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Ampeg PF350/500 Part VI

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#1,001
Been fiddling with my 350 to get a pre setup I like at max output. I like it gain 330, Bass 145, mid and treble 200, and vol about 200. Grindy and loud. Reminds me of my v4b. I think I'll be running it like that from now on and using the master for control.

Edit: in other words the EQ is my new "flat" beginning point.

As for the limiter, it limits too much. With these setting through a 115he, it's at the limit but the driver sounds fine. Punch in the limiter and it dries the tone up on me, not to mention the expected peak volume drop. I don't intend on using it at that level, just wringing it out so I know what it can take. I have a 115lf to add for more surface area.

I have developed a problem with a severe rattle in the head. Turns out my 115he lid has warped so when it is head up, it was leaking at the middle back and the lid was bouncing like a buckboard on a corduroy road. I installed a latch on the back to clamp the middle of the lid down and all quiet now. I know a few others had been getting buzzing in the head. Check for leakage and deflection while playing of the lid.
 
#1,003
I just bought PF-350 today. It's my second Ampeg. I had BA108 for rehearsing at home. I had to take it back because of rattle and hiss it made. I was afraid to buy Ampeg because of the problems with BA but I'm glad I did. I really like the sound and the size of PF. It's my dream machine to play at home and carry between two bands and gigs. No need to adjust the EQ. The sound I'm looking for is in the middle. I love it!
 
#1,004
eudaimonia said:
I just bought PF-350 today. It's my second Ampeg. I had BA108 for rehearsing at home. I had to take it back because of rattle and hiss it made. I was afraid to buy Ampeg because of the problems with BA but I'm glad I did. I really like the sound and the size of PF. It's my dream machine to play at home and carry between two bands and gigs. No need to adjust the EQ. The sound I'm looking for is in the middle. I love it!
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Congrats! What cab are you running it through?
 
#1,005
I recently bought a PF 500 that was stuck in fault mode for spares / repair in London. After reading up on the history here, heart in mouth I ordered a replacement mainboard online via paypal from this site http://www.instrumentalparts.com/2034544-01.html. It seems to be a family run operation and their communications were very quick & helpful and I'm happy to recommend the company. The new board arrived well packed & was easily fitted and the amp is now working perfectly. Total cost was about 60% of the UK retail price. BTW the original board was marked revision D and the new one is marked revision E.
 
#1,007
nunkaval said:
I recently bought a PF 500 that was stuck in fault mode for spares / repair in London. After reading up on the history here, heart in mouth I ordered a replacement mainboard online via paypal from this site http://www.instrumentalparts.com/2034544-01.html. It seems to be a family run operation and their communications were very quick & helpful and I'm happy to recommend the company. The new board arrived well packed & was easily fitted and the amp is now working perfectly. Total cost was about 60% of the UK retail price. BTW the original board was marked revision D and the new one is marked revision E.
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Saved that link for future needs. Thank you for posting!
 
#1,008
I bought a pf500 with two 115s in November. Really been enjoying it.

But last month I realized one of the cabs had a bit of nasty voicecoil rub. Luckily Sweetwater replaced it for me.

Today I tried to power on the pf500 and got the dreaded fault light. No fan, no sound. I know Sweetwater will make it right.

I knew about both of these issues before buying the amp but I took a leap of faith. Thought it would have been sorted by now...
 
#1,009
I went to buy PF-350 mainly to rehearse at home because BA108 was such a let down (hiss, buzz and rattle). Now that I have read this thread I am so afraid the PF-350 will fail too. It's hard to understand the company so well known through the years has so much obvious quality problems. I am thinking of returning the PF and switching brand completely. I have 30 days to try it out. Hopefully problems begin before that and not after return time ends...
 
#1,013
MLC_BassPlayer said:
If memory serves (this thread is really long) the Pf-500 typically fails under 4 ohm load. Can anyone confirm/correct?
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IIRC that's true somewhat. Not all 500's fail though. In the year or so I had mine I pushed it at 4 ohms with moderate to high volumes with no issues. Some faulted when they were turned on after working fine before. There seems to be no clear pattern on faults or failures.
 
#1,014
I have had a PF500 for about 3 years now I believe. I've run it fairly ofter with a 4 ohm load and recently have been running it through a Glasstone Lil'G (which sounds amazing and is 4ohm) and haven't had any trouble at all. Reading through this thread over the years has made me paranoid though. Everytime a battery dies on an active bass or a chord isn't connected right and the sound goes out, I think it is the amp first, but it hasn't let me down yet. Solid stuff.
 
#1,016
Ok guys, I'm done with Ampegs. I returned my BA108 because of hiss and rattle it made. Bought PF-350 to replace it. I needed a small portable unit to rehearse at home and with a quiet bands. Today I took my brand new PF second time to play with the band and during the third song it started to drop out the sound. It just went silent and started to blink power and limiter lights without any reason. The volume was at 5. All the other pots almost flat. I tried to decrease bass and gain but it didn't help. The sound kept dropping off.

I really don't know what is going on with the company, but I'm done. I am returning my PF first thing tomorrow and will never buy another Ampeg product again. Shame on them for ruining such a remarkable brand in the history of music. Unbeliavable **** they are selling.
 
#1,017
eudaimonia said:
Ok guys, I'm done with Ampegs. I returned my BA108 because of hiss and rattle it made. Bought PF-350 to replace it. I needed a small portable unit to rehearse at home and with a quiet bands. Today I took my brand new PF second time to play with the band and during the third song it started to drop out the sound. It just went silent and started to blink power and limiter lights without any reason. The volume was at 5. All the other pots almost flat. I tried to decrease bass and gain but it didn't help. The sound kept dropping off.

I really don't know what is going on with the company, but I'm done. I am returning my PF first thing tomorrow and will never buy another Ampeg product again. Shame on them for ruining such a remarkable brand in the history of music. Unbeliavable **** they are selling.
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You are right. After having issues with two of their cheapest amps available, you should swear off the whole brand. I don't suppose you have a warranty do you?
 
#1,018
Of course I have warranty, what I do not have is patience. I have read enough horror stories from this site, the whole PF line suffers similar quality problems, even the most expensive one, PF-800. I am not swearing the whole brand, I know there were a nice line of bass amps when they were build in US. Then Ampeg sold their name, started to manufacture the amps in China and look where they are now. This whole thread is about quality problems!

Congrats to you who have Ampeg amps with no problems, but two lemons are enough for me, and I have no courage to buy more expensive one with the experience I've had with cheaper ones. Sorry to say, as I really love the Ampeg sound. Otherwise I wouldn't have bought the first one.
 
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