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Ampeg PF500/PF350 Pt II.5

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#563
Di isnt controlled by master volume that i know of...but the gain knob does. If i leave the 15db pad off, and almost turn off the gain, i think its going to be usable. Im still not able to hit the preamp as hard as i want to before the di without pad gets too high, but at least there is enough gain to get the internal amp something usable. Ill look into that inline pad. We use two mixers, and neither have a built in pad.
Wes
 
#566
Wes Whitmore said:
Here is one for you guys (after testing the DI out of my PF-500 at home with a cheap mixer, as well as our Soundcraft gig mixer last night).

I have a DI level issue. It's either too hot, or not even usable. I tried a couple of things below, and I can't achieve what I want. I used different basses (MTD Kingston, Warwick $$, Spector NS that is known to have a little less output compared to my other basses),and a Mexican P. My cab was a single 10" with an S2010 I use as as personal monitor.

Bass plugged into head. Pad OFF. Compressor off. Gain just below 1 or I hear the preamp start to distort in the speaker, even with the volume almost off. Clip light will just start to blink when I really dig in. Seems like the the level is just right. EQ all straight up on amp and bass. EFX loop at 0. Sounds fantastic. Plenty of power into the cab on stage above 2 o'clock. Just like you want it, until you plug in the DI. POST EQ. At 0dB, it's crushing the DI output. You have to turn the trim on the mixers all the way down just to get it in the yellow. If I press -40 dBon the DI, it goes down to one or two green bars on the mixer PFL. Unusable.
Now hitting the -15dB input pad on the front, I can dime the gain and it won't clip the preamp (Sounds clean and no red light). Volume at 3 oclock is barely audible in a practice room. Definately not enough signal for the amp to produce even 100 watts. -40 db on DI cuts the signal so much I see nothing at the PFL on the mixer. 0 dB is just right with the gain around noon, but like I said, almost no amp output. This is how I ran last night. No stage volume, but my In ears and house were rockin.
Now, if I go PRE EQ on the DI, with or without the 0/-40 dB pad, the DI signal is so hot that I can't even get the PFL out of the red on either one. It does this with all the basses. This is supposed to be a uneffected/unboosted signal right after the mute, but before the preamp section. Pre DI is unusable. Really weird issue. What do you guys think? Who has actually used their DI?
Thanks!
Wes
Click to expand...

Try this : input pad off, -40 db on, post EQ, Mic level on board ( not line level). Works like a charm for me. ( without -40db or pre EQ it's just way too hot)
 
#569
gjbassist said:
From page 14 of the owners manual PDF:
"The output is not affected by the volume control". I would say then you have an issue with your head. I would give Ampeg a call.
Click to expand...

Not sure I want to jinx it by sending it in... sounds awesome and it's working great aside from the DI... but I have quite a few other DI options, some right on my pedalboard. I'll have to weigh the benefit of sending it in with how long it'll be gone. :hmm: But you're right, I'll call them on Monday. :)

5sg.
 
#570
Wanna hear something iiiiiiiiinteresting?

I just decided to try my Carvin BX500 I have for sale with the cabs and I *think* the PF 500 holes are going to line up. Or at least be VERY close. If it does I am going to run the BX500 as a backup or the amp I use with one cab for the wattage, compressor, and DI control options. I will let you know tomorrow if it works. :)
 
#571
Got my exchange PF500 head yesterday, due to the original head's clip/hot signal indicator stage not working, and concerns that the gain and volume stages of the head weren't hitting on all cylinders. Well the new head makes volume at both stages in a much more linear fashion and it comes up to speed at lower points on the gain and MV potentiometers. Yes the sweep of those stages is much better on the new head. The replacement head does seem to have more juice on tap than my first one as well. Ironically the clip indicator stage doesn't work on this head either, but as a veteran bass player, I'm not much of a fan of ' nanny lights ' to begin with, unless it's for something truly important. I know if I'm slamming too hot of signal into the preamp without the aid of a warning light. Now the kicker is that the tonestack/e.q. on the replacement head seem a bit more reactive to adjustments in a good way too, than it's predecessor. The fan noise that some have griped about, is no better or worse than my first head was in regards to the new head. It's there, but at gigs or where ambient background noise is present, it's not noticable to me.

Okay, these are a new product line, and like anything new there seems to be some teething problems that others, and myself included have reported with some of the heads. At least there is a warranty for two years on the electronics from LOUD. I hope they'll try to work out any q.c. issues with their Chinese producer. I'm keeping this head for now as it sounds great and the gain and power points are exactly where they should be. Anyways I hope this proves to be a happy long term relationship for me in regards to the PF500 head and the new Portaflex line experience. I also want to thank Joshua and the staff that helped me at Omaha's new Guitar Center for a an easy exchange procedure, and a great customer service experience all in all.
 
#572
So. The holes are within 1/8-1/16 of an inch of lining up on the PF500 and it has about an inch of clearance over the tweeter. Looks like I might keep the Carvin and have a Fliptop backup. I got a project today.

d7e4cd4a.jpg
 
#578
hey guys, quick question.

i know that the -15dbpad is for active bass, now with that being said i never really use them, and haven't on too many amps i have owned previously. but i play active fenders.

So... just out of curiosity. (and this might be a stupid question, but hey /shrug) if im playing an active bass not using the Pad, should there be preamp distortion before the peak light flashes? once i push in the pad i dont really get as much break up unless i really push the gain section which doesnt concern me. however with the pad depressed i have to turn up the compressor to noon to get it to function and that is confusing to me.

honestly im just trying to find out if this is normal or if maybe it shouldnt be clipping with out the flash of the LED. the gain knob can be at 2-3 and volume 1-2 and it will still distort with no flash at all. i just found this kind of strange.

with that being said i absolutely love this setup, and this isnt a bag on the amp at all im just wondering why i have never run into this before. thanks for the input.
 
#580
well it sounds like digital clipping, because the light isnt flashing and is sounds the same at all levels of volume but honestly im not too sure what the sound is. it doesnt sound very pleasing tho. not like it does when i play a passive bass through it with a pick. that break up is much nicer. it seems like im over loading the pre? i dont i feel kinda stupid about this tho.

but when i play a passive bass, i crank the gain on purpose to get that break up, and i find that if i want a clean tone at all with an active bass i have to depress the db pad.
does that make sense at all?

side note. i have the pf500
 
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