New here - PF500?

[PBassPat]

Hello fellow bassists.
This is my first post here.
Last week, I went and tried a PF500 through a PF115 and then a PF410 and I thought the sound was amazing with either.
I had never researched this amp before.
A few minutes in at fairly low/respectful volume, the amp just turned off automatically then came back on 30 seconds or so later.
Both the gain and volume controls were set fairly low, with the bass @80%, mids turned all the way down, and highs at 2 O'clock.
I thought it was odd. It was the only unit in stock.
I then started to search the Net only to to see that this had been a very common issue.
What I gather from the discussions here is that the issues would have been resolved years ago but I am kind of scared of pulling the trigger now, since this is what I experienced with a brand new unit in a brand new store (therefore recent).
It's too bad because knowing I would have a reliable unit, I would buy one right away.
I went to a different store and ran a PF500 through various cabs and did not encounter the same issue. But I am kinda scared, now that I saw this is an ''old'' issue, but that my first experience with a new and recent amp replicated the issue.
What are your recommendations?
I would buy the PF350 if it had the semi-parametric eq but it does not and it seems the sound I am after can only be achieved when setting the semi-parametric knob to 1 or 2 with the gain all the way down.

 

[Plastalmonus]

I bought one and the same thing happened within about a minute. I’ve been told the issue is isolated however I wasn’t prepared to take the risk so I returned it and didn’t get another.

YMMV

 

[Bim1959]

I had a friend that bought one that had problems. I did some research and found that it was mainly the early PF500 amds that had issues. I ended up with a PF800 and havent had any problems.

 

[Downunderwonder]

It would be very unlikely that a pre revision XX all sorted one was still on a shelf as New Old Stock. Still that seems the only likely scenario aside from random dud.

Being a new store is no guarantee they didn't get half their stock from a Mom'n'Pop backwater close down.

I avoid Ampeg on account of how badly they dealt with those amps failing left and right, charging retail to fix them when technically out of warranty, blaming knob twisting, denying and deflecting like politicians.

 

[2saddleslab]

My pf800, purchased about a year ago has run flawlessly from small indoor shows to large outdoor festivals.

 

[DirtDog]

I’ve owned two PF500s in the last nine or so years and both have performed well over the course of hundreds of gigs and rehearsals. Not saying you should buy the faulty one in the store, but they’re certainly not faulty across the board.

 

[BadExample]

Welcome aboard, Pat!

From the settings you describe, the amp is working hard to reproduce a lot of LF! Bass 80% and mids dialed out as much as you can. I'm not excusing the PF's behavior, but just mentioning that even at moderate volumes, the amp is huffing and puffing to amplify those lower frequencies. The cab will also feel the pain. I don't have a solution for you other than keep looking and find an amp and cab that can handle the tone you desire without shutdown. Go big on the cab watts would be my best suggestion for longevity.

BTW: Keep up the good work at keeping the cold up there where it belongs! 50 deg F at 7 AM EST this morning and supposed to hit 60 F by early afternoon! God Bless La Ninya (sic), and the great white north too!

 

[PBassPat]

Thanks all for your precious feedback, highly appreciated!
The new store is a new build from the largest music instruments retail chain up here and the salesperson confirmed it is a new and recent unit. They offer the best customer service possible but I guess if Ampeg doesn’t stand behind their own products, it may be worth looking at something else.
Too bad because the sound is incredible and price-point really attractive.

Any recommendations to obtain that ampeg, scooped sound from a different brand?

I don’t necessarily need very high power as I mainly play by myself, but I still want to FEEL the rumble and get quality tone that combos are usually not providing.

Desirable features:
- Semi-parametric eq;
- Aux. input;
- Headphones output;

Cheers!

 

[PBassPat]

With regards to keeping the cold up here, I wont take the undue credits and will thank Santa Claus for keeping this in the North Pole instead as we have zero snow so far, pretty mild temperatures for winter season, and my front lawn is still pretty green without requiring cuts until next year! LOL

 

[Linnin]

A few minutes in at fairly low/respectful volume, the amp just turned off automatically then came back on 30 seconds or so later.

Avoid all ampeg pf series amps like the very plague itself. Their reputation for catastrophic failure is well earned.

 

[basso_profundo]

Avoid all ampeg pf series amps like the very plague itself. Their reputation for catastrophic failure is well earned.

Interesting - do you know what percentage of Ampeg PF units have these failures?