I am guessing just the head. My order ended up showing the item being broken down into two separate items.
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Ampeg PF500/PF350
- Thread starter maevinj
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Yeah, that's why I had to cancel my order, because GC told me the cab wouldn't ship until March 11 (maybe), and I have a gig on the 12th. I spent way more money on that Walkabout rig, but I think it will be worth it....
Walkabout is great! I am a huge Mesa fan, but the Ampeg sound is the Ampeg sound. I always feel it is never fair to play a Mesa side by side to an Ampeg...I think most will pick the Ampeg because it "is" the sound you hear on many recordings. However, the Mesa really shines in the live mix. Huge, clear, lots of punch. My M6 Carbine cut through two blasting Dual Rect halfstacks with ease 
I remember after one of my sets, I was playing with my bud who was a bass player in another band, his band came up and complimented my playing and tone. His guitarist said to him, " dude, I wish your rig could cut like that!" I remember seeing a glare or two exchanged 
I remember after one of my sets, I was playing with my bud who was a bass player in another band, his band came up and complimented my playing and tone. His guitarist said to him, " dude, I wish your rig could cut like that!" I remember seeing a glare or two exchanged
I agree, but from what I've read on the Walkabout Megathread, you can get an Ampeg sound--that it's really its own animal and sounds different from all the other Boogie bass amps. I also like the fact that it has a tube preamp, is made in the good ol' U.S. of A., and I'm stoked about having the 1x12 combo with the 1x12 extension cab. Plus, the one I bought is just sexy as Hell, and the resale value will be great if I ever need to/decide to get rid of it. I can't wait for it to get here on Tuesday!
Just the head unfortunately. Wish it was the cab too... got a two night show with the current gig next weekend and was hoping to try it out. I mean, I can still give the PF500 a run, but the cab is what I'm really looking forward to.
5sg.
The best thing with Mesa, if you haven't yet, is read the manual and get a true feel for what the controls do. Most of controls are not like your typical amp, they change things differently. I never really enjoyed the tones I dialed out of a WA, but others playing it sound great. I try not to let my opinions be only shaped by how "I" only sound through gear; because there are some amazing tones out there! The Carbine was a very simple head to dial in, and since I am more of a numbskull, is probably why I preferred it. I realize for certain things I want the Ampeg sound, and others can get close to that, I will just take it from the horse's mouth.
And yes, that rig is sexy! I love the options Mesa offers for style and looks. Plus, Mesa has great CS! I ended up calling them because I was really upset with the M3, I thought it totally missed the market. An engineer who builds the amps took the time to have a 15 minute discussion with me why the M3 was as large as it was, and lacked certain features, etc. How many manufacturers do that?
And yes, that rig is sexy! I love the options Mesa offers for style and looks. Plus, Mesa has great CS! I ended up calling them because I was really upset with the M3, I thought it totally missed the market. An engineer who builds the amps took the time to have a 15 minute discussion with me why the M3 was as large as it was, and lacked certain features, etc. How many manufacturers do that?
Were his arguments any good? I mean, from the sound of it people want a bigger Walkabout, not a smaller M6.
The M3 is almost as large as an M6, and only 200 bucks cheaper. Lacks Speakon :scowl: I was hoping for a micro-version of the Carbine...something closer to the size of a GB Shuttle. He claimed they lacked the 'real estate' - his word; for the speakon and other options, I then replied well my Shuttle is way dinkier than your guys stuff and they managed to put all that stuff on there? 
I didn't find his arguments that convincing.
I could see where people would want some more wattage from the WA platform.
I didn't find his arguments that convincing.I could see where people would want some more wattage from the WA platform.
Yeah, I've already downloaded the manual and been studying it, and there's a TON of advice on settings in the Megathread. I had a really bad experience with the semi-parametric EQ on my SWR Studio 220 head I had back in the early 90's, but I also didn't have the slightest idea how it worked. Hopefully with what I've learned from the manual and that thread, I'll be able to get the tone I want without too much hassle....
speakons aren't necessary in amps less than 500w. past that and you can get zapped with 1/4" jacks, but i'd rather have a smaller amp than have speakons personally.The M3 is almost as large as an M6, and only 200 bucks cheaper. Lacks Speakon :scowl: I was hoping for a micro-version of the Carbine...something closer to the size of a GB Shuttle. He claimed they lacked the 'real estate' - his word; for the speakon and other options, I then replied well my Shuttle is way dinkier than your guys stuff and they managed to put all that stuff on there?
