Ampeg PF20T volume for apartment living

[Zbysek]

This amp sounds good at low volume.

The volume this/any amp puts out is largely dependent on the cab you use...

 

[MTN.bass72]

Honestly, it should be perfect for you for two reasons.

1) It'll sound fantastic at any volume.

2) There is an XLR out on these amps that allows you to take a tap off of the output transformer with no speaker load (which is rare for a tube amp). So if you decide that even this amp gets too loud for certain times if day, you can get all that tubey goodness into your headphones if you have a method for headphone use (either a headphone amp or even a computer interface for recording).

In other words, I think this would be the perfect amp for apartment playing.

Also, isolate your speaker cab from the floor. That will certainly help with apartment volume levels. If you don't want to buy the expensive foam isolator, use a couple of folded towels. The less connected that cab is to the structure of the building, the less you'll aggravate the neighbors.

This Is a great idea...
Or.. like I'm about to do, buy a small $100 or less mixer and take the xlr from the amp to the mixer.. plug your headphones and go to it

 

[Snibborwocky]

I match my PF-20T with a 210AV and it is plenty loud or quiet for apartment sized use depending on your gain and master volume settings. Extremely portable as well which is a nice bonus.

 

[klaatu]

Thanks for the replies. I'm planning on getting the PF20T as soon as the money is there. Looking forward to hearing how my Lakland Short Scale Hollowbody sounds with this amp.

 

[Zbysek]

Thanks for the replies. I'm planning on getting the PF20T as soon as the money is there. Looking forward to hearing how my Lakland Short Scale Hollowbody sounds with this amp.

Let us know what you think!

 

[klaatu]

So, I did buy the PF20T and the PF112 Cab. Lives up to everything that is said about the sound quality. One of the output tubes failed within a week. No surprise since I knew it was supplied with re-labeled tubes. As a longtime user of tubes in high end audio gear I have never liked or used re-labeled tubes. I replaced the input and output tubes with Electro Harmonix and I liked the sound right away. Of course the cab is nice too. I'm also looking for a solid state head to also use with the cab and have as a back up. I removed the tube retainers because I will not be moving the amp around anytime soon. Also looking for a solid state head to use with this cab but at 200 watts there isn't a lot of really good low wattage solid state amps but I've got my eye on a few. Maybe a Fender Rumble 200 head which looks to be discontinued but there's a few out there. Either way quite happy and knew it would be really good. Can't go wrong with Ampeg.

 

[klaatu]

Also, thanks to the talkbass members for their input. Another small solid state back up I'm looking at is the Trace Elliot Elf or any other recommends for a 200 watt bass head. No rush but at some point I just want a decent back up.

 

[el jeffe bass]

Klaatu, I have the same setup, it sounds great. The only thing that I would add to it is another PF112HLF, not that I need more volume but more for the cool factor. As far as a solid state head is concerned have you considered a PF350? It only puts out 250 watts at 8 omhs and has a very similar layout to the PF20T. Anyhow congrats on the cool rig, I hope that you enjoy yours as much I enjoy mine.

 

[klaatu]

Klaatu, I have the same setup, it sounds great. The only thing that I would add to it is another PF112HLF, not that I need more volume but more for the cool factor. As far as a solid state head is concerned have you considered a PF350? It only puts out 250 watts at 8 omhs and has a very similar layout to the PF20T. Anyhow congrats on the cool rig, I hope that you enjoy yours as much I enjoy mine.

Thanks el jeffe bass for the recommendation too. I just looked up the PF350 and it's one that got by me. Yes, the front panel looks very much like the PF20T. The PF112HLF is rated at 200 watts so would it still be ok to run with the PF350 at 250 watts? Also I see it has a fan and sometimes that's an issue for me since I can't play loud here but I'm still giving this amp a serious look.

 

[johnpbass]

Thanks el jeffe bass for the recommendation too. I just looked up the PF350 and it's one that got by me. Yes, the front panel looks very much like the PF20T. The PF112HLF is rated at 200 watts so would it still be ok to run with the PF350 at 250 watts? Also I see it has a fan and sometimes that's an issue for me since I can't play loud here but I'm still giving this amp a serious look.

The PF350 does have a headphone out and aux in, so you could do silent practice with that amp.

 

[starjag]

On the Ampeg bass head I use both the Ultra Lo and Ultra Hi with the bass around 1:30. That fattens up the tone real good for low volume, and I roll the bass in and out on the instrument itself as desired. My mids and highs are straight up. For practice, a similar EQ scheme would work with a PF20T keeping in mind the PF20T has no Ultra Lo or Ultra Hi.

Straight up as in “noon” or as in fully clockwise? I want to try this

 

[johnpbass]

Klaatu, I have the same setup, it sounds great. The only thing that I would add to it is another PF112HLF, not that I need more volume but more for the cool factor. As far as a solid state head is concerned have you considered a PF350? It only puts out 250 watts at 8 omhs and has a very similar layout to the PF20T. Anyhow congrats on the cool rig, I hope that you enjoy yours as much I enjoy mine.

It's surprising how much volume the PF20T puts out when using 2 cabs. I sometimes run mine through 2 112AVs.

 

[klaatu]

The main concern I have with the PF350 is if it's ok to run 250 watts at 8 ohms into the PF112HLF which is rated at 200 watts. I'm sure someone here would have the answer. Thanks for any info.

 

[johnpbass]

The main concern I have with the PF350 is if it's ok to run 250 watts at 8 ohms into the PF112HLF which is rated at 200 watts. I'm sure someone here would have the answer. Thanks for any info.

Should be fine. If you're running at a higher volume just listen to your cab for signs of speakers being stressed.

 

[klaatu]

Should be fine. If you're running at a higher volume just listen to your cab for signs of speakers being stressed.

Thanks johnbass. That makes it worth looking into. I wouldn't be playing too loud anyways. I like the Ampeg sound and the fan is probably nothing to make a big deal over and it looks to be one of the better options out there.

 

[Nevada Pete]

Straight up as in “noon” or as in fully clockwise? I want to try this

With the arrow on the knob pointing straight up (mids and highs), or 12:00 O'Clock High (noon). Now, that's on my practice rig which is an SVT7 Pro and an Acme Low B-112FR that lives on a stool.

Once you understand the Fletcher Musson curve so you know what your dealing with, you'll have to go by your own ear based on your rig and your bass. I play a Fender American Standard Precision V with La Bella 760FL's. I wouldn't dare use the tone settings I practice with on a live stage!

An Ampeg PF20T would work just fine for me to practice / rehearse through, even with my bass cab which is very inefficient. So would a PF350.

 

[el murdoque]

This Is a great idea...
Or.. like I'm about to do, buy a small $100 or less mixer and take the xlr from the amp to the mixer.. plug your headphones and go to it

I use a Behringer at home that, I think, was even below 50. I have an active 12" monitor wedge and an e-drum set hooked up, as well as an XLR line to my bass amp. I can use headphones or the wedge, should I not want to use the bass amp for whatever reason. This is a great setup and I don't need any more than that. The EQ on the channels allows me to kill the bass when I'm playing to a record, so I can play the bass part.


But I second that the PF 20T is a great amp for home use. I've swapped mine for the 50T, because on the 20, my low B distorted a bit too early for my taste. The 50 has more headroom and goes louder, but I acutually liked the bedroom tone of the 20 a lot more.