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PF 500.....Again!

Dave Warminger

Dave Warminger

Aug 21, 2015
32
66
64
UK
#1
Yes I know this has been debated to death but mine has been lurking around with one toe in the water for 3 years now ,as a headphone practice amp I have learned hundreds of Bl**!y covers through it, thrown it in the car for rehearsals, gigged it at pubs , festivals and more recently theatres in a Tribute act. I have a solid Hartke rig I have used since the 80`s and probably always will but is gathering dust...... this I have learned.
1. My little Oriental Ampeg has never let me down
2. Make your own mind up about stuff
3. Always push the "ultra low" button and go from there

Now can anyone tell me why when "ultra low" is -10db 500hz +2db 40hz I don`t achieve the same SOUND when I leave the button "off" and cut and boost the same frequencies ?....
 
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#3
Dave Warminger said:
Yes I know this has been debated to death but mine has been lurking around with one toe in the water for 3 years now ,as a headphone practice amp I have learned hundreds of Bl**!y covers through it, thrown it in the car for rehearsals, gigged it at pubs , festivals and more recently theatres in a Tribute act. I have a solid Hartke rig I have used since the 80`s and probably always will but is gathering dust...... this I have learned.
1. My little Oriental Ampeg has never let me down
2. Make your own mind up about stuff
3. Always push the "ultra low" button and go from there

Now can anyone tell me why when "ultra low" is -10db 500hz +2db 40hz I don`t achieve the same SOUND when I leave the button "off" and cut and boost the same frequencies ?....
Click to expand...
Because the ultra-low has a different EQ contour than the knobs. Those EQ controls control a lot more than just the center frequency, and often cover a fairly wide range of frequencies.
 
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#4
I had a PF500 and now I have a PF800. I know they should sound the same, but I always feel like there was a bit more magic the first time I played the PF500. I just ran out of GAS with it for a loud rock/metal gig I had at the time (and was allured by the never ending quest for more HP). Great amps!
 
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#6
Yeah , yes and yup to just about everything above. Been running mine for a couple of years now and have had no problems at all with it. With a 2 12 AV , I have plenty of headroom with both of the bands I play in and one of them is kind of loud. Heck , even the band before them (which was pretty loud) it kept up fine without having to push it. And with the old 8 10 , I could easily bury any band I have ever played in and a couple of those were really loud. Oh yeah , always have the ultra low on. Never had to do that with the old SVT Classic head but the PF 500 sounds so much better with it on. :thumbsup:
 
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#7
I'm probably jinxing it by writing this, but my little PF-500 has been gigged a lot in the last 6 years or so, and has been super reliable. I've only had over-temp problems on really hot in-the-sun situations, and I've resolved that by pointing a fan at the back of the amp. It's not flashy but it gets the job done.

Oh, and for me, (fretless, active EMGs and a bass that can be boomy) I've never found the Ultra Low to my liking. But as a creature of habit I love the Ampeg control stack.

Rock on!
 

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