Ampeg pf-800 update: shut down!

[blacktocomm]

I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that for every broken one, there's hundreds that aren't, but you'll never hear about them because the vast majority of people on sites like this only pop up when they have a problem with their amps, and those who are regulars pop up in every thread about whatever amp.

And I'm sure for every one that gets posted here there are two or three others with people that have no idea this forum exists. Look, I think Ampeg has produced some amazing amps over the years, but this one has known issues. To flat out deny it is dishonest. Anyone reading this thread can figure that out. I tend to believe the people that have had amps fail on them more than the guy that's compensated by the company that built them.

 

[JimmyM]

And I'm sure for every one that gets posted here there are two or three others with people that have no idea this forum exists. Look, I think Ampeg has produced some amazing amps over the years, but this one has known issues. To flat out deny it is dishonest. Anyone reading this thread can figure that out. I tend to believe the people that have had amps fail on them more than the guy that's compensated by the company that built them.

First off, only the PF-500 and SVT 7 Pro had issues, which have been long fixed. The rest of their amps just have occasional duds that slip through, just like any other amp manufacturer in the world, and that includes the 800. Second, compensated? Sorry but you obviously don't have any idea how B-level endorsements work. Yes, I get discounts on Ampeg gear. Yes, Ampeg has sent me a very occasional small ticket freebie. But I do not get paid a cent to be an endorser, the only money that has ever been exchanged between Ampeg and me is from my bank account to theirs, I completely reject and resent the idea that I'm being paid, and I will pay $1000 to anyone who can prove otherwise. I am one of the most helpful people on this board, often helping people with other amps besides Ampeg, I've been very complimentary to other manufacturers when I think it's warranted, and most people on here respect me because I am a straight shooter who isn't about to jeopardize that reputation over a freaking discount. So I respectfully suggest you cease the slander.

 

[versicolor]

I don't know if I'd consider all these same issues a fluke. I'm sure there are plenty more non issues than issues but that doesn't mean it's a random fluke. There are enough cases of the exact same problem that would constitute it being something more. If a person has to cross fingers hoping that they don't get one with a problem then to me that's more than a fluke. That's a problem. The one guy even went through 3 separate brand new 800 amps and they all had the same issue. But I guess anyone can chalk it up to whatever they feel comfortable chalking it up to. For me, after the 350 cutting out, and then a year later a brand new 800 doing the exact same thing, and multiple people coming forward with the same problem, and consider the people that have the problem but don't speak up. How many does it take to be considered more than a fluke.

 

[dbase]

Hey all. Well after my glowing review of the Ampeg pf-800 and 410/115 I've decided to return the pf-800 head. Since my review it has gone into shutdown numerous times and as much as I like the tone and sound of it I cant justify a $600 800 watt head shutting down randomly when pushed or when really digging in. At first I assumed it was cutting out due to the gain/volume being set too high but it has gone into shutdown multiple times even with it set at what I would consider to be very reasonable levels. I hate the feeling that it might cut out and I don't think that should be a worry. So after spending the day researching, I've decided to send it back and exchange it for a Peavy mini mega. I'd love to stick with an ampeg head to go with my ampeg cabs, but after experiencing the same thing with my pf-350, which is one of the reasons I went all out and bought the pf-800, I feel like I need to go in another direction now. I can't find even one issue with the min mega cutting out. It's the same price as the Ampeg, is 1000 watts rms @4ohms and from what I can see is rock solid. I have no hate for Ampeg. I still love the cabs and the tone of the amp heads. I just can't see spending $600 and having to deal with that issue. Comments and thoughts are welcome. Feel free to chime in. Thanks guys.

Had the same problem with my Hartke TX600... lost trust in it. You never knew if it was going to turn on or drop out on you. Like Hartke, but not that one..

 

[blacktocomm]

First off, only the PF-500 and SVT 7 Pro had issues, which have been long fixed. The rest of their amps just have occasional duds that slip through, just like any other amp manufacturer in the world, and that includes the 800. Second, compensated? Sorry but you obviously don't have any idea how B-level endorsements work. Yes, I get discounts on Ampeg gear. Yes, Ampeg has sent me a very occasional small ticket freebie. But I do not get paid a cent to be an endorser, the only money that has ever been exchanged between Ampeg and me is from my bank account to theirs, I completely reject and resent the idea that I'm being paid, and I will pay $1000 to anyone who can prove otherwise. I am one of the most helpful people on this board, often helping people with other amps besides Ampeg, I've been very complimentary to other manufacturers when I think it's warranted, and most people on here respect me because I am a straight shooter who isn't about to jeopardize that over a freaking discount. So I respectfully suggest you cease the slander.

Hahaha. Slander? Some of you people are just too much. Look sport, Ampeg gives you discount and/or free stuff. In turn, you jump into every Ampeg thread telling people their amps are great and all the broken ones are flukes. If you wanna claim there is no connection there, by all mean please do. If you wanna get offended that someone else sees it that way, please do that to. I really dont care.

 

[JimmyM]

Hahaha. Slander? Some of you people are just too much. Look sport, Ampeg gives you discount and/or free stuff. In turn, you jump into every Ampeg thread telling people their amps are great and all the broken ones are flukes. If you wanna claim there is no connection there, by all mean please do. If you wanna get offended that someone else sees it that way, please do that to. I really dont care.

Congratulations...you just made the list.

 

[blacktocomm]

Congratulations...you just made the list.

 

[Amano]

FYI played the Ampeg PF series long time ago and it also shut down on me. Never went back to Ampeg. Nr.1 rule with amps to me is reliabillity.

