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Ampeg PF500/PF350 - part 3, I think

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#761
I'm gonna take my chances on the PF500. It's against my better judgement, but I already have the 2 PF115's. What else would look proper on top of them? Also, the way everyone talks about how good they sound is the clincher. That's what the warranty is for, right?

I have a Little Mark II for a backup - which has been totally reliable for the last 3+ years of regular use.

The Peavey Classic 120 tube power amp works fine also, but again - it doesn't look 'proper!'
 
#765
garythenuke said:
How long after you bought it did you have it replaced?

I wonder if Talkbass as a group would have enough stroke with Loud to have them look into it? It's pretty lame to think these can "only be used for rehearsals"...

Lots of other manufacturers in different industries have various batch and series recalls due to manufacturing defects.
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I sent mine back after about 3 months. It worked beautifully for about a month, and then started cutting out gradually (a little here, a little there), until finally it died literally three notes into the first song. That's when I did two things. First I emailed Loud and we arranged a replacement (outstanding customer service, by the way); and second, I replaced it onstage with a Marshall MB450 (which has given me nothing but outstanding service since the day I recieved it).

I'm just thinking out loud, but it would appear to me that the cutting out problem was rampant in the first few shipments of pf500s. I'm not hearing about it happening as much now. I don't know if my replacement pf500 could handle a live show, and I'm not about to risk it again. Even with a backup amp handy, it's embarassing to have your equipment fall silent during, say, the little bass fill/solo in "Brown Eyed Girl". That's the kind of thing that goes viral on Youtube. So the Ampeg hangs out at the studio while the Marshall goes to the smoky little clubs.
 
#768
Got me a PF500 and PF115HE to replace my Genzbenz Shuttle. I did an A/B test and the Ampeg is tighter and punchier, even when running the GB through the Ampeg cab I could not duplicate the sound of the Ampeg head. I'll keep the GB though, it's great for jazz gigs.
I'm a happy camper.
 
#769
Marty Forrer said:
Got me a PF500 and PF115HE to replace my Genzbenz Shuttle. I did an A/B test and the Ampeg is tighter and punchier, even when running the GB through the Ampeg cab I could not duplicate the sound of the Ampeg head. I'll keep the GB though, it's great for jazz gigs.
I'm a happy camper.
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Sounds almost exactly like my thinking. I got my PF500/PF115 and kept my Shuttle 6 and a pair of Avatar cabs as a backup rig... but I haven't played them since I got my PF setup. :)

5sg.
 
#770
Ordered a PF-500 and PF-210 online through L+M on Jan 5. Was told by L+M that it is allocated and being shipped from WA as of Jan 11. Hopefully it arrives in the next week or so.

I have super-bloat level GAS right now waiting on this thing... It sucks that they take your money and then make you wait. It should be the other way around! LoL!

Hopefully those in Canada that have ordered are not waiting too long either. I wouldn't wish these gas pains on anyone. There seems to be no stock (at least through L+M) in this cold wasteland. The only reason I chose them was because of their no hassle return policy and there are actual brick and mortar stores that I can take it too if need be.
 
#772
JimmyM said:
Ya, it sucks to wait, but they sell quicker than they can make them, especially since we've just come out of the holiday season.
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Which is really a good thing! If Ampeg sees that there's a demand, they'll keep doing cool things and that only benefits us as players. I keep hoping beyond hope that they design some kind of (affordable) all-tube head for the Portaflex line! :bassist:

5sg.
 
#774
Pauler1976 said:
Ordered a PF-500 and PF-210 online through L+M on Jan 5. Was told by L+M that it is allocated and being shipped from WA as of Jan 11. Hopefully it arrives in the next week or so.

I have super-bloat level GAS right now waiting on this thing... It sucks that they take your money and then make you wait. It should be the other way around! LoL!

Hopefully those in Canada that have ordered are not waiting too long either. I wouldn't wish these gas pains on anyone. There seems to be no stock (at least through L+M) in this cold wasteland. The only reason I chose them was because of their no hassle return policy and there are actual brick and mortar stores that I can take it too if need be.
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Hey, I ordered a pf500 and 210 through Long and Mcquade too, just not online. It took maybe a week to a week and a half to get in.

Have you ever been to the L&M in Stratford?
 
#776
my VT bass pedal is pretty much now useless..

has anyone tried a Fuzz with the effects loop on this head?? I almost picked up a boss LS-2 , would that be a better option? I love fuzz, and would love to incorporate the awesome tone this amp puts out.
 
#779
Chris Breese said:
So why did you sell it? Do tell.
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Actually I just put it up for sale today. I picked up a GK 1001RBII head on Monday. It is way more powerful than my PF350 but also heavier. I like the Ampeg tone and portability but some times I have to push the PF350 to get the volume I need. I wish I could keep the Ampeg and just pick up a cabinet for the GK but I really don't need two rigs and I could use the money from selling the Ampeg to get a nicer cabinet.
 
#780
G3Mitch said:
my VT bass pedal is pretty much now useless..

has anyone tried a Fuzz with the effects loop on this head?? I almost picked up a boss LS-2 , would that be a better option? I love fuzz, and would love to incorporate the awesome tone this amp puts out.
Click to expand...

I run an OD pedal through the input. Tried it through the effects loop and it sounded like crap, which as I understand from reading around TB makes sense, since the loop isn't for pedal-type effects. Straight through the input the OD and other pedals sound fine.

One thing that's cool is that if you crank up the gain knob until the clip light just starts to blink and then back it off a little and adjust the volume to taste, the amp gets kind of "tubey" sounding, so I can back off the OD pedal or just turn it off altogether.

Once I figured out how to dial it in, this became a killer-sounding amp and cab combo.

I've been playing it fairly loud now for a couple of months and haven't had any issues. One problem I thought I had was actually turned out to be one of my pedals.
 
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