I could see where people would want some more wattage from the WA platform.
I hear you Jimmy. But with their smart jacks, that are speakon with a 1/4 in the middle, why not do that?Seriously though, the head really isn't much smaller / lighter, and just lacks many of the features. For 200 more bucks, I don't see why anyone wouldn't buy the M6, get twice the features, more tone shaping capabilities, etc.
BTW, I am still waiting for my Ampeg. I ALMOST bought a B15
well to each their own, but the mesa stuff just doesn't hit my sweet spot like the ampeg stuff does. i'm sure i could get a fine sound out of a mesa amp, but from what i've heard in clips, it's not for me.
Since I own a Micro VR, my Walkabout combo is hardly used. The Ampeg head hits the sound without almost any knob turning.
Whereas every time I play in a different venue, the WA needs a lot of adjusting to get the sound right (for me that is).
I guess I won't know for sure until my WA rig gets here. I'm an Ampeg guy too, but I was rolling the dice on how the PF-500 was going to sound as well (the clips from the NAMM show were no help whatsoever). From everything I've read on the WA Megathread, and from what my friend who owns one has told me, it sounds like it will suit me just fine, but ultimately I won't know until I play it myself. Worst case scenario, I can always sell it and buy the PF rig later....
well there's certainly nothing wrong with the wa rig from what i can see. i'm sure it'll be fine. but like i said, the ampeg stuff hits my sweet spot.
Don't get me wrong, the WA is a great amp! It's a thoroughbred, a real high-end product. It can deliver almost any sound you can expect from it.
And that's where I get lost with it, as I did with Markbass, when trying to dial in "the right sound". It became apparent that what I was looking for was "the Ampeg sound".
I once left Ampeg in search for a more portable and versatile rig, only to discover that to me Ampeg is "The sound", which I rediscoverd with the Micro VR.
I hear what you're saying, Man. I too am an Ampeg guy. I've had a hell of a lot of amps over the years--Peavy, GK, SWR, Trace Elliott and Ampeg--and I've always been happiest with my Ampeg stuff (SVT Classic and B100R). However, I wasn't that impressed with the power of the Micro VR or the way it sounded out of the two cabs I heard it through. I was looking for something with more power than my B100R, and I wasn't getting it from the Micro VR. In fact, my B100R sounded fuller and warmer to me, with no noticeable gain in volume from the Micro VR. That's why I was going to give the PF a go. When having it in time for my gig became impossible, I decided to give the Mesa a go. If I end up in the same boat you're in though, the Mesa could end up being replaced by a PF500 after all....
Unfortunately the date on the cabs got pushed back again... website now says 3/18 and the rep I just talked to says Ampeg isn't giving them any info. It's starting to seem that this is more of a soft product launch than anything definite. 
5sg.
5sg.
My experience, YMMV, you will either fall in love with the WA and it may replace your tone pursuit; or more often then not, you will end up buying what you truly wanted in the beginning, with the stress of buying/selling, etc. I think the PF500 will do everything I want, so I am patiently waiting for it.
Unfortunately the date on the cabs got pushed back again... website now says 3/18 and the rep I just talked to says Ampeg isn't giving them any info. It's starting to seem that this is more of a soft product launch than anything definite.
5sg.
No kidding 5sg. Probably doubted the bass player demand for the product. Can't blame Ampeg in this economy.
Well, perhaps you're more patient than I am and find the sweet spot on the WA easily.
The B100 does sound fuller and warmer than the Micro VR - possibly got to do with the single 15".
To me the Micro VR with two 210's is loud enough for the bars and small clubs I play in. Anything bigger will be handled by the PA.
And I just love the vertical stack that takes hardly any space on stage and enables me to hear myself pretty well.
Just a note: The WA likes the Ampeg 210AV cabs a lot also!
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