• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ampeg PF350/500 Part V

Status
Not open for further replies.
#221
GregT said:
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!
Click to expand...
My 'Pro is gone, or I wouldn't have been able to afford the PF. I started playing, and about twenty seconds in, with neither gain or master volume past maybe two o'clock, it started stuttering out. The red limit light came on at the same time. If this is just me being stupid, please tell me how to not do that.
I'm using a '92 American Standard J with EMGs.
 
#222
Have you checked your speaker cable. It's possible that a shorted or intermittent speaker cable can cause these symptoms.

Don't keep trying your amp with that cable without testing it, you could damage your amp if not otherwise dmaged.
 
#223
mattsdad said:
My PF 500 took a dump after 2 months! Geez! Stuck in fault mode.
Click to expand...

Same thing for me. Worked great for 2 months and death in fault mode.

I used the PF500 for weekly rock gigs and never had issues. The last time it worked, two weeks ago, it went the full 3 hours with no problems. Then, a week later, I take it out, plug it in and immediately it's stuck in fault mode and won't put out any sound. I was able to use the pre-amp out, plug it into a monitor power amp to power the bass cabinet. I called Ampeg and warranty support sent me a replacement very quickly.
 
#224
JimmyM said:
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.
Click to expand...

Jimmy, do you actually hear a noticeable tone impact of the Mid level rotary control between 11-2 o'clock (on any of the mid center points 1-5) ? I have played with the amp very carefully for a week, listening as actively as I know how, changing the controls very deliberately, and I simply don't hear that control make a difference unless it is boosted past 2 o'clock or cut past 11 o'clock (or the #2 cut, and #8 markings on the rotary midrange knob).

Of course, my ears are old and maybe not very sensitive anymore. :D

Not a criticism of the amp at all, just an observation of the apparent sensitivity of the control.

I am liking the Ampeg sound overall. Nice low end with the Ultra low engaged, and the highs are very crisp, without being too "sizzly". Very useable for me, and much easier to dial in a good working set of tones compared to say my TC RH450.
 
#225
Mind you, I haven't got to play with the mid knob in depth with the PF500, but I'm going by what has gone on with other Ampeg heads with the same mid setup and what I remember from the PF500. You're right that those are the points you start to notice the mids being affected, but in a mix, there are shades within that area before and after noon where it's not exactly noticeable but it's being affected. Like I'll find a point where the mids aren't too prominent but they're there and I can hear myself in the mix well, but if I back off them slightly I start to disappear in the mix.
 
#226
pfschim said:
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.
Click to expand...

I had that issue when I tested the amp out. To be honest, none of the tone controls seemed to have that much affect on the tone of the head, which I found to be very bright and glossy in comparison to the SVT and 7Pro that I owned at the time. I passed and got an Aguilar TH500 instead which, personally, I find to have much more friendly tone controls. You might want to check one out if you're interested in a warm sounding micro with slighly more flexible EQ options.
 
#227
agedhorse said:
Have you checked your speaker cable. It's possible that a shorted or intermittent speaker cable can cause these symptoms.

Don't keep trying your amp with that cable without testing it, you could damage your amp if not otherwise dmaged.
Click to expand...

That cable works fine; it's a 3' Monster speaker cable, about a year old. When I was running the PF into the cab I sold last week (to raise money for the GB purchase), it worked perfectly. Should I try a Speakon connection, as opposed to 1/4"? It's been eighteen years since I bought a new cab or head, so all I have is 1/4". It shouldn't make a huge difference, should it?
 
#228
agedhorse said:
Have you checked your speaker cable. It's possible that a shorted or intermittent speaker cable can cause these symptoms.

Don't keep trying your amp with that cable without testing it, you could damage your amp if not otherwise dmaged.
Click to expand...

Also, do you have any unwanted GB heads just laying around, taking up space? Had to check. >8)X
 
#229
Idiot Savon said:
That cable works fine; it's a 3' Monster speaker cable, about a year old. When I was running the PF into the cab I sold last week (to raise money for the GB purchase), it worked perfectly. Should I try a Speakon connection, as opposed to 1/4"? It's been eighteen years since I bought a new cab or head, so all I have is 1/4". It shouldn't make a huge difference, should it?
Click to expand...

As a reminder when troubleshooting, most cables worked perfectly right before they stopped working ;)

How are you getting out of the amp? Is your cable SpeakOn to 1/4" or is it a 1/4" to 1/4" with a SpeakOn to 1/4" adapter?

