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Ampeg PF500/PF350 Pt II.5

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#221
Hey Guys,
I had a chance to try both of them out. The 350 at a GC last week and the 500 yesterday at a local music store.I'm really impressed! The sound was so easy to dial in! and this coming from a GK user. On the 500 all I did was engage the ultra low, add a dash of compression and bumped the mids a touch on the #4 setting. i was using one of the new Yamaha BB1024x (A really nice bass BTW) and the tone was nice and warm with just the right tickle of highs. I was able to try out an SVT-7 Pro as well and was just as impressed. I wouldn't need all that juice but boy what a great sound. I may have to convert! Don't tell Bob.
Brent
 
#222
Bassflute said:
That's a GREAT endorsement coming from a B15 nut like you - they MUST sound good. I must say, I've been impressed with that rig, and especially for the price. I'm 98% certain I'm going to take the plunge and get a 2x15/500 rig.
Click to expand...
Ya, now that I've got a chance to wind one cab out on a gig, I'm pretty certain a second PF115 is in my future as well. I've got 3 B-15 cabs so I certainly don't need it...but damn that black diamond is so snazzy!

So you're going for the 500 instead of the 7 Pro now? It does make more sense than plugging the tweeter hole and relocating it.
 
#223
JimmyM said:
Ya, now that I've got a chance to wind one cab out on a gig, I'm pretty certain a second PF115 is in my future as well. I've got 3 B-15 cabs so I certainly don't need it...but damn that black diamond is so snazzy!

So you're going for the 500 instead of the 7 Pro now? It does make more sense than plugging the tweeter hole and relocating it.
Click to expand...

and it's partially a weight thing...that would put it up to almost 70 lbs. I'll stick with the micro head, or I might build a fliptop hybrid...

Ashdown Engineering | Bass Amplification

Never was fond of Ashdown speakers, so maybe....wonder if this baby would clear the tweeter? Tom?

Cheers,
Cameron
 
#225
I think you're looking at a ~$3000 head there...

Bassflute said:
and it's partially a weight thing...that would put it up to almost 70 lbs. I'll stick with the micro head, or I might build a fliptop hybrid...

Ashdown Engineering | Bass Amplification

Never was fond of Ashdown speakers, so maybe....wonder if this baby would clear the tweeter? Tom?

Cheers,
Cameron
Click to expand...
 
#231
fenderhutz said:
Man that 350 loses some of the low mid oomph overall. Not sterile sounding, but definitely not as rich.
Click to expand...
Well it does come with tone controls ;) I didn't try to cop the tones exactly. I settled for close. I could get closer if I tried, but this was mainly about the cabs. And you have to give it up to the head...it's close.

EDIT: Dang you Hutz! Now you're going to make me trot out all that stuff again just so I can get the PF350 closer! Well I can't do it tonight, maybe tomorrow night if I get a few.
 
#233
JimmyM Nice stuff, thanks for posting them up :D

I agree with fenderhutz that the 350 loses a bit of low mid but to my ears it still sounds nice. A bit of tweaking will take care of that. Very interesting how the PF115 gets close to the original vibe of the B15 cab. The best thing is that they all sound like Ampegs ;)

BTW I agree that using a mic is the only way to go. When I was playing out regularly I always gave the boardman a DI signal pre-everything and a mic on the cab post-everything. That way he had the signals he needed to do whatever he wished. He always ended up using about 75% mic and the DI for fill if needed.

Keep Low :bassist:
 
#234
Hey guys, since this was mainly about the cab, and I didn't really try very hard to match the tones of the PF350 and the B-15, I'm going to pull those clips. It definitely does not sound weak in the mids, but it could use a tweak to get closer to the mid response of the B-15. So I don't want anyone to get the idea that the PF350 isn't as good as a vintage B-15.

:D
 
#235
JimmyM said:
Hey guys, since this was mainly about the cab, and I didn't really try very hard to match the tones of the PF350 and the B-15, I'm going to pull those clips. It definitely does not sound weak in the mids, but it could use a tweak to get closer. So I don't want anyone to get the idea that the PF350 isn't as good as a vintage B-15.

:D
Click to expand...

Jimmy

Since it's mainly about the cabs, I think the clips are great. They do a real good job of a comparison and will give everyone a chance to hear the PF115. The clip with the 350 paired to the PF115 gives a great idea of what the range of that combo sounds like. The last clip with the different tweeter settings really shows off the range of the PF115 and the smoothness of the tweeter.

IMO I don't think the 350 / PF115 is bad or weak. To me it just has a slightly different vibe but that's not a bad thing as it sounds like an Ampeg. It has the vintage Ampeg vibe going on, plus the added benefit of that tweeter. The best of both worlds.

Keep Low :bassist:
 
#236
Right on, 60. Thanks. I left that tweeter clip up since it was a different sound with the bass I was getting. But I listened to the deleted clips and thought that Hutz was right and I should work on it more. "Weak" was the wrong word ;) but I could hear the high notes were a little scooped. Anyway, not a big deal...I matched the Micro VR tone to my SVT on a gig once, and I'm sure I can match these tones, too.
 
#238
Ya, I did too...it's flatter than a lot of amps and will flatten out even more with EQ but still has that Ampeg 125hz bump when nooned.

So PF115 vs 210AV...Both are really cool. The 210av's advantages are that it has two drivers, weighs half as much, and has better dispersion of highs and upper mids due to reduced beaming. The PF115's advantages are that it's got more low end response, a tweeter (OK, some call that an advantage ;) ), and it will take more of a pounding. The 210av responds very well to low end EQ, though, and will put out a respectably heavy low end with a boost, and sound very much like a baby 810e.

So the Micro VR rig ain't goin' anywhere.
 
#240
fenderhutz said:
Sorry Jimmy, I was using the wife's high end JBL head phones lol. I didn't say it sounded bad at all :D
Click to expand...
I'm not worried, Hutz...just trying to be funny ;) I just know I could have done better with matching tones. Not a biggie in the overall scheme of things, but it would be the capper to the presentation.
 
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