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Ampeg PF350/500 Part V

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#301
JimmyM said:
I've got two PF115he's and have been using them off and on for 8 months now. They're voiced a fair amount lower than the 810 and B-15 cabs that I usually use, which is surprising for a sealed cab. They're not voiced nearly as low as the SVT 410hlf, but more like the SVT 610hlf IMHO. The new PF115lf and PF410hlf sound like they're closer to the low end of the SVT 410hlf. The PF115he's have a killer sound, but I tend to gravitate toward the more rolled off low end.
Click to expand...

thanks JM. so have you had your hands (and more importantly, your ears) on a PF115LF ? Any sense how the two cabs (115HE + 115LF) would work together ? I also do not run up a ton of high end content, and am interested in putting together a 2 cab option for the PF500 that I have.

BTW, the PF500/PF115HE sounded killer on a gig today. I won't say that it sounded "better" than my usual go-to Mesa WA rig, just different, but the PF really worked well and got lots of compliments.
 
#302
I have not yet seen or heard a PF115lf, sorry. Looks like a real brown note inducer, though. I don't know...I tend to play it safe in situations like this and go for matching cabs, but it's possible the HE and LF could be a good match. Don't know what the LF uses for a speaker, but I would imagine they could use the same speaker that's in the HE and add porting to make it go even lower. But there's really only one way to find out if they'd work well together.
 
#303
JimmyM said:
Good question. Haven't spent enough quality time with the PF210he to know for sure, but it sounds really good to me. The 210av's, other than needing a slight bass boost, do sound a lot like a small SVT 810, but they're medium duty cabs and the PF210he handles twice the wattage.
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Thanx Jimmy. I've ALWAYS love the SVT810 tone but where I gig, the 810 is WAY overkill. heck even my NV412 only gets used 50% of the time - & that's with me using it at gigs where it's not "needed" :D
eg. Wedding gig- using upright & elec. Doing Jazz/blues & soul. I LOVE using my 300w tube YBA300 & NV412- better to have too much of a good thing...:hyper:

So, as much as I'd love to have an Ampeg 810, much more practical would be to TRY & get that sound in a smaller package. The NV412 -I think- cops more of the Ampeg 810 vibe than the NV610. Has a li'l more open hi's than the NV610 & -again - IMO feels more like the -later model SVT810's I've used.
Considering the 2 210AV's, as I wouldn't be wanting huge volume- got the NV412 for that. Just the feel & vibe of the 810.
Jimmy, you used the 210AV cabs stacked vertically, did you use them with your SVT running them?
I'd be using the YBA300 to run them, but would obviously have to watch the levels
 
#305
carl h. said:
AW C'MON. EVERYONE KNOWS the PF is a quiet 500 watts, unlike the (insert what you overpaid for and can't afford to replace so you won't admit you would rather have a PF but bluster on to bolster your own failing)!!!

:ninja:
Click to expand...

I have had three 500 watt amps and the PF500 is up there with them, easily, I had an GK MB212 (which failed miserably) and a TC BH500, the PF500 IS the best of the bunch and is fantastic value for money too, it has by far the best and most easily accessible tone too :)
 
#306
pfschim said:
still looking for some input from anyone who is using their PF500 with 2 of the Ampeg PF series cabs.

I currently have a PF500 and a PF115HE on loan. Interested is adding a cab, either another 115HE or a 115LF, to make a modular arrangement for when I need more than 250-300w and 1x15 cab (which is rare, but still ...)

What I would like to hear about is whether the PF500 running at 4ohms with 2 PF cabs is more likely to have the cut out issue that has been reported by some PF series users. Also would like to know if there is anyone here on TB using a 115HE with a 115LF, or even just 2 x 115HE's, and how that is working out for you.

anyone have experience enough to provide insight on this ?

thanks
Click to expand...
I use two PF115HEs for some of my gigs. I have never had any issues and I get volume by the truckload.... more than my poor ears can handle in fact.
 
#308
Well, here's another boring, I-was-afraid-of-all-the-cutting-out-issues-but-took-the-chance-anyways-and-think-the-amp-is-great report...

Granted, I've only had the pf500 for about a week now, but I've got two practices with two different bands and a gig under my belt already... and it performed great. One loud practice through a fridge, one through a 4 ohm custom 15 jobby, and a loudish gig through a 4x10.

I love the growly(?) gain structure, but I'm still getting used to the the eq which, as others have noted, is subtle until you get past 3:00 or so. (When I cut, the taper seems to be more natural to me.) I was using a SVT 3 in one practice space, and I was surprised by how different it sounds, despite the similar eq layout (I never use the graphic eq). Not better or worse, just different.

The PF500 isn't exactly my tonal dream amp, but it gets me close. I love where the lows sit in the mix, and I can certainly get enough highs, but there's something about it's presence in the mix that I can't get quite right. It plays nice with the kick and guitars (hello SVT!), but I'm used to being a little more up front(?) in the mids(?) I think?? Not sure. I bet I can fix that minor issue when I work with the eq some more.

As far as cutting out, no issue there. I did get it to go into fault, but I was trying on purpose. It was really really loud and sounded terrible when it did finally fault. My old (non-class D) amp would never have just cut out, but, then again, I have over heated it and melted some components in the past. I think I prefer to have the amp to turn off when I'm doing something stupid.