I have seen quite a few customer SpeakOn cables come apart recently, generally due to improper assembly of the cable. The binding screws can loosen if the wire was tinned with solder prior to assembly, and in some cases the strain relief chuck was not properly positioned on the outer jacket. It pays to double-check this kind of stuff as it can damage some amps.
 
#230
agedhorse said:
As a reminder when troubleshooting, most cables worked perfectly right before they stopped working ;)

How are you getting out of the amp? Is your cable SpeakOn to 1/4" or is it a 1/4" to 1/4" with a SpeakOn to 1/4" adapter?

I have seen quite a few customer SpeakOn cables come apart recently, generally due to improper assembly of the cable. The binding screws can loosen if the wire was tinned with solder prior to assembly, and in some cases the strain relief chuck was not properly positioned on the outer jacket. It pays to double-check this kind of stuff as it can damage some amps.
Click to expand...

It's 1/4"-to-1/4". I just tested the amp again, using the second 1/4" jack and a different bass (in case it was a pickup wire issue; I've had those)...if I keep the volume insanely low, there's almost never a problem. The second the Gain or Master (either/or, I've given up on both going much of anywhere together, for the moment) crosses the ten o'clock mark, I get loud clicks or dead time. The mids, bass, and treble are set very low (nothing past noon, and I brought them all down to nine o'clock to see if it was the EQ.) This amp simply does not want to play nice with this cab. Also, my Peavey's batteries needed changing...but I KNEW how to handle that. (I have a G-IV as a backup bass.)
It is Day 34 since I bought it, or this amp would be on GC's counter. It may yet end up there. The day is young.
 
#231
Where do you have the compressor set? Depending on your input level, gain, and master- the comp can sound quite harsh and create "clicks". I would follow 5SG's procedure of starting with the comp off before you set the gain and volume.
 
#237
stiles72 said:
Where do you have the compressor set? Depending on your input level, gain, and master- the comp can sound quite harsh and create "clicks". I would follow 5SG's procedure of starting with the comp off before you set the gain and volume.
Click to expand...

I started with the comp off and the -15db pad engaged, and that was when it happened. I also tried setting and resetting those controls before AND after powering up, in case I was doing it wrong.
No such luck.
I just got back from Guitar Center, where the problem was kind enough to repeat itself, and now I have a new head. They even let me test it on the floor, through a 4-ohm cab, with a nearly-identical bass, so I KNOW it works. I feel good, so far. I won't get to test further until tomorrow, but I will let everybody know what happens.
 
#238
TheOnlyJuan said:
Is everyone having problems with their PF500. I just got mine and everything is OK so far. You guys are actually making me nervous. Did I make a poor decision in changing my Line 6 HD400 for the Ampeg PF500?
Click to expand...

Juan,
If I have learned one thing, it's that you can have the one bad $10, 000 boutique amp or the one good $50 no-name pawnshop special. Been there, done that, in many different fields...
Even the problem I had seems to be somewhat unique, in some ways, so just play on till you HAVE a problem! Also, be sure to stay hydrated and eat your vegetables.
 
#240
JimmyM said:
Mind you, I haven't got to play with the mid knob in depth with the PF500, but I'm going by what has gone on with other Ampeg heads with the same mid setup and what I remember from the PF500. You're right that those are the points you start to notice the mids being affected, but in a mix, there are shades within that area before and after noon where it's not exactly noticeable but it's being affected. Like I'll find a point where the mids aren't too prominent but they're there and I can hear myself in the mix well, but if I back off them slightly I start to disappear in the mix.
Click to expand...

I get what you are saying. Part of the issue here is that I am coming from a regular gigging rig (Mesa WA) that has pretty sensitive mid controls (also kind of odd controls too, truth be told - the old Fender tone stack thing) that deliver pretty major impacts with fairly minor adjustments.

To my ear, the PF500/115HE rig has a reasonable mid presence with the mid controls "flat" (no boost/no cut on any of the freq centers), but it really starts to work great once you get a handle on tweaking the mids to taste.

I am also really digging the 115HE cab. My Mesa rig is 2 x 1x12, and while I really like it (and it suits my usual range of gigs), there is just something about the sound of 15's that is very pleasing to my old school ear.

I have dialed the PF500 in pretty well now I think, and it has worked great in rehearsal, and pretty well a gig (had to do some mid-set knob twisting to get the right overall level set for the gig), so now I have to decide if I want to add it to my regular gear rotation or not.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back