Aguilar - Official 'Tone Hammer 500' 3.8lbs 500w Thread #2

[rpsequeira]

Hi,
just received my tonehammer 500, after a little trial just noticed that the clipping light never flashes/turns on even when i set the gain on max having the sound distorted.

Does your light flashes/turn on? when?

I also have the ag500sc and it clips around 2 o'clock with my main bass...

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by rpsequeira

Hi,
just received my tonehammer 500, after a little trial just noticed that the clipping light never flashes/turns on even when i set the gain on max having the sound distorted.

Does your light flashes/turn on? when?

I also have the ag500sc and it clips around 2 o'clock with my main bass...

Mine does.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by rpsequeira

Hi,
just received my tonehammer 500, after a little trial just noticed that the clipping light never flashes/turns on even when i set the gain on max having the sound distorted.

Does your light flashes/turn on? when?

I also have the ag500sc and it clips around 2 o'clock with my main bass...

MIne goes into clip just about where you would expect. However, remember, the clip light is impacted by the entire signal chain, right through the master volume (this is a bit different than other designs). So, boosting the bass control a bit will really impact the gain structure, for example.

[rpsequeira]

Originally Posted by KJung

MIne goes into clip just about where you would expect. However, remember, the clip light is impacted by the entire signal chain, right through the master volume (this is a bit different than other designs). So, boosting the bass control a bit will really impact the gain structure, for example.

So, that said, i assume mine has a faulty led, can it be?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by rpsequeira

So, that said, i assume mine has a faulty led, can it be?

Sorry, my post wasn't very clear. The clip light is not an 'input gain' clip light. It is sort of an 'entire signal chain' clip light, including the master volume.

So, you can crank the input gain up all the way, and if you have the master down, the clip light won't come on. In that way, I guess it is a bit more of a 'power amp' clip than an input clip (edit: or maybe more accurately, an 'overloaded preamp signal right before it hits the power amp... impacted by every knob on the preamp, including master volume).

Set you input gain moderately high, turn up the master a bit, and add some bass. Slap your E string good and hard and you will see the clip light come on.

Kind of a strange design in a way, since it really doesn't indicate what sort of action needs to be taken to eliminate it. The Aguilar guys point out that it doesn't hurt anything having it lit, just means that, I guess, something somewhere is in clipping stage.

[rpsequeira]

Ok, i'll check it better this evening, thanks for the help and quick reply!

[nostatic]

I can get mine to break up at low overall volumes without having the clip light come on. Depends on where you have the drive set, if you've got the -10db switch in (mine is always in), output of your instrument, right hand technique, etc).

[KJung]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I can get mine to break up at low overall volumes without having the clip light come on. Depends on where you have the drive set, if you've got the -10db switch in (mine is always in), output of your instrument, right hand technique, etc).

+1 The clip will never come on based purely on the drive and gain.... it interacts with the master. So, you won't see it come on even at low volumes. Definitely a unique way of implementing a clip light indicator. Again, more of a 'hot signal hitting the power amp' sort of thing I guess.

[engedi1]

I don't know if anyone knows the answer to this, or if Dave B can comment, but I am trying to find out what the built in HPF is on the TH500? Does anyone know?

[sKyLiNe505]

Dying to purchase a tone hammer 500 to match with my gs412 cab, but no money I wonder if it will be loud enough to keep up against two half stacks and loud drummer?

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by sKyLiNe505

I wonder if it will be loud enough to keep up against two half stacks and loud drummer?

If it doesn't, get new band members!

[rpsequeira]

Originally Posted by KJung

+1 The clip will never come on based purely on the drive and gain.... it interacts with the master. So, you won't see it come on even at low volumes. Definitely a unique way of implementing a clip light indicator. Again, more of a 'hot signal hitting the power amp' sort of thing I guess.

The led is ok, i had to turn on the bass knob all way up and hit the E string.

Thanks

[bassistloaded21]

Thats my rig now. It works. You have to not stand directly in front of the cab to catch it right. I was standing too close. Its plenty loud. You have to not be afraid to turn it up also. The clipping light doesnt mean that you cant go louder, i had to figure that out. It can get pretty loud, as long as you have PA support I say its plenty loud, though last week i did do a gig with no PA support, and it was outdoors, and people said they heard the bass loud and clear even from the parking lot.

Originally Posted by sKyLiNe505

Dying to purchase a tone hammer 500 to match with my gs412 cab, but no money I wonder if it will be loud enough to keep up against two half stacks and loud drummer?

[sKyLiNe505]

Originally Posted by bassistloaded21

Thats my rig now. It works. You have to not stand directly in front of the cab to catch it right. I was standing too close. Its plenty loud. You have to not be afraid to turn it up also. The clipping light doesnt mean that you cant go louder, i had to figure that out. It can get pretty loud, as long as you have PA support I say its plenty loud, though last week i did do a gig with no PA support, and it was outdoors, and people said they heard the bass loud and clear even from the parking lot.

So what does the clipping light mean? What did you figure out about the light?

[bassistloaded21]

Just that just because its clipping doesnt mean you have to turn down. I kept turning down once the clipping light came on, but I eventually kept turning up, and it got louder, not more distorted. It did eventually. Just saying the clip light doesnt mean turn down, in my case

[KJung]

Originally Posted by sKyLiNe505

So what does the clipping light mean? What did you figure out about the light?

I have no idea. It isn't an input clip indicator, and it isn't a power amp clip indicator. And, the manual says basically to ignore it! Strange design IMO.

[TXLawDawg]

If I recall correctly, I seem to remember Dave B. explaining the clipping in the first TH500 thread.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by TXLawDawg

If I recall correctly, I seem to remember Dave B. explaining the clipping in the first TH500 thread.

+1 My description above is based on his explanation back then. It isn't that I don't understand the circuit (at least in basic layman's terms.) Rather, I don't really 'get the point', since even in the manual, it states that the amp performs fine with the clip light flashing. A bit like the Genz circuit, which is more a 'power management threshold' indication versus any sort of 'trouble warning'.

No big deal I guess. I like the amp for what it is, and for certain applications, I like it a lot.

[CCTEXAS]

I have a question about my setup. I have the TH500 and the DB680 and I want to use the power from the TH500 and the DB680 as the preamp. How would you guys patch it together for best results?

[engedi1]

Originally Posted by CCTEXAS

I have a question about my setup. I have the TH500 and the DB680 and I want to use the power from the TH500 and the DB680 as the preamp. How would you guys patch it together for best results?

I think the best way to go would be to simply run the Db680 into the effects return of the TH500. That would bypass the preamp completely and then you would only be using the TH500 for its power amp. Just like if you plugged your bass right into the effects return.