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Ampeg PF500/PF350

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#1,181
lfbassguy said:
thanks for the helpful advice. i will try it. to answer a question, it only has happened twice on me with my active bass. it has never happened on a passive bass. now i have been using that amp a lot and i always push it hard. i play in a very loud band so this amp and all my others gets pushed to the max. it has never happened on a gig, just at home, and after it happened it was good to go. still ran it at the same volume. it seems like it happened when i tried to start out that loud instead of bringing the volume up.
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Try cleaning the preamp / poweramp jacks thing and patching in and out with them and see what shakes out. So it only happens with your active bass? Then another dumb question. You are using the -15 db pad switch I assume? I still think there might be issues with the front end when using hot active basses.

Seems like you shouldn't have to bring the volume up. It should just start kicking at whatever volume you have it at. At least with my passive P it does. I'm still at 8 ohms though. Hoping to PU another HX115 HyDrive this weekend so then I'll be at 4 ohms and we'll see if mine acts up.

Maybe if it only happened twice and has been fine after that, it's OK. IDK though, if I was having a problem using an active bass, I'd sure want to crank that sucker with it and see if it cuts out. Any amp is a no go if it can't handle all your basses. Also I'd always have that "is it going to crap out tonight" thing in the back of my mind while gigging. I'm not gigging steady right now but when I do I usually carry a BU head just in case. Still though, you shouldn't have to worry about if your rig is going to act up or not. That's not acceptable especially in a gigging situation. Not to mention the fact that it makes you and your group look like amateur night if your rig pukes and you have to spend 10 or 15 minutes switching amps.
 
#1,182
60bass said:
Try cleaning the preamp / poweramp jacks thing and patching in and out with them and see what shakes out. So it only happens with your active bass? Then another dumb question. You are using the -15 db pad switch I assume? I still think there might be issues with the front end when using hot active basses.

Seems like you shouldn't have to bring the volume up. It should just start kicking at whatever volume you have it at. At least with my passive P it does. I'm still at 8 ohms though. Hoping to PU another HX115 HyDrive this weekend so then I'll be at 4 ohms and we'll see if mine acts up.

Maybe if it only happened twice and has been fine after that, it's OK. IDK though, if I was having a problem using an active bass, I'd sure want to crank that sucker with it and see if it cuts out. Any amp is a no go if it can't handle all your basses. Also I'd always have that "is it going to crap out tonight" thing in the back of my mind while gigging. I'm not gigging steady right now but when I do I usually carry a BU head just in case. Still though, you shouldn't have to worry about if your rig is going to act up or not. That's not acceptable especially in a gigging situation. Not to mention the fact that it makes you and your group look like amateur night if your rig pukes and you have to spend 10 or 15 minutes switching amps.
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yea, i have been gigging this thing pretty hard. saturday even did a 7 hour out door gig in dallas in 108 temp with no shade(yea, that sucked, and still waiting to get paid, but thats another story) and the amp did just fine with no issues what so ever. ran it at 4 ohms. honestly i am not worried at all, it has really been a trooper so far.
i did not have my -15 pad button in. maybe i should try that. i've never really liked using those, seems like they change the tone somehow. like i said, it has only happened twice and i have been using it alot. it seems like all my amps have there little things. i'll let you know how it keeps on acting.
 
#1,183
Found me a never-used (still in package) padded computer laptop bag in the back of my closet and my new PF-350 fits inside it like a glove. It has padded Velcro straps, side pockets for chords, carrying strap. I think it was a gift from like 7 years ago! I can sling it over my shoulder and carry my bass with one hand, then carry my Avatar NEO cab with the other. One trip for everything!
 
#1,185
jeff7bass said:
Found me a never-used (still in package) padded computer laptop bag in the back of my closet and my new PF-350 fits inside it like a glove. It has padded Velcro straps, side pockets for chords, carrying strap. I think it was a gift from like 7 years ago! I can sling it over my shoulder and carry my bass with one hand, then carry my Avatar NEO cab with the other. One trip for everything!
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Did the same thing with my PF-500. Had a laptop bag in a cabinet in my apartment that hasn't been used in at least 3-4 years. The amp fits perfectly.
 
#1,193
I got to try out the PF-500 head today. And I think I am pretty well sold on this head! Again, cranking the gain seems to yield some of the best results. The EQ section is definitely powerful, although I found the variable midrange control a little perplexing. I seemed to get more noticeable results when I cut the mids than when I boosted them.

And price-wise? I think you get some bang for the buck with the PF-500. My only issue at this point is that the only store that seems to be stocking these is Guitar Center. Not my preferred place to buy gear. And they still don't seem to have an interest in stocking the PF-115HE cab. I REALLY want to try that cab out because I want to pair the PF-500 with the PF-115HE. Eventually I may add the PF-210HE cab for a nice little mini-rig, but I'd prefer to run the PF-500 with the 1x15. Conceptually I think that's the way to go since this seems to be Ampeg's modern tribute to the B-15.
 
#1,199
ShoeManiac said:
I got to try out the PF-500 head today. And I think I am pretty well sold on this head! Again, cranking the gain seems to yield some of the best results. The EQ section is definitely powerful, although I found the variable midrange control a little perplexing. I seemed to get more noticeable results when I cut the mids than when I boosted them.

And price-wise? I think you get some bang for the buck with the PF-500. My only issue at this point is that the only store that seems to be stocking these is Guitar Center. Not my preferred place to buy gear. And they still don't seem to have an interest in stocking the PF-115HE cab. I REALLY want to try that cab out because I want to pair the PF-500 with the PF-115HE. Eventually I may add the PF-210HE cab for a nice little mini-rig, but I'd prefer to run the PF-500 with the 1x15. Conceptually I think that's the way to go since this seems to be Ampeg's modern tribute to the B-15.
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Cranking the gain up really makes the 500 come alive. On mine if you have the mid set low the tones from the switch are a bit subtle. That being said boosting the mid control past halfway makes the mid switch tones very noticeable and there's a lot of tonal versatility with that switch. IMO with an Ampeg mids are your best friend. YMMV

I don't know whats up with GC and the PF115HE cabs. I also wanted that cab but GC didn't have it. In fact they didn't have any single Ampeg 15's in stock at all where I bought mine. I don't know who the buyers are for GC but they are probably at the corporate level sitting behind a desk and decide what to stock at the stores. The lack or 15's tells me they aren't bass players. Possibly GC considers the new PF series to be an entry level series aimed at younger players who want 10's because they see them everywhere.

I did get a 15% discount on the head with my coupon. I ended up with the Hartke HX115 HyDrive cab and it really sounds great and I find it almost a perfect match with the PF-500. I keep the tweet shut off and even though the cab is NEO it still gets old school 15" grind. You do lose the whole Portaflex vibe though. I'm going to PU another HX115 for my 500 watt stack and eventually the PF115HE for a small portable rig.

I was looking online for the PF115HE and see that it's out of stock at most retailers right now. ETA shows mid July. I guess the term "on a slow boat from China" applies :)

Keep Low :bassist:
 
#1,200
60bass said:
I was looking online for the PF115HE and see that it's out of stock at most retailers right now. ETA shows mid July. I guess the term "on a slow boat from China" applies :)
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When I ordered mine, I was told end of June to ship. A mid-July change is disappointing. I'm surprised about the 115s being so backlogged, considering the assumed demand on the 210...

I've seen plenty of 210s at GCs...
 
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