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Ampeg pf-800
- Thread starter stevemac
- Start date
Congrats, you corresponded with a sales associate. They told you what you needed to hear to buy their product. Stop listening to the manufacturers marketeers.
Well I don't know how much this is an indication of how much it'll take in raw numbers, but I've lit into a PF115he and PF210he pretty darn hard with an SVT 7 Pro at the music store, and a PF115he will take everything I can give it with a PF350 and not flinch.
But you have to know that it IS possible to blow them with a PF800. The reason is that beyond its RMS wattage, you also have peak wattage. Lightweight amps such as the PF heads don't usually have as much peak wattage as standard solid state and tube amps, but they do usually have some. And it can be enough to blow the cabs if you get an especially big peak from your amp. So if you're going for stupid loud, you should be able to get it but you're still going to have to watch your volume. But they will put out a good amount, make no mistake. Just like I said, if it sounds like the cabs are going to explode, they will.
But you have to know that it IS possible to blow them with a PF800. The reason is that beyond its RMS wattage, you also have peak wattage. Lightweight amps such as the PF heads don't usually have as much peak wattage as standard solid state and tube amps, but they do usually have some. And it can be enough to blow the cabs if you get an especially big peak from your amp. So if you're going for stupid loud, you should be able to get it but you're still going to have to watch your volume. But they will put out a good amount, make no mistake. Just like I said, if it sounds like the cabs are going to explode, they will.
Received the PF-800 last week. I have it paired with an 810E. My current band consists of 2 guitars, keys, sax, and drums playing R&B, Funk, and some Classic Rock. After 3 rehearsals, I'm really liking the sound - very SVTish. Seems like a perfect match. It's LOUD and has that classic 810 punch in the chest. Looking forward to the next gig.
Yep if nothing else, I've gotten that some common sense applies to the volume. I pressed the tech support guy some more and he's insistent you only need to worry about the RMS power, but he agrees you dont want the peak or limit constantly lighting up, only when you hit the bass harder than normal.
So yea, I'll keep the volume knob off max and enjoy the headroom for a clean sound. Great comments!!! Should be in today!
Define better.
To add:
What is a better car, a Dodge minivan or a Corvette?
Depends on how many kids you have.
Ive owned the Svt7Pro and the PF 500. The Pf 800 has the same preamp as the 500.
With that being said I liked the 500's tone better than the 7pro, tube or not, better is subjective.
The 7pro IS more expensive and quite a bit bigger, and to my eyes less attractive.
As soon as I have the money together, I will be ordering my PF800.
With that being said I liked the 500's tone better than the 7pro, tube or not, better is subjective.
The 7pro IS more expensive and quite a bit bigger, and to my eyes less attractive.
As soon as I have the money together, I will be ordering my PF800.
I went ahead and bought one today. Good ol Zzounds. Gave me a discount, free shipping, no sales tax, and let me buy it with payments. Should be here later this week.
Stoked! I'm pairing it with my recently acquired PF410hlf. Gonna be sweet!
Stoked! I'm pairing it with my recently acquired PF410hlf. Gonna be sweet!
Well don't go nuts in the other direction, either
I love the sound of that moderate grind you get when you crank the gain hard and make the clip light go. You just have to keep an eye on the master to compensate. If you're only going for clean tones, not an issue for you, but if you're going for dirt, cranking the gain can sound pretty cool. And Ampeg SS amps do sound better when you have a decent amount of gain, even when clean.
I slightly prefer the 7 Pro over the PF500 myself. I think the tube does make a difference. It's an actual working tube with decent voltage applied to it and not a glory tube. And it's actually 1000w. There was a published test in Bass Gear where it came out to be 750w, but there were also a couple subsequent tests by someone else where it hit like 950, which is close enough for a test to reasonably assume it can hit 1000w. Not that you could tell the difference with your hearing anyway. But it's all about preferences, and I get why some dig the PF500 more.
I can tell you, with an 810 it doesnt matter if its 750 or 1000. That Head (SVT7pro)is an absolute monster. It can get loud enough to do some serious hearing damage. I have had it up to 3 o'clock on the master before. That was the loudest bass I have ever heard. I am interested to see how the PF800 sounds with my 810. I'm sure it will be a beast as well.
For some reason with the 500 vs 7pro thing, I don't know if the tube made any difference to me as far as tone was concerned, but it seems to me the mids are more present in the 500. I always had to dial a bunch in on the 7pro. Could have been my cab i suppose. I think that's why I liked the 500 better. Both sound great though. I will probably pick up another 7pro at some point again in my life. Just to have one. Such a great amp.
