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Ampeg PF500/PF350

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#402
:confused:Yes you are right. I was only using a single 8 ohm cab. Of course it's louder when I use two 8 ohm cabs both due to speaker surface area and getting the full 500 watts. Most of the time I just use one cab and I don't currently own any 4 ohms. I might try it into one of my Hartkes which are 5 ohm I believe. Actually though it wasn't so much loudness that was missing, but maybe head room for the transients. I did have the compression fairly high (2 oclock) but I found lower settings was causing the peak light to flash quite often so I decreased the bass (to around 9 oclock and raised the compression)
I may have been hasty with my post and just venting some frustration after last nights jam. I really do love the sound, features, and look. I'll give it a few more trys before sending it back.
P.S. Since the cooling fan noise does bug me in quiet situations, are there any other small heads in this price range without them?
 
#403
MF just broke up my order for me and applied the discount to each unit individually. I should be receiving the head this week....

Only downside is I will be going to the back of the line for the cab....and it is looking like April. :\

Did Ampeg just not have things in place for the release of the product? Or did the just not anticipate the demand?
 
#404
Not trying to be condescending in any way - but new gear, from just about ANY manufacturer, that shows up at Winter NAMM... usually doesn't see the light of day in mass quantities until about June/July.
Ampeg did real good.

...and before anyone jumps my a$$ with "Fender Rumble mini's" - I demo'd one of those in a local shop last December. So, Fender was AHEAD of the game.
 
#405
tlr1293 said:
Not trying to be condescending in any way - but new gear, from just about ANY manufacturer, that shows up at Winter NAMM... usually doesn't see the light of day in mass quantities until about June/July.
Ampeg did real good.
Click to expand...

You know that is a fair point. Plus, I think retailers want to advertise quickly the new products they will receive, even if it is only the information regarding the products :p

I think part of my impatience comes from the fact that I usually always buy used gear and have never really gone through a new product launch :bawl: :D
 
#406
toneseeker said:
the fan noise was driving me nuts.
Click to expand...

I wonder how the fan noise compares to the Mesa WalkAbout.

I've been considering the PF500 as a back up head to my WA and was kind of hoping for something quieter. Like you said, it is a non-issue in a gig situation, (especially in the Scout cab); but at home, sitting on top of a cab, it drives me nuts too.
 
#407
I got the chance to demo one today at Sam Ash in Madison, TN today. The pf500 was hooked into an 8x10 cab. I think it was right along the lines of what I need. It's sleek and definitely has the ampeg vibe. It is loud, and I pushed it to just over half on volume and gain. As mentioned before, kinda gritty but that's how I like it. I didn't buy it today as I'm just gonna wait til the cabs are officially out. But this amp is right up my alley. Affordable and has a bite and snarl to it.
 
#409
JimmyM said:
great clips, gecko! definitely sounds like a killer little amp. playing is pretty sweet, too!
Click to expand...

Thanks on both counts, Jimmy! I admit to being a little unsure about the Portaflex gear, since as the only other Ampeg gear I've really played is my 1974 V4B, and you just can't compare that. I wasn't sure how much I'd like the PF500 compared to the Shuttle, but you're right, it's a great amp! I like it enough and it has a different enough vibe that I'll keep both. (Still got the Micro VR on my G.A.S. list too, though. ;))


krovx said:
Only downside is I will be going to the back of the line for the cab....and it is looking like April. :\

Did Ampeg just not have things in place for the release of the product? Or did the just not anticipate the demand?
Click to expand...

tlr1293 said:
Not trying to be condescending in any way - but new gear, from just about ANY manufacturer, that shows up at Winter NAMM... usually doesn't see the light of day in mass quantities until about June/July.
Ampeg did real good.
Click to expand...

Krovx, April isn't THAT far away. At least, that's what I keep telling myself. :eyebrow: hehehe

As far as what's going on, and I think it's a little of what both you guys said. I've posted a couple times on Ampeg's Facebook page to see if they would give a reason, and they make it sound like the amps were early and the cabs are running a little behind. Why they didn't wait and ship them together, that's another question that's still up for debate.

I agree with Krovx, I suspect it's a demand thing as well... I don't think they were ready for how much the Heritage B-15 buzz got people's attention, whether it was previous (pre SLM?) Ampeg fans or people like me who never paid much mind at all until now. Seems like Ampeg is doing some cool stuff to bring their rep back and I think the positive response might have even caught them off guard.

