I thought I did the Ohm math and found the PF500 could not handle 2 cabs. I have a
410hlf and would love to add a second cab
410hlf and would love to add a second cab
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Ampeg PF500/PF350 - part 3, I think
- Thread starter BassyBill
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J Thurston,
Sorry to hear about your amp woes. It's no fun when you get a brand new amp and it immidately dies. But have heart, even the finest handmade stuff can have component faliure. In 1980 I got my first Walter Woods MI-100-8 which cost $600.00 dollars then. The switchmode power supply was defective. Walter fixed it, payed all the shipping charges, and turned it around in 3 days time. Ampeg's bound to have a few of these problems, soo as long as they fix it soon you'll be in good shape.
I owned a Kasino 200 bass amp with 2x15's. It was my first and last big amplifier. That cabinet was so bit that I had to open both rear doors of my 64 Chevrolet Bel-Air, take a running start pushing the amp into the back seat and then flip it over on to it's side before it fell out of the other back door on the opposite side. You had to close booth back doors very carefully so the arm rests wouldn't push the amp out and open the opposite door or crack the door release handels. I could have bought a Kasino 100, but no, I had to have the big kahuna.
Ric
So I've been reading about people being disappointed in not being able to run their MP3 players through the audio in and out through the cab.
I have not gone through the forum with magnifying glass the last day or so, so this might be a double post.
I got myself a 1/4 adapter for my original 1/8 mp3 cable and ran it in the FX loop return. The sound is quite a bit lower than the bass but if you push the -15 db and use it for home practice I bet it will be just fine.
I'm also planning to try to run my BOSS ME25 (yes I know that it's a guitar effect) through the FX loop. And that one has an AUX in as well that I will try at some point.
I have not gone through the forum with magnifying glass the last day or so, so this might be a double post.
I got myself a 1/4 adapter for my original 1/8 mp3 cable and ran it in the FX loop return. The sound is quite a bit lower than the bass but if you push the -15 db and use it for home practice I bet it will be just fine.
I'm also planning to try to run my BOSS ME25 (yes I know that it's a guitar effect) through the FX loop. And that one has an AUX in as well that I will try at some point.
I am now the proud owner of a brand-new PF-500! It's an early Christmas/Birthday present... I am lucky to have an understanding wife, she even picked it up and used her 'black friday' coupon at GC. She even traded in my old crate head.
I've only just tried it out to make sure it works, but yeah, it's obvious that it has a lot more punch and volume than my old 200 watt head. I've got a gig a week from tonight, that's when I'll see how it does. I'm running it to a GK 410MBR cab (4 ohm), bass is a G&L SB-2 plugged straight in.
I've only just tried it out to make sure it works, but yeah, it's obvious that it has a lot more punch and volume than my old 200 watt head. I've got a gig a week from tonight, that's when I'll see how it does. I'm running it to a GK 410MBR cab (4 ohm), bass is a G&L SB-2 plugged straight in.
Good luck with it Crater!
Funny, I got mine today too from the wife, early birthday/Xmas gift too PF-500/PF-115HE combo. I am not sure when to open it...we'll see, trying to be good. Birthday is 12/29 so no way I will wait till Xmas/birthday.
Funny, I got mine today too from the wife, early birthday/Xmas gift too PF-500/PF-115HE combo. I am not sure when to open it...we'll see, trying to be good. Birthday is 12/29 so no way I will wait till Xmas/birthday.
I use an SB-2 with my PF500. Make sure you engage the -15db button or the super-hot MFD's will overload the preamp.
But overloading the preamp rocks!
Overloading the pre on my Shuttle rocks.
With the PF500 it gets nasty (not good nasty either) and starts cutting out with the hot signal of the SB-2. Works much better with the -15.
Just curious - would it be possible to connect a BA115 to a PF350/PF500 and use it as a powered monitor?
Yes I think this could be easily done, just take the amp down to highway 61. No but seriously, preamp out from the PF500 into the input on the BA115 (probably with -15db pad). Could probably also use the tuner out,unpadded. And on both the 350 and 500 you could use effects send.
If you like the sound of the PF350 and you like the sound of the 215 you're using, it will most likely work pretty brilliantly. I'm using it with two of those PF115he's, which is essentially the same thing as a 4 ohm 215.