I am super excited about the PF800 thought.
For some reason with the 500 vs 7pro thing, I don't know if the tube made any difference to me as far as tone was concerned, but it seems to me the mids are more present in the 500. I always had to dial a bunch in on the 7pro. Could have been my cab i suppose. I think that's why I liked the 500 better. Both sound great though. I will probably pick up another 7pro at some point again in my life. Just to have one. Such a great amp.
I am super excited about the PF800 thought.
Got mine in, no issues so far with the pf210s! 
Definately louder than the pf350, in the 3db or so range anyway. Haven't had an opportunity to really push them yet however, it's too loud for an enclosed space. But the headroom is immediately apparent, even at low volumes it is noticeably more full.
Wondering now if there would be a way to pair the 2x210 with a 410? If I'm right the resistance would be too low and result in a blown amp, but maybe there is a way to do it I dont know about.
Definately louder than the pf350, in the 3db or so range anyway. Haven't had an opportunity to really push them yet however, it's too loud for an enclosed space. But the headroom is immediately apparent, even at low volumes it is noticeably more full.
Wondering now if there would be a way to pair the 2x210 with a 410? If I'm right the resistance would be too low and result in a blown amp, but maybe there is a way to do it I dont know about.
OK, did some more testing of the pf800 with 2 pf210he's, pushed it a bit.
Starts to "fart out" if you set both gain and volume >75% using pf210's (also f--king loud). I'd imagine an instantly blown cab if you tried both at 100% ***not even gonna try it ***
This was never a danger with the pf350.
However you get very good crisp sound if you keep at least one knob at 50% even up to 100% on the other. This is the safe zone as I see it.
Now I'm thinking maybe 2x410hlf to get this puppy giving all its got?
Starts to "fart out" if you set both gain and volume >75% using pf210's (also f--king loud). I'd imagine an instantly blown cab if you tried both at 100% ***not even gonna try it ***
This was never a danger with the pf350.
However you get very good crisp sound if you keep at least one knob at 50% even up to 100% on the other. This is the safe zone as I see it.
Now I'm thinking maybe 2x410hlf to get this puppy giving all its got?
I am still trying to figure out how to swing one of these. Love my PF-500 with my fEARful, but I can easily find the limitations of the amp.
Now I'm thinking maybe 2x410hlf to get this puppy giving all its got?
Mine gets here this week. I bought a PF410hlf a while back while anticipating getting the PF800. I loved the tone of the original setup I had (pf-500-pf210he) but it never had enough headroom.
They made a more powerful setup and I am back again! I think if the need ever arises, its great to be able to pick up another PF410HLF and have a full stack. Ampeg thought this one through. The PF line serves quite a variety of needs now.
At these bargain prices. Ampeg is definitely giving GK a run for their money now.
Now I'm thinking maybe 2x410hlf to get this puppy giving all its got?
1 yep. 2 nope. I'm pretty sure the SVT-410HLF's are 4 ohms so that will kill the amp if you use two. A pair of PN-410HLF's, PF-410's, or SVT-410HE's are 8 ohms each and would more than likely melt a baby's face with that amp.
Mine gets here this week. I bought a PF410hlf a while back while anticipating getting the PF800. I loved the tone of the original setup I had (pf-500-pf210he) but it never had enough headroom.
They made a more powerful setup and I am back again! I think if the need ever arises, its great to be able to pick up another PF410HLF and have a full stack. Ampeg thought this one through. The PF line serves quite a variety of needs now.
At these bargain prices. Ampeg is definitely giving GK a run for their money now.
Good thinking! I'll probably sell my 2 pf210's & pf350 now and grab a pf410hlf, and another later when I get some more cash.
I'm just wondering if this new amp doesnt mean a new cab coming, like a pf410 sealed ... hmm.. LOL
I'm pretty certain he meant the PF410HLF. Which will indeed knock the hide off a kitten.
Good thinking! I'll probably sell my 2 pf210's & pf350 now and grab a pf410hlf, and another later when I get some more cash.
I'm just wondering if this new amp doesnt mean a new cab coming, like a pf410 sealed ... hmm.. LOL
If I recall correctly, I remember a gentleman (Sorry I forget his name-Not Dino) at NAMM 2013 saying that the Ported PF cabs were designed to go with the PF800. I'm pretty sure they already make a sealed 410 though in the classic line.
