If one were shopping for one of these, how would said person discern what rev # they were getting? Possible to figure this out beforehand?
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Another Red Flag On The Ampeg PF-500.....
- Thread starter shoot-r
- Start date
The revs are on the circuit board but I don't know that they're on the outside of the unit anywhere. Perhaps there is a serial numbering order you could use to discern a manufacturing date? I think in one of the megathreads people at least chased down the dates of the various revisions. I'd ask there if anyone has deciphered the serial number scheme as a sort of cross-reference.
When in doubt, go for the headroom !
Some of us like to use smaller amplifiers specifically for the purpose of cranking the bejeezus out of them.
Some of us like to use smaller amplifiers specifically for the purpose of cranking the bejeezus out of them.
PF-500 killer! Okay that's enough out of me before it's taken serious and panties get in a wad. 
If panties don't get wadded, you're not doing it right.
It is still happening to lower rev units from what I have heard, and my rev. G has functioned perfectly every time I've turned it on. In the interest of full disclosure, I don't have enough cab to pound mine hard, yet.
There are roughly four failure modes reported:
1) cut-out w. fault light, amp restarts
2) "MOSFET" failure
3) poor soldering of a filter inductor (QC problem)
4) unknown component failure
IIRC all of these failure modes have been reported from rev. C units production of which ended in Oct 2011.
BTW In the ECs for the PF500 there was a change to the fan control transistor (Q20) dated June of 2011 (remember this amp debuted at NAMM in Jan 2011) which could account for the noisy fan complaints (fail shorted) but it is possible that some failures could be due to this transistor (2SC4793) failing open (no cooling) under heavy load. There are additional thermal protection systems in the amp as well so an open Q20 should manifest as a long-time cut-out in otherwise normal operation.
Which of the failure modes applies to the "turned it on, it popped and never came on again"? That happened to a fair amount of us. Mine happened in the store as a final listen before I took it home, which is why I always roll my eyes at the "user error" comments.
Buy the PF-350 or PF-800?
My ears found the PF-800 sounded different. No idea why that would be, and could very well just be my ears or even my imagination. The 350 sounds awesome but is just a bit shy on the juice (my MB200 sounds louder). Not to mention I also had a 350 cut out on me on low notes.
Some of us like to use smaller amplifiers specifically for the purpose of cranking the bejeezus out of them.
No doubt, and cranking the gain is one thing I love love love about the MicroVR. In my dreams they would make a higher wattage version of that amp to use on my larger gigs, but they won't (I assume) because the PF series covers that range.
That's what happened to the ones that failed on me. I was really surprised when it happened because I've never had any amp fail on me before (much less two from the same line). The 7Pro was having a lot of issues for awhile, too. I think that's why a lot of people have been shunning Ampeg lately.
O.P. here.......
Sold the burnt-out PF-500 yesterday as is.
I've a player coming Sunday to buy the PF-115HE cabinet I had to rework.
The 810 cabinets are gone too.
As the wife said ealier this morning, "It's the end of a era!"
I started using Ampeg in 1968.
Always had a Ampeg something at every job I've played till tonight.
Good job Loud/Ampeg.....
Sold the burnt-out PF-500 yesterday as is.
I've a player coming Sunday to buy the PF-115HE cabinet I had to rework.
The 810 cabinets are gone too.
As the wife said ealier this morning, "It's the end of a era!"
I started using Ampeg in 1968.
Always had a Ampeg something at every job I've played till tonight.
Good job Loud/Ampeg.....
It seems that way. It might not BE that way, but perception is reality.
As long as Loud SEEMS not to want to admit an issue exists, seeming not to take care of their customers in a pro-actively good manner, they will LOOK as if they don't care.
Now, Hodgy is a good guy. But he isn't speaking for Ampeg, and I doubt that the higher-ups would really appreciate him appearing to.
What speaks for any company is the willingness to officially say "There is a problem with the product you bought, it's OUR problem, and NOT your problem. So here's what we will do about it"..... Followed hopefully by something which actually will help all buyers, and not just those who happen to still be under warranty.
1) Ages ago in the 1970s, A Japanese company called Sansui had a problem with a certain home stereo receiver. It just wasn't reliable. So, what they did was to repair any one that was brought in. Authorized shops obtained repair kits, which essentially were a complete new amplifier portion. Those were installed under warranty. IIRC it didn't matter a lot if the unit was still under the original warranty. I did a bunch of them when I was working thru school.
2) I personally own a couple Japanese (Canon) digital cameras. One of them went wonky years after the warranty was gone. All pictures were missing the blue colors. By chance, I found out it was a known problem that I should call Canon about. Canon paid to have the off-of-warranty camera shipped to them, fixed, and shipped back. Now works fine. And I'll not even LOOK at a different brand.
