Ampeg PF350/500 Part V

[GRAHAM SG1]

Either the amp or the cab did fart out with the Master pushed much past 2 o'clock, particularly on the E string, chords or big low double stops.

I have read reviews of the PF115 cab that mentioned the speaker fart a bit when pushed .

Regards the PF500 farting, I have had this happen once at the last gig which got a bit too loud and I whacked the bass EQ right up to see what it sounded like, as long as I keep the bass EQ around noon the amp does not fart at all through my BF Super 12 .

 

[pfschim]

When I first got my cabs, one of them seemed to be farting out - but it turned out to be the grill vibrating. I found that the bolts on the baffle board had small washers that had countersunk into the wood. I just took them out and added larger washers.

Also, i can no longer remember the tonal details, but there was a bit of a speaker break in period for my cabs. It is pretty difficult to get them to fart out know.

the rig I have is an A&R loaner unit and has been used (last at SXSW I think), so I don' think its a speaker break in issue.

 

[pfschim]

I have read reviews of the PF115 cab that mentioned the speaker fart a bit when pushed .

Regards the PF500 farting, I have had this happen once at the last gig which got a bit too loud and I whacked the bass EQ right up to see what it sounded like, as long as I keep the bass EQ around noon the amp does not fart at all through my BF Super 12 .

not sure which EQ you are talking about (on the bass, or on the amp) but I do not push either one. I have a tone I know how to dial in on my basses which does not include pushing the bass levels in any significant way, then I run the PF500 gain up to the point where I get the peak light coming on just a bit, then I back off the gain just a touch so there is little or no peaking going on. I like my tone full but clean.

no one should take my comment on farting out as a serious criticism. This would probably happen on most amps at that level - around 2-3 o'clock (even though there are significant differences in pot tapers).

 

[GRAHAM SG1]

The EQ control I mentioned was the bass on the amp, I always run my bass volume and tone controls on full in the passive function, I generally do not use the active with the PF500 as there is a big jump in output to the amp (Fender USA P Deluxe 2010) .

 

[Alex Huddleston]

Hi, metal bassist here.

Just thought I'd write a positive note about my PF500. I've had this thing for 2 months now and I've had nothing but a good experience. I'm pairing it with an Ampeg BSE410h and I'm getting an amazing tone from it. It's no SVT, but then again it doesn't cost $1400 or weigh 90 pounds. Even with just a 410 8ohm cab this thing is plenty loud for the venues that we play in the area. I've only played two gigs, a handful of band practices and nightly practices at low volumes but it seems like a solid, well-built amp so far. I haven't had any problems with it cutting out although I thought it crapped out on me at our last gig. We we're opening for a tour coming through Portland (Overkill, God Forbid) and the amp decided to lose power half way through our second song. Turns out it was just the venue's outlet that was crapping out, go figure. I play thrash metal and here's the tone settings I use to get some beef and gritty punch out of it:

Gain: 1-4 o'clock depending on the bass
compression: off
ultra lo: on
ultra hi: off
low: 12 o'clock
mid: 3 o'clock
mid selector: 2-4 depending on bass/mood I'm in that day
high: 12 o'clock
volume: 11-2 o'clock depending on situation

I'm loving this amp so far. I'll give an update in a few weeks after I've played a few more gigs with it.

 

[Idiot Savon]

Hi, metal bassist here.

Just thought I'd write a positive note about my PF500. I've had this thing for 2 months now and I've had nothing but a good experience. I'm pairing it with an Ampeg BSE410h and I'm getting an amazing tone from it. It's no SVT, but then again it doesn't cost $1400 or weigh 90 pounds. Even with just a 410 8ohm cab this thing is plenty loud for the venues that we play in the area. I've only played two gigs, a handful of band practices and nightly practices at low volumes but it seems like a solid, well-built amp so far. I haven't had any problems with it cutting out although I thought it crapped out on me at our last gig. We we're opening for a tour coming through Portland (Overkill, God Forbid) and the amp decided to lose power half way through our second song. Turns out it was just the venue's outlet that was crapping out, go figure. I play thrash metal and here's the tone settings I use to get some beef and gritty punch out of it:

Gain: 1-4 o'clock depending on the bass
compression: off
ultra lo: on
ultra hi: off
low: 12 o'clock
mid: 3 o'clock
mid selector: 2-4 depending on bass/mood I'm in that day
high: 12 o'clock
volume: 11-2 o'clock depending on situation

I'm loving this amp so far. I'll give an update in a few weeks after I've played a few more gigs with it.