 

[JimmyM]

I don't know if I'd consider all these same issues a fluke. I'm sure there are plenty more non issues than issues but that doesn't mean it's a random fluke. There are enough cases of the exact same problem that would constitute it being something more. If a person has to cross fingers hoping that they don't get one with a problem then to me that's more than a fluke. That's a problem. The one guy even went through 3 separate brand new 800 amps and they all had the same issue. But I guess anyone can chalk it up to whatever they feel comfortable chalking it up to. For me, after the 350 cutting out, and then a year later a brand new 800 doing the exact same thing, and multiple people coming forward with the same problem, and consider the people that have the problem but don't speak up. How many does it take to be considered more than a fluke.

That question goes both ways. How many that work just fine does it take for it to be considered less than a fluke? Anyway, vote with your dollars. I really don't care, to be honest. I don't get commissions despite what certain anonymous people on here like to say.

 

[blacktocomm]

That question goes both ways. How many that work just fine does it take for it to be considered less than a fluke? Anyway, vote with your dollars. I really don't care, to be honest. I don't get commissions despite what certain anonymous people on here like to say.

Who's anonymous? My public instagram account is linked on my profile page. And no one said you were getting commissions for amps. You're making all that up in your little head. You get discounted and/or free stuff. You told us. We all know. So what exactly is your problem with people claiming these Ampegs have a known failure issue again?

 

[bherman]

That question goes both ways. How many that work just fine does it take for it to be considered less than a fluke? Anyway, vote with your dollars. I really don't care, to be honest. I don't get commissions despite what certain anonymous people on here like to say.

Hey JimmyM no dog in this fight here. Just chiming in to say that even I don't always agree with you, I for one really appreciate your input and insights into so many threads. Don't let the guys with short sheets get you down.

 

[pie_man_25]

I don't know if I'd consider all these same issues a fluke. I'm sure there are plenty more non issues than issues but that doesn't mean it's a random fluke. There are enough cases of the exact same problem that would constitute it being something more. If a person has to cross fingers hoping that they don't get one with a problem then to me that's more than a fluke. That's a problem. The one guy even went through 3 separate brand new 800 amps and they all had the same issue. But I guess anyone can chalk it up to whatever they feel comfortable chalking it up to. For me, after the 350 cutting out, and then a year later a brand new 800 doing the exact same thing, and multiple people coming forward with the same problem, and consider the people that have the problem but don't speak up. How many does it take to be considered more than a fluke.

Well, I'd actually say that to be more than a fluke it wouldn't be a raw, objective number, it would be a number compared to a population. We'd probably have to look at the population of these amps made, then comsider those that don't pass inspections, then look into those returned for warranty or other service. Subtract those sent in for issues from user error, and compare to the population at large IOT determine potential issues in production, inspection, and design. Even then, we'd have to operationalize how much we're willing to say can be a fluke incident.

Is it enough to happen twenty five times to say that there's a problem in the amps? I mean, maybe if the production is limited to a few hundred or thousand units. Without knowing how many are made and shipped out, we can't say how many instances is "just a fluke". If you make a million of something, no matter how consistently, at least a few of those things will be crap, potentially enough that even a few replacements sent will be crap. On a large enough scale, the unlikely becomes not simply likely, but inevitable.

I'm not saying you're wrong at all, just some food for thought.

Also, JimmyM likes his ampeg, but he does mention when ampeg gear sucks or is sub-par in some way. He's pretty honest about what he has, likes, and uses.

But hey, if you're frustrated enough, there are plenty of other manufacturers making great gear without a similar reputation, and even with my gear and playing situation as it is, I still look at non-ampeg gear all the time.

 

[mpdd]

Are we back in the territory of I can't turn my higher wattage new school little head up like I can my vintage tube head for stoner doom without it failing issue again thread that got some folks so bent outta shape?

 

[dmk]

That question goes both ways. How many that work just fine does it take for it to be considered less than a fluke? Anyway, vote with your dollars. I really don't care, to be honest. I don't get commissions despite what certain anonymous people on here like to say.

Thanks for the advice. I voted with my dollars. Got rid of my brand new unreliable Ampeg and went with Mesa. Every time I turn the power switch on, it stays on until I decide it's time to shut it down.

 

[Red Planet]

So to this issue I had purchased the Ampeg BA210v2 and it sounded great but with a 4 ohm load (using a 8 ohm 1x12 extension cab) if I had the bass control past 12:00 it would shut off. If I turned the bass down it would stop shutting off. My conclusion is these amps are on the design edge and this is just the design.

 

[Red Planet]

I counted 5, wise guy. Did I say these people didn't have problems? No I did not. Do not twist my words around to make it sound like I said things I never said. That's amateur hour on the internet.

Sensitive much?

I just thought it was funny sall.

 

[SirMjac28]

 

[Son of Wobble]

 

[Red Planet]

In Jimmy's defense he has always been an Ampeg lover and ended up an endorsing artist as well. I think when one is conversing with someone who profits from the company in a discussion we just take that with a grain of salt and move on .

I dont think there is any reason for anyone to be offended .

If I purchased one of these and it was constantly malfunctioning I would not be taking it to get it worked on I'd be taking it to get my money back, doesn't matter the brand

 

[dmk]

I'll be the first to agree that Jimmy contributes much to this forum, and many of us benefit greatly from his knowledge. But, it seems like every time an "unreliable Ampeg" thread pops up, Jimmy is right there with his "Ampeg can do no wrong" comments. Sure he's an endorser, but that doesn't mean much to any of us who spent good money for a product that doesn't always work as expected. I'm sure he would be a little upset if his new car shut down repeatedly and unexpectedly on the way to a gig, and the dealer told him it was just a fluke. Jimmy, we know how you feel about Ampeg, but try to hold off on replying to those threads. We're just understandably venting, and we don't need for someone to make us more frustrated.