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WARNING PF 50t does NOT fit inside all Portaflex cabs!!!

#61
Skeptismo said:
From a customer service standpoint, I disagree that the issue isn't on Ampeg, Slpbass81. If you do a search of the pf50t on google, what pops up in the first 3 pages doesn't show a thing about the backward compatibility issue.
Additionally, Ampeg touted backwards compatibility as a feature of the product in their advertising, even specifying the model cab that the OP decided to purchase. That created an expectation of compatibility on the part of the OP, and certainly on the part of other consumers as well, or it wouldn't be an issue.

Ampeg doesn't mention the issue in their advertising or on their website...hell it wouldn't have cost Ampeg anything to devote a sentence or two in the owners manual .pdf on their website to mention that there could be issues, but they didn't acknowledge it at all. In fact, they say on page 4 that it was specifically designed "...match perfectly with existing cabinets". I think the OP has a reason to be miffed. Those who are saying that Ampeg should be let off the hook because models change, no crystal ball, etc. aren't really acknowledging the expectation of compatibility that Ampeg created. That is an oversight that they should definitely address. It's good customer service to create realistic expectations.


Jake
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They already told him they would help him out if he is the original owner and can provide proof of purchase which he cannot. Read the complete story before commenting.
 
#65
AgressivePassiv said:
I just got off the phone with Ampeg tech support, I called because could not get my PF 50t to fit inside an older PF 115he. I was told that early Portaflex cabs have extra bracing that will not allow a PF 50t to fit. He told me that the product manager realized that the bracing might get in the way of expanding the Portaflex line so they changed the bracing after the first "6 months or so" of production.

I bought the cab used while waiting for my new PF 50t so the tech told me that if I was the original owner and had the original receipt "maybe they might be able to work out some sort of warranty covered retrofit" but since I bought it used I'm on my own. He also said he can't recommend modifying the cabinet but if I were to remove the bracing it would fit.

I'm kind of annoyed that there was no *some early cabs are incompatible* warning. I would have not wasted my time and money on a cab that I have to modify to do what Ampeg said it can do in the PF 50t product video. Plus I scratched up the black powder coating on the transformers trying to use the Fliptop feature.

I shared my opinion about the lack of warning with the tech on the phone, he did not agree that retro compatibility claims were misleading since only a small number of cabs are affected.

What do you guys think?
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you dare question the universal perfection that are all things Ampeg ... apostate ! ;)

but seriously OP, it's too bad this mismatch happened. would be cool of Ampeg to take care of you like a customer, rather than a poor sucker that took them at their youtube recorded word. It's always just great to hear when a big manufacturer basically responds to one of us with na-na-na-na-naaa nah.

I'll have to go look at my 115HE and see if it has that bracing.

JimmyM - I think they do still have the little Velcro caster bag thing inside the cab. Mine has it (but mine is an older model)

also - good luck cleaning up that awesome plastic handle hand saw work. :woot:
 
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#68
JimmyM said:
I don't know if they still do this, but the PF cabs used to come with a little ditty bag that attached to the inside of the cab.
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Just the fact you used "ditty bag" cements my affection for you. Yes, my new (bought in October or so) PF-115HE cab came with one, strapped in with velcro, filled with casters and a reasonably high quality looking speaker cable.
Thanks,
B.
 
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#70
Slpbass81 said:
They already told him they would help him out if he is the original owner and can provide proof of purchase which he cannot. Read the complete story before commenting.
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Jake wasn't proposing that Ampeg fix the OP's issue. He was suggesting that Ampeg bears culpability for creating the impression of full compatibility. Read the complete post before commenting.
 
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#71
Anyone who has been in the corporate manufacturing world for a while might recognize the whole use of "current" in that demo video as a "legally covering our butt term" for guys who have a nearly identical product that the head doesn't fit because it's not Ampeg's definition of "current". If that is why Ampeg used that wording, then it's a bit lazy and irresponsible to their customers. They've done so much so much good to repair a poor image with customers following the Loud acquisition. Things like this shouldn't happen when someone is buying a 900 dollar head.

It would have been much better practice for them to spend an extra 30 seconds in the demo video to explain that early revisions of the cabinets aren't compatible, and direct users to the website to check which revision they own. In addition they could have easily placed the same disclaimer on their product page and cut sheet of specs that go to the online retailers. Companies do this stuff every day for a million different products.

While I don't feel that Ampeg owes the OP anything, I do think this was lazy business practice on their part for a product that certainly has generated a good buzz. Hopefully they will live and learn from it, because I really do love the products they are putting out these days.
 
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#74
pcake said:
at the risk of repeating myself -
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I think they're differentiated by one letter or number or something. I'm too lazy to search the various Ampeg threads or Google it, so I'd also like to know. For an overhaul like this, I'd hope they (the newer versions) were clearly and separately designated as such.

It really sucks that OP went to such lengths as to screw with the bracing. While I'm not an amp guy and try to stay as far away from these threads as my ADD will allow, I'd think that changing the internal bracing would have an effect on the sound of the cab, no? Unless left without a choice, I probably would have tried to sell the thing first, but shoulda, woulda, coulda. I hope you find satisfaction with your solution, OP. I can't imagine that R&D for the newer versions wasn't in the works long before they decided to take the easier path of just slipping an entirely new design into the fold, but buying used, your recourse is unfortunately limited. It looks like Ampeg would have taken steps to satisfy you otherwise.
 
#75
JimmyM said:
PF115he and PF210he, yes. Wasn't a complete redesign...just a tweaking.
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petrus61, JimmyM says they have the same model numbers, so that should make it difficult for all but users dedicated enough to get a serial number and contact ampeg to get a used or new-old stock cab and know whether it would fit. they wouldn't even know there might be a problem unless they're TBers.

petrus61 said:
I think they're differentiated by one letter or number or something. I'm too lazy to search the various Ampeg threads or Google it, so I'd also like to know. For an overhaul like this, I'd hope they (the newer versions) were clearly and separately designated as such.

It really sucks that OP went to such lengths as to screw with the bracing. While I'm not an amp guy and try to stay as far away from these threads as my ADD will allow, I'd think that changing the internal bracing would have an effect on the sound of the cab, no? Unless left without a choice, I probably would have tried to sell the thing first, but shoulda, woulda, coulda. I hope you find satisfaction with your solution, OP. I can't imagine that R&D for the newer versions wasn't in the works long before they decided to take the easier path of just slipping an entirely new design into the fold, but buying used, your recourse is unfortunately limited. It looks like Ampeg would have taken steps to satisfy you otherwise.
Click to expand...
 
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#78
AgressivePassiv said:
I just got off the phone with Ampeg tech support, I called because could not get my PF 50t to fit inside an older PF 115he. I was told that early Portaflex cabs have extra bracing that will not allow a PF 50t to fit. He told me that the product manager realized that the bracing might get in the way of expanding the Portaflex line so they changed the bracing after the first "6 months or so" of production....
Click to expand...

thanks for the heads up, i appreciate the info. sorry it went down the way it did for ya.
 
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