The Burpster

[quote name='wally8' timestamp='1336121120' post='1641083'] I didnt slag it off too hard did i? Just that i wernt that impressed as others have also said. I'm really pleased how many people have joined and given there opinion, thanks guys. Humm, if the opportunity arises again, perhaps i just might trial one with a decent cab. It's a shame it seems most of the shops now stock cheapy stuff as well as a truckload of guitar stuff and we bassist have to travel far and wide to find specialist shops. [/quote] Well maybe not too hard but, hard enough to put some of our younger viewers off the idea..... I can only find a couple of responses that agree with you and the vast majority seem to say that with a decent cab they are between good/reliable to fantastic......... does that not say something to you? It does to me, I shall get one ordered. As to shops, dont get me on a rant.... I've seen some fantastic gear slagged off by (IMHO) idiots that should know better, and seen very occasionally really good advice and support. The days of staff in shops ACTUALLY knowing much and in some cases anything about their products is I'm afraid long gone, and this doesnt just apply to the music business. But back to your thread, Ampeg have been in the business pretty much since it started, and they are not design dinsoaurs. I find it impossible to believe that they would release an amp (and certainly keep it in circulation) that does not undergo extensive testing and development before its released. Ask yourself this... "would they really make an amp that farts with a 'ray and then try to sell in the US where most of all the 'rays are owned....?" [i](......sorry, just read your original post again and its a Sterling that you auditioned with not a 'ray, but you get my gist...!)[/i]

As I'm on the cusp of buying a PF500 (but with an Ampeg cab) I was interested to read this. I'm sorry but whilst I respect your opinion, you are slagging the head off after a very quick audition through a cab of which you dont ACTUALLY know what Wattage and Ohm rating it had...... and also a TC. That's a bit like saying a MacLaren MP4-27 is sh*te because I have just driven it shod with a set of Michelin Energy Saver tyres. What you should've done was take them up on their 30 day trial and tried it through PROPER cabs that are known to be capable of dealing with the output. My PRSs have 18v preamps and kick out nearlty 20v with fresh batteries but only a couple of very cheap class D amps (Behringer and Yamaha) have ever needed clipping significantly due to high output. The farting is more likely to be due to cheap & nasty chinese drivers in an inappropriate cab. Other posters above have pointed out that this head is excellent through appropriate speaker cabs, and its of more interest (and I wouldve hoped inspired you to have a rethink) to me that the variety of cabs that have been tried that it DOES work with. I'm not impressed with the shop not getting or having an Ampeg cab to play it through for you, but TBH I'm not impressed by shops per se. Give it another chance and play it through a decent cab before writing it off. I was similarly unimpressed with the PJB D200 when I first got it, but through a proper speaker cab it is very very good, and there is no reason why the Ampeg shouldnt be as good. I agree, no it wont be a Mesa but then its not Mesa money or weight.

This is why I love this comunity.... Steve that would be fantastic - I can then make an informed decision before buying as finding somewhere local with them in stock is not gonna happen...! the diemensions I need are (for the open oriffice at the top with the flip lid removed) Depth =front to back Width = left to right Height = the amount of linear access from the open lid level to the highest part of the speaker can (at the front) and the tweeter control inlet (at the rear) If you've thought of sticking the Walkabout in there you'll know what I need and which tree I'm barking up. Interestingly the tone of the Walkabout is what I'm after, if I cant get an amp with a 12AX7 pre amp tube in there I'm going down the PF500 route with run through the DHA VT1 ...... Dont s'pose you'd need one with the [b]Bass[/b] 400, however is that something you've tried.....(ie running the PF 500 with a valve preamp in the effects loop) ??????

Oh bugger I thought you might say its crap...... Now it looks like you send me in a new direction. Thanks guys!

Hmmmm seriously looking at a PF 500 now and using the DHA VT1 to 'dirty it up' a bit like I do with my current practice rig......then get the same tone all the time.. Then add a 2x10 if I need to damage properties. Anyone got PF 115HE and a PF 500 ?

No brainer..... On a budget = Korg DT10 Best you can get = Peterson strobostomp

Fanx Dood (BTW good to speak again!), Your point about depth is my major concern however the PF500 is 3" deep (according to Ampeg) and a 2U SVT 3-PRO is 3.5" deep..... now I know that the ladies on here say that that 1/2" makes all the difference, but my guess is, that as I want to change the Eminence ceramic for a Neo Celestion it will open up more space...... I will read the review when its out as I really like this idea and, will if I need get one of the class D PFs but would like it to be stand alone with the valve preamp rather than run a pedal (which I do with my current practice set up..)

So I'm looking for something new and a bit different (typical me!), and I have no idea if this has been done before but would be interested to know if anyone has done this or used alternative to those suggested by Ampeg. What I am thinking of doing is trying to shoe horn an SVT 3 Pro or SVT 7 Pro onto the top of a PF 115HE. I know it designed and has fixings for the PF 350 & 500 but (from the info I can find) it looks like to would 'just' handle a 2u sized amp if correctly fitted to to the lid and still be able to stow it for transport. Has anybody else attempted this? Does anyone have one of these cabs that can measure the opeing at the top for me please? The Ampeg site is pretty unhelpful, but my next options are to try and find a retailer that has most of the Ampeg range in so that I can try it and/or ring Ampeg and ask their techies.....

Not to give you more GAS my friend but Mesa actually make a surround for the Walkabout so it can live in a proper headbox.... They are as rare as chicken lips but they do exist, and cool they look too!

My issue with Fenders is not the design, its the QC - you could get a dog of a custom shop or a peach of a squire. That's just way too vague for me, and yes I have owned 3 different MIA P basses. Sadly I wouldnt consider having another.

I'll give you £600 for the dog if you throw the bass in free......

well as I have just bought one I can emphatically say yes. (300/115) With an active bass and the gain and output turned up it will easily keep with my old Mesa Walkabout. Tone wise I have already replaced the Eminence ferrous 15" speaker with a Celstion Neo green and it is very nice. Playing aruond with the pre amp valve will I'm sure ghet me that Mesa silky coffee tone that I'm after......

Just got a Daisy rock debutante for £180 which is 32" and is a peach.......

Well what an odd place for me to be in..... Lifelong 'no child zone' to stepfather in 12months.... eek. However, 9 yr old girl was fascinated by my bass noodling, started to become curious and then was asking 'to have a go' (she does already play woodwind)..... Well to be fair a PRS strung with flats probably isnt the best place to start, and she does have small hands for her size, so for her birthday we have just got her a Daisy rock debutante. I've heard others on here rave about these and I have even had a noodle in s shop once (and was pretty impressed), but I wasn't prepared for how good a 'made in China' bass was going to be. TBF it has now had a 'proper' set up, and plays well out of the box, although there is always room for improvement with a sub £200 bass. I have a Schaller 4D bridge on order as the BBOT is a 2 saddle affair which is pretty rubbish but functional, and when I do this I will level the frets and put lighter gauge strings on for her little fingers. I am however impressed by the wood, the finish and the output. It has a fascinating growl for a passive one pick up bass which we all like. If anyone is interested, once I have done the bits I'll put some pics on, however if anyone is umming and erring over 'if this is a good idea' for a youngster for xmas...... definate YES from me.