My Ampeg B100R has plenty of punch and power to gig with. How can some be saying the 350 watt or 500 watt don't have enough volume? I find this strange.
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Ampeg PF500/PF350
- Thread starter maevinj
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It'll be interesting to see how those soon to be released PF cabs will sound with these heads once they're out. They might be a better match than anything you guys are using with the heads. Could that be the secret to the PF sauce?
BTW, the XLR signal (on my 350) is a tad on the hot side. Anyone notice this too? I really have to lower my input on my computer sound card to get a signal without distortion.
BTW, the XLR signal (on my 350) is a tad on the hot side. Anyone notice this too? I really have to lower my input on my computer sound card to get a signal without distortion.
tbof said:
Yeah I had that on mine I couldn't move the gain at all with out clipping the board and the board was really dialed down.
I think the 500 sounds really good and is loud enough to hold its own with no lack of headroom when using a single 8ohm 212, playing in a rock band with a Fender Twin and Vox AC30 chomping away. And +1 on cutting the bass instead of boosting mids to get more headroom and a more natural midrange, this goes for GK's in a big big way too.
I've found it a bit strange as well. So far I've only used my PF500 with my Avatar B210 and haven't had any problems. And while I haven't had a chance to A/B my PF500 and Shuttle 6.0 head to head, I don't feel like there's a significant difference in volume between the two amps. I don't know... maybe it's just a difference in the cabs people are using? *shrug*
I've had both of these thoughts too. The MF site still says 4/8, so hopefully I'll be getting an email about my PF115 shipping in the next few days. Very much looking forward to testing the Secret Sauce theory.
lolThe DI on the PF500 does seem hot too. I've only used it once, but the soundguy thought it was okay.
5sg.
All I can say is this. I went to GC to check out a Promethean and maybe to get a MarkBass....
Well to my surprise was the Ampeg and guess what I left with?
The Pf500! to each his own but I thought it sounded great I played it through a 610 Ampeg and a gk 115.
I had lots of people coming in and saying it sounded great and to my ears it was a great tone.
Also I got it out the door for 392.00....So I think its a great head...and a good price.
It was plenty loud and it was great...since it is a first run I wonder if some people had defective units....If not to each his own....mine sounds great IMO. Tanks
Well to my surprise was the Ampeg and guess what I left with?
The Pf500! to each his own but I thought it sounded great I played it through a 610 Ampeg and a gk 115.
I had lots of people coming in and saying it sounded great and to my ears it was a great tone.
Also I got it out the door for 392.00....So I think its a great head...and a good price.
It was plenty loud and it was great...since it is a first run I wonder if some people had defective units....If not to each his own....mine sounds great IMO. Tanks
I haven't noticed the DI from the PF500 being too hot, granted I used a stock Sx Jazz bass with lower output than my P bass with a G&L pickup. I had a practice session with the band yesterday that was recorded as usual. We didn't adjust the levels from my previous setting & it recorded great. As far as available power I didn't raise the volume past 10 oclock & I play with a guitar player with a Marshall full stack. I've found any issues I've had in the past with cutting through have been eq related. Too much bass, not enough of the rite midrange frequency to poke through. My guitarists old Marshalls are modded with huge amounts of midrange so I've learned through 16 years of playing with him how to cut through without wasting volume with bad eq settings.
Does anyone know what cabs would pair well with the pf 500?
I tried the 610 great tone but to heavy and I am not dropping 999.00 on a cab.
I was thinking a Carvin br 15 at 8 ohms then add a 210 later....
But I was thinking if the Carvin at 4 ohms getting the full 500 watts would handle most gigs. Anyone care to chime in or lend their opinion...Thanks again.
I tried the 610 great tone but to heavy and I am not dropping 999.00 on a cab.
I was thinking a Carvin br 15 at 8 ohms then add a 210 later....
But I was thinking if the Carvin at 4 ohms getting the full 500 watts would handle most gigs. Anyone care to chime in or lend their opinion...Thanks again.
finally got to play the 3 heads i've not played yet and have been dying to...the pf350, pf500, and svt 7 pro.
played the 350 and 500 through a 610hlf. they both sound like ampeg to me. the 350 is very similar to the micro vr imho. didn't do a direct ab of them in the same cab, but i liked it quite well. i liked the versatility of the 500 as well. both of them have the sound as far as i'm concerned, although their eq's are very dissimilar. i actually found myself gravitating to setting the 500 flat. sounded really good to me.
but i'll tell you, that svt 7 pro is amazing. must be the tubes that make the difference, but man, what a sound! played it through a 410hlf...it does have a very similar tone and eq to the pf500, but there was a certain weighty feel to the notes that was so very sweet as you played it. we've taken to calling it "oomph," but whatever you call it, it's there to a greater degree than any other micro head i've played (note: i haven't played all the newest micros). ok, it's a big micro, but it's class d with an smps so it's not a lead sled. but as close as i thought the micro vr was to hitting the real thing, the 7 pro kicks it up several notches. as it should.
