Taking my rig out to a May 24 show tonight, its going to be hot and possibly sunny. Have any of you guys had problems with the pf500 overheating? The owners manual mentions it, just wondering if its something I should be worried about.
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Ampeg PF350/500 Part V
- Thread starter Chef
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Micros run super cool unless they're being pushed, and even then, you have to do some serious cranking. I've yet to play one that ever got past slightly warmer than room temp on the top of the lid.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,010
- 5
- 220,850
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Mine is cool to the touch after a all night gig. Damn noisy fan
Haha, yep. No problems last night, it was dark before we started and it cooled off quite a bit.
Even the Line 6 is going to shutdown when pushed. All modern amps have protection circuits.
While the amp is new and returnable, and under warranty you should push it to the limits and see if/when it shuts down on you. So you have a feel for when it does, how it does it, and if you can live with it.
okcrum
in your chest
Agreed. Imagine the complaints if you got smoke instead of a shutdown/restart. Push the amp hard right away and replace it if it doesn't do the job.
Sweet Jiminy Cricket! I plugged the replacement head into the Genz Benz cab, and it proceeded, with minimal tweaking (and I DO mean almost none) to produce the creamiest bass tone I have ever had. I did not take things up to full volume (that'll be later today; the landlord has been warned), but I pushed the attack a little, to see if the transients carried over...and they did. So far, so good!
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,010
- 5
- 220,850
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Idiot Savon said:
Those Benz Benz cabs are sweet! I owned the Uber 212 and it was a killer cab.
Yep, rear ports and super big low end. That should come as good news to those who want to stack two 410hlf's but can't because their amp doesn't do 4 ohms.FYI, Check them out, rear ports,
Took Gain and Master to about two-thirty...I doubt I'll ever have to push things that far, but I had to know what would happen if I DID.
Everything sounded great, but kinda loud for a dining room.
That said, if you had anything to do with this cab, know that I am hugging you with my mind. Every little tweak, from picking to slapping to toying with my tone knobs to moving my right hand back and forth from neck-playing to bridge-playing, came through beautifully.
Hi guys sorry for this question again, i'm sure someone else posted something about this.
Today I have tried a GK neo 112 II and the Ampeg PF 350, I thought it would be a great combination for small rehearsals but:
The head reproduced a funny noise when turning the gain and the cab had a farting horn and a rumbling speaker. Both were brand new, the guy opened the box in front of me but for some reason the sound wasn't any good and I wasn't pushing the head at all.
Is there anyone that could share some light or information on this?
Thanks a lot
Mark
Today I have tried a GK neo 112 II and the Ampeg PF 350, I thought it would be a great combination for small rehearsals but:
The head reproduced a funny noise when turning the gain and the cab had a farting horn and a rumbling speaker. Both were brand new, the guy opened the box in front of me but for some reason the sound wasn't any good and I wasn't pushing the head at all.
Is there anyone that could share some light or information on this?
Thanks a lot
Mark
I've heard that you're supposed to set the gain until the peak light flashes then back off a little. I even saw this in one of ampeg's videos.
But doesn't the gain have to be set very high before the peak light comes on? Mine does and it's a little too dirty of a tone. Does keeping the gain low inhibit the amps performance at all?
But doesn't the gain have to be set very high before the peak light comes on? Mine does and it's a little too dirty of a tone. Does keeping the gain low inhibit the amps performance at all?
I have found a problem with my PF500 and PF115HE cabs. When just using one cab at a gig and I have to stand close to my cab, I cant hear myself. My wife said the bass was too loud, but if I turn down to where the band is well balanced, I cant hear a thing. I think the 15" speakers must have a very long "throw", so I'm contemplating doing the rear port installation that someone else did. I'm picking the rear firing ports will bounce the sound of the wall behind the cab, thus making it easier to hear. I probably only need to do one cab because when two are used the top cab is closer to ear level.
Good idea?
Good idea?
My guess is that adding rear ports would be exactly the wrong thing to do. I'd try backing off on the bass and experiment with your mids. Find the eq that lets you cut through the mix without being overly loud. IMO
If you are willing to mod your cab, maybe a tilt back bar would be the ticket.
I have found exactly the same thing. I used my PF500/PF115HE at a practice and I just couldn't hear it. I know it was plenty loud. The sound was just going past me by my legs. Then I took my Acoustic B100 and it sounded great. My Ampeg B100R worked great. All three were in the same room. You are not alone in not being able to hear it.
Next practice I am going to try the PF500/PF115HE faced to the wall. I am going to take off the back wheels and try it tilted up a little. I have also experimented with the tone. I have increased the mids a little and my treble was always OFF. I think it is just the design of the PF115HE. If I stand too close to it, the sound goes right by me so I have to turn it up. Maybe I will even try it on a chair or something. I don't want to be too loud. Then the two guitars are going to turn up, etc.
yep, you just beat me to that suggestion. Has nothing to do with "throw", it's just a matter of arranging the amp so you are not playing to the back of your knees. I have a similar problem with my Mesa Walkabout 12. On any gig where the volume goes over rehearsal levels, it must be tilted up pretty significantly in order for me to hear it in the mix, without overwhelming the mix with bass volume.
I did the same with my recently acquired PF500/PF115HE rig by simply taking the rear casters off at the gig. Worked fine, and I was able to hear it just right.
I would guess any of the smaller/smallish rigs out there these days (MB, Genz, etc.) would have the same issue, and the fix should be the same: Amp stand, Tilt back bar, milk crate, whatever is handy.
gotta hear what your playing
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