Ampeg PF350 as Guitar Head?

[FerruleCat]

Compact class D guitar amp head options lag far behind bass amps. I am interested in the possibility of running my Zoom G3 guitar modeler into the FX return of the Ampeg PF350 and using the power section only as a guitar head to drive 1 or 2 12" cabs.

I don't see why this wouldn't work, and there seem to be several advantages. The PF could double as a backup bass head. It has plenty of power for a guitar application. The speaker outs are 1/4", which still seems standard for guitar cabs. The PF is happy at 4 ohms, which works well with a modular system based on 8-ohm 1-12s. And there's good bang for buck.

Are there any downsides to this approach that I'm not seeing?

Thanks.

 

[b-b-b-bass]

I'very done this with my Zoom G1on, PF-350, and a guitar speaker cab. It works, but sounds artificial to me (just like the Zoom but LOUD). However, a tube preamp into the PF-350 fx return sounds fabulous.

 

[BassmanPaul]

I can’t even imagine how loud that would be. Pity the poor bassist who has to compete. I would also not expect a made for guitar speaker cabinet to last too long under assault of that much power!

 

[FerruleCat]

The idea would be to run the PF low and control the level with the pre. This isn't anything I need to do, but it's good to know it could work with the right gear feeding the amp.

I just don't see paying $400 for a Quilter Tone Block when you can buy a PF350 for less, get more juice, and have a bass amp in the bargain.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Yes, bass amps sounds decent with a guitar through them.

When I had a GK MB500, I thought the overdrive boost sounded too farty, but with guitar, it sounded great.

 

[DirtDog]

Many steel guitar players use bass amps for guitar. Clean overhead power being the desirable quality - sweet breakup on 7 is not what steel players are after (generally).

 

[swamp_bass]

Yes, bass amps sounds decent with a guitar through them.

When I had a GK MB500, I thought the overdrive boost sounded too farty, but with guitar, it sounded great.

I've lately experimented with guitars through bass amps, and bass through guitar amps and I've had similar results to this.

My Line 6 was surprisingly good on the clean tone with my bass, but the distortion didn't sound right at all, especially on the E and D strings. I was careful not to get too loud on the single 12" open speaker.

My drummer plugged a hollowbody guitar into my MB500 and bass cab, and the sound produced smiles all around. When I tried overdrive, it sounded farty, but clean was awesome.