Ampeg PF500/PF350 - part 3, I think

[sad_katz]

I definitely agree to the 500 is the better deal. But then again my budget is $500 for both head and cab ... (the PF350/PF115 costs $700 ...)

Again thanks for the input guys, you're awesome!

(Still not answered, is the "SVT-sound" and "B15-sound" the same?)

 

[TheCush]

I definitely agree to the 500 is the better deal. But then again my budget is $500 for both head and cab ... (the PF350/PF115 costs $700 ...)

Again thanks for the input guys, you're awesome!

(Still not answered, is the "SVT-sound" and "B15-sound" the same?)

I'll defer to more experienced players, but I own and regularly play both the SVT and a vintage B-15. IMHO, they are really quite different to my ear, but how they differ is a bit esoteric. Maybe the SVT has more growl, or is more "aggressive" tonally. I know that's a pretty subjective comment. I think the B-15 is richer, perhaps it sits more comfortably in a mix with other instruments. Both seem to have a character that is unique to Ampeg. Maybe I'm just waxing philosphic.

I can get a tone that is more B-15 like from my PF350/115, however (for me) it requires pulling way back on the mid and treble and boosting the bass a bit. That may be a function of the horn (?) which I have set in the middle (back of cab).

Looking for others to weigh in.

 

[JimmyM]

I definitely agree to the 500 is the better deal. But then again my budget is $500 for both head and cab ... (the PF350/PF115 costs $700 ...)

Again thanks for the input guys, you're awesome!

(Still not answered, is the "SVT-sound" and "B15-sound" the same?)

They can be. All depends on how you turn the knobs. I get a very similar tone out of my B-15 and SVT. They're definitely not voiced identically, but twist knobs and you can get them very close.

 

[sad_katz]

They can be. All depends on how you turn the knobs. I get a very similar tone out of my B-15 and SVT. They're definitely not voiced identically, but twist knobs and you can get them very close.

Just a very curious mind: if they are different, how *much* are they different? Full lows, muted highs for "B15-sound" and more mid, more gain for "SVT-sound"? Or just more of the same, yet just different somehow?

I'm about-to-be an Ampeg convert and going to get my Ampeg rig in the next few weeks so I wanna know how will I get the SVT sound and how will I get a B15 sound I hope I still make sense

 

[JimmyM]

Go to www.bassgearmag.com and look up issue 4. They dissect a 74 SVT and a 65 B-15N, including frequency response graphs. You've actually got it backwards With all controls at noon, the SVT has a big midbass hump starting at around 100hz and gradually tapers off the higher it goes, while the B-15 has a midbass hump and a treble hump and is relatively flat elsewhere.

 

[TheCush]

Go to www.bassgearmag.com and look up issue 4. They dissect a 74 SVT and a 65 B-15N, including frequency response graphs. You've actually got it backwards With all controls at noon, the SVT has a big midbass hump starting at around 100hz and gradually tapers off the higher it goes, while the B-15 has a midbass hump and a treble hump and is relatively flat elsewhere.

I should check that out, too. I'm not very scientific in my own comparisons since I immediately start twiddling the dials to get what I think I want! Kinda hard to do an apple-to-apples comparison.

 

[Evsm73]

Hi all,

I bought a PF 500 & 115HE a couple of weeks ago after reading lots of people's posts on this thread. Had heard Ampeg lots of times before and always wanted to have that sound. I've been through Orange, Marshall & Mark Bass amps but nothing seemed 'space filling' enough when playing with a band.
Did have to send the first purchase back because it seemed to have a clear 'rattle' especially on G & C notes. Still have some vibration with this new set now but I think its more to do with my settings, my basses (A Gibson T Bird & Fender American Jazz), pedals and the way I play. Nothing but a deep rich sound when I'm playing in a band & nobody else seems to notice it but me. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm also wary about using my Big Muff pedal - don't want to damage the speaker.
Any info or advice would be tops.
Here's a picture

 

[JimmyM]

Turn off the tweeter before running fuzz and don't grossly overboost your level from your clean level and you'll be fine.

 

[Evsm73]

Thanks for that & will do. I try to keep the switch over smooth when the pedal kicks in. Is there a club for the new Ampeg portoflex similar to the vintage one? Or am I on it now. New to this & might be a stupid question?

 

[JimmyM]

The old Portaflex Club accepts new PF rigs

 

[fivestringgecko]

The old Portaflex Club accepts new PF rigs

I was wondering that... I should go over and add mine too.

5sg.

 

[HereIGoAgain]

I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a PF-350. Looking for a decent cab. I've read good things about it paired with the SVT210AV. I'm looking for other options too.

Would this cab:
Ampeg: B Series - B-410HE

be good with a PF-350?

Would I be gaining enough over the SVT210AV to justify the increased weight?

Thanks.

 

[fcmonk]

My new PF-500 and PF-115 showed up on my doorstep this morning. Having a blast dialing up some pretty good sounds. The only negative was that the mounting screws weren't in the box for some reason, but a quick phone call to Ampeg and they're sending a replacement out. First band practice with the new rig tomorrow night. Can't wait!

 

[sad_katz]

Go to www.bassgearmag.com and look up issue 4. They dissect a 74 SVT and a 65 B-15N, including frequency response graphs. You've actually got it backwards With all controls at noon, the SVT has a big midbass hump starting at around 100hz and gradually tapers off the higher it goes, while the B-15 has a midbass hump and a treble hump and is relatively flat elsewhere.

Thanks for the heads up, Jimmy. I would no doubt gonna try those settings when my PF stack arrives (or on other Ampeg stuff in the store )

Quick general amp question: Can you drive a power amp via the DI out (line level, post-EQ)?

