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Ampeg PF500/PF350 Pt II.5

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#601
I purchased the PF500 a couple weeks ago and so far I'm pretty pleased with it. I'm using it with a Peavey BW115. I'm wondering how much better it would sound with an Ampeg PF115 or 210?
Also, and this may just be my inexperience, I get the super low, smooth, booming sound I want on the low E, but noticably higher, trebley on the other strings? I've tried to work it out on the amp & bass eq to no avail. Playing a Schecter C4 w/ active EMGs. Any suggestions??
 
#604
Freddels said:
Has anyone compared the difference b/w the 210 and 15 for use with a low B?
or a pair of 210's or 15's? :eek: :D :hyper:
Click to expand...

I've got PF115's and low B sounds pretty awesome, especially with the Ultra Lo switch on. I was skeptical about how a sealed cab would sound, but I'm now thoroughly impressed. I've only had experience with the PF210 in GC, so it's not fair to compare directly. However, I think Jimmy's being a tad humble... This is my first experience with 15's, but the PF115 has a bigger/warmer low end that I just don't hear with my (Avatar) 2x10 or even my 2x12.

I took my Portaflex to an audition which turned out to be in a 3-car garage with all the doors open. Didn't have any problems filling the space at all and the had plenty of lows. The band all commented on how much sound it was making.

Two of these PF115's and PF500 is a rig of awesomeness. This rig is LOUD and a low B sounds huge. :)

5sg.
 
#605
I'm fixin' to get a second pf 115 for my pf500. I'm kinda on the fence about maybe getting the 2x10 instead. Does anyone that has both hear a volume difference between the two. Like between a 4x10 and a 1x15, or are they pretty close to the same?
 
#606
Tmonsterdog said:
I purchased the PF500 a couple weeks ago and so far I'm pretty pleased with it. I'm using it with a Peavey BW115. I'm wondering how much better it would sound with an Ampeg PF115 or 210?
Also, and this may just be my inexperience, I get the super low, smooth, booming sound I want on the low E, but noticably higher, trebley on the other strings? I've tried to work it out on the amp & bass eq to no avail. Playing a Schecter C4 w/ active EMGs. Any suggestions??
Click to expand...

Those BW cabs have lots of low end and so does that C4. I used to own a C4 so I know how deep they sound. Use that mid switch and try every setting with the mid knob up about 3/4's and you should be able to balance it out. If you're using the ultra low and high switches they kind of scoop the tone a bit so you'll lose some mids.
 
#607
lfbassguy said:
I'm fixin' to get a second pf 115 for my pf500. I'm kinda on the fence about maybe getting the 2x10 instead. Does anyone that has both hear a volume difference between the two. Like between a 4x10 and a 1x15, or are they pretty close to the same?
Click to expand...

The difference in volume is negligible. The 210 should theoretically be able to handle a touch more power before farting out, but the 115 should theoretically be slightly louder for the same input. I can't tell the difference between them, volume-wise. The 210 will get slightly lower, and be a touch boomier, but the 115 sounds better to me, more like a B-15.
 
#608
tekdiver500ft said:
The difference in volume is negligible. The 210 should theoretically be able to handle a touch more power before farting out, but the 115 should theoretically be slightly louder for the same input. I can't tell the difference between them, volume-wise. The 210 will get slightly lower, and be a touch boomier, but the 115 sounds better to me, more like a B-15.
Click to expand...

cool, thanks! i think i will stick with my original plan and go with a 2nd 15.
 
#610
Anybody else get a lot of noise when the ultra hi or low are engaged? I expect some noise but mine seems a little too noisy.

I have used an Ampeg 410 hlf, GK neo 112 II and an Eden 15 so far. The GK is the cab that it is really noticable with(tweeter is almost off).
 
#611
lfbassguy said:
our GC is not carrying any of the cabs, just the heads. i was hoping to try out the 2x10 there, but i guess its not going to happen.
Click to expand...

Availability is the biggest flaw I can see with these new Portaflex cabs. I preordered my first PF115/PF500 through Musicians Friend in January and I think it came in in... June, if I remember right.

I ordered my 2nd PF115 through my connection at my local GC in mid-August thinking that "by now it shouldn't be any trouble." Wrong. He had to call Ampeg and order one directly, because they only had one PF115 in their entire chain... the Hollywood store (biggest in the chain).

They do have a PF350/PF210 setup at the GC I go to. I've played it a couple times and remember it sounding quite good, but I was after the 15's. :bassist:

5sg.
 
#612
hermanmunster said:
Anybody else get a lot of noise when the ultra hi or low are engaged? I expect some noise but mine seems a little too noisy.

I have used an Ampeg 410 hlf, GK neo 112 II and an Eden 15 so far. The GK is the cab that it is really noticable with(tweeter is almost off).
Click to expand...
When you boost frequencies, you also boost the noise floor of the amp at those frequencies. It's especially noticeable on highs, but lows will do it as well. Typical in all amps.
 
#613
fivestringgecko said:
Availability is the biggest flaw I can see with these new Portaflex cabs. I preordered my first PF115/PF500 through Musicians Friend in January and I think it came in in... June, if I remember right.

I ordered my 2nd PF115 through my connection at my local GC in mid-August thinking that "by now it shouldn't be any trouble." Wrong. He had to call Ampeg and order one directly, because they only had one PF115 in their entire chain... the Hollywood store (biggest in the chain).

They do have a PF350/PF210 setup at the GC I go to. I've played it a couple times and remember it sounding quite good, but I was after the 15's. :bassist:

5sg.
Click to expand...


General availability seems to be a big issue with the whole Portaflex line of products, at this point in time. I got my PF500 head and PF210HE cab two weeks ago, with that cab being the only one the Omaha GC had in, plus they weren't sure if, or when, they could get the PF115HE cab in. I had an issue with the first head, and it took about two weeks to get my second PF500 head in, and this one has some issues too! Grrrrr! It also happened to be only PF head they got in last week as it seems the heads are back ordered around the nation. I did notice that the GC and Musicians Friend websites were showing they had stock in, a couple of days ago.
 
#616
JimmyM said:
When you boost frequencies, you also boost the noise floor of the amp at those frequencies. It's especially noticeable on highs, but lows will do it as well. Typical in all amps.
Click to expand...

I expect some but it seemed a bit much. Just wondering if its the same across the board for everybody. I probably wont use these much anyway. I will say it was probably the GK cab, it was the one I really noticed it on. PF500 sounded great with the HLF and no ultra. Which is good, that cab has been sitting unused for some time now. The Eden, also unused for some time sounded good with the tweeter off, well pretty much off and no ultra.
 
#617
I'm now in possession of a PF500 and an SVT210. Sounds really nice. Expecting another 210 and a micro from Hello Music but the price of a great deal is an extended wait.

The plan is to leave the micro stack at church and the PF/SVT at home. I can use both cabs with the PF on louder gigs.

I'm a little paranoid about opening it up and blowing up the speakers but it got loud enough to keep up with a drummer in the basement today. Looking forward to hearing both cabs stacked.

I like the idea of the PF115 but I'm trying to keep weight down. Most of my stuff is reasonable volume and I'm planning to mic the cab if I need to be louder.

On a whim I swapped a shuttle 9 for a streamliner 900 that should be here in couple of days. Should be interesting to compare the amps.

One thing I'll say is the fan is loud. I'm used to the Thunderfunk that's dead silent when not playing. I hope the micro is a little quieter. But I really like the sound.
 
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