Ampeg PF500/350, part 4

[DalibortheBeast]

I broke the first pf500 I brought back in June. It could have been a manufacturers defect or by my own doing. But I sent it back through a certified repair center and received a brand new one 6 weeks later. It was a pain waiting but the new unit works and sounds great.

Another issue I was having was with the speaker cable which isn't of the highest quality so I bought an upgrade.

The latches on my cab were rattling. I solved this with a few very small hair ribbons which I tied around the latches. They tightened up the hold and stopped the metal on metal rattle.

Overall I didn't expect to have these minor/major problems with a brand new amp but the warranty covered me nicely and I still have over a year left.

 

[jumbodbassman]

Out of curiosity, are those of you having trouble with the 500s dealing directly with Ampeg for the returns or are you having to deal with the retailer? That would be a PITA if using an online source like MF. I assume Ampeg is asking you to send the faulty units back before they send a new one. Is that right?

I just returned mine to GC and took home the SVT 7

 

[mellotron]

Loud/Ampeg sent out a replacement PF500, and I boxed up the intermittently defective unit and had the courier pick it up. Then I got an "advise only" invoice in the mail from Loud. Basically, if you don't return the old head, they charge you for the new one. The very nice part is that I was never without a head.

 

[ddbassGA]

We don't live long without a head.

 

[Jeff_K]

wonder if you got my returned one to GC in Orange??? cut out first gig 3 days after i bought it. I am sure they just sold it as it was...

Nah, my first one came from GC in New London. In typical GC fashion it had no box and was scratched up from being on the floor, but was sold to me as brand new. My second came from Loud themselves. I haven't called Loud to order my 3rd yet, but will soon.

 

[garythenuke]

Nah, my first one came from GC in New London. In typical GC fashion it had no box and was scratched up from being on the floor, but was sold to me as brand new. .

That BLOWS! I sometimes lament I live so far out in BFE that there are no big music stores around. But then I hear stories like this and my mind changes a little. Though my local stores will screw you almost as quickly...

 

[Frankjohnson]

Maybe you have damaged the speakers over the years.

??

 

[woolfal]

I bought my pf500 straight out of the box from GC, as a Xmas present. I didn't detect the cut out issue until I took it to rehearsal, an ran it with both of my markbass p102 8 ohm cabs. I when't through that twice, then unloaded that puppy, an got a used markbass 500w, F1.
I already had a lil mb, but this F1 is even smaller

 

[mexibass]

If you were going to add a cab, you should add another pf115.

At 8ohms, your 350 is only putting out ~ 250watts (according to the manual) which isn't a whole lot through 1 15" speaker. Adding another 15 would be the way to go, IMO.

Hey man, thnx for the advice! I was thinking that a 210 would give it a more complete sound in terms of clarity... but then again having two 15 doesnt seem a bad idea at all!

 

[ElMon]

Here's a link to a comparison I did between my TH500 and my new-to-me PF500:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/ampeg-pf-500-aguilar-tone-hammer-500-a-849945/#post12490087


Emoticon summary:

 

[ryanfenderbass]

Oh no...

The past 3 months I've been smugly telling the thread that my 2nd PF500 replacement (3rd total) had been a peach with no cutting out issues. I unfortunately have to report she's cutting out again. Now my guitard is laughing at me and telling my how I should get an Orange bass terror. FFFFUUUU!!!!

So here's how it started again. I just got my Geddy back from a new setup and series/parallel mod. I zero my compression, gain stage, volume at 2:00, and start noodling. I put it in parallel and slap my E string... pffffffffft *cut out*. And this happens every time I lay into notes on the E and A strings. I switch back to my P with flats thinking that my hotrodded Geddy is just too much for the PF to handle. Now my P bass cuts out whenever I spank the low notes. ***? This is happening again after 3 solid months of high-volume gigging and rehearsals without any trouble. Time to ask the mothership for a FOURTH PF amp... I guess.

Anyways, I have a new theory. I think once it cuts out once, this is a sign of some kind of busted circuit or capacitor, and it will keep doing this forever... or until it dies. Does this make sense? Am I cursed as long as I own this amp, or will they finally fix it?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[carl h.]

Now my P bass cuts out whenever I spank the low notes.

Did you do this when you set the gain?

 

[ryanfenderbass]

Yes. To set the gain, I spank my E until the clip light starts to show. Always falls at about noon give or take.

 

[Idiot Savon]

I just bought a PF500, and am hoping to pick up a new cabinet soon, too. The salesfish at GC (Orange, CT) wanted me to buy the Markbass 210, but I am open to suggestions. My main problem is that I have to save up for a while...money is insanely tight, right now. I'm hoping to use the 1/4" on a 2x10 and the Speakon connection on a 15" or 12". Does that make sense? I'm new to Speakon, as I haven't bought a *new* amp in about seventeen years.

