Keep the PF-500?

Not much help but I sure like my PF800 . No problems with any kind of clipping and keeps on working . I get the red light flashing once in a while but it doesn't make it sound or perform different .

 

My pf800 has worked flawlessly since purchased new in 2017 and it's been used everywhere from quiet indoor gigs to larger outdoor stages. You can find smaller, lighter Class D amps but hard to beat the pf800 for value & classic Ampeg tone.

 

I was using a 212 cabinet with Deltalite 2512 speakers that was a good match at 4 ohms . Now I use a pair of 115 cabs with Deltalite 2515 speakers .

 

The question is, is the cost of a replacement main board worth it? Contact fullcompass.com for a price.

Ampeg 2034544-01 Main PCB For PF-500 | Full Compass Systems

If you bought a replacement and sell the amp, I doubt that you’d get back what you put into it. The amp sells for $450 new.

 

I'd replace the main board and keep it. It's a simple replacement. The main board malfunctioned in my first PF-500 (after about 4 years of use), but at the time there were no replacement boards available (in Canada). I bought another new PF-500 because I liked the first one so much. Once the replacement boards were available, I replaced the board in the first one, and now I have two that have both been completely reliable. I keep one at a practice space, or I can have a backup for big gigs.

FullCompass seems to be out of stock, but I think you might find one here:
MAIN BOARD FOR PF500 - AMPEG - 2034544-01

 

My Ampeg PF500 died on me at soundcheck for an outdoor concert last summer -- our only gig between March and now. It always had trouble overheating, but this was a complete fail. I'm glad I had a backup amp!

I replaced it with a Quilter BB800, which is lighter, more powerful, and even though the controls are quite different I was able to dial in a great tone in no time. Positive comments from the band at outdoor practices all around, so I'm not going back to an Ampeg PF series amp.

 

No -- I bought a Barefaced Bass - Big Baby 2 about two years ago, and since then I've sold my GK neo 4x10. The BB2 is a 1x12 + adjustable horn. It is expensive, but it handles 800w, is brilliantly well-balanced, well built, and weighs only 29lbs which helps my aging back. It's an 8-ohm cabinet, so the Quilter BB800 will deliver about 400 watts into it. That's plenty loud, even in our 6-piece band.

But here's a caveat: those preferences are completely based on my need to repeatedly haul this stuff into bars/clubs, set it up, tear it down, and haul it home. So a 4lb amp and a 29lb speaker are a big help for me given that requirement. If we had roadies, or if I was younger, I'd buy myself a DB 751 and a Barefaced 8x10 (tagline from the web page: "needed by no-one, wanted by everyone!") and the only thing bigger than my sound would be my smile.

Good luck with your shopping, purchase, and playing!

 

From reading the post you may ultimately be happy with fixing the amp you like and calling it a day or purchasing another PF500. Not sure what the replacement board cost, but a used one can be bought for less than $300.

 

I once did a sitdown with a PF500 and 800. They sound the same, but the 800 has just a little bit more junk in the trunk that I believe is caused by the extra wattage. Never really noticed wattage making a difference in sound with like trad SS amps, but I sure have noticed it with like micros. So I'd be tempted to snag an 800 myself. Sold mine off while trying to make up for losing all my work once Covid hit, but since I've pretty much retired from playing, I'll be OK with the other 4 or 5 amps I have

 

Ya, and even at the low volumes I play at, I could notice the extra "oomph" factor. It's subtle and you actually have to listen for it, but I think it's worth the extra scratch.

 

FWIW, I've found my PF500 to compare favorably to any of the other Ampegs I've had in tone (late 70s VT-22 head, PF50T, recent V4B reissue, MicroVR). I've liked it a good bit better than the other class D bass amps I've owned (Gallen MB-200, TC BG250-208, & Little Mark Tube 800) aside from the newer version Terror Bass which is solidly in contention w/ the V4B for the favorite bass amp I've had. I've generally not needed to open the PF500 up more than ~3/4 though. It does sound like the PF800 might be the better option for you.

I've hung onto my PF500 mounted on the flip top of my PF115HE as a (probably pretty hard to justify at this point) backup since it doesn't windup taking up additional space & I doubt I'd windup recouping a whole lot of cash on it if I did move it along.