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Ampeg PF500/350, part 4

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#541
jackwell1029384 said:
probably an old question, but I've got a PF500 and a 1x15HE and I'm about to buy a second cab, having two 1x15s seems to be more popular and a 1x15 and a 2x10, why is this and what are the benefits either way?
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I have 1 of each. I started out with 2 210s but had to send one back and got a pf -115 to replace it. The benefit of having the same cab is your tone and voicing will be the same if you using 1 cab or 2 but you get that extra headroom by using 2. I could not tell any difference in tone using 1 or both 210s. I chose to get the 15 more out of curiosity as i had never had the chance to try one out and i did like the tone mixing my PF-210 and a svt115e gave me. Also i probably wont need to be using both cabs very often so i have some variety on which one to use. i would say that by mixing the cabs it muddys up the tone a bit but still sounds good to me. If you are happy with the tone you already have but just want more of it, go for another 15.
 
#542
I am disappointed, my PF500 just will not cut out, am I doing something wrong :D
I still love the thing, its such a good amp and along with my BF super twelve cab I have completely run out of GAS .

For me;

Fender Precison USA Deluxe+Ampeg PF500+Barefaced super twelve=heaven :hyper:
 
#543
fenderhutz said:
Yes I have two of them. Like them them VERY much. My gripe is that the 410 HLF needs to have a 4ohm option and a flip lid even it doesn't have a weight bearing handle since it does have recessed side handles. I would probably grab one if they were smart about the design and made it at least function with the PF350/500 heads with flip away storage.
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4 ohm option... why would it be an option? Does running at 8 ohms have any advantages over 4 ohms, or would the option be for heads that can't do 4 ohms (is there heads like that?)
 
#549
So, I'm a bad thread-digger: my PF500 is a cutter.

Never noticed it with my 8-ohm 115, but I switched to a 4-ohm cab, and sure enough, at high volumes it does cut out.

Now, admittedly, the volumes at which it does this are pretty much what I'd consider more than I'd need (gain at noon, volume at 2-3 o'clock, into an Ampeg 610HLF with the EQs at noon), but I mean- isn't there technically something wrong with my head? And I don't think I have my original sales receipt from GC. Am I screwed here? What steps should I take?

Note that I gig full time and do not have a backup head to use if I have to send them my head. Sending the head is probably out of the question.

EDIT: Also, coming from a huge Ampeg fan whose opinion of the company is not wavered by this head-cutting out thing- everyone throughout this thread who has insisted that the PF500 issue isn't a big deal, and that it's being magnified because the people who have failures are more likely to post, I have to respectfully disagree. You'd be hard-pressed to convince me that this head doesn't have a high-failure rate.
 
#550
Jayson - are you using the compressor at all? The common "fix" for the cutting out problem (unless your amp DOES have an actual failure) is:

1. Turn the compressor, volume and gain completely off.
2. Set your gain knob according to your bass/tastes.
3. Then set compressor and master volume as desired.

That's the solution I got from an ampeg tech and should fix the problem... At least it did for me. I haven't had a problem since and I run my gain at about 2:00, master volume anywhere from 10:00-2:00.

Hope that works... If not, call Ampeg. :)

5sg.
 
#551
SkiFor3 said:
I have 1 of each. I started out with 2 210s but had to send one back and got a pf -115 to replace it. The benefit of having the same cab is your tone and voicing will be the same if you using 1 cab or 2 but you get that extra headroom by using 2. I could not tell any difference in tone using 1 or both 210s. I chose to get the 15 more out of curiosity as i had never had the chance to try one out and i did like the tone mixing my PF-210 and a svt115e gave me. Also i probably wont need to be using both cabs very often so i have some variety on which one to use. i would say that by mixing the cabs it muddys up the tone a bit but still sounds good to me. If you are happy with the tone you already have but just want more of it, go for another 15.
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i have a 210 because it was cheap and available.it has a great tight sound.i think i would like a 115 for the same reasons as yourself and also because i saw the ampeg ad with owen biddle and a pf 500 on top of a 210 and a 115.in an interview in bassplayer this combo was listed amongst his gear setups.now this may be just hype or paid advertising but i took him at his word and he sure can play bass.surely if the setup was crap owen wouldnt have endorsed it? or am i just gullible?
 
