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Ampeg PF350/500 Part V
- Thread starter Chef
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Thats funny, because Ive only gigged with it. Still haven't got a chance to rehearse with it (with a band).
Just sitting here winding down after a gig tonight and thought I'd post my experience with the PF500/115HE rig tonight.
After using it on 15-20 gigs (and a greater number of rehearsals) with no issues at all, the PF500 crapped out on me tonight. Using the same settings that I have used all along:
Comp: 10 o'clock (only kicks in when I really dig in)
Pre: 1 o'clock (no clip light at all with my MIA Fender deluxe active Jazz - I was very careful to set this gain level up right)
Ultra Low: off
Ultra High: off
Bass: 12:30
Mids: 2:00
Mid selector: 3
Treble: 12:30
FX: off
Master: 11:30
so, net-net, not pushing the amp at all.
As I said, I have used the amp set this way for quite a few gigs and did not change anything tonight
Medium vol gig (200 people, outside but enclosed with a tent overhead)
last set (of 3), last 3 songs. Started popping in and out, I dialed the Jazz settings back a bit just to keep going, then it just quit on me and went into fault (yellow fault light on continuously) - this happened during the last song of the night. So it was gasping for air for 2 songs and then just quit for good on the last one.
Powered it down while the band played on, tried to power it back up after 10 sec or so, and nothing, so I quickly plugged into my guitar players spare Twin, and using a very light touch, finished the song and the gig.
After the set was over I tried it and it was working again - FWIW.
I have gradually started using the PF500/115HE as my main amp over my old favorite Mesa Walkabout (which never failed me on hundreds of gigs over the past few years).
I simply cannot have an amp fail on me like that and will go back to the Walkabout as of my Sunday afternoon gig. I will probably try the Walkabout through the 115HE cab as I have liked the sound of that cab very much and the 15 gives a bit more volume than the smallish Walkabout 12 can deliver.
pretty unhappy with this Ampeg product at the moment, and will rethink my gear strategy starting tomorrow.
good thing I have a ready alternative.
After using it on 15-20 gigs (and a greater number of rehearsals) with no issues at all, the PF500 crapped out on me tonight. Using the same settings that I have used all along:
Comp: 10 o'clock (only kicks in when I really dig in)
Pre: 1 o'clock (no clip light at all with my MIA Fender deluxe active Jazz - I was very careful to set this gain level up right)
Ultra Low: off
Ultra High: off
Bass: 12:30
Mids: 2:00
Mid selector: 3
Treble: 12:30
FX: off
Master: 11:30
so, net-net, not pushing the amp at all.
As I said, I have used the amp set this way for quite a few gigs and did not change anything tonight
Medium vol gig (200 people, outside but enclosed with a tent overhead)
last set (of 3), last 3 songs. Started popping in and out, I dialed the Jazz settings back a bit just to keep going, then it just quit on me and went into fault (yellow fault light on continuously) - this happened during the last song of the night. So it was gasping for air for 2 songs and then just quit for good on the last one.
Powered it down while the band played on, tried to power it back up after 10 sec or so, and nothing, so I quickly plugged into my guitar players spare Twin, and using a very light touch, finished the song and the gig.
After the set was over I tried it and it was working again - FWIW.
I have gradually started using the PF500/115HE as my main amp over my old favorite Mesa Walkabout (which never failed me on hundreds of gigs over the past few years).
I simply cannot have an amp fail on me like that and will go back to the Walkabout as of my Sunday afternoon gig. I will probably try the Walkabout through the 115HE cab as I have liked the sound of that cab very much and the 15 gives a bit more volume than the smallish Walkabout 12 can deliver.
pretty unhappy with this Ampeg product at the moment, and will rethink my gear strategy starting tomorrow.
good thing I have a ready alternative.
I used my 5 for the first time Friday after upping from a 350. No cuts, never even saw the preamp light flash. Seemed thinner than the 350 but...I had the 200w 4x10he on a stand so, I was in the process of buying a 500w HE, but changed that to a HLF...need the lows
I've got a noob question :hides: I bought the PF-500/115he and I love it, no complaints so far. I upgraded from the fender rumble 75. I just tried them side by side for the hell of it, and saw that the Fender (at full volume) is the same loudness as the ampeg with gain and master both at 2. Which is DAMN loud so I'm not complaining at all. Just wondering if thy sounds about right since I don't know too much about Amps.
