It's been the same in multiple rooms. The average echo-y basement, a normal bedroom, and recently an empty wood cabin style room. I've jammed open air with it too but it's the same
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Trouble cutting through (pf 500)
- Thread starter southpaw723
- Start date
I would second a lot of what people are saying, plus:
As a long time j bass through ampeg player, this is the recipe that has brought me tonal happiness. Let us know how it goes!
- Kill the -15db pad
- Turn up the gain knob
- Kill any of the ultra low or hi buttons
- Roll back the bass knob. noon is not flat on ampeg
- Play with the mid frequency selector
- Back off the volume on one of your jazz bass pickups. both pickups wide open is naturally scooped and fluffy sounding
As a long time j bass through ampeg player, this is the recipe that has brought me tonal happiness. Let us know how it goes!
Why are we to disregard the -15db switch? Do you not use it? If you do, stop!
I don't have the PF500 but I have the PF800 (same preamp and same sound). I don't have the 210he's but I have played them many times at stores. I've never had a problem getting whatever I want out of it. Honestly, I think it may be the Jazz. What model and year is it and what pickups do you have on it? I've been really disappointed with a lot of the more recent Fender bass pickups that I've tried. Even the more expensive models have had some notoriously bad pickups. The stock pickup on my 09 AmStd Precision is the absolute worst pickup I've ever heard in my life. Beautiful bass otherwise, plays great, feels wonderful in the hands...the pickup was crap. Seeing how far your mids are cranked makes me think of how I had to set my amp just to get anything the least bit usable out of that pickup.
I don't have the PF500 but I have the PF800 (same preamp and same sound). I don't have the 210he's but I have played them many times at stores. I've never had a problem getting whatever I want out of it. Honestly, I think it may be the Jazz. What model and year is it and what pickups do you have on it? I've been really disappointed with a lot of the more recent Fender bass pickups that I've tried. Even the more expensive models have had some notoriously bad pickups. The stock pickup on my 09 AmStd Precision is the absolute worst pickup I've ever heard in my life. Beautiful bass otherwise, plays great, feels wonderful in the hands...the pickup was crap. Seeing how far your mids are cranked makes me think of how I had to set my amp just to get anything the least bit usable out of that pickup.
This.
And if you're still not satisfied then try the GK MB500. I really like mine, and get compliments on my tone all the time.
I get the best results out of my ampeg heads when not using the pad. I find the tone is much better with a hot input signal, as long as I'm mindful of not overdoing it. OP may decide to use it after getting his tone sorted out, but for the time being I'd recommend against it. Totally agree with you about the more recent Fender j pickups, though. I played a few brand new ones recently that had absolutely zero bite to them.
I don't use the -15 switch, or the ultra-hi or ultra low. The bass is a '04 mim with the custom shop 60's pickups. I do agree though that the lack of definition might be from the bass. It is odd though, you'd think a jazz bass would be good for cutting through.
What are you doing with pickup balance and tone setting on the guitar?
I've found trying to play with other loud players in a small room is pretty futile, the bass doesn't have enough room to develop, and I just get boom from standing waves. Plus, it overwhelms my ears. Using ear plugs made for music, can help cut the noise so you get some definition and can maybe hear a pitch. In a volume war, bass is always the first to lose.
I've found trying to play with other loud players in a small room is pretty futile, the bass doesn't have enough room to develop, and I just get boom from standing waves. Plus, it overwhelms my ears. Using ear plugs made for music, can help cut the noise so you get some definition and can maybe hear a pitch. In a volume war, bass is always the first to lose.
2 10s doesnt seem like much speaker to me. I used to use a 210 115 combo, i think it works great (if you cant get your hands on an 810). Have you considered a cab with a fifteen to add to your rig?
I've tried all kinds of variations with the pickup volumes. I've also thought about ear plugs, they are definitely worth trying
A clean boost pedal at the input might help.
If the pickup heights are set too low, you could be sending a weak signal to the amp. Fender has a guideline for setting up a bass on their site.
If the pickup heights are set too low, you could be sending a weak signal to the amp. Fender has a guideline for setting up a bass on their site.
Before you purchase a new amp or cab, why not buy a nice preamp? Ampeg SCR-DI, Darkglass B7K Ultra, or something else that gives you growl.
1) crank the gain until the clip light flickers on a bit, then back off.
2) disengage the push switches, especially ultra low
3) bridge pickup only, and either have your pick or your fingers right at your bridge pickup
4) boost the mids and cut your bass a bit, try with the selector as well.
Alternately:
1) crank your master volume to full, and then use the gain as a volume
2) EQ to taste, if you want articulate leave your tweeters on, maybe boost your high mids and treble
3) still keep the ultra hi and low off.
If it's still not working for you, maybe it's just not the amp for you. I'm honestly loving this amp.
2) disengage the push switches, especially ultra low
3) bridge pickup only, and either have your pick or your fingers right at your bridge pickup
4) boost the mids and cut your bass a bit, try with the selector as well.
Alternately:
1) crank your master volume to full, and then use the gain as a volume
2) EQ to taste, if you want articulate leave your tweeters on, maybe boost your high mids and treble
3) still keep the ultra hi and low off.
If it's still not working for you, maybe it's just not the amp for you. I'm honestly loving this amp.
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I use the PF500 with 2 210HE setup and I have no problems cutting through. My band has a loud guitar. I have my compression at about 2 o'clock as is the gain. My bass is at 1 o'clock, the midrange selector is on 3 and is at about 2 o'clock and my treble is at 10 o'clock. I have the Ultra HI and LO engaged. I use the Volume knob to adjust the output.
I have played a number of basses through this rig and get the tone I like on all of them. I have an Am Std Precision, a Squier Jazz that has Fender Custom 60's pickups and a Gibson Triumph all with round wounds. I get a nice growly tone with the above settings.
This rig gives comes the closest to reproducing the sound I have in my head of what I want for my tone.
I have played a number of basses through this rig and get the tone I like on all of them. I have an Am Std Precision, a Squier Jazz that has Fender Custom 60's pickups and a Gibson Triumph all with round wounds. I get a nice growly tone with the above settings.
This rig gives comes the closest to reproducing the sound I have in my head of what I want for my tone.
- Jul 3, 2004
- 1,300
- 641
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ernie Ball MusicMan Guitars
MXR M81 preamp
Try one - I need it for my Jazz bass I have the same amp
Or try a precision - see if it makes a difference
I say it's da bass
Try one - I need it for my Jazz bass I have the same amp
Or try a precision - see if it makes a difference
I say it's da bass
I think a GK is definitely a step up. I had a PF350 and HATED it. Flat, generic tone, merciless clipping, no oomph. I'm not the only one who feels this way about the Portaflex series, so save the flames. IMHO, IME, YMMV, blah blah blah.
putt some fuzz on that $hit!
Edit: also, as others have implied, GK=pure bass magic
Edit: also, as others have implied, GK=pure bass magic
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Never gotten the magic of GK. Ampeg has its place - not everywhere - but never found any love for GK.
when i played in a very loud band with a super hard hitting drummer, i had to upgrade my 600 watt amp to a 1000 watt amp and used a 2x10 PLUS a 1x18. you might try more speakerage for starters.
