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Ampeg PF500/PF350 - part 3, I think
- Thread starter BassyBill
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That's kind of what I figured, with them being pretty stand up. Can't wait to get them and spend some time working with them. Then I'll have to join up your Portaflex club.
My PF500 has just arrived, it is certainly solidly built, cant wait to get home and try it out 
PS
Can I join the club now
PS
Can I join the club now
Anyonw who wants to join the Portaflex club with a PF head or cab is welcome. But you have to post in the Portaflex Club thread so we keep a lineage in the thread itself.
Thanks Jimmy
My PF500 has just arrived, it is certainly solidly built, cant wait to get home and try it out
Just had 10 minutes with it connected to my pair of TC BC 212 cabs in my house, not a lot of time I know but just enough to get a quick feel for the amp, these are my first impressions .
It sounds real nice and has a fair bit of power, a nice tone to it and does get nice and growly, it has a good tonal range and I look forward to giving it a proper try out with the band, the mid frequency settings seem nice at first playing, is it right that number 3 is centre with 3-5 giving more mids and 1-3 less mids, also it makes my TC BH500 look huge !
I look forward to trying it properly with the band .
My PF500 has just arrived, it is certainly solidly built, cant wait to get home and try it out
Just had 10 minutes with it connected to my pair of TC BC 212 cabs in my house, not a lot of time I know but just enough to get a quick feel for the amp, these are my first impressions .
It sounds real nice and has a fair bit of power, a nice tone to it and does get nice and growly, it has a good tonal range and I look forward to giving it a proper try out with the band, the mid frequency settings seem nice at first playing, is it right that number 3 is centre with 3-5 giving more mids and 1-3 less mids, also it makes my TC BH500 look huge !
I look forward to trying it properly with the band .
3 is center, but the mid knob gives you more or less mids, not the selector. The selector changes the mid frequency. I forget exactly what those frequencies are but it's in the manual.
Umm... lets see... I've know I've got that on a stickie around here...
1 - 220Hz
2 - 450Hz
3 - 800Hz
4 - 1.6kHz
5 - 3kHz
5sg.
I had to have another go on it 
The selector settings seem quite subtle, so its the voicing of the mid channel that changes then, the main difference I have found so far is between 1 and 2 where there is a noticeable hump in volume, I have found the mid knob makes the differences more apparent when tweaked, always good trying out new amps
Love the Ultra bass button
PS
`is it right that number 3 is centre with 3-5 giving more mids and 1-3 less mids`
I think I meant that each switch setting gives a different amount of middle for the middle knob to utilise, something like that LOL
The selector settings seem quite subtle, so its the voicing of the mid channel that changes then, the main difference I have found so far is between 1 and 2 where there is a noticeable hump in volume, I have found the mid knob makes the differences more apparent when tweaked, always good trying out new amps
Love the Ultra bass button
PS
`is it right that number 3 is centre with 3-5 giving more mids and 1-3 less mids`
I think I meant that each switch setting gives a different amount of middle for the middle knob to utilise, something like that LOL
Hello! I got the pf500 with the 115he for Christmas. It's my first head and cab, and I love it (to be honest, I probably overdid it lol)! As someone said before, my 3 basses all sound different, and all the sounds have a unique character. But sadly, I honestly don't know how to work the compressor and thresh LED work... Can someone be kind enough to explain that to me? I've read the manual, but I still don't fully understand.
I got the pf500 with the 115he for Christmas. It's my first head and cab, and I love it (to be honest, I probably overdid it lol)! As someone said before, my 3 basses all sound different, and all the sounds have a unique character. But sadly, I honestly don't know how to work the compressor and thresh LED work... Can someone be kind enough to explain that to me? I've read the manual, but I still don't fully understand.
Compressors make loud signals a little softer and soft signals a little louder. Personally, I don't care for compression anymore, but it's fun to try it out. The threshold LED shows you how much your signal is getting compressed. Don't get too hung up on it, though...just use your ears and set the knobs the way you like.
Common sense goes a long way in that situation. If it sounds like the speaker's going to explode, it probably will, so turn it down if does.
kfgranda said:Hello!
Just turn it up until it sounds good.
On my 7 pro I have it on between 7 & 10 o'clock, or off.
You'll find on high settings it'll sort of 'squash' your notes. That's what it's supposed to do. Can be useful for some applications-slap etc... but, usually, for me, a little goes a long way.
I am liking my PF500 a bit more each time I play it, last night I tried experimenting and had my BC212 cab speakers farting like it had eaten brussels sprouts the day before with the ultra bass on at moderate levels so it looks like I will need to invest in a better cab to get the best out of it, the BCs also fart with the BH500 !
I will take both my amps to rehearsal tonight and hide them from the other guys view then play one at a time to see which one they like best, the winner becomes my regular amp LOL, I cant really decide which I like best so far so this seems a logical way to help me decide
I am thinking of getting a Barefaced Super Twelve cab which hopefully will not fart and give much better tone and output than the BC 212s, also a one cab solution to transportation problems .
I will take both my amps to rehearsal tonight and hide them from the other guys view then play one at a time to see which one they like best, the winner becomes my regular amp LOL, I cant really decide which I like best so far so this seems a logical way to help me decide
I am thinking of getting a Barefaced Super Twelve cab which hopefully will not fart and give much better tone and output than the BC 212s, also a one cab solution to transportation problems .
if you're farting your BC cab(s) just at home, (alone?), becareful when you run your rig with the full band. Where are you setting your Gain knob? Bass Knob? Bassguitar's knobs?
