Ampeg PF500/PF350 Pt II.5

[Dave W]

GC makes me so mad. I just went to another GC around work to check out a PF500 and a PF115. I knew they had the 500, but I wasn't sure about the 115. Sure enough, they didn't have either of the cabs and the guy I talked to said they were all sold out at the moment.

So I precede to walk around the store a little bit, just browsing, and the guy comes back up to me to let me know what he found in GC's system. They have no PF210's in stock. They don't even have the PF115 in the system, so he's not sure where I got the info that they even make a 115 version! However they do have a PortaBASS 112 in the system that they can order me. I told him the Portabass isn't the same thing as it's not a flip top. He said it was, so I politely said it's not one more time. Then he gave me the look of death and started arguing with me that I was wrong. I told him to look it up, and he said "I'll just talk to my Ampeg rep when he comes in."

Yeah, do that! Holy crap. And don't argue with your customers when they are actually right. I almost feel like calling the store and talking with the manager about it.

 

[JimmyM]

GC makes me so mad. I just went to another GC around work to check out a PF500 and a PF115. I knew they had the 500, but I wasn't sure about the 115. Sure enough, they didn't have either of the cabs and the guy I talked to said they were all sold out at the moment.

So I precede to walk around the store a little bit, just browsing, and the guy comes back up to me to let me know what he found in GC's system. They have no PF210's in stock. They don't even have the PF115 in the system, so he's not sure where I got the info that they even make a 115 version! However they do have a PortaBASS 112 in the system that they can order me. I told him the Portabass isn't the same thing as it's not a flip top. He said it was, so I politely said it's not one more time. Then he gave me the look of death and started arguing with me that I was wrong. I told him to look it up, and he said "I'll just talk to my Ampeg rep when he comes in."

Yeah, do that! Holy crap. And don't argue with your customers when they are actually right. I almost feel like calling the store and talking with the manager about it.

You should. That's stupid. The Portabass line has been discontinued for years. I can forgive a salesman not being up on everything that's out, but to tell you that you're wrong when you're obviously not is just stupid.

 

[Dave W]

Yeah, I don't care that he didn't know if it was discontinued or not (maybe they have NOS stuff in a warehouse somewhere) but telling me it was a fliptop was what annoyed me.

 

[stiles72]

You should. That's stupid. The Portabass line has been discontinued for years. I can forgive a salesman not being up on everything that's out, but to tell you that you're wrong when you're obviously not is just stupid.

Reminds me of the one at a GC who told me "Ampeg hasn't made Porter-flexes since the '50's"

 

[335guy]

Just tried out my new PF-500 head last night. Very nice! I was able to get GC to give me the 15% discount, even though Ampeg was listed as excluded. It worked flawlessly, and I could hardly hear the fan 11 lbs. is heavier than I recall, but it is a well built and put together head. Loads of tone options. A great value, especially for $340.00 new.

 

[nutdog]

Well what can I tell you? I'd rather have a fan that's too loud than an amp that burns up.

Well, there is a third option. From the Thunderfunk manual:

"The Thunderfunk bass Amp was originally designed without a fan. This allows super-quiet operation for studio and TV work. However, the amps do now have fans with an on/off switch. If the amp is being used where the noise of the fan isn’t a problem, turn it on. If you’re in the studio, leave it off. It’s up to you. With or without the fan, the bottom of the amp gets hotter than the top, so you should avoid putting other equipment underneath it if installed in a rack mount. The amp itself is designed to handle as much heat as it can generate AS LONG AS THE LOAD IS KEPT TO A 4 OHM MINIMUM. "

But, to provide perspective, the TF sold for something like $1200 new and still brings aroung $800 used, which is twice the street price for the PF500.

Amps with similar specs:

LMIII--$540
Shuttle 6--$680
Tonehammer--$700

At $400 bucks the PF500 is the bargain of the bunch. I got mine for $355. So a fan that's a little louder isn't the end of the world. I just noted it for others that might be considering the amp. Some people might care, others might not. There's no need to insult people or question their judgement or integrity either way.

For informational purposes, here are some comparison videos:

The original:



All videos made with the same camera, downloaded to imovie and uploaded without any editing. I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything, just presenting the info for you to do with what you wish.

You may now have your thread back.

 

[JimmyM]

OK, well I guess I shouldn't tell other people what should bother them. If you're bothered, you're bothered. But I will continue to goof on it

 

[stiles72]

Jimmy, you said one foot away was unfair. It was actually at arms length, which is closer to 3 feet. And I was in front of the amp where I would normally stand when I turn it on but here's one from 6 feet:

PF550 fan 6 feet - YouTube.

Maybe I'm deeef... but I found the room noise to be more of a nuisance than the sound from the PF fan, which I barely noticed.

 

[nutdog]

So you are saying a 500 watt PF500 is perceivably as loud (or louder) as a 900 watt Shuttle 9.0? I've got a Shuttle 9.0 and have been thinking of replacing it with a PF500. But I'm one of those guys that came from the PA world and I think the more watts the merrier even if it far exceeds what your speakers are rated for. Within reason of course.