Obviously, you are on drugs. No venue has ever used substandard power... /sarcasm
I have an audition for a local metal band, so thanks for sharing your settings!
I have a line on a GB NeoX 212T, but I'm wondering if the 4 ohm impedance will make my PF500 cut out. Anybody have any answers on that?

 

[GRAHAM SG1]

I use my PF500 with a Barefaced Super Twelve which is 4 ohms, I have had no issues at all and the cab really brings out the best in the amp and with so much handling capacity (1200 watts @ 4 ohms) it can take far more than the PF can push out

 

[pfschim]

I am expecting to use a PF500/115HE rig in a rehearsal tonight and then a gig this weekend and I am working on refining a good set of useable tones. I am getting a bit hung up on the mid controls.

It seems like the mid control is not very sensitive and it needs to be set either at 9 o'clock (cut) or 3 o'clock (boost) for any of the 5 freq center points to have much of an impact on the sound/tone. Once its pushed to, or past, those points the impact is pretty clear. Is this just the way Ampeg mid controls work in general, or is this particular to the PF series ? The manual says the rotary control has a +10db/-20db boost/cut effect on the chosen mid center freq.

I'm also interested to know if most users boost one of the 5 center freq's, or cut.

Keep in mind that I am coming from many years as a Fender (and Mesa) tone stack user, with it's somewhat odd mid control (certainly different than the Ampeg), so this may just be a user adjustment challenge.

FWIW, I would say that after a week of messing with this amp/cab, it certainly easier to dial in a workable tone than the TC RH450 I have been working with for months.

perhaps some of you more familiar with the PF500, or Ampeg gear in general can offer some guidance on how you run the mids on this amp.

 

[Dymond-]

Is there any way that I could use my old Traynor ts25b combo amp to get some more volume out of my pf500 and pf210 rig? I just thought of that... I have a perfectly good 15' speaker just sitting there while I'm thinking of buying a pf115. Is there any way I could use this old combo amp as an extension cab?

 

[GregT]

I am expecting to use a PF500/115HE rig in a rehearsal tonight and then a gig this weekend and I am working on refining a good set of useable tones. I am getting a bit hung up on the mid controls.

It seems like the mid control is not very sensitive and it needs to be set either at 9 o'clock (cut) or 3 o'clock (boost) for any of the 5 freq center points to have much of an impact on the sound/tone. Once its pushed to, or past, those points the impact is pretty clear. Is this just the way Ampeg mid controls work in general, or is this particular to the PF series ? The manual says the rotary control has a +10db/-20db boost/cut effect on the chosen mid center freq.

I'm also interested to know if most users boost one of the 5 center freq's, or cut.

Keep in mind that I am coming from many years as a Fender (and Mesa) tone stack user, with it's somewhat odd mid control (certainly different than the Ampeg), so this may just be a user adjustment challenge.

FWIW, I would say that after a week of messing with this amp/cab, it certainly easier to dial in a workable tone than the TC RH450 I have been working with for months.

perhaps some of you more familiar with the PF500, or Ampeg gear in general can offer some guidance on how you run the mids on this amp.

I was only using the mid-switch on #2 until I read that someone was using theirs on #5. I always had my treble turned down. I still like #2 best but turning the treble up really made a difference for me.

With my Precision I run the mids on about 2:00. Bass 3:00. Treble 12:00. No compression. Ultra low: in. Ultra high: out.

 

[60bass]

Is there any way that I could use my old Traynor ts25b combo amp to get some more volume out of my pf500 and pf210 rig? I just thought of that... I have a perfectly good 15' speaker just sitting there while I'm thinking of buying a pf115. Is there any way I could use this old combo amp as an extension cab?

Providing the speaker is 8ohms and has a way to connect it to the PF I don't see any reason it wouldn't work. Or you could use the preamp out jack on the PF to run into the input on the Traynor and use it to power the 15.

 

[shredhead68]

I am getting a bit hung up on the mid controls.

