Aguilar - Official 'Tone Hammer 500' 3.8lbs 500w Thread #2 - Page 49

LowBSix · #**961** 12-09-2012, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

How does one eq this amp to sound flat.... or close to it?

I set the EQ knobs centered and consider that flat for that amp. If I like it, that's all that matters.

nutdog · #**962** 12-09-2012, 03:03 PM

Eublet's charts on page 41 indicate that it's pretty flat from 100-2k with the drive off and the eq at noon. Very slight roll off below 100 and up to 3k, then the treble drops a bit steeper.

KJung · #**963** 12-09-2012, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutdog

Eublet's charts on page 41 indicate that it's pretty flat from 100-2k with the drive off and the eq at noon. Very slight roll off below 100 and up to 3k, then the treble drops a bit steeper.

I originally pooh-pooh'd that chart, but after Eublet explained what I was looking at, it explains the inherent tone of the TH500 nicely, and also explains why the amp is hard to 'brighten up' (which is not its thing). The treble control is not the typical shelving type of other amps, and the highest frequency setting of the semi-parametric mid is set below the start of the drop-off. The head is really voiced to punch and grind. It has a nice, organic top end, but there is (IMO and IME) no way to turn the knobs to make it what it is not.... clean, upper treble extended hi fi top end. Plenty of heads do that.

My TH500 performed wonderfully again this weekend. The P just SNARLS through the thing when you dig in, and stays nice and clean when you don't. VERY 'interactive' with technique, which brings to mind an all tube amp (at least in feel). The drive control is marvelous to 'tighten and old school up' the tone, since it reduces deep bass and treble to mimic a one way sealed multi10 cab.

It is definitely THE head for me for my PBass.... fat, mid present, a bit rough, organic grind up top, no sizzle. Perfect. And, it slams down low, and doesn't seem to breath hard even when pushed to the limit. Very little compression that I can hear when pushed

KJung · #**964** 12-09-2012, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

Hi KJung, I'd love to hear a clip of you playing it with the P, with the 115 and with a J, just as a comparison.

Speaking of videos -- did you take all of your bass gear video down??? They were a great reference and I miss them.

Hello! Yes, I'm out of the clip business. Most of the clips were of products no longer in production, and since I'm not in Detroit any more and don't have that constant stream o gear and players coming through the house, I kind of retired!

Again, loving it with the P. I personally need a more open, clean, extended upper mid and treble response for my personal J tone, but for a more 60's/nickel or flatwound J tone, the TH500 is killer. I just need the 'snap' when I go that route (with my 70's style J) and have other heads that do that thing better.

**Freddels** · #**965** 12-09-2012, 04:45 PM

I played another gig with it this past weekend. This time I played my Classic SR4 and it was just wonderful. Sounded great.

nutdog · #**966** 12-09-2012, 04:49 PM

Flat on the scope is interesting but, IMO, doesn't give the whole story. Sort of like we don't all sound the same singing even if we're all hitting the same note.

Given the cumulative effects of instrument, amp, cab and environment I just turn knobs until it sounds good for any given location/application. But it does help to know what the knobs are doing, even if it's only a partial explanation.

I got the TH in no small part based on your (kjung) description to use with the TC15. It performs pretty much just as you say. Putting it into two SVT210AV's is really like a little mini old school rig but it doesn't sound mini.

I played a small club for our doo-wop group recently. We don't get loud and the vocals are the focus so I always start off low volume. After the second set the crowd thinned out and I thought I'd sneak the volume up and realized the bass knob was at 10 o'clock. I turned it up to 1 and, wow, with a my cheezy squier vm p with flats it really hit like a, well, hammer.

::::BASSIST:::: · #**967** 12-09-2012, 04:57 PM

Interesting. Compared to my old LMII, which sounded quite flat with eq nooned, the TH sounds more scooped to my ears. Then again, I am using the pedal version so I guess that might add to the difference.

Eublet · #**968** 12-09-2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

Interesting. Compared to my old LMII, which sounded quite flat with eq nooned, the TH sounds more scooped to my ears. Then again, I am using the pedal version so I guess that might add to the difference.