I've been following the PF350/500 threads for a long time now and while I'm almost scared to post for fear of jinxing it, I've got a positive gig to report...
A little background for new folks: I reported cutting out issues a couple threads ago (late in pt.2, early pt.3?) with my PF500/PF115/PF115 setup and had been in contact with Ampeg. A tech suggested the "proper" way to set gain/compression/master (which I also posted). Since then, I've only used the full rig a few times, but have been religious about setting the gain the way she suggested (even when using only one PF115) and haven't had trouble.
I just played an outdoor gig with my gospel band, used my full stack and it rocked. Twelve vocalists, two keyboards, a sequencer with backing tracks and a loud-a$$ drummer. Our tent was half walled in and we were loud.
No problems with the, rocked the stage and you could really feel the low end, even outside. The keyboardist even commented on it during sound check and normally for that band I play the "house" 4x10/1x15 stack.
Settings
------------
Comp: 10:00
Gain: 1:00
Bass: 2:00
Mid: 10:00
Treble: 12:00
Ultra Lo: on
Cab tweeters: -6
Master vol: 12:30, pushed it to 1:00 later in the set
(MIA Jazz V w/ Audere JZ3 and Basslines Quarter Pounders.)
LOVED it. Awesome low end authority, perfect Jazz bass growl/snap in the high end.
5sg.
A little background for new folks: I reported cutting out issues a couple threads ago (late in pt.2, early pt.3?) with my PF500/PF115/PF115 setup and had been in contact with Ampeg. A tech suggested the "proper" way to set gain/compression/master (which I also posted). Since then, I've only used the full rig a few times, but have been religious about setting the gain the way she suggested (even when using only one PF115) and haven't had trouble.
I just played an outdoor gig with my gospel band, used my full stack and it rocked. Twelve vocalists, two keyboards, a sequencer with backing tracks and a loud-a$$ drummer. Our tent was half walled in and we were loud.
No problems with the, rocked the stage and you could really feel the low end, even outside. The keyboardist even commented on it during sound check and normally for that band I play the "house" 4x10/1x15 stack.
Settings
------------
Comp: 10:00
Gain: 1:00
Bass: 2:00
Mid: 10:00
Treble: 12:00
Ultra Lo: on
Cab tweeters: -6
Master vol: 12:30, pushed it to 1:00 later in the set
(MIA Jazz V w/ Audere JZ3 and Basslines Quarter Pounders.)
LOVED it. Awesome low end authority, perfect Jazz bass growl/snap in the high end.
5sg.
well, congrats on buying the upgraded amp.
not quite sure what you are asking.
You have the Fender and the PF500 sitting side by side.
You have the Fender turned up "at full volume" and the Ampeg dialed to "2" on both the Gain and Master, and they both seem to sound just as loud (?)
So does "2" mean 2 o'clock, or does it mean 2 marks on the dials ? What are your other settings (Compressor, Bass, Mid, Treble) on the PF500 ?
In general, 500w driving a 15 + tweet loaded cab will sound louder than 75w driving a 12" + tweet loaded cab. This is more than 5x the wattage driving a bigger speaker, so the Ampeg should be much louder. You should not expect stadium filling, ear crushing sound from the PF500/115HE, but it should certainly seem louder than your old Fender.
OTOH, you have to work with your gear to match the gain for your bass to the best preamp level, set your other EQ options, then push the Master up to where you want it.
Also look to make sure that the Ampeg does NOT have the -15db pad pushed into the on position (next to the input jack). This will significantly reduce the signal hitting the preamp from your bass, and therefore make the amp sound less powerful than it can be.
good luck, and let us know how its working out.
Medium vol gig (200 people, outside but enclosed with a tent overhead)
last set (of 3), last 3 songs. Started popping in and out, I dialed the Jazz settings back a bit just to keep going, then it just quit on me and went into fault (yellow fault light on continuously) - this happened during the last song of the night. So it was gasping for air for 2 songs and then just quit for good on the last one.
Powered it down while the band played on, tried to power it back up after 10 sec or so, and nothing, so I quickly plugged into my guitar players spare Twin, and using a very light touch, finished the song and the gig.
