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Ampeg PF350/500 Part V
- Thread starter Chef
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Crowella
Commercial User
I replaced a Fender Rumble 100 210 combo. It was a great move for me terms of volume and finding that mid voicing to cut through, as well as being more flexible EQ wise.
Also, you get that nice Ampeg sound.
What is that saying -- once is an accident, twice a coincidence, but three times is enemy action.
I say gremlins have taken up residence in your amp!
To be serious, I don't have any issues with mine whether it's driving an 8 or 4 ohm load, but I don't use any effects and I watch that little red light like a hawk. I like some grind in my sound, but I don't let that light even flicker for a millisecond.
I say gremlins have taken up residence in your amp!
To be serious, I don't have any issues with mine whether it's driving an 8 or 4 ohm load, but I don't use any effects and I watch that little red light like a hawk. I like some grind in my sound, but I don't let that light even flicker for a millisecond.
There's a PF 4x10 cab, what do you guys think of that? It's 8 ohms, so wouldn't two of the 2x10's get more watts out of the PF500 head?
Yes it would, but the difference between 300w and 500w manifests itself in headroom a LOT more than volume, where there is only a slight difference. I haven't played the PF410HLF, but the specs look to me like it's going to sound more like the SVT 410HLF and its big huge lows, so I imagine it was made for those who wanted two SVT 410HLF's and couldn't run 2 ohms.
I ride that light like a stolen supercar and have no problems, but I'm only running 8 ohms.
I just picked one of the PF-500's up. I'll be using it tonight with a 4 ohm load, Epifani UL-410. I'll let you know how it goes: I expect no problems.
It cut out set 2, 1 hour of play time into its first use. I'll be returning this POS that cannot do 110 DB on a cabinet that is 105db efficient. What a waste.. I believe that the power rating on the back of "125W" is more realistic than "500". I used the following settings and still... No dice.
Compressor: 0
Gain: 2 o'clock
Ultralow: OFF
Ultrahigh: OFF
Bass: 9-10 o'clock
Mid: noon
Treble: noon
FX: 0
Volume: 11:30....
Please tell me that this is not normal, because as it sits this amplifier will not handle my gigs AT ALL. I was playing the song "back in black" by AC/DC.... no slap. No digging in to any extreme, just plucking right behind the P pickup.
Your reply insinuates that my PF500 is defective; yet why is it so many people report this problem when using a 4 ohm cabinet? I am certainly not going to sell my speaker cabinet because the "new" amp I bought cut out on the first gig.
joelb79 said:
I use mine with 3 different cabs, an ampeg 8x10, a Carvin 10.4 neo ( both 4 ohms) and and alien alliance 4x10 (8 ohm). I'm just saying I push mine harder and have had no probs. normally I run it-
Comp- off
Gain-1:30
Bass- 1-2 o'clock
Mid 2 o'clock
Mid selecter-3
Treble 11-2 o'clock
Effects- off
Master- as high as 2 o'clock.
You may have a defective one. I don't know. Return and try another one or something else.
I've posted this before, but while we're giving examples this is basically how I run mine:
compressor ~10 o'clock
gain ~ 2 o'clock
bass ~ 1-2 o'clock
mids ~ 2 o'clock
mid selector on 2 or 3
treble at noon
master anywhere from 10-2 o'clock depending on cabs/rooms/etc
and I basically punish this thing with effects. Never a hiccup.
My cabs are usually a single 4 ohm load (either an 8x10, or 2x15) but I have also run it with two 8 ohm cabs and single 8 ohm cabs on occasion. I play all passive basses, fenders and gibsons. I'd say if you can't do the same you may have a defective unit.
compressor ~10 o'clock
gain ~ 2 o'clock
bass ~ 1-2 o'clock
mids ~ 2 o'clock
mid selector on 2 or 3
treble at noon
master anywhere from 10-2 o'clock depending on cabs/rooms/etc
and I basically punish this thing with effects. Never a hiccup.
My cabs are usually a single 4 ohm load (either an 8x10, or 2x15) but I have also run it with two 8 ohm cabs and single 8 ohm cabs on occasion. I play all passive basses, fenders and gibsons. I'd say if you can't do the same you may have a defective unit.
Ya, defective. Lots of folks use a 4 ohm load with it pushing harder than that, so you just got a bum unit.
I just paired PF 500 with a Harkte Pro 4200 4x10 / 4 ohm cab ported w horn and pushed it hard for about 5 hours. Paid 400.00 for the whole rig. I had no issues with pushing it yesterday. Best comment I got was "wow" seems like your lows aren't coming from the amp but are filling the room.