Moral is that if you have a KNOWN bad problem, you should not limit fixes to warranty only, even if that is the only legal requirement. Far better to discover a fix, and apply that to any product with the problem. Buyers are still 'customers" even if their unit is off warranty.
It's a "stand-up" way to go about your business, and your customers will be 10x more loyal afterwards.
For normal stuff, sure, warranty is when you fix whatever is wrong for free, and afterwards, everyone understands it is a pay-for-service situation.
But for a real problem/screw-up, warranty shmarranty....It's your problem and you should fix it.
EDIT:
If it really IS a small proportion of units, it won't cost much to fix, will it? Charge it to advertising!
okcrum
in your chest
Well, I decided to take the plunge and get a PF500.
Some background.....
back the 60's I played through a Traynor Bass Master with 2x15 cabinet but always loved the Ampeg stuff... just couldn't afford it then.
In the late seventies I started playing again using a Fender Bassman Head and custom made 1x15. I also picked up a used (well used!!) Ampeg B15-N which I still have... still works but needs an better speaker.... probably will put a Eminence Alpha or Beta in there someday.
.
In the 90's it was a Peavey Firebass Head driving an Eden 410XLT.... lugged that for 15 years but just got too heavey. 98lbs + 35lbs.
4-5 years back I bought an Eden ENX-260 micro head and SVT15-E.
Then I discovered the SVT210AV cabs and bought two.... 27lbs of heaven.
A year ago I picked up a GK MB500 Fusion (expensive with tube pre) used at a decent price. It was nice power to drive two of the SVT210's. But I never really got that excited about it and when the original owner asked if I would sell it back at the same price I went for it (after saying no twice). I was a little depressed at the time and thought I was going to give up gigging again.
I paid and got $500 for the GK and then I noticed the PF500's going for $400 new!! I tried one and fell in love with the sound. It hit me in a way the GK never quite did even though the GK is a good amp.
Well, I read all of the reports of failures... and the unit I got was a demo/display unit so I'm not sure how old it is.
I played a gig last week and the sound was amazing through the two VST210AV's. The sound seemed lively..... kind of a bounce to it from the punchy 210's.
The reasons I got it are:
I love the sound!!!
I love the features ------ good compressor, pre/post DI, Efx Blend control, good EQ. I had a Fulltone Bass Distortion pedal in the effects loop with a switch pedal to control it. I always found this pedal a bit to hot for my style but with the Blend Control I was able to add just a small amount.
New unit full guarantee
Reputable dealer
I still have the Eden ENX-260 ready as backup.
+1...... I love the sound!!!!!!!!!!
Some background.....
back the 60's I played through a Traynor Bass Master with 2x15 cabinet but always loved the Ampeg stuff... just couldn't afford it then.
In the late seventies I started playing again using a Fender Bassman Head and custom made 1x15. I also picked up a used (well used!!) Ampeg B15-N which I still have... still works but needs an better speaker.... probably will put a Eminence Alpha or Beta in there someday.
.
In the 90's it was a Peavey Firebass Head driving an Eden 410XLT.... lugged that for 15 years but just got too heavey. 98lbs + 35lbs.
4-5 years back I bought an Eden ENX-260 micro head and SVT15-E.
Then I discovered the SVT210AV cabs and bought two.... 27lbs of heaven.
A year ago I picked up a GK MB500 Fusion (expensive with tube pre) used at a decent price. It was nice power to drive two of the SVT210's. But I never really got that excited about it and when the original owner asked if I would sell it back at the same price I went for it (after saying no twice). I was a little depressed at the time and thought I was going to give up gigging again.
I paid and got $500 for the GK and then I noticed the PF500's going for $400 new!! I tried one and fell in love with the sound. It hit me in a way the GK never quite did even though the GK is a good amp.
Well, I read all of the reports of failures... and the unit I got was a demo/display unit so I'm not sure how old it is.
I played a gig last week and the sound was amazing through the two VST210AV's. The sound seemed lively..... kind of a bounce to it from the punchy 210's.
The reasons I got it are:
I love the sound!!!
I love the features ------ good compressor, pre/post DI, Efx Blend control, good EQ. I had a Fulltone Bass Distortion pedal in the effects loop with a switch pedal to control it. I always found this pedal a bit to hot for my style but with the Blend Control I was able to add just a small amount.
New unit full guarantee
Reputable dealer
I still have the Eden ENX-260 ready as backup.
+1...... I love the sound!!!!!!!!!!