After the set was over I tried it and it was working again - FWIW.
I have gradually started using the PF500/115HE as my main amp over my old favorite Mesa Walkabout (which never failed me on hundreds of gigs over the past few years).
I simply cannot have an amp fail on me like that and will go back to the Walkabout as of my Sunday afternoon gig. I will probably try the Walkabout through the 115HE cab as I have liked the sound of that cab very much and the 15 gives a bit more volume than the smallish Walkabout 12 can deliver.
pretty unhappy with this Ampeg product at the moment, and will rethink my gear strategy starting tomorrow.
good thing I have a ready alternative.
Yep - had many successful shows with it - and it just went to yellow fault death - on a friday night - at home - very low level.
About a month in the shop - repair didn't fix everything - AMPEG DID make good and replace it - but I still don't trust it -
Have had it sitting home as my practice head - since. Gigged it 2-3x since -but not really trusting it - not good for gig gear.
[QUOTE="]
So does "2" mean 2 o'clock, or does it mean 2 marks on the dials ? What are your other settings (Compressor, Bass, Mid, Treble) on the PF500 ?[/QUOTE] 2 as in 2 o clock and I'm playing through a active fender deluxe special MIM. Bass boosted slightly 1 o'clock and everything else flat. Ultra lo and High off and I'm not complaining just making sure it's as loud as suppose to be.
So does "2" mean 2 o'clock, or does it mean 2 marks on the dials ? What are your other settings (Compressor, Bass, Mid, Treble) on the PF500 ?[/QUOTE] 2 as in 2 o clock and I'm playing through a active fender deluxe special MIM. Bass boosted slightly 1 o'clock and everything else flat. Ultra lo and High off and I'm not complaining just making sure it's as loud as suppose to be.
sure, I did not mean to suggest you were complaining.
with those settings the Ampeg should be very distinctly louder than the Fender.
did you check to make sure the -15db pad switch was not engaged ?
heh, just kind of crappy. After all the gigs I did with it, I had just got more-or-less comfortable with it too. Oh well.
I just can't tell if I am dealing with an inherent design flaw, a bad unit, or what.
I have decided to use my Mesa Walkabout with the PF115HE cab for the time being, while I do a bit of research on higher power amp solutions. Perhaps Mesa will get it together and finally release the Prodigy/Strategy amps. I may also take a hard look at the new-ish Fender Bassman all tube amps.
good luck with your search as well.
Ooooohhhhhhhh how I want one of those new Bassman 100T's..................................
Man, I'm really hoping I didn't jinx my PF500 now.
5sg.
The volume is not linear. I've noticed that beyond 2 o'clock it rapidly gets much louder. I was using my old 40W Peavy combo for practice and it was plenty loud with the pre-and post-gain up to about 3 o'clock; my pf500/pf210he rig provides about the same volume with settings around 12 o'clock depite having an 8-ohm power output almost 10 times what my old Peavey does. But if I really crank it it will rip your face off, especially in our little practice room.
Same experience here.
Edit: It seems like the EQ knobs are similar too... My PF500 really seems to like having its knobs turned. [insert snarky sex joke here] lol
5sg.
Knob settings are not universal from amp to amp. What your knobs are set to on one amp have nothing to do with what they'll be on another amp.
Joelb79 sent you over here, didnt he?
heeeeeeeeeeey... why am I the brunt of jokes?
Mine's still working fine for me right now; and the new one will be here thursday. I'll just keep both for the weekend incase numero 2 fails. and I intend to have it benched still.. just going to have to wait until next week. Busy gigging weekend. 
One possibility that can vary from venue to venue is the ambient temperature.
If the weather was hotter or more humid than usual that day, this could have affect how well the amp's fan was able to cool things down. In general, I find that a small desktop type of fan blowing onto the amp from the back helps to circulate the air and prevents overheating.
I'm curious - I have a PF350 and it's become my main gigging/rehearsal rig, and I've never had any issues with it cutting out. I'm wondering whether the PF350 and PF500 share the same fan, and maybe it's just not enough to handle greater heat creation that the 500 may be generating. I've followed this thread for quite awhile and it seems like that might account for at least some of the failures.
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