It seems like the mid control is not very sensitive and it needs to be set either at 9 o'clock (cut) or 3 o'clock (boost) for any of the 5 freq center points to have much of an impact on the sound/tone. Once its pushed to, or past, those points the impact is pretty clear. Is this just the way Ampeg mid controls work in general, or is this particular to the PF series ? The manual says the rotary control has a +10db/-20db boost/cut effect on the chosen mid center freq.

I found that to be the case with just about all the controls on this amp. It really likes its knobs twisted. Things really ramp up quickly past 2 o'clock or so. I came to the same conclusions you did...to boost you REALLY have to boost (2 o'clock minimum) and to cut, it's best at 9 o'clock or lower.
Myself, I prefer Frequency Settings 2 and/or 3, with a slight Mid boost (around 2:30) a slight cut to the Treble (9 to 10 o'clock) Bass around noon, compression at no more than 1 or 2 o'clock if you like to use it, but be sure to dial up your Gain and Master settings to where you'd like them before adding compression. I never use the Ultra Hi but I like the sound with the Ultra Lo engaged for a ballsy bottom end when you need it.
I haven't gigged mine yet, but I did loan it to a friend when his rig went down unexpectedly and it performed flawlessly at a REALLY loud punk rock gig.(medium sized club, around 500 people) He was running it through a mic'ed 4ohm 410 cab and it sounded great! No issues whatsoever and tone for DAYS !
Good luck on your gig. Let us know how it goes.

 

[GRAHAM SG1]

I too have found the mid switch to only be really effective when the mid knob is around 3 o clock plus, I also notice a sizeable volume increase when going from 2 to 1 on the switch .

My general settings.

Comp - off
Gain - 12 o clock
Bass - 12 o clock
Mid - 3 o clock minimum
Mid switch - position 5
Treble - 12 o clock
Ultra low - generally off except for the heavier rock songs
Ultra high - off

I usually end up with the master between 12 and 3 o clock, 3 o clock seems to be the point where this amp tops out with my gain setting at 12 o clock .
I would like stronger mids in my sound than the PF gives, maybe my ears are lacking in those frequencies and I dont hear them that well where others would ?

 

[JasonKain]

Been using my PF500 for a while, loved it in store, lost a bit of it's wow factor with my band.

I decided it was the cab. So I have a LDS 2x15+2x6 on the way. That should fix it, right?

 

[Idiot Savon]

Today, I am picking up a Genz Benz NeoX 212T. If this works nearly as well as I think it will, the gain-crazed lead guitarist in my bar band is going to implode. Also, I will do my evil laugh.
A quick tech question: I have an old Bass POD. Where in my signal chain should I put it? I'm mostly using my custom presets for crunchy chorus tones.

 

[Idiot Savon]

Been using my PF500 for a while, loved it in store, lost a bit of it's wow factor with my band.

I decided it was the cab. So I have a LDS 2x15+2x6 on the way. That should fix it, right?

It can't hurt! My band seems to think my amp is too small...wait till they meet my new 212T friend! BWAHAHAHAHA. Ahem. Sorry.

 

[JimmyM]

You guys be careful with that mid knob...it may not seem like it at first, but a little goes a long way in the context of a mix. That's why it's not so drastic at first...to give you room to boost or cut the mids in small degrees.

 

[Idiot Savon]

Well, I picked up the GB NeoX 212T, brought it home, plugged it in, and promptly experienced the sounds of silence. Who do I call first, Guitar Center or Ampeg?

 

[GregT]

Well, I picked up the GB NeoX 212T, brought it home, plugged it in, and promptly experienced the sounds of silence. Who do I call first, Guitar Center or Ampeg?

Try your SVT3Pro into the new cabinet. One time I turned my PF500 on to silence until I remembered the Mute Button. I'm hoping it's something like that!

 

[SkiFor3]

Well, I picked up the GB NeoX 212T, brought it home, plugged it in, and promptly experienced the sounds of silence. Who do I call first, Guitar Center or Ampeg?

Was it working then went silent or dead from the start? This doesn't sound like a problem others have had. A few have had it short out as soon as it was turned on but usually a pop or smoke was noticed as well. If everything checks out and it still is not working i would go to ampeg first.