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Portaflex cutting out poll

Has your Portaflex ever cut out while playing?


  • Total voters
    254
If I needed to be louder than I can get with these, I'd be looking at a 7pro or nice preamp with one or more kW class modern power amps.

The 7pro has been tested to not reach a kW. Misleading advertising on ampegs part and it has it's own, all to common, stories of cut outs. What rev are the up to now?
 
The 7pro has been tested to not reach a kW. Misleading advertising on ampegs part and it has it's own, all to common, stories of cut outs. What rev are the up to now?

I don't believe I said the 7pro was a kW. That's why it was separated in the sentence from "kW power amps".

What I can't understand is, why all the hate for these amps and none for, say, the MB500? Is it because the G-K only sounds like complete trash when overdriven instead of muting? Or is it because it's G-K? No matter, nothing left to see here, moving on.
 
What I can't understand is, why all the hate for these amps and none for, say, the MB500? Is it because the G-K only sounds like complete trash when overdriven instead of muting? Or is it because it's G-K? No matter, nothing left to see here, moving on.

I don't know anything in particular about the GK amp you are dumping on in your post, and I do not care to throw any gasoline on this topic - but as long as you put it out there, I think many would prefer an amp that failed gracefully (even in a somewhat ugly way as you describe for the GK) as opposed to an amp that simply shuts down like the PF500 (or possibly the 7Pro), and leaves you totally silent.

I am one of those who had my PF500 shut down on a gig (without it being pushed hard at all), and I know I would have preferred it to "brown out" a bit rather than just crapping out on me. With a "gentle failure" the gig can keep going (or at least you can finish the song or the set), with a total shut down, you are done.

peace bass brothers
 
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I don't know anything in particular about the GK amp you are dumping on in your post, and I do not care to throw any gasoline on this topic - but as long as you put it out there, I think many would prefer an amp that failed gracefully (even in a somewhat ugly way as you describe for the GK) as opposed to an amp that simply shuts down like the PF500 (or possibly the 7Pro), and leaves you totally silent.

I am one of those who had my PF500 shut down on a gig (without it being pushed hard at all), and I know I would have preferred it to "brown out" a bit rather than just crapping out on me. With a "gentle failure" the gig can keep going (or at least you can finish the song or the set), with a total shut down, you are done.

peace bass brothers

No dumping at all. I just stayed away from Class D amps then for that reason. I've played several Class D amps that do the same thing. One of them *was* an MB500, which is the reason I mentioned it. I just wonder why, given the huge number of these PFs sold and presumably working fine, do we have folks who would rather start "do not buy this amp" threads, instead of either having Ampeg make it right or moving on to another amp. Makes no sense whatsoever. Did you get your PF fixed?
 
I think many would prefer an amp that failed gracefully (even in a somewhat ugly way as you describe for the GK) as opposed to an amp that simply shuts down like the PF500 (or possibly the 7Pro), and leaves you totally silent.

Exactly. I would much rather hear the amp straining and have the choice to turn it down, or cut some lows. Not just shut off mid gig
 
No dumping at all. I just stayed away from Class D amps then for that reason. I've played several Class D amps that do the same thing. One of them *was* an MB500, which is the reason I mentioned it. I just wonder why, given the huge number of these PFs sold and presumably working fine, do we have folks who would rather start "do not buy this amp" threads, instead of either having Ampeg make it right or moving on to another amp. Makes no sense whatsoever. Did you get your PF fixed?

I did not get the PF500 fixed, because it is not really broken. Apparently it is designed to shut down, to protect the circuit, rather than fail gracefully (which I would prefer). So, to the best of my knowledge it does exactly what Ampeg designed it to do.

Keep in mind, this is my "generally working" unit, not one that pooped out as soon as the power was turned on as some have experienced. Those units are simply bad, and I understand Ampeg has generally tried to do the right thing by those owners.

I don't see "do not buy this amp" threads, as much as I see "be aware of what this amp does" threads.

I am not an Ampeg hater of any kind, and actually like the PF500/115HE when they are working well. I mostly don't trust it to not randomly fail on a gig (which is just the worst thing an amp can do IMO/IME).
 
I've had a PF500 for about a year. I go into a Hartke 4.5XL most of the time but sometimes add a Hartke 115XL- The PF500 sounds great into either of them and even better into both at the same time. I haven't had any issues. In fact I really like the PF500. Great buy for the money IMO.
 
I bought a PF500 w/the 1x15 cab about 3 years ago. I liked it so much, I bought another PF500 w/the 2x10 cab. The first amp started cutting out when I played it through 2 cabs. Then it started cutting out through one cab & finally died. I took it to my local "amp doctor," a guy with a great reputation who has repaired my amps in the past. He couldn't fix it, nor could an associate of his in another city. They both contacted Ampeg to see if they could get a schematic, but no reply from Ampeg. My response? I bought an Aguilar Tone Hammer 500, and haven't looked back. The 2nd PF500 I bought still works, but I'm wary of using it for a gig. I've been using Ampeg gear since the mid-70's when I bought an SVT w/2 8x10 cabs (paid $800 for that rig brand new in 1974, sigh), and still own 2 SVT 3Pros & several Ampeg cabs. I still use one of the 3Pros when I need a "big rig," but I've pretty much had it with Ampeg. It's a shame when a company with a great product gets bought out and the bean counters in the parent company look to cut costs. This is apparently what happened when Loud Technologies bought Ampeg. Now I'm kind of concerned because I bought a new Mackie mixing board recently & noticed Mackie is now part of the "Loud family."
 
My 350 is about to go on clist for this reason.. such a bummer....
Not the amps fault I guess it was fine other wise.... I was pushing it hard. Just not enough volume with out clip for my needs I guess. Just seems weird that in same venue and cab with my mb 200 is right there with volume and bass.. and i have more to go if i want and no cutouts.......
 
After 9 months of no problems, my PF500 cut out for the first time during the first song of our set. Gave it some time to calm down and it handled the second set fine, albeit with the volume and gain bumped down a tad. I was gutted as I was aware of the problem, but thought I had got away with it. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen again.
 
I've owned my PF-500 for over two years and it's never cut out on me. It's been gigged, mostly by another bass player (I play bass in one band, guitar in another). Mine is one of the dreaded Rev. C version too. I play through a 4 OHM G-K 4x10 cab, and connect the amp and cab with a speakon cable.
 
I have owned the PF-350 for a little over a year. The first time out on a gig, the amp cut out for a few seconds three times during one hour show. Fortunately I was DI to board. Two days later I used it a rehearsal - all dials set at noon - and it cut out several times during two hour rehearsal. It has not left my studio in past year but yesterday I took a chance and used it for a rehearsal. Big mistake. It cut out 4-5 times every song. Fortunately, Ampeg has a two-year warranty, I'm gonna have to ask them to make this right. I love the portability and simplicity - and I have always been a big fan of Ampeg, but I must have got a lemon this time.
 

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