One question I had while reading through all these threads and all these people having problems with the pf series: do people have similar issues with other class D amps (markbass, genz benz, GK, etc.)? Or is it a design choice on Ampeg's part to have the amp shut off when pushed to far? For example, I noticed in the GK manuals that they say something about the power amp distorting in a bad way if it's too loud. Just curious.
 
#309
Stompin Tom said:
Well, here's another boring, I-was-afraid-of-all-the-cutting-out-issues-but-took-the-chance-anyways-and-think-the-amp-is-great report...

Granted, I've only had the pf500 for about a week now, but I've got two practices with two different bands and a gig under my belt already... and it performed great. One loud practice through a fridge, one through a 4 ohm custom 15 jobby, and a loudish gig through a 4x10.

I love the growly(?) gain structure, but I'm still getting used to the the eq which, as others have noted, is subtle until you get past 3:00 or so. (When I cut, the taper seems to be more natural to me.) I was using a SVT 3 in one practice space, and I was surprised by how different it sounds, despite the similar eq layout (I never use the graphic eq). Not better or worse, just different.

The PF500 isn't exactly my tonal dream amp, but it gets me close. I love where the lows sit in the mix, and I can certainly get enough highs, but there's something about it's presence in the mix that I can't get quite right. It plays nice with the kick and guitars (hello SVT!), but I'm used to being a little more up front(?) in the mids(?) I think?? Not sure. I bet I can fix that minor issue when I work with the eq some more.

As far as cutting out, no issue there. I did get it to go into fault, but I was trying on purpose. It was really really loud and sounded terrible when it did finally fault. My old (non-class D) amp would never have just cut out, but, then again, I have over heated it and melted some components in the past. I think I prefer to have the amp to turn off when I'm doing something stupid.

One question I had while reading through all these threads and all these people having problems with the pf series: do people have similar issues with other class D amps (markbass, genz benz, GK, etc.)? Or is it a design choice on Ampeg's part to have the amp shut off when pushed to far? For example, I noticed in the GK manuals that they say something about the power amp distorting in a bad way if it's too loud. Just curious.
Click to expand...

"One question I had while reading through all these threads and all these people having problems with the pf series: do people have similar issues with other class D amps (markbass, genz benz, GK, etc.)? Or is it a design choice on Ampeg's part to have the amp shut off when pushed to far? For example, I noticed in the GK manuals that they say something about the power amp distorting in a bad way if it's too loud. Just curious."

thats a great question.I'd love to hear some answers to that.
 
#310
bassman64 said:
"One question I had while reading through all these threads and all these people having problems with the pf series: do people have similar issues with other class D amps (markbass, genz benz, GK, etc.)? Or is it a design choice on Ampeg's part to have the amp shut off when pushed to far? For example, I noticed in the GK manuals that they say something about the power amp distorting in a bad way if it's too loud. Just curious."

thats a great question.I'd love to hear some answers to that.
Click to expand...

There have been issues with other SMPS type amps (look at the early Orange TB-500 problems, for example) but as no one really knows the source of the problem (the companies don't seem to be too forthcoming about possible design issues/fixes) it's hard to say if they're directly related.
 
#311
Stompin Tom said:
One question I had while reading through all these threads and all these people having problems with the pf series: do people have similar issues with other class D amps (markbass, genz benz, GK, etc.)? Or is it a design choice on Ampeg's part to have the amp shut off when pushed to far? For example, I noticed in the GK manuals that they say something about the power amp distorting in a bad way if it's too loud. Just curious.
Click to expand...

BTW...These issues are not present with Markbass. I had a Jeff Berlin and have tried all the other combos they have.

I cranked the JB and even tried to get it to clip and could not( didnt try that hard didnt want to damage it) but I did try to duplicate how it was happening with a PF 500.

the thing about the mark bass line...if you need to max out the master, gain and eq...theres no problem with the amp...they are very very loud . if you need a louder amp you need 2 SVT 8X10's and a an 1000 watt head..

Mark bass is very quiet, very loud and very well built. sadly, I didnt like the sound paired with my Ric...
 
#312
JimmyM said:
I have not yet seen or heard a PF115lf, sorry. Looks like a real brown note inducer, though. I don't know...I tend to play it safe in situations like this and go for matching cabs, but it's possible the HE and LF could be a good match. Don't know what the LF uses for a speaker, but I would imagine they could use the same speaker that's in the HE and add porting to make it go even lower. But there's really only one way to find out if they'd work well together.
Click to expand...

I hear ya on not mixing cabs, I usually go that route, but have mixed similar "same series" cabs in the past with decent results. So, think Aggie GS112+GS112NT. That worked ok, I just did not love the GS sound profile in general.

I think the LF does use the same 15" driver, it just eliminates the tweet and adds ports for lower tuning as you point out.

Having gigged the PF500/PF115HE a few times now, I don't think I would go wrong if I grabbed another 115HE to create a matched stack when needed (which is rare).

in keeping with the TB rule of no pic, no amp, here is the PF500/115HE along side the Mesa 12+12 (with the TC RH450 sitting on top for good measure). Never thought I'd see the day when my Mesa gear sat next to my Ampeg gear. With only a Lull to keep them apart. :cool:


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=270597&stc=1&d=1338842032
 

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#317
Just picked up a brand new PF350. Love it so far but has anyone had issues with the cooling fan? When I first turned mine on the fan was STUPID loud, like my wife heard it across the apartment loud. It's kinda settled down now but I can still hear it. Anyone else have that issue?
 
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