You just might be pushing those cabs with too much lows/or volume. I use a Markbass F1 or LMII or even GB Streamliner 900 with two TC RS210 cabs, stacked vert of course
and they handle good amounts of volume and lows with my 5 string passive/active basses. But I keep the bass knobs @ noon or 1:00 tops on either head.
I still get very good room-filling lows and plenty of volume in med-size clubs, no PA support for bass. The TC-RS cabs are supposed to be abit better quality than the BC, I think. But again, I don't push super-duper 3:00 or more
lowend (bassknob-wise) into them. Let us know how it went.
You just might be pushing those cabs with too much lows/or volume. I use a Markbass F1 or LMII or even GB Streamliner 900 with two TC RS210 cabs, stacked vert of course
and they handle good amounts of volume and lows with my 5 string passive/active basses. But I keep the bass knobs @ noon or 1:00 tops on either head. I still get very good room-filling lows and plenty of volume in med-size clubs, no PA support for bass. The TC-RS cabs are supposed to be abit better quality than the BC, I think. But again, I don't push super-duper 3:00 or more
lowend (bassknob-wise) into them. Let us know how it went.I was trying out the extremes at the low end hence the farting, that sounds bad doesnt it
As soon as I backed off the bass EQ the farting stopped, I like to mess about to get the feel of a new amp, regards my guitar knobs, usually I have vol and tone set to full (Fender P DLX 2010) .
The Barefaced cab will be a 50th present to my self later this year, dont tell the wife how much they cost 
As soon as I backed off the bass EQ the farting stopped, I like to mess about to get the feel of a new amp, regards my guitar knobs, usually I have vol and tone set to full (Fender P DLX 2010) .
The Barefaced cab will be a 50th present to my self later this year
, dont tell the wife how much they cost
OK, yep I've sorta done that with new gear at home practice volumes. Just didn't want you to try that with full band and break some of your new gear.
Yes, I read good things of those Barefaced cabs; pricey too. Maybe not quite the same but I bought a new 4 ohm, TB153 to use with my GB Streamliner 900 w/P5 w/flats. My most used rig these days.
As for your sig at bottom of your threads "not yet in P bass club" I'm 53, been playing/giggin since I was 17 and only about 1 yr ago, I finally bought my first P bass. REALLY?
A TBer sold me his '08 Am St P5, cola w/maple neck; I love this bass. So I should join a P bass club here too. Its now my fave bass, I still bust out either my 55-02D or Joe Osborn 5 now and then but the Fender just makes me happy when I play it. Have a great practice with your new gear and let us know how it went. AND YEAH, mums the word on the Barefaced. Works for me with my wife when GAS gets me. Peace mate, ernie.
Yes, I read good things of those Barefaced cabs; pricey too. Maybe not quite the same but I bought a new 4 ohm, TB153 to use with my GB Streamliner 900 w/P5 w/flats. My most used rig these days.
As for your sig at bottom of your threads "not yet in P bass club" I'm 53, been playing/giggin since I was 17 and only about 1 yr ago, I finally bought my first P bass. REALLY?
A TBer sold me his '08 Am St P5, cola w/maple neck; I love this bass. So I should join a P bass club here too. Its now my fave bass, I still bust out either my 55-02D or Joe Osborn 5 now and then but the Fender just makes me happy when I play it. Have a great practice with your new gear and let us know how it went. AND YEAH, mums the word on the Barefaced. Works for me with my wife when GAS gets me. Peace mate, ernie.
Thanks Ernie, advice heeded
To be honest, my wife does not care what I spend or do, as long as the kids are happy, the bills are paid and I dont go astray with other women (chance would be a fine thing !)
I have my hobbies and she has hers, she tests broomsticks
Playing since you were 17, I have been on bass a mere two years or so !
To be honest, my wife does not care what I spend or do, as long as the kids are happy, the bills are paid and I dont go astray with other women (chance would be a fine thing !)
I have my hobbies and she has hers, she tests broomsticks
Playing since you were 17, I have been on bass a mere two years or so !
Until now, everything is fine with the BC212 Cabs with me... I use the Amp with one Cab @the Rehearsals. haven't used both Cabs yet.
Following Settings: (Means ... 'o Clock)
- Gain 12:00 (-15db Knob NOT engaged)
- Compressor: 09:00
- Bass: 1:30
- Mid: 1:30
- Mid Freq. Selector Pos.3 (8ooHz I think)
- Highs: 11:30
- Master from 11:00 - 2:00
..and nothing is farting. Also with the Ultra Low Knob engaged, but with that Knob off, the "cut through" is better.
With the Lakland 55-02 or the Frudua GFJ5, I get a Sound like "Fat Chocolate" with some velvety Highs. Thats how I like it.
Following Settings: (Means ... 'o Clock)
- Gain 12:00 (-15db Knob NOT engaged)
- Compressor: 09:00
- Bass: 1:30
- Mid: 1:30
- Mid Freq. Selector Pos.3 (8ooHz I think)
- Highs: 11:30
- Master from 11:00 - 2:00
..and nothing is farting. Also with the Ultra Low Knob engaged, but with that Knob off, the "cut through" is better.
With the Lakland 55-02 or the Frudua GFJ5, I get a Sound like "Fat Chocolate" with some velvety Highs. Thats how I like it.
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