Well to be honest, that's how lows work because they're omnidirectional, but you're happy with your rig so who needs to get bogged down in science 
I would like to state that my PF500 is still 100% reliable despite being reserve to my Streamliner now
I would still happily gig with it if I had to, great amp
I would still happily gig with it if I had to, great amp
I am having a hard time agreeing with the "this is a great amp" statements considering it will not make it through a show (for me, YMMV). Why does the amplifier say "125W" on the back where you plug it in? My markbass power supply was 600w: this one is "125W"....
I have brighter light bulbs in my house than 125w... I've had louder 100w 115 combo amps than this UL-410/PF-500 combination.
I'll consider this; however I read here on talkbass that I am not the only one buying a defective PF-500 from the get go. The store I got this from only has a display model now, so I will have to send it to ampeg and wait for a return, all the while I will be ampless and using a guitar head that I'm borrowing which cannot do CRAP for tone and has no dynamics what so ever. I just spend money on this amp to buy a service bill and soundless gigs? I am frustrated beyond belief with this idea. How irresponsible for a company to release so many defective units to the market. Now you have 5 parts of thread on talkbass with a few people having this same issues, mostly after they just bought one and expected it to do the same as X brand's 500w.. I took a chance and had the same problem. Then they go through 2-3 replacements with Ampeg. NO THANKS!! Give me something that works..
The manual even states that it will cut out on you because it will get too hot while your using it and then in seconds later it will come back on when it cools off. This is probably exactly what happened to me; and it was happening at the inputs above. While I can see how this is a "defective unit" as you say; I have all sorts of reservation on keeping this thing. I want my hard earned money back so I can figure out how the heck I am supposed to get my markbass fixed. At least with that amp when the volume is at 1-2 I'm loud enough, and not feeling like I am taxing the amp for everything its giving me (like the PF500) and still: barely able to hear myself.
I have no choice but to use this amp on my monday night gig; which is uber low volume. I hate to say this but I am nervous about it.
I have brighter light bulbs in my house than 125w... I've had louder 100w 115 combo amps than this UL-410/PF-500 combination.
I'll consider this; however I read here on talkbass that I am not the only one buying a defective PF-500 from the get go. The store I got this from only has a display model now, so I will have to send it to ampeg and wait for a return, all the while I will be ampless and using a guitar head that I'm borrowing which cannot do CRAP for tone and has no dynamics what so ever. I just spend money on this amp to buy a service bill and soundless gigs? I am frustrated beyond belief with this idea. How irresponsible for a company to release so many defective units to the market. Now you have 5 parts of thread on talkbass with a few people having this same issues, mostly after they just bought one and expected it to do the same as X brand's 500w.. I took a chance and had the same problem. Then they go through 2-3 replacements with Ampeg. NO THANKS!! Give me something that works..
The manual even states that it will cut out on you because it will get too hot while your using it and then in seconds later it will come back on when it cools off. This is probably exactly what happened to me; and it was happening at the inputs above. While I can see how this is a "defective unit" as you say; I have all sorts of reservation on keeping this thing. I want my hard earned money back so I can figure out how the heck I am supposed to get my markbass fixed. At least with that amp when the volume is at 1-2 I'm loud enough, and not feeling like I am taxing the amp for everything its giving me (like the PF500) and still: barely able to hear myself.
I have no choice but to use this amp on my monday night gig; which is uber low volume. I hate to say this but I am nervous about it.
You guys are worrying me with this cutting out talk again :/
Ive already ordered a pf115 to go with my pf210 and pf500. I haven't played it with a 4 ohm load yet, had it for about half a year with no cutting out problems.
Show on Friday might be the first time I get to use the full rig. If it does cut out, would the best thing to do be pull the plug on one of the cabs so its back at 8 ohms? Dyou think that would work in an emergency?
Ive already ordered a pf115 to go with my pf210 and pf500. I haven't played it with a 4 ohm load yet, had it for about half a year with no cutting out problems.
Show on Friday might be the first time I get to use the full rig. If it does cut out, would the best thing to do be pull the plug on one of the cabs so its back at 8 ohms? Dyou think that would work in an emergency?
Just a quick hypothetical question: Could I run an Ampeg BA115 from the PF-500 while it is also powering a PF-210? How would I do it, and would it pose any harm to the 210 or the 115? I'm wondering because I want to get PF-500, 210, and 115, but am on a budget. I have a BA115, so I'm hoping to round out my sound with the 210, but still want the 115 (BA or PF) for the lows. Eventually, I plan to get the matching PF cabs.
Also, thanks to everyone for the contributions to this thread, I've been reading it like crazy and am blown away by the amount of info I've learned about this amp and amps in general. If I have any questions, you guys seem like the ones to ask! Thanks again!
Also, thanks to everyone for the contributions to this thread, I've been reading it like crazy and am blown away by the amount of info I've learned about this amp and amps in general. If I have any questions, you guys seem like the ones to ask! Thanks again!
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