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Ampeg PF500/PF350 Pt II.5
- Thread starter Chef
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I'm on speaking terms with soundcloud again.
A little grind:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
These two have compression at noon.
Something zippy:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Something, uh, not zippy:
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These aren't necessarily the settings I'd use. I'm still playing around with it. The amp is flat with everything wide open on the bass, except I can't imagine not using the bass boost with this cab. The amp is definitely zingier than the streamliner, and not as bass heavy with everything straight up.
A little grind:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
These two have compression at noon.
Something zippy:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Something, uh, not zippy:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
These aren't necessarily the settings I'd use. I'm still playing around with it. The amp is flat with everything wide open on the bass, except I can't imagine not using the bass boost with this cab. The amp is definitely zingier than the streamliner, and not as bass heavy with everything straight up.
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+1 this new thread started on 08/09 and already over 680 replies
Gotta love it!
Keep low
Hesitant to post this because my slapping is not so hot, but it was fun anyway. I'm not going to tell the settings on the amp because I might get banned for TOS violation.
But, just to show what the little amp and cab sound like under duress:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
But, just to show what the little amp and cab sound like under duress:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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Hey all. I just jumped into the portaflex world; demoed a pf-500 and pf-350 at guitar center, and ended up ordering the PF500 and two PF115s. I have no issues using my jazz bass with it, but I did notice that there's not much in the way of overdrive available with this head.
However, my P-bass has a Seymour Duncan Quarter-pound pickup; it's still passive, but it's wayyy hotter than most. I was excited to see what I could get out of the gain control, but if I crank the gain much past 2 oclock I get a sudden pop, and increase in volume in the midrange, and a very harsh-sounding fuzz when I dig in. If the lows are boosted, this happens earlier. It happens on any cabinet, and also through the headphone out, so it's not being caused by speaker damage or anything, definitely something in the amp, and I'm thinking in the preamp specifically. Using the -15db pad prevents this, but it obviously limits the gain available too. Is this normal for this amp? If so, that's disappointing, because the amp starts to get a wonderful furry overdrive sound that's pretty cool right around where this starts.
EDIT: Playing around more, and I get an occasional fuzzy pop with my Jbass too, and with the P using the pad. But only occasionally with the gain all the way up and playing hard. And the pop sound is NOT coming from strings hitting the polepieces on the pickup.
However, my P-bass has a Seymour Duncan Quarter-pound pickup; it's still passive, but it's wayyy hotter than most. I was excited to see what I could get out of the gain control, but if I crank the gain much past 2 oclock I get a sudden pop, and increase in volume in the midrange, and a very harsh-sounding fuzz when I dig in. If the lows are boosted, this happens earlier. It happens on any cabinet, and also through the headphone out, so it's not being caused by speaker damage or anything, definitely something in the amp, and I'm thinking in the preamp specifically. Using the -15db pad prevents this, but it obviously limits the gain available too. Is this normal for this amp? If so, that's disappointing, because the amp starts to get a wonderful furry overdrive sound that's pretty cool right around where this starts.
EDIT: Playing around more, and I get an occasional fuzzy pop with my Jbass too, and with the P using the pad. But only occasionally with the gain all the way up and playing hard. And the pop sound is NOT coming from strings hitting the polepieces on the pickup.
To be more specific I got the afp2 switch from Ampeg. I wanted to run the effects send into the input of the digitech 355 and output into the effect return. Then run the blend at 100%. Then I could just mute the effect with the switch. I am guessing I have to just put the bp355 in front of the input vs the loop?
That's how I run my bass pod - efx loop. Full off and full on with the turn of a knob.
I'd say leave the gain at the point where the furry overdrive is. Basses with hotter output will trigger your amp differently and you will have to compensate for it...hotter basses dial gain back, quieter basses dial it up. But if you're getting a good fur on it, that's what it does best, and doesn't really do anything heavier.
I'll have to post a vid or soundclip. A good fur is all I'm really looking for, but whatever this is, it doesn't sound good at all. The first time it did it I was afraid a speaker had blown or something. Gnarly in a bad way. It doesn't sound like something you should be able to get with a passive bass plugged directly into a normally functioning amp.
I just recorded a quick vid of what it does. I'm uploading it to youtube now...
Here's what it does. I'm inclined to think there's something wrong with my head, and am planning on contacting Ampeg about it....
PF-500 Clipping issue. - YouTube
Mentalstampede
IMO that's not normal for a PF500. Mine doesn't do that even with the gain set higher then you have yours set at. I think you have an issue with the preamp just like you said. If it was me I'd swap the head out.
IMO that's not normal for a PF500. Mine doesn't do that even with the gain set higher then you have yours set at. I think you have an issue with the preamp just like you said. If it was me I'd swap the head out.
just got home from another gig with my pf500 and svt 15e cab. this set up kicks ass. Played a jazz bass first set. have never gigged with the jazz....it sounded great. second set played my p-bass. way more at home with that bass. both sounded great but i prefer the p-bass.
I could sell my v4b tube head and be plenty happy with this amp. Not quite ready to do that but this head is fantastic.
I could sell my v4b tube head and be plenty happy with this amp. Not quite ready to do that but this head is fantastic.
I kind of like that tone, it's pretty synthy, but it shouldn't be doing it. I have a bass with QP's on it and it's not like that when I use the PF350.
i use active basses and can get the head to do that (if the -15db pad is not engaged) without the led even flashing. and i can have the gain at 3 or 8-9 oclock.
my bass is an active 18v American deluxe j bass so i just figured the preamp was just too hot for the pre on the amp.
but i have to hit the strings hard. If i hit the pad tho. it doesnt do that unless i have it really cranked. to liek atl east 3 oclock on the gain knob.
i wouldnt think thats its not normal. it just seems like its pushing the preamp too hard imo. especially since if you roll back the gain it doesnt do that.
my bass is an active 18v American deluxe j bass so i just figured the preamp was just too hot for the pre on the amp.
but i have to hit the strings hard. If i hit the pad tho. it doesnt do that unless i have it really cranked. to liek atl east 3 oclock on the gain knob.
i wouldnt think thats its not normal. it just seems like its pushing the preamp too hard imo. especially since if you roll back the gain it doesnt do that.
Yeah, it would be an okay tone if it was controllable. But it's certainly not the "SVT furrrrr" that I was expecting.
Amp came from Amazon.com, so I think I don't know if it'd be quicker and easier to swap it out with them or try to contact LOUD.
Id say contact loud and see what they say. Maybe thats intended? you never know. i mean, you have a clip of the amp making that noise. get their response, so some of us who get a similar noise can have some piece of mind =P
I have the pf500 and a P with Qpounders too. You are right these pick ups are hot so it does'nt take much to cause the amp to clip.
I found that running the gain at 2 o'clock and the compression at 10 0'clock gives me the best result. A bit of fur but not too much. When my amp starts really distorting (like your clip) I know it's time to back off the gain.
Remember, it's a solid state amp not tube. You are never gonna get full tube distortion out of it. For that get an overdrive pedal.
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