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Ampeg PF500/PF350 Pt II.5
- Thread starter Chef
- Start date
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exactly what I needed to know.
fivestringgecko said:
Yup your pic looks just like mine. I figure a little glue and a Sharpie on a straight edge.
Is anyone having problems with the tolex lifting up? I've noticed that some of the seams are starting to lift/loosen, particularly on the top panel with the amp. Should I just get some tolex glue and re-stick it?
5sg.
As far as I can see, all my seams are perfect. Now, my rig hasn't left my home yet, maybe you are suffering from the rigors of a traveling rig?
Could be and makes sense... It's definitely seen some use since I got it. It's perfect for what I'm currently doing, so it's become my main amp. I'm anal about keeping my equipment in top shape though, so now that I've noticed it, it's going to bug me until I fix it.
5sg.
I think it may be possible that it got stressed when you installed the head onto it maybe? And then maybe it got further stressed in the heat? I don't know what you can do other than take it off and reglue it, but honestly, I don't know if that's a great idea. Black Sharpie comes to mind as a possible solution 
Or call Ampeg and see what they think. Maybe they could send you a new lid or something.
Or call Ampeg and see what they think. Maybe they could send you a new lid or something.
I think mine was like that from the get go. Tolex shrank a little that's all. I don't believe my tolex is loose. A black Shape run down the gap and it wont be noticed.
It looks like there are only 4 allen head bolts holding the board on. Is there glue on the other side? Beats me...
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I have wondered about removing the horn, to provide a pre-cut port (non-scientifically measured for this purpose!), but it is front-, not rear-mounted. One would have to remove the baffle and grill cloth, then re-assemble to test the ported feature...
Well, I had my first accident with this rig. I dropped a piece of equipment down the back, busting the cables off of the 2 cabs. I had to take off the back panel to get a piece out of one of the inputs. So, I took a couple of photos in case anyone is curious...
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Everything is fine now, BTW...
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Everything is fine now, BTW...
- Jun 24, 2006
- 2,560
- 90
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: MTD basses and strings; Bergantino Amps & Cabs
GREAT sounding rig, but unfortunately the amp died about 5 minutes into my trial at a local L&M. Complete amp failure.
But in the few minutes I did get to play it, I can say that Ampeg has a winner on their hands with this one (if they can make the amps reliable). This is the first one L&M has had and it self-destructed. Incidentally, the 15 had a nice quick attack, the cab sounded really great with the tweeter on or off (old school/new school), good slap sound, and it had adequate power, but I'm sure would be better with the 500. Love the form factor/styling, and hope they are making covers for it. I played it with a Fender American Standard jazz, a Dingwall Superjazz 5, and a Warwick thumb 6 bolt on - great amp for all of them, and at that price, incredible!
I might have to get one of these things...with 2x15's. Didn't like the 1x15/2x10 combination.
Cheers,
Cameron
But in the few minutes I did get to play it, I can say that Ampeg has a winner on their hands with this one (if they can make the amps reliable). This is the first one L&M has had and it self-destructed. Incidentally, the 15 had a nice quick attack, the cab sounded really great with the tweeter on or off (old school/new school), good slap sound, and it had adequate power, but I'm sure would be better with the 500. Love the form factor/styling, and hope they are making covers for it. I played it with a Fender American Standard jazz, a Dingwall Superjazz 5, and a Warwick thumb 6 bolt on - great amp for all of them, and at that price, incredible!
I might have to get one of these things...with 2x15's. Didn't like the 1x15/2x10 combination.
Cheers,
Cameron
- Jun 24, 2006
- 2,560
- 90
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: MTD basses and strings; Bergantino Amps & Cabs
I am solid on my reasoning, but less so on my nomenclature.
and yes I know the difference in price/weight is substantial.
Is the Ashdown as quick/punchy as this Ampeg is? How about the power, etc....
Cheers,
Cameron
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,939
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
Ashdown has not sent us the Drophead 200 yet, but from what I recall from NAMM, the PF rig is going to be more quick/punchy. Not sure about power/volume, though.
Well earlier today I finally got to try the PF115HE, the only PF product I haven't tried. Used a PF350 to power it. Now this is without the benefit of ABing it with my double baffle cabs, but I'll tell you...it's about as close to that sound as I ever heard out of another cab. Very well built and solid, gets even closer than the B100R, IMHO. Very similar low end response, and with the tweeter defeated, it sounds like it's crossed over at 4k, which is what you want in a B-15-style cab. And the tweeter is way better than I ever expected. It's a compression driver instead of one of those crap piezos, so it's way smoother and not at all brittle. It has a 3 way switch to make it full-on, -6db, or off. I'm not a tweeter fan but this one is pretty tolerable. The PF350 does 250w at 8 ohms, and I cranked it way past the point of offensiveness and the cab held together very well without breaking up. Don't know if I gave it full wattage but I sure tried for at least a few seconds. I liked the PF210 very well, but the PF115 really nails it as far as I'm concerned. It might not be a dead nuts match, but it's got the B-15 sound.
So now I've finally got to try everything out in the PF line. Honestly, I've tried to find something not to like about this stuff just so you guys didn't think I was an unrepentant Ampeg butt-kisser, but there's nothing not to like that I've found. Even the limiter button on the PF350 and Micro VR (they have the same preamps), though I wouldn't use it, is pretty decent and fairly unobtrusive. And though I prefer the 115 to the 210, it's not by much...both of them have a very B-15'y sound, and I could see people preferring the 210's slightly tighter lows. I'm really impressed by how close they nailed the sound of a B-15 with this stuff. What's really amazing is how it's all made completely different from the old stuff, but somehow it all sounds like the real deal.
So now I've finally got to try everything out in the PF line. Honestly, I've tried to find something not to like about this stuff just so you guys didn't think I was an unrepentant Ampeg butt-kisser, but there's nothing not to like that I've found. Even the limiter button on the PF350 and Micro VR (they have the same preamps), though I wouldn't use it, is pretty decent and fairly unobtrusive. And though I prefer the 115 to the 210, it's not by much...both of them have a very B-15'y sound, and I could see people preferring the 210's slightly tighter lows. I'm really impressed by how close they nailed the sound of a B-15 with this stuff. What's really amazing is how it's all made completely different from the old stuff, but somehow it all sounds like the real deal.
Good to hear.
I also just heard that a local store here has the PF 500 in sore, dunno if either cab is accompanying...... hope so!!! Must try it/em out tomorrow.
I also just heard that a local store here has the PF 500 in sore, dunno if either cab is accompanying...... hope so!!! Must try it/em out tomorrow.
The PF500 is basically a 7 Pro with half the wattage and minus the pre tube. 7 Pro's definitely worth the extra $ but the PF500 ain't hurtin' for tone at all.
Yeah, I'd like to hear it, without the tube etc... & I'm actually hoping they'll have a PF cab too.
- Apr 3, 2003
- 35,515
- 19,939
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- Editor-in-Chief, Bass Gear Magazine
+1 Your thoughts mirror mine pretty closely. I'm really digging the PF500/115 combination. I do agree that it gets a lot closer to honest B-15 land than I had expected, but hit Ultra Lo and Ultra Hi, and back off the Bass a little bit, and all of a sudden you have this modern sounding combo. Very cool.
The other night, I tried the 7Pro driving the PF115. Man, that was nice! The slightly thicker & more full 7Pro really sounded great through that cab. I wonder if the PF115 lid could handle the 7Pro...
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