#552
Jayson said:
You'd be hard-pressed to convince me that this head doesn't have a high-failure rate.
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It was posted earlier in the tread but according to ampeg is about 2%. I would have thought it was more as well but it really goes to show you how small a percentage of the bass playing community consists of TB users and how over represented failures have been in forum reporting.
 
#553
coreyfyfe said:
It was posted earlier in the tread but according to ampeg is about 2%. I would have thought it was more as well but it really goes to show you how small a percentage of the bass playing community consists of TB users and how over represented failures have been in forum reporting.
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well - I dont' know what the "actual" percentage is.....I doubt that they would tell you "Oh yeah - they are really bad - or fail a lot".....I mean come on....

BUT.......

When its "MINE"......its one too many that have failed -

its fixed, back, under surveillance....etc.....I like it - but we have to establish a new relationship and trust between each other .......;)
 
#554
Frankjohnson said:
well - I dont' know what the "actual" percentage is.....I doubt that they would tell you "Oh yeah - they are really bad - or fail a lot".....I mean come on....
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If the failure rate was much higher than standard product/component variance would dictate then they would have pulled the product from the market or redesigned the circuit by now. It's much different when it's your amp, but considering that they're just replacing amps straight up for most people, that would be a lot of product loss if they were seeing much more failure than they are reporting.
 
#555
It is misrepresented in forum reporting, because people don't flock to the keyboards when their amp is working properly due the understanding that it's supposed to do that, therefore it would seem to be a higher percentage. I for one have had no problems with mine and I've tried, within reason, to induce the problem. I hooked another cab up to it and drove my neighbors nuts for an afternoon and it performed as it was supposed to. I'm sure alot of other TBers have the same experience as I have, that being extremely positive.
 
#556
coreyfyfe said:
If the failure rate was much higher than standard product/component variance would dictate then they would have pulled the product from the market or redesigned the circuit by now. It's much different when it's your amp, but considering that they're just replacing amps straight up for most people, that would be a lot of product loss if they were seeing much more failure than they are reporting.
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Exactly -
and as I had said - I love the amp - just have to re-establish trust -

BIG97BEN said:
It is misrepresented in forum reporting, because people don't flock to the keyboards when their amp is working properly due the understanding that it's supposed to do that, therefore it would seem to be a higher percentage. I for one have had no problems with mine and I've tried, within reason, to induce the problem.
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Spot on -
I had mine for jsut over 10 months in that same status - couldn't understand all the issues - I was one of the "Lucky" ones....etc.....

It went without ANY warning. It NEVER cut out prior - It NEVER had any kind of issue ....and then.....

Turned it on - no poof, no flash, pop or anything....it went into mime mode - red faul light on.....that was it

any amp can do that - and I dont' fault this series.......but as agreed on.....when its YOURS.....its different.

I felt like I had been betrayed.....and now can't quite feel entirely trusting of it. it needs to prove its love all over again!
 
#557
I agree, if it was mine it would be alot different, and I have no douts that alot of wear and tear breakages are written off to the cutting out issues because they seem to get alot of attention. I hope everyone who is having problems gets them fixed to their liking and enjoys this amp as much as I have so far.
 
#558
My son bought an 8x10 fridge to use with his PF-500 when gigging (uses the PF-115 for rehearsals). He never had any issues with the 8-ohm 115 but it started cutting out into the 4-ohm 8x10. Replacement head is on the way from Ampeg.

The original head is from June 2011 and, while they claim to have made no changes, it is a somewhat earlier-built head.

He is using my head for now, which is from November 2011. Same settings, same active basses, same 8x10 cab, NO ISSUES at this time.
 
#560
I Just finished porting my PF115HE extension cab, so I started a new thread to cover all the mods I'm making.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/ampeg-portaflex-pf115he-mods-866811/#post12386637

porting-pf115he017.jpg
 
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