5sg.
 
#410
bassacechase said:
I am with ya. Mine will more than likely go back tomorrow. I think I just expected way too much. I also realized that Ampeg might not my sound. I love it when hear others use it. Gecko, your clips sounded nice. It just doesn't match my needs I guess. :( Damn...
Click to expand...
if every amp met everyone's needs, there would only be one amp.
 
#411
emor said:
I wonder how the fan noise compares to the Mesa WalkAbout.

I've been considering the PF500 as a back up head to my WA and was kind of hoping for something quieter. Like you said, it is a non-issue in a gig situation, (especially in the Scout cab); but at home, sitting on top of a cab, it drives me nuts too.
Click to expand...

Get this:

Link Removed

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Same specs as the WA fan but totally quiet. It even matches the old faceplate. :)
 
#413
After following this intently for all 412 posts, I can now say that I am so happy to be a TBer. I would've sold some good gear to get this thing sight unseen but now am happy to wait and see it live in a store locally. I am loving the opinions, the samples and the differing POVs. I respect them all!
 
#416
Just ordered a PF500, I like the sound clips posted & what I could hear of Dino's youtube demo. I notice it has the same EQ points as the SVT7 & the SVT 2 non pro which Is the same on the preamp eq of the SVT3 non pro & SVT2P preamp. Thats the eq voice I have the most experience & comfort using with Ampegs in the past.
 
#417
I ordered yesterday & received the PF500 this afternoon, the amp was triple boxed . My cabinet is a pressboard Ampeg 610hlf, probably not one of the better versions. Flat to my ears was not at 5 straight up the middle as the manual suggested. The sound was indistinct, sounded like too many competing frequencies, I dialed everything back closer to 2.5 & it sounds much better. I didn't have to push the midrange up past 5 to get any midrange cut as I did previously. I've only had about an hour or less to play with it but I found a very useable tone that I could be happy with. I seem to like the midrange set to 450hz which is typical on these amps for me. I tried the compressor on 3.5 and I couldn't hear any tone loss so I mite actually use that feature as well. Gain was set about 6.5. So far so good.
 
#418
I have been using Ampegs since the mid early 70's except for a few years when i strayed to Sunn and then Trace when the Ampeg stuff started to get crappy. I currently use 2 of the SS ampeg heads with various cabinets and they sound like "ampegs" should. i am pretty much sold on this head becoming my really small venue rig but I am thinking the cabinets may be disappointing. MDF instead plywood is my first cause for concern. Next is the fact that the cab may just be too small to handle that kind of power. The cabs are great with the 30 watt heads but can they really cut it with 250 watts into each cabinet??? After using big ported cabinets the last 15 years or so I am thinking these may not cut it which will turn this amp into the poor mans B-15 but not a real gigging rig. I hope I am wrong...... anyone else feel the same way??
 
#419
jumbodbassman said:
I have been using Ampegs since the mid early 70's except for a few years when i strayed to Sunn and then Trace when the Ampeg stuff started to get crappy. I currently use 2 of the SS ampeg heads with various cabinets and they sound like "ampegs" should. i am pretty much sold on this head becoming my really small venue rig but I am thinking the cabinets may be disappointing. MDF instead plywood is my first cause for concern. Next is the fact that the cab may just be too small to handle that kind of power. The cabs are great with the 30 watt heads but can they really cut it with 250 watts into each cabinet??? After using big ported cabinets the last 15 years or so I am thinking these may not cut it which will turn this amp into the poor mans B-15 but not a real gigging rig. I hope I am wrong...... anyone else feel the same way??
Click to expand...
ampeg doesn't use mdf or osb or any of that "miracle" wood anymore. they used osb from 1998-2005. since then, they've used nothing but plywood. the description of the pf cabs clearly states poplar ply for the wood:

Ampeg: Portaflex Series - PF-115HE

as for whether they can take 250w, i have a couple b-15 cabs with eminence delta 15a's in them. not exactly the same design but pretty close in size. when i had a markbass lmii, i cranked that head as loud as i possibly could without clipping with one cab hooked up to it. my cab took it pretty easily. i'm not big on throttling a single cab with a ton of wattage, but it did take it. so yeah, it's very possible these cabs could take it with ease, too.
 
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