Aguilar DB751 or Ampeg SVT-7 Pro

Barduuk · #1 07-20-2011, 12:32 AM

Hellooooo TalkBass!!

My dilemma.. I'm able to get both amps for VERY good prices where i'm from (Australia) and i don't know which way to go.. Both obviously have their pro's and con's.. I will be playing them both (again) in the next week to come to a final decision.. But if YOU had to choose one or the other which would you pick and why??
I'll be buying a DB810 to match the Aguilar or 2x Ampeg PN-410's to match the SVT-7..
My 2 main basses are a passive Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass and a Fender Jaguar (run passive in parallel mode)..

Thank you

JimmyM · #2 07-20-2011, 12:47 AM

I'd get the 7 Pro because sounds better than any other SS or hybrid head I've ever played. Having said that, I've yet to play a DB751. But tonally I prefer the micro format for SS and hybrid heads by a longshot, so it would be the 7 Pro for me.

But if I were you, I wouldn't buy by TB consensus any more than I'd let TB'ers pick out a wife for me.

WhoDidTheElf · #3 07-20-2011, 12:58 AM

I must admit after playing around on an 7 Pro for a while I was pretty floored by the tone I was getting out of the thing.

I finally get what all the hype is about. Monster of an amp, at a good price and lite weight.

But as Jimmy said, what ever sounds the best to you. I'm biased towards Ampeg a bit so...I may just be looking for good tones in the amp plus all the positive feedback I've read about it.

davepikey81 · #4 07-20-2011, 01:06 AM

id go for the db 751 they are absolutely amazing tonally...paired with a db810 its gonna sound tits....just my 2 cents though
also consider the ag 500

Barduuk · #5 07-20-2011, 01:36 AM

I know what you mean Jimmy.. TBer's can talk people into anything.. I really like the sound of both amps.. There is a $1000 price difference between the two though (the Ampeg being cheaper).. Hopefully i'll have a NAD to write about next week after i give them both another run through..
Thanks guys..

Son of Bovril · #6 07-20-2011, 02:22 AM

If the weight is no consideration, I'd go for the 751 otherwise the 7 Pro would win imo just because of that...

Barduuk · #7 07-20-2011, 03:30 AM

Weight isn't a consideration.. I'm young.. Was just listening to soundclips online for both amps and i have to say the Aguilar sounds pretty meaty.. Really like it alot..

babebambi · #8 07-20-2011, 10:34 AM

It would be more difficult to decide if it were between an DB751 and an all tube SVT

But it really is a ~~no-brained~~ no-brainer for me in this case - DB751 all the way

Edit - another case of iPad spelling humor for you

Jeff Scott · #9 07-20-2011, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babebambi

...it really is a no-brained [sic] for me in this case - DB751 all the way

+1

LiquidMidnight · #10 07-20-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

But if I were you, I wouldn't buy by TB consensus any more than I'd let TB'ers pick out a wife for me.

+1

I'd personally go for the Aguilar as I'm more dispositioned towards the Ag sound rather than the Ampeg sound. However, both heads are high-quality, professional-level units. So it really comes down to personal taste and whether or not the Aguilar is worth $1000 more to you.

I know how these decisions can be tough when you're comparing two high-end pieces of equipment; there's often a lack of objective criteria to compare them on, because they're often very similar in terms of quality. I had a supervisor at a job who was also a bass player. He once told me that he flipped a coin on whether to get a Mesa 400 or a Trace Elliot that he both liked. The Mesa won the coin toss. He never had any regrets. Your outcome may vary.

dsanders · #11 07-20-2011, 08:39 PM

Agreed on all points, opinion is just that. However since you asked the DB 750 takes home the ribbon bar none in my mind and ears.

Son of Bovril · #12 07-21-2011, 02:06 AM

the deciding factor in these situations for me is how the amps react to your playing and eq style and this you can only tell on a gig or in the practice room IMO

there really is no substitute for hearing an amp in your own mix

Barduuk · #13 07-21-2011, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Son of Bovril

the deciding factor in these situations for me is how the amps react to your playing and eq style and this you can only tell on a gig or in the practice room IMO

there really is no substitute for hearing an amp in your own mix

I'm going to try and give them both a run through with the band (if possible).. Can't wait to give them a run though with my basses..

Barduuk · #14 07-28-2011, 10:03 PM

Hey guys.. Just filling you in.. Ended up taking SVT-7 Pro out of the equation and was deciding between the Aguilar DB-751 and the Ampeg Heritage SVT-CL.. Both really amazing amps and it was a super tough decision.. But i ended up going with the Ampeg for a few reasons.. Firstly,, the Ampeg just sounded meatier and was definitely a bit dirtier which i really liked.. The Aguilar just never really dirtied up which i guess would be great for some people.. The Aguilar was somewhere between the Ampeg and my GK2001RB soundwise and i probably will buy the DB-751 in the futue just to complete the Tube,, Hybrid,, Solid State set.. Another reason is that i feel the the Ampeg would be easier to get repaired should anything go wrong with it and easier to sell should i ever wish to (even though i highly doubt i would ever sell it).. And lastly,, it's an all-tube Ampeg beast made in the USA and i felt like i should own one while i'm young enough to carry it.. Ha ha

JimmyM · #15 07-28-2011, 10:22 PM

Well that Heritage SVT came out of nowhere, eh?

Barduuk · #16 07-28-2011, 10:29 PM

Ha ha.. Yeah it did Jimmy.. I'd played one before and loved it but didn't factor it in because i wasn't sure about pricing and when i found i could get it for a few hundred more than the Aguilar i really looked into it.. One of the perks of having a band member work in a music store is staff discounts.. Ha ha.. The whole Heritage rig came in cheaper than the Aguilar rig by $700 as well..

JimmyM · #17 07-28-2011, 10:40 PM

So you got the Heritage 810e, too?

Barduuk · #18 07-28-2011, 10:43 PM

Soon Jimmy.. Soon.. I'll have the head next week and i'll have the cab in a couple of months.. But i feel the matching cab was the best way to go..

JimmyM · #19 07-28-2011, 10:48 PM

Of course it is! You saw the grillcloth...how could you not get it when you get the head?

Barduuk · #20 07-28-2011, 10:57 PM

Ha ha.. Yeah.. It's pretty pimpin'.. Was gonna check out the Begantino's until i saw them.. They look like @$$.. I just need to get the Steve Harris P-Bass to complete the ultimate sparkle set up..