ymmv, but i was totally into all 3 of those amps. as the price goes up they get better, but i thought that for inexpensive micros, the pf amps rule hard. so to sum up:
pf-300 and 500: great for the money
svt 7 pro: just plain great
played the 350 and 500 through a 610hlf. they both sound like ampeg to me. the 350 is very similar to the micro vr imho. didn't do a direct ab of them in the same cab, but i liked it quite well. i liked the versatility of the 500 as well. both of them have the sound as far as i'm concerned, although their eq's are very dissimilar. i actually found myself gravitating to setting the 500 flat. sounded really good to me.
but i'll tell you, that svt 7 pro is amazing. must be the tubes that make the difference, but man, what a sound! played it through a 410hlf...it does have a very similar tone and eq to the pf500, but there was a certain weighty feel to the notes that was so very sweet as you played it. we've taken to calling it "oomph," but whatever you call it, it's there to a greater degree than any other micro head i've played (note: i haven't played all the newest micros). ok, it's a big micro, but it's class d with an smps so it's not a lead sled. but as close as i thought the micro vr was to hitting the real thing, the 7 pro kicks it up several notches. as it should.
ymmv, but i was totally into all 3 of those amps. as the price goes up they get better, but i thought that for inexpensive micros, the pf amps rule hard. so to sum up:
pf-300 and 500: great for the money
svt 7 pro: just plain great
Jimmy
I am curious as you played both the 350 and the 500 through the same cab and I am assuming it is a 4 ohm cab, did you hear a large difference in perceived volume between the two. I am looking at these to use with a epifani 410 4 ohm cab and really wonder if the 500 has much more actual volume or any real value to justify the extra $100.
didn't get to crank them to their top ranges (yes, the cab was 4 ohms), and they were both really good sounding amps, but if it were me buying, on first impulse i'd have gone for the 500. the eq was more versatile, and though i'm not entirely sure yet since it was only a 3-minute tryout of each at gc, i think the pf-500 might have benefitted from having more in the tank, even if you don't hear an appreciable volume boost when cranked full. otoh, the 350 was great as well, and this was just a quick tryout at gc, so i'm not totally sure what's doing. but they did all have the sound, and that's really what's important.
I've had both of these thoughts too. The MF site still says 4/8, so hopefully I'll be getting an email about my PF115 shipping in the next few days. Very much looking forward to testing the Secret Sauce theory.
The DI on the PF500 does seem hot too. I've only used it once, but the soundguy thought it was okay.
5sg.
Thanks for the reply.
Any reason why you decided to go with the 115 and not the 210? Just curious. I have a choice to make too. Decisions, decisions...
Thanks for the reply.
Any reason why you decided to go with the 115 and not the 210? Just curious. I have a choice to make too. Decisions, decisions...
I know, right? Too much gear, too little time! I guess it really depends on your goals and what kind of a sound you're looking for. 10's are more punchy & modern, I'm hoping the 15" will be more thumpy and old-school (or at least let me get closer to that sound anyway). I do see the PF210 in my future, but I decided to start with the PF115 for a couple reasons:
First, I was originally saving for a Heritage B-15... had a little over $3k in the bank before they announced the $4k price tag. I came to my senses just as I was about to sell off my dragonburst Modulus Q5.
As much as I lusted after the B-15, what the hell am I gonna do with a $4k amp anyway?! You can't bring an amp like that to a bar... At least, I wouldn't be able to. So instead, I ordered the Portaflex setup and put a down payment on a new car. I was happy to take that as a "consolation prize." lolSecond, I currently have a 2x10 cab that I like quite a bit (Avatar B210). A cab with a 15" will be new for me. I've been drifting towards a warmer, more vintage tone over the last year (which I hinted at above), so I figured I'd give it a try. I put flats back on my Pbass and I might even turn off the tweeter on the PF115 before I even plug it in, just because.
lolIf it helps, I posted clips of my PF500/Avatar 2x10 in post #375 of this thread. Not sure how different the PF210 will sound since it's sealed, but those clips should at least give you a ballpark idea.
5sg.
- Apr 3, 2003
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+1 Well said! You and I are definitely hearing these heads in the same fashion. My thoughts mirror yours fairly closely. That 7Pro definitely needs some more love (especially now that they fixed a couple of issues with the very first units).
That is great stuff right there. If a piece of gear saves you enough to put a down payment on a car it cant be all bad.
I think Jimmy is on in his review, I obviously liked the PF-500 because I bought it. I played it through a ampeg 610 at 4ohms it was loud and had plenty of ooomph.
My concern was I was going to get an 80hm Carvin 115 then add a 210 later....The Carvin cabs are rated at 600 watts each cab..they are the neos.
I am afraid though that both those cabs at 4 ohms may be to power hungry...and I wont get enough push to them so to speak.
I am thinking the 4 ohm 15 would do the trick for most gigs....or would the 2 be better?
Jimmy or Tom any imput on this would be appreciated.
I like this head alot so I will be keeping it just want to make good cab choices...Thanks
My concern was I was going to get an 80hm Carvin 115 then add a 210 later....The Carvin cabs are rated at 600 watts each cab..they are the neos.
I am afraid though that both those cabs at 4 ohms may be to power hungry...and I wont get enough push to them so to speak.
I am thinking the 4 ohm 15 would do the trick for most gigs....or would the 2 be better?
Jimmy or Tom any imput on this would be appreciated.
I like this head alot so I will be keeping it just want to make good cab choices...Thanks
How much of the "oomph" do you think might be related to the 410HLF cab itself, vs. the 610?
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