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Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 Bass Head

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$350.00 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (33)

1 Critic Review

6 Reviews

Find out who is using Ampeg Portaflex PF-500

3 community setups

5 wishlisted

74 saved

Page last updated Jun 26, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 26, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (20)

$350.00 6 available Used

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Average Price: $350

Standard/Professional

$200

$801+

Price Tier

In the Bass Amplifier Heads category, Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 Bass Head is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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Meet the Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 Bass Head, your new compact powerhouse. Don't be fooled by its size, this mini behemoth packs a punch with its MOSFET preamp and Class D power section. Delivering up to 500 watts of solid state power, this bass head is a tiny titan in the world of bass amplification. It's not just about power though, it also boasts an array of features including a built-in compressor with dedicated controls, ultra hi/lo boost buttons, and midrange controls with a five-position frequency selector. The PF-500 is the perfect blend of power, flexibility and portability, making it a top choice for bassists of all levels.

Key Features:

MOSFET preamp and Class D power section
Up to 500 watts of solid state power
Built-in compressor with dedicated controls
Ultra hi/lo boost buttons
Midrange controls with a five-position frequency selector
Pre and post EQ control
Compact and portable design
Suitable for bassists of all levels

Product specs

Brand	Ampeg
Model	PF-500 Portaflex 500-Watt Bass Amp Head
Finish	Black
Year	2011 - 2025
Categories	Bass Heads
Color Family	Black
Electronics	Solid State
Impedance	4 ohms, 8 ohms
Number of Channels	1 Channel
Number of Inputs	1 Input
Output Power (Watts)	500
Power Tube Type	None
Reverb	None

FAQs

What type of power does the Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 Bass Head require?: The Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 Bass Head requires a standard AC power supply and is designed to operate with a power output of 500 watts.
Is the Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 suitable for live performances?: Yes, the Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 is suitable for live performances, offering 500 watts of power, which is ample for small to medium-sized venues.
What are the impedance options for the Ampeg Portaflex PF-500?: The Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 Bass Head supports both 4-ohm and 8-ohm impedance options, allowing for flexible pairing with different speaker cabinets.
Does the Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 have built-in reverb?: No, the Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 does not feature built-in reverb, focusing instead on delivering a clean and powerful bass tone.
How portable is the Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 Bass Head?: The Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 is designed to be portable, with dimensions of 3 x 14 x 11 inches, making it easy to transport for gigs and rehearsals.

Videos

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Ampeg

Ampeg Portaflex Series PF-500 - Features

Ampeg

Portaflex Series Demo Part 2 - Attaching a Portaflex Head to a Portaflex Cab

Ampeg

Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 Review

massivebeatzz

Ampeg | Portaflex PF-500 W/ PF-210HE

Ampeg

Ampeg PF-500 Demo [DI]

AMP

Ampeg PF500 Portaflex Bass Guitar Amplifier Head - Ampeg PF500

American Musical Supply

@ampegtv PF-500 Bass Head Review @thebassnegus

The Bass Negus

Players Planet Product Overview - Ampeg Portaflex Series PF-500 Bass Amplifier

PlayersPlanetOz

Ampeg | Portaflex PF-500 DI OUT | Soul

Ampeg

Ampeg | Portaflex PF-500 DI OUT | Pop

Ampeg

Ampeg Portaflex PF500 Sound Test with Precision, Jazz e Stingray Bass

Francesco Minnella

Reviews

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PROS

Compact and lightweight design
Authentic Ampeg tone with versatile EQ settings
Effective compressor feature
Midrange band selection enhances tone versatility
Powerful enough for most gig volumes
Works well with pedals for expanded sound options
Offers SVT-like tones in a more affordable, portable package
Solid construction when mounted on flip top
Doesn't require frequent use of limiter for clear sound

CONS

Output volume lower than some comparable 500 watt amps
Requires careful gain staging for optimal performance

Critic Reviews

Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

Small yet powerful, the Ampeg Portaflex PF-500 delivers classic Ampeg tones with impressive versatility. This compact bass head boasts 500 watts of power, offering substantial headroom and tonal variation. The Ultra Hi and Ultra Lo boosts enhance its dynamic range, while the five-way frequency switch refines midrange tones, making it a versatile choice for bassists. Its construction is robust, featuring smooth, noise-free operation. However, it lacks a cabinet Speakon connector and speaker leads, which could be drawbacks for some. Despite these minor omissions, the PF-500 is a strong contender, praised for maintaining Ampeg's iconic sound in a portable design.

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Full Review

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 6 Reviews and 33 Ratings

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1 star

theo_mrchl

over 5 years ago

Really great for a small price

I dont have any mean things to say about this: this amp is really great! It is very versatile, takes pedal very well, a lot of options, it is light, EQ is great too. It is really powerfull too, my bandmates are always shouting at me to lower my volume since I bought it. I don't see any inconvenients in buying this, I think it might be the best amp you could buy in this price range.

longgoneloser

426

almost 8 years ago

Great SVT sound for a fraction of the cost

An Ampeg fridge and an SVT head are costly and quite heavy. Thank god they brought out this thing. You still get a lot of the sound of an SVT without blowing all your cash. Sure, the SVT is gonna sound better but this still sounds great and you can really get some nice tones out of this thing.

jljbass

almost 9 years ago

Great head that is easy on the back

Ampeg advertises this as their way to get that SVT tone in a small package that's easy on the back. It's not an SVT. If you're hellbent on that tone, go buy an SVT. But the sound this guy gives is still amazing and the weight is a fraction of what the larger amps are.

It's a fantastic amp for a working musician who doesn't want to lug a bunch of gear to a show.

mikeskull

112

about 9 years ago

Great Club Amp!

This is a great lightweight solution for tone monsters. Everything is incredibly versatile and the midrange band selection is awesome. never had to crank it at a gig; plenty of power.

Pairs well with my Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass.

boom762

12239

9 years ago about 9 years ago

I can't find one of these in person to test it out.

How loud is it? What would you compare it to?
Because of the lower wattage, does it growl at low volumes or does ti stay clean?

mikeskull

112

9 years ago about 9 years ago

It's incredibly loud; 95dB to be exact. I really don't know what to compare it to, but there's a 350, 500 and 800 watt version. I have the PF-500. I'd put it against an SVT, although it's a solid state.
i'm not sure what you consider "lower-wattage" since the Portaflex head comes in 3 wattages, but the PF-500 and PF-800 models have both a compression and gain knob, and i've never experienced distortion at higher volumes. Solid state bass amps in my experience don't seem to distort unless you push the gain over the volume threshold.

mikeskull

112

9 years ago about 9 years ago

72dB* 95dB typo

josh_valeo

111

over 10 years ago

Heavy hitting, yet, lightweight

I picked this up because I was looking for an affordable substitute to an SVT head. For small gigs, rehearsals, and practice, I didn't want to be carrying around a 100lb box around with my 4x10 cabinet. I enjoyed the tone so much, that I often neglect my SVT, partly because I'm lazy, but mostly for convenience.

Roles:

Bassist

Genres:

Electronic Rock Pop