating you well.
Regards,
Previous owner of your aforementioned amp.
Had mine since late 2011. Weekly rehearsal, several gigs, 4 ohms, 8 ohms ... still trouble free.
OK, here we are years later, and I've still got the PF-500, and now I have the cutout problem. I hit a loud slap note recently, which I don't normally do, and the thing just died. A day or two later it seemed like it was back to normal, but tonight, after about two weeks have passed, it cut out again at moderate volume. Not sure if I can ever trust this amp for a gig. Any suggestions for repair/replacement would be appreciated. Thanks.
I bought a used PF500 in February 2013 and it was flakey right off, distorting and cutting out. Part of that was from a bad speaker cable. The other possibility was that the amp was sitting on my porch all day in freezing weather. In any case, after a day at my house and with a different speaker cable, the amp has worked just fine. It has been used on three musical theater shows without a problem, as well as quite a few gigs and rehearsals. BTW, I’ve paired it with the PF210.
this was pretty much my experience too. When I first got it, it worked fine, but a few gigs in it cut out on a gig, then it cut out in rehearsal. Never pushed it super hard and I set up the gain per the Ampeg guidance.
so, more than 5 years later, it is a rehearsal space only amp because I just can't deal with gear that causes problems on a gig. I have plenty of other amps that never shut down or cut out. I like the sound of it (PF500 + HE115) just fine.
Early PF-500 adopter here. First head warranty exchanged within the first week of ownership back in 2011 for a couple of issues that had nothing at all to do with any cutting out/amp failure issues that has been experienced by others, so I haven't had to deal with that issue. Head number two is working like a champ to this day, and that includes running 8 or 4 ohm speaker cab loads in a wide variety of different gig situations.
A power board for a PF 500 costs $152 at full compass and the amp itself is $400. And anyone who can follow where to plug in a handful of Molex plugs and can operate a Phillips head screwdriver can install one within a few minutes. Now I don't know about you and your mathematical education, but I would say $152 is not more than $400.
Things are much improved since Ampeg was charging full MSRP, or whatever the acronym is for ripoff rate, plus tech time. Still if tech isn't your bag the most common used price is $225 shipped.
Ampeg has never charged full amp MSRP on boards. Ever. There are no Ampeg-only repair centers. Their network of repair centers operate independently. They wouldn't be in business very long if they only worked with one brand of amp. I don't know where you get your information from, but I suspect it was from a TB post years ago where a guy allegedly got quoted a ridiculous price to replace a board. And this ridiculous rumor that you're still trying to float got debunked in that thread as well. But hey, keep trying...one day you'll put that evil Ampeg out of business
Methinks your remembrance is clouded by Ampeg logo glasses. As I remember it there was no debunking of the outrageous quote for service on a out of warranty failure of a defective design. It really ticked me off at the time that they would fail to stand behind their product and then go large by charging full retail. I had no axe to grind against the company prior but that sort of behaviour deserves a reminder now and then until they come around to fixing the failures on their own dime.Ampeg has never charged full amp MSRP on boards. Ever. There are no Ampeg-only repair centers. Their network of repair centers operate independently. They wouldn't be in business very long if they only worked with one brand of amp. I don't know where you get your information from, but I suspect it was from a TB post years ago where a guy allegedly got quoted a ridiculous price to replace a board. And this ridiculous rumor that you're still trying to float got debunked in that thread as well. But hey, keep trying...one day you'll put that evil Ampeg out of business
Ampeg either don't find my occasional reminders a threat to their business or there is no debunk to be found. After all that they put fans through by selling duds and blaming user error I am not inclined to search for it myself.
I think you're just mad I didn't bow to the compressor in a Trace Elliot amp