The PF500 also sounds killer on a 2x15 cab, with more than enough juice under the hood. At first I thought it was a bit too soft through the 2x15 comapred to my 3-Pros. But playing around with the gain and compressor settings tightened things up a bit, and gave it more "thump" instead of just "boom". Once dialed in, it kicked serious arse 
The PF500 also sounds killer on a 2x15 cab, with more than enough juice under the hood. At first I thought it was a bit too soft through the 2x15 comapred to my 3-Pros. But playing around with the gain and compressor settings tightened things up a bit, and gave it more "thump" instead of just "boom". Once dialed in, it kicked serious arse
Nice rig, love those 15's
If you haven't already done so, please post up a picture on my thread here.http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/show-your-love-15s-post-those-cab-pics-791164/index11.html
Keep Low
The PF500 also sounds killer on a 2x15 cab, with more than enough juice under the hood. At first I thought it was a bit too soft through the 2x15 comapred to my 3-Pros. But playing around with the gain and compressor settings tightened things up a bit, and gave it more "thump" instead of just "boom". Once dialed in, it kicked serious arse
saving my 2 15 EV cab for the svt7 or a swr henry 8x8 i am picking up tomorrow.
noticed the settings. do you use the comp that much??? never been past 10:30
Damn it.
Been hit by the cutting out thing with my PF350.
Running a passive pbass with both master and gain at 1 o'clock is making it cut out. Really bummed, meant I had to change to another amp to finish practice.
Been hit by the cutting out thing with my PF350.
Running a passive pbass with both master and gain at 1 o'clock is making it cut out. Really bummed, meant I had to change to another amp to finish practice.
I'm still convinced its an internal heat thing. It may not feel hot outside, but that's what I'm sticking to. If it happens to me, I'm putting in a second cooling fan. It's worked with other amps for me.
So, earlier I've reported that my PF-500 was randomly cutting out. Well, last night after a 2-hour practice, it went into complete thermal meltdown. Right at the epic bass-driven chorus of one of our tunes, my amp stopped. (I shot my keyboardist a dirty look because she likes to stomp on my mute switch just to be a dick). Then I looked over at my rig: the fault light was solid amber. I let it rest for a few minutes, then it went right back into fault and stayed there ...That's how rehearsal ended last night 
The upshot is that I had my replacement unit on hand and I was able to swap amps for next time. However, it doesn't make me feel secure that it won't happen to me at...gulp...a gig. We're a 4-piece indie dance-rock band. If the bass falls out, the ship is sunk.
I was running a passive J bass with near-flat eq, gain around 10oc, volume around 1oc, and comp barely on (using 2 PF115 cabs). I was running my VT bass in front, but not too hot (settings more or less around noon with a slight level cut to even out volume). This amp gives me the sweetest punch and tone, but I'm getting nervous. Any ideas? Did I in fact, have a lemon, or am I entering a world of pain with this amp?
PS when preparing to fasten my replacement unit to my cab lid, I encountered one of the 4 screws that fasten the rubber feet to the amp was stuck. I stripped the screw, then had to destroy the rubber foot and use pliers to grind the screw out. I then realized the screw hole was improperly drilled at an an angle, making it impossible to fasten without stripping more screws. I could re-drill the hole, but not at the risk of messing it up even more. Long story short: *** is up with Ampeg's quality control??? I'll be requesting another replacement to see if the third time is a charm.
The upshot is that I had my replacement unit on hand and I was able to swap amps for next time. However, it doesn't make me feel secure that it won't happen to me at...gulp...a gig. We're a 4-piece indie dance-rock band. If the bass falls out, the ship is sunk.
I was running a passive J bass with near-flat eq, gain around 10oc, volume around 1oc, and comp barely on (using 2 PF115 cabs). I was running my VT bass in front, but not too hot (settings more or less around noon with a slight level cut to even out volume). This amp gives me the sweetest punch and tone, but I'm getting nervous. Any ideas? Did I in fact, have a lemon, or am I entering a world of pain with this amp?
PS when preparing to fasten my replacement unit to my cab lid, I encountered one of the 4 screws that fasten the rubber feet to the amp was stuck. I stripped the screw, then had to destroy the rubber foot and use pliers to grind the screw out. I then realized the screw hole was improperly drilled at an an angle, making it impossible to fasten without stripping more screws. I could re-drill the hole, but not at the risk of messing it up even more. Long story short: *** is up with Ampeg's quality control??? I'll be requesting another replacement to see if the third time is a charm.
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