That's because the LMII is flat...as a board, for better or worse. I love that head also. The TH, both the heads and pedal, are not scooped with controls at noon. There's a very slight low-mid bump that fattens things up, plus some high attenuation which sweetens the sound, but it's not scooped. Engaging and disengaging the pedal allows for very easy comparison. Unlike Kjung, I love what the Tone Hammer does to my J basses with the EQ straight up. I find that it calms down those zingy highs very slightly, and prevents unnecessary string noise while still having plenty of extension to let the grind come through. Check out my graphs on page 41 of this thread for a visual aid to what I'm trying to describe. I also find that I can boost highs and love the tone which is something I have seldom done on any other head besides the RH450.

IntrepidCellist · #**969** 12-09-2012, 08:23 PM

+1. The TH is many things, but "scooped" it is not (when set flat.)

jumblemind · #**970** 12-09-2012, 08:30 PM

I recently picked up a Mark Bass Big Bang because I was afraid the Tone Hammer wouldn't be warm enough for the sound I'm after (I like Ampeg's with the bass up and the mids and highs low). All of the clips on YouTube seem to show people smacking their active basses with percussive funk-rock lines. Yet here I read all these comments about old school tube tone with P flats. Hmm. Mayhaps I have misjudged.

Jeff Scott · #**971** 12-09-2012, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumblemind

All of the clips on YouTube seem to show people smacking their active basses with percussive funk-rock lines.

Did you check some of my vids? No percussive funk-rock lines there to mess with the real tone.

jumblemind · #**972** 12-09-2012, 10:03 PM

Apparently not. Wondering if an amp exchange is in my future.

rodl2005 · #**973** 12-09-2012, 10:03 PM

I just did a lunchtime xmas party gig with the TH500 & 2 x 3015 modded PF115HE's.
Used my AC EUT5 (70's jazz 5'er)
Really nice growl with nickel rounds on.
I, too, love a precision bass with it, but, dang it sounded great today.

jumblemind · #**974** 12-09-2012, 10:09 PM

Love those cabinets. Did you mount the TH into one of them?

Zeelod · #**975** 12-10-2012, 01:27 AM

Hey everyone, I'm very interested in the TH500.

My current amp is a Fender Bassman Pro 300. I love the sound that comes from the amp but after hauling it around for a few years, the weight and size are really starting to get to me.

So I was wondering how these two amps compare? Obviously there's a huge difference in size and weight, but what about tone?

On the Fender, a majority of the time I have the main EQ controls flat and then on the graphic EQ I have the low bass frequencies rolled off just slightly, a little boost to the low mid area, a slight cut to the upper mid area, and then a flat treble end. I also have the built in compression turned on but it's used in a fairly subtle manner.

I run it into an Avatar 2x12 8ohm cabinet that has the tweeter rolled almost all the way off. And I also run my bass with flatwounds.

What do you guys think I should expect from using the TH500? After reading through quite a bit of this thread, it sounds like the TH has slight boost in the lower mids, which appeals to me a lot.
How would it be on volume going into my cab compared to my current amp? I typically play with an extremely loud drummer, and loud types of music in general so having head room is nice.

rodl2005 · #**976** 12-10-2012, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumblemind

Love those cabinets. Did you mount the TH into one of them?

Yeah I like em too. The new neo's are a massive upgrade as far as power handling goes.
I haven't mounted the TH500 in the cab tho. I use it (amp) with other cabs too often

With the stock driver one PF115 wouldn't handle my 200w tube Fender Studio Bass amp very well, but now, just one modded PF115 will take it all & laugh loudly!
Sounds great with the TH500 too.

KJung · #**977** 12-10-2012, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ::::BASSIST::::

Interesting. Compared to my old LMII, which sounded quite flat with eq nooned, the TH sounds more scooped to my ears. Then again, I am using the pedal version so I guess that might add to the difference.

+1 to Eublet's post. And +1 that, if anything, the TH500 is low mid bumped. Most describe it as very mid present when set flat.

::::BASSIST:::: · #**978** 12-10-2012, 08:40 AM

Yeah, maybe scooped isnt the right term. I just sounds huge. I like it alot. With my QSC 2402 + fEARful 15/6... look out. The 180hz variable mid nicely adds a low-mid bump to the cab.

Lublin · #**979** 12-10-2012, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IntrepidCellist

+1. The TH is many things, but "scooped" it is not (when set flat.)

One of its most beautiful attributes. Set flat, this amp is Punch City, USA!

LowBSix · #**980** 12-10-2012, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lublin

One of its most beautiful attributes. Set flat, this amp is Punch City, USA!

+1