Ampeg PF-500 vs. PF-20T/50T

[Nadraw]

Looking for some advice.

I have a rig which includes an Ampeg PF-500 and a BagEnd S15X-D. I am very happy with it, other than I never use it. I do not play clubs any longer, so I simply do not need that much power. So, I am going to sell it...

I am, however, keeping my BagEnd S10X-D, to play small coffee house, low volume, acoustic/electric settings. I am really interested in the new Ampeg All Tube PF-20T (20 watts) and/or PF-50T (50 watts). The question is, will either have enough power to meet my specific needs?

The PF-500 runs 300 watts into my little S10X-D at 8 ohms. However, in application, I never turn the volume up past 3 or 4. If I crank the PF-20T or PF-50T up, will they be able to reach the same volumes? And as far as "cranking up" an all tube head... that is what they are built for, right?

I've got to think, the B-15 was only 30 watts.

Thanks!

 

[Jeff Bonny]

The PF-50 would be a much safer bet. I had a PF-50 very briefly...loved the thing but as luck would have it something similar and better came along days after I bought it...even so I almost kept the Ampeg. I found through my S15X-D the PF-50 was easily loud enough to play with a moderately loud drummer at rehearsals and smaller bars. It was growly but right on that nice edge where you could control how much it broke up with your touch. Having A/B'd it in store with the PF-20 my feeling was the smaller one is a great studio/home practice amp but that it just didn't go loud enough to be much use as any kind of reasonably clean gigging amp. Even keeping up with just vocals in a PA could stretch it to the limit in some coffee house type rooms especially full ones. It gets filthy pretty fast.

BTW I'm dead jealous of your S10X-D. The S15X-D is my most favorite cab of all time and I regretted almost instantly selling my S10-D several years ago living on a boat figuring I needed to get rid of stuff. Always keeping an eye out for another S10 or S10X but they're discontinued and don't come up for sale very often. But then neither do the S15X-D's really. I say think carefully before you part with that 15. The PF-50 matches so beautifully with it.

 

[JimmyM]

I would like more info about your settings. What are your master and gain set at with the PF500, and what kind of bass? It's possible the PF-20T could work...I have used my 25w B-15 on some of those types of gigs and had headroom...but I've yet to play the PF-20T. A PF-50T, however, would be a sure bet.

As for the question about being built to crank, in a way, yes, but I use my PF-50T totally clean on my gigs and it sounds wonderful, too. Also, while it won't hurt the amp to crank it into distortion, it does wear out your tubes faster. Sounds freaking gnarly, though!

 

[Nadraw]

Thanks for the advice Jeff. I think you are right, I am going to hold on to the 15. Besides, I have modified it, with small brass cup inserts in the top, which are perfectly aligned to the feet of the PF-500, to keep it from sliding off the top. As luck would have it, the PF-50t has the same footprint (confirmed by Ampeg). So it would only make sense to get the 50 over the 20.

And Jimmy, I play a '89 US P+, with passive Bart's. Gain usually set to 2:00, volume never pas 9:00 (a little extra bass, and a little less treble). Beyond the ability to utilize my cabinet mod with the 50, I think the extra headroom, and ability to get louder clean tone make the 50 the obvious choice for me.