To say your claim struck a chord with me is an understatement.

PM me or please reply! Thanks.

I was referring to the fan. However, since you brought it up...

Right now the limit on volume is the cab. It's rated at 200 watts so I'm not going to push it. But with the 500 slightly above half on the master it's loud enough to jam with a drummer.

I don't have the shuttle anymore so I can't compare it directly. But I always felt it didn't seem much louder than the the LMII or the Thunderfunk. Speakers make a much bigger difference than watts. I preferred the sound of the TF with the NV215 and it got plenty loud for me. I preferred the sound of an 8 ohm LDS 12/6 with the shuttle, but it would get the limit light full on and the cab showed signs of distress, which made me wonder if it was really throwing 500 watts at it. Both amps matched up nicely with a homebuilt 112 cab. I hope to A/B that cab with the PF and the TF.

I did direct comparisons with the shuttle and the TF with two 3 different cabs. I never really felt like the 900 watt 9.0 had and advantage over the 500 watt TF.

 

[Ric Vice]

Yeah, I don't care that he didn't know if it was discontinued or not (maybe they have NOS stuff in a warehouse somewhere) but telling me it was a fliptop was what annoyed me.

BG,

I was just at Guitar Center here in St. Louis. It's a place I normally avoid like the plague, but I was in the neighborhood
They had both the PF 350 and PF 500 heads and the 115 and 210 cabinets. I have to say the build on these units is very impressive and the heads and cabinets have a very nice sound.
My salesman was very cordial. I didn't even know anyone had Portabass amps around anymore. IMHO the new PF 350 and PF 500 heads and their matching cabinets aren in a whole
other universe than those Portabass amps.

Ric

 

[rovito]

Put the head in another room if the fan is loud.

 

[carl h.]

Put the head in another room if the fan is loud.

Put the cab in another room and use headphones if it is a problem recording.

 

[TheCush]

Reminds me of the one at a GC who told me "Ampeg hasn't made Porter-flexes since the '50's"

That gave me the best chuckle I've had all month! Gotta love them "Porter-flexes", right?

 

[decuirj]

Ordered from GC on 8/12/11
115 came quick, PF500 was on backorder
PF500 finally arrived yesterday, 9/12/11.
Today was "new gear day" at rehearsal.
<10 minutes into jamming - still tweaking tone - the sound starts breaking up horribly until the fault light comes on. It remained on all night after trying to turn it on/off and letting it rest.
Got home, tried again - fault light still on.
D.O.A. - I will be contacting Ampeg for a replacement. Bummer.
Now I am paranoid that all the erratic noise the amp spit out before it died damaged the 115; I'll have to check that out with my GK tomorrow.

 

[f.c.geil]

I must have been really lucky. I got mine two days after I ordered it, and it has worked flawlessly from day one.

 

[markorbit]

Put the head in another room if the fan is loud.

Bit difficult if the head is screwed onto the cabinet as Portaflex's tend to be

 

[Dave W]

I was just at Guitar Center here in St. Louis. It's a place I normally avoid like the plague, but I was in the neighborhood
They had both the PF 350 and PF 500 heads and the 115 and 210 cabinets. I have to say the build on these units is very impressive and the heads and cabinets have a very nice sound.
My salesman was very cordial. I didn't even know anyone had Portabass amps around anymore. IMHO the new PF 350 and PF 500 heads and their matching cabinets aren in a whole
other universe than those Portabass amps.

Yeah, they are all hit and miss. This was just a case of "Well I'm the salesman so I know what I'm talking about and you don't..."

I'm over it now, but I'm not going to be running up there to give them any sort of business. If I have to I'll just deal with someone else who doesn't treat me like I'm a moron.

 

[coreyfyfe]

I must have been really lucky. I got mine two days after I ordered it, and it has worked flawlessly from day one.

Ditto. I mean, for a new product line you have to expect some failures, and if they've been selling as well as they say then the rate is probably fairly low, but still, glad mine has been good.

 

[decuirj]

Contacted GC, it looks like it will be a hassle-free exchange. I ship the DOA PF500 back (their expense), and I'll get a new one when it's back in stock - looks like they are back ordered again.

 

[fivestringgecko]

Yeah, they are all hit and miss. This was just a case of "Well I'm the salesman so I know what I'm talking about and you don't..."

I'm over it now, but I'm not going to be running up there to give them any sort of business. If I have to I'll just deal with someone else who doesn't treat me like I'm a moron.

lol... The salesmen at "my" GC don't try to pull that on me anymore because I've proven over and over that (thanks to Talkbass), I know WAY more about gear than they do. And I'm one of their regulars.

On the flip side, I share your "not giving them my business" philosophy about another local GC... I bought a limited edition Stingray 5HH and the salesman wouldn't thrown in a $35 strap... he squawked and carried on about how I got such a good deal. It was a $1700 bass and he lost that store all of my future business over a strap and his bad attitude.

Sorry... derail. /rant

5sg.