I'm about ready to pull the trigger on a PF-350. Looking for a decent cab. I've read good things about it paired with the SVT210AV. I'm looking for other options too.

Would this cab:
Ampeg: B Series - B-410HE

be good with a PF-350?

Would I be gaining enough over the SVT210AV to justify the increased weight?

Thanks.

No experience on the B-410, but why not the PF-115? I doubt the PF-115 would be any quieter than the B-410.

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks for the heads up, Jimmy. I would no doubt gonna try those settings when my PF stack arrives (or on other Ampeg stuff in the store )

Quick general amp question: Can you drive a power amp via the DI out (line level, post-EQ)?

Don't know...never tried. I figure they have power amps in them already

No experience on the B-410, but why not the PF-115? I doubt the PF-115 would be any quieter than the B-410.

A 115 and a 210 with speakers and cab designs that are similarly made will have approx the same output. So a 410 would indeed, be quite a bit louder.

 

[HereIGoAgain]

I'm looking at the 410 because of a few things here. The PF-350 isn't really a 350-Watt amp: It's 250 Watts at 8 Ohms. A Vendor suggested I go with the SVT210AV cab because it's 8-Ohms and 200 Watt dissipation. I would never be sending a clipped signal to the cab.

He also told me that rig would be loud.

My application is playing with a dummer, 3-4 singers, a keyboard (amped), 1-2 amped acoustics, and an electric guitar might be added. We play in about a 200-seat venue. I noticed that 4x10 is 8-Ohms, 200 Watts. When it comes to speakers, more is more, right?

Due to where I live, I have no feasible way of demoing these amps in person before buy. Ampeg dealer support is non-existant. Not complaining, just a fact of life.

I want 10s instead of a single 15 because I don't want mud or mush when I start digging in on low notes.

Could the PF-350 and the 4x10 be a rolling rig of THUNDER? Do I need "plexi-on-10" volume to get it to sound right or could I turn it down for more personal venues?

Is there a chance that the PF-350 and the SVT210AV (one cabinet) could really do the job?

Please forgive my ignorance. I still am pretty new to bass amplification.

Thanks again.

PS: I've demoed 200-Watt combos and rigs that could be talked over, that's why I ask about the power and clarity.

 

[sad_katz]

Don't know...never tried. I figure they have power amps in them already


A 115 and a 210 with speakers and cab designs that are similarly made will have approx the same output. So a 410 would indeed, be quite a bit louder.

I was thinking if I ever going to upgrade, I'd probably grab a dedicated power amp and use the PF-350 as the pre-amp. The bigger PF-500 does have the pre-amp out, just wondering if the PF-350 can do the same with its DI out. Wouldn't it be awesome to drive 4 PF-115's this way?

I knew that 115 is smaller but didn't know that it's almost half the usual 410 design. My bad. Now I'm really stressed between extra volume (SVT-410HE) vs that-vintage-tone (PF-115) Haven't placed my order yet. Local shop and distributor are still negotiating price with Ampeg since they don't normally stock PF here.

Is there any other production non-US made Ampeg head that has similar PF-350/500 tone? Figured the only way to test if I like the SVT-410he is using an existing Ampeg head the local store has. I like the PF-115 through the various YouTube videos already

 

[ryanfenderbass]

So, I just got my new PF rig (pf500 + 2 pf115s) after a lot of research and advice from this thread. I love it, and it definitely has the J-bass complementing growl I've been seeking for years.

Now for the bad news. I was warming up with my drummer and setting levels, input gain around noon, flat eq, volume at about 2:00 (playing with both cabs) then I played my E string and my sound cut out with "pop!" I thought it was the cable, then I tried the a fresh cable, same thing! I rolled back the volume to a practice level and it was fine, but not nearly loud enough. At that point I determined the problem was my amp. I slowly brought the volume back up to where I needed it and left my amp on for a while. Eventually, after about 10-15 minutes, the "cutting out" issue went away and I was cookin for the rest of our 2 hour jam session. For the record, I wasn't clipping the input gain. I was also using my passive (GL) bass.

I guess the amp had to warm up?!?! Is this normal, or do you think I should send it back? I never had this issue on my SWR750 or my SVT3PRO (as much as a loathed those amps). I really need reliability of my amp--it's why I actually opted for solid state in the first place.

Any help on the matter would be much appreciated. Thanks, all!

 

[JimmyM]

I'm looking at the 410 because of a few things here. The PF-350 isn't really a 350-Watt amp: It's 250 Watts at 8 Ohms. A Vendor suggested I go with the SVT210AV cab because it's 8-Ohms and 200 Watt dissipation. I would never be sending a clipped signal to the cab.

He also told me that rig would be loud.

My application is playing with a dummer, 3-4 singers, a keyboard (amped), 1-2 amped acoustics, and an electric guitar might be added. We play in about a 200-seat venue. I noticed that 4x10 is 8-Ohms, 200 Watts. When it comes to speakers, more is more, right?

Yes, but if the cab only handles 200w, you're still going to be limited. Therefore I'd go for an SVT 410HE, which handles 400w.

But your salesman is wrong. Clipped signals in and of themselves don't blow speakers. That's what's known as the "underpowering myth," and if it were true, you could never run synths or distortion into cabs.

As for the 210av, I love them, but they are light/medium duty cabs not built for those who want to crank really loud. I think in your case, the SVT 410HE is the ticket.

 

[JimmyM]

Is there any other production non-US made Ampeg head that has similar PF-350/500 tone? Figured the only way to test if I like the SVT-410he is using an existing Ampeg head the local store has. I like the PF-115 through the various YouTube videos already

Sort of but not really. All their SS heads sound sort of similar with the exception of the B2RE/SVT 450H (same head). But they also sound a little different as well.