 

[John D]

Oh no...

The past 3 months I've been smugly telling the thread that my 2nd PF500 replacement (3rd total) had been a peach with no cutting out issues. I unfortunately have to report she's cutting out again. Now my guitard is laughing at me and telling my how I should get an Orange bass terror. FFFFUUUU!!!!

So here's how it started again. I just got my Geddy back from a new setup and series/parallel mod. I zero my compression, gain stage, volume at 2:00, and start noodling. I put it in parallel and slap my E string... pffffffffft *cut out*. And this happens every time I lay into notes on the E and A strings. I switch back to my P with flats thinking that my hotrodded Geddy is just too much for the PF to handle. Now my P bass cuts out whenever I spank the low notes. ***? This is happening again after 3 solid months of high-volume gigging and rehearsals without any trouble. Time to ask the mothership for a FOURTH PF amp... I guess.

Anyways, I have a new theory. I think once it cuts out once, this is a sign of some kind of busted circuit or capacitor, and it will keep doing this forever... or until it dies. Does this make sense? Am I cursed as long as I own this amp, or will they finally fix it?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Perhaps you are asking more of the amp than it was designed to deliver. Maybe, it's time to move on to something more to your liking.

 

[Truktek2]

Has anybody upgraded the casters on the pf cabinets yet? Those puny wheels get caught on every sidewalk crack. I figure the additional height from bigger casters would be a plus, and also make it a breeze to clear those large subway rats.

 

[Truktek2]

Perhaps you are asking more of the amp than it was designed to deliver. Maybe, it's time to move on to something more to your liking.

+1 What are the chances of getting 4 faulty amps? I'm wondering if the same problems guys are having with multiple amps could be attributed to operator error.

 

[Frankjohnson]

Perhaps you are asking more of the amp than it was designed to deliver. Maybe, it's time to move on to something more to your liking.

asking it to perform without cutting out isn't asking too much IMHO. I know a lot of buyers have had no issues - but for those of us who have, ESPECIALLY for those who have had more than one PF500 with issues, thats just a plain SHI%%Y track record.

If I did not have a backup - I would have been unable to play 11 band gigs, AND 6 blues Jams I play for the host band. Thats enough to buy several of these heads.

If I had known this up front - I would have not made the purchase at all. Since I did - I will probably give the new one (Due in tomorrow via UPS) another chance - but will HAVE to carry the back up for sure - to gigs. I will always feel like it is kind of broken and not fully up to the task.

Maybe I should have also gone with the SVT 7 or competitor rig from the get go.

If my opinion changes, through hands on experience, I will amend this comment - but until then - I can't help but feel skeptical.

 

[ryanfenderbass]

+1 What are the chances of getting 4 faulty amps? I'm wondering if the same problems guys are having with multiple amps could be attributed to operator error.

If I were you reading this, I might mistakenly jump to the same conclusion too. But here's the thing, I play passive 4 string Fenders in an indie rock 4-piece. My drummer is great with dynamics, and my (1) guitarist only uses a 50w combo at a reasonable level.

I'm NOT playing an active 5-string in a metal band where I'm competing with stacks of amps! Like I mentioned, I rarely go past 2:00, usually my gain/vol hang out around noon! I know how to set the comp, and I take care of my gear. The head looks like new as I ALWAYS keep inside my PF rig complete with amp covers.

With that said, I am asking this thread to maybe go beyond "user error" and help me and the dozens of other users plagued with this problem find a real solution.

Thanks!

 

[Truktek2]

If I were you reading this, I might mistakenly jump to the same conclusion too. But here's the thing, I play passive 4 string Fenders in an indie rock 4-piece. My drummer is great with dynamics, and my (1) guitarist only uses a 50w combo at a reasonable level.

I'm NOT playing an active 5-string in a metal band where I'm competing with stacks of amps! Like I mentioned, I rarely go past 2:00, usually my gain/vol hang out around noon! I know how to set the comp, and I take care of my gear. The head looks like new as I ALWAYS keep inside my PF rig complete with amp covers.

With that said, I am asking this thread to maybe go beyond "user error" and help me and the dozens of other users plagued with this problem find a real solution.

Thanks!

It definitely doesn't sound like you're pushing it, but 4 amps still makes me think it's specific to your rig as opposed to a design flaw, otherwise with the amount of units sold more people would be affected. I wonder if it's a cab issue. I'm no electrical engineer, but I wonder if a short in the speaker could cause low resistance, drawing excessive power and overheating the amp? In which case, no amount of amps ate going to solve the problem.