Aguilar ag500 vs Little Mark Tube 800

[rockiezz]

Hay Gang,

First off Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my low end friends!

Well I fell into a little cash and want to spend it, Yea!

Here is what I'm thinking, New Amp! I have been looking at The Aguilar AG-500 Solid State amp (I played this at one store, loved it) and I'm putting it up against the Little Mark Tube 800, (I played this but at a different store, loved it too).

I'm looking for the down sides, troubles or problems with each. The weight difference is not a big deal at all, I do like the two channels so I can run an active bass in one and a passive in the other. I've been a solid state guy, Played 800-RB for years and now I use a 400-RB. Good GK tone, easy to dial in. Thanks in advance for your remarks, I just need to pull the trigger!

J.Z.

[blastjv]

No experience with the MB.

The AG is a great amp. The two channels sound very different from each other. I found the normal channel to sound very big and fat and warm. Too much so for my tastes. I ended up needing a pedal in front (an active bass with a treble control would have worked, too) to boost the treble to where I liked it,m but once I did, it sounded great. The OD channel is amazing. My only real gripe was that even at it's lowest setting it was still pretty overdriven sounding, so if you want it just just sound 'tubey' but not overdriven it's a little grittier than that. Overall though, I'd highly recomend it if it suits your tone goals. Great amp, and I'm sure I'll own another someday.

BTW, Aggie has a new lightweight amp coming out, check that out.....


-JV

[rockiezz]

I've been seeing posts on the Tonehammer-500 (sounds like NASCAR) more than likely that is a Class D amp (like Markbass) but I have not seen a picture or a release date. thanks for the reply!

[blastjv]

Look more closely in the thread on it. There are pics and I think a general release ETA...

-JV

[Dark Horse]

I dig my Aggie 500SC a LOT. I go for a more vintage sound, and the Aggie is adept at that...plus sound people seem to like the DI a lot as well. No complaints whatsoever about this amp.

[rockiezz]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

I go for a more vintage sound, and the Aggie is adept at that...plus sound people seem to like the DI a lot as well.

Love a Vintage sound! I guess the bigger question is the difference between Class-D and (I believe) Class-A amps, Construction! Transformers vs Switches... Such a large market for amps these days it gets confusing to say the least.

[funkythumb]

I'm thinking about getting an AG 500. Love the tone.
From a very old post, years ago, I read that the amp had problems with shutting down due to the setting on the smart card inside the head.
Is this still an issue or was this fixed a while back?
thanks