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Ampeg pf500 help

S

SleepingVillage

Guest
May 17, 2013
4
1
#1
Hey everyone,

I've got an ampeg pf500 with a 1x15 cab. I was playing over at my bands jam spot. While playing, I smelled a faint burning but it went away so I didn't think anything of it. We took a break so I decided to hit the mute button thinking we weren't taking that long of a break. The break lasted longer than expected and when we came back to jam, I was able to play for about a minute and it cut out. I can hear a bit of sound but if it gets too loud(which isn't that loud at all) then it cuts out like its trying to protect itself.

I took it home and it played fine so I thought it may have temporarily overheated. Brought it back to practice and it was immediately giving me the same problem. So while researching I had the amp on to test it. Now the fault light came on which it had not done before and the fan in the back stops after a couple seconds of turning the amp on...

Is my amp fubar? I would like to avoid a repair tech and try to repair it myself. Any help is very much appreciated, thanks!
 
#2
There's a ton of replies on several PF500 threads. The general consensus is that Ampeg really screwed the pooch with this amp.

I myself had to return mine to Sweetwater for a problem with the fault light, and sound cutting out.

Keeping my fingers crossed that my new Peavey will work out better when it arrives.
 
#3
The amp has a SMPS and class D output, not much you can do yourself unless you are highly trained (in which case you would not be asking, instead telling what you found). Use the warranty, you could only damage it further by experimenting with it.

If you are out of warranty Invalid Link Removed is the board a tech would install. $152. plus shipping and you could save the labor for the swap.
 
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#7
Doesn't work at jam spot, works at home.

The amp will shut down if the line voltage is too low. If you have a volt meter measure the wall voltage where you normally plug in with everyone else playing, that is, under load where the band is drawing the same sort of current that it was when you had the problem. If the voltage is below 115 VAC it might be your jam space power. If not, then it could be the amp overheating. Check that the air vents are clear, and there is room for the air to circulate around the amp. That the amp isn't under stage lights that is heating it.

Otherwise, the amp may have an issue.
 
#8
JimmyM said:
"By the time Ampeg reams him..."? You mean authorized dealers and repair techs don't get a break on price? I seriously doubt that.
Click to expand...

I dunno JimmyM, but when I had my recent PF500 woes, the tech started out by saying that if the power amp module needed replacing it would run close to the cost of a new amp (of course a sizable component of that would be the 'Australia Tax' we talked about a few weeks ago). In the event the problem was a crack in the PCB and a blown IC which didn't cost *that* much (although it wasn't cheap either).
 
#10
Long story short, the PF500 is probably the most practical solution for what I want in a head. However, because of this nightmare, I won't touch one with a stick. I'm interested in the PF800, but I don't need more power than the 500, and Its more costly and noticeably heavier.
 
#13
I don't know, sorry about your experience, but I got a PF500 about a year and a half ago, wonderful sound, everything I want in an amp. Running it through a PF115 and a PF210 and sounds just like I want it to. I have never had any problems with it, but maybe that's because I only play it for an hour or two at least 4 or 5 times a week.
 
#18
kat888 said:
I dunno JimmyM, but when I had my recent PF500 woes, the tech started out by saying that if the power amp module needed replacing it would run close to the cost of a new amp (of course a sizable component of that would be the 'Australia Tax' we talked about a few weeks ago). In the event the problem was a crack in the PCB and a blown IC which didn't cost *that* much (although it wasn't cheap either).
Click to expand...
this^

JimmyM said:
And you know this how?
Click to expand...
 

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