Aguilar - Official 'Tone Hammer 500' 3.8lbs 500w Thread #3

[LowBSix]

Originally Posted by ric426

Yeah, I'm just debating whether to get a new 350 or a used 500. I don't really need the extra power or the effects loop... new 350 is about $100 less ...

IMHO & E: My mom always prepared extra food, just in case she needed to feed more than expected. I've found the same goes for headroom. In the big picture, $100 difference is nominal....it's a lot easier to turn down, etc.

[ric426]

Originally Posted by LowBSix

IMHO & E: My mom always prepared extra food, just in case she needed to feed more than expected. I've found the same goes for headroom. In the big picture, $100 difference is nominal....it's a lot easier to turn down, etc.

Of course your Mom is right (they always are) and if money wasn't the issue for me that it is I'd buy a shiny new TH500 (and a couple of Aguilar 112's), but forced retirement has it's limitations. I have a tight bass gear budget that I'm trying to squeeze as much out of as I can, so $100 saved is money that I can put to good use towards other needed gear.

[astack]

And the 350 is TINY. That could be a big plus on top of the lower price tag.

As for TH's in the classifieds, I think they're starting to get to that point in the product cycle where all the gearheads have bought and are now selling them. I guess NAMM could bring some price drops, too, and people want to off things before the bottom drops. Point is, probably gonna be more and more showing up.

[jumblemind]

Any thoughts on dialing in a crisper sound? I dig the Aguilar tone in and of itself, but sometimes I need it to cut more, and so far the tube-iness sucks the initial attack of the notes too much for my taste when playing certain tunes. Turning on the cab tweeter helps, but I'm wondering if there's an EQ trick I'm missing, as I'm still trying to figure out the mid-freq sweep. (Drive is always off, fwiw).

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jumblemind

Any thoughts on dialing in a crisper sound? I dig the Aguilar tone in and of itself, but sometimes I need it to cut more, and so far the tube-iness sucks the initial attack of the notes too much for my taste when playing certain tunes. Turning on the cab tweeter helps, but I'm wondering if there's an EQ trick I'm missing, as I'm still trying to figure out the mid-freq sweep. (Drive is always off, fwiw).

By turning off the drive (which widens the tonal footprint down low and up top), turning the gain down to a very low level (for example 9 o'clock if you have a typical output instrument), boosting the bass just a touch, boosting the treble just a touch (don't boost too much, it isn't voiced at all like the typical high start point shelving treble control), and then cutting the upper mids slightly (start with the frequency around 1 o'clock and the mid level around 11 o'clock and sweep the frequency to full to find the sweet spot), you can get that head to sound a bit more 'modern' as we use that term here on TB.

However, that is not what it is about. I have a different head that I use when I really want super wide, super clean response.

[jumblemind]

Thanks, I will give that a go. I know that the amp should be what it is intended to be. Guess I'm stuck between what I want and what my main gig needs.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by jumblemind

Thanks, I will give that a go. I know that the amp should be what it is intended to be. Guess I'm stuck between what I want and what my main gig needs.

+1 I'm lucky enough to be able to be a bit extravagant and have my 'gritty, grunty, chewy' sort of head (the Aguilar) and a couple versions of more 'clean and modern' (Markbass F500) and super transparent and 'studio board like'(Glockenklang Blue Soul). No amount of knob turning makes these amps sound very much alike, and they all sound wonderful for what their designers intended.

That being said, I could pretty much just use the Markbass F500 for everything. It is a very middle of the road, 'clean but warm' amp with good low end control and perfomance. Sounds good with every bass and every cab I've tried it with.

Both the TH500 and the Blue Soul are IMO and IME more 'special application' heads for me (again, given my playing contexts and tone goals, which are quite varied), and they both do what they do magnificently, if a bit more targeted.

[dubstylee]

You guys mind sharing your gain & drive controls setting?

[LowBSix]

Gain 9:00 - Noon
Drive 8:00 - 1:00
Master - As needed; yet to go beyond 11:00
Bass - 12:30 - 1:00 Depending on the stage/room/venue
Mid Freq - 10:30 - 1:30 Depending on the stage/room/venue
Mid Level - 11:00 - 1:00 Depending on the stage/room/venue
Treble - 10:30 - 12:30 Depending on the stage/room/venue

[craig.p]

Originally Posted by jumblemind

Any thoughts on dialing in a crisper sound? I dig the Aguilar tone in and of itself, but sometimes I need it to cut more, and so far the tube-iness sucks the initial attack of the notes too much for my taste when playing certain tunes. Turning on the cab tweeter helps, but I'm wondering if there's an EQ trick I'm missing, as I'm still trying to figure out the mid-freq sweep. (Drive is always off, fwiw).

If I wanted more cut and a faster attack, I'd increase the drive control to somewhere between 3 o'clock and full. That should lop off the low bass and make things a lot more responsive.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by craig.p

If I wanted more cut and a faster attack, I'd increase the drive control to somewhere between 3 o'clock and full. That should lop off the low bass and make things a lot more responsive.

You are correct that it will reduce the low bass. However, it will equally eliminate to top end. That setting of the drive, with the gain very low, will emulate the basic tone of a classic sealed 10" cab... all mid punch.

I interpreted the OP's requirements as actually more deep bass and upper treble, with the minimum of midrange distortion. However, if he wants massive mid punch and not much else, the drive control at high settings will get your there!

[Hizzoner]

i'd be interested in th/walkabout comparisons tonally..also wonder if anyone has experience with the TH and Mesa PH112's...

I use a TH pedal as a DI and sometimes to add the Aggie fatness and warmth to my Mesa M9 Carbine. I like the tone of the Aggie and may consider moving the Carbine as awesome an amp as it is..sometimes it is way overkill for what I need with all its features and it is more of a schlep than a 4 lb head for sure..but it is tonally flexible,ridiculously powerful, and with an EBS valvedrive it can do the tube tone just fine...hmmmmmm

BTW...saw/met Felix Pastorius at the school where I teach in October with Jeff Coffin Mutet(jaw dropping players) He played with the TH500/SL112s and it filled a very large auditorium of over 500 souls with great acoustics with no PA support for bass. I helped him carry the SLs to the van and was amazed at how light those cabs were..stunning TBH...

[rodl2005]

Walkabout's got more eq possibilities- amazing eq on it- & can get more top end sparkle (if that's the right word)- more like a "normal" amp. The TH500's really got it's own thing happening. An "Aguilar" tone perhaps? Sweet as it is.
I dunno if I'd say one's "tubier" than the other, just different.
As Kjung states, the TH500 does the "sealed 810" tone to a tee.
Walkabout's more versatile, 'not as powerful into 4 ohms. Both superb amps. I don't think either can do what the other can do. Very individual. Sorryi!

[gustobassman]

Originally Posted by dubstylee

You guys mind sharing your gain & drive controls setting?

This is what i've been using. It really "rounds" out the sound to me. Not so mid-heavy to my ears.

GAIN - Noon
DRIVE - Off
MID LEVEL - 9:00
MID FREQ - 4:00
BASS - 2:00
TREBLE - 12:00

It may not work for everyone, but i can adjust the mid level to noon or more if needed to cut through. This works great with a passive Fender Am. Std. Jazz 5'er. If i want the "wool" i bring the drive up until i find where it fits what i'm looking for.

[SilkyStrings]

Thanks gustobassman, I tried these settings and it works well. Although I am using FDecks pre in front of the amp. I have the filter control set to about 9 o clock on that, which may be around 60 Hz. This pre really tightens up the lows and allows me to add bass on the TH500 without getting 'subby'.

I was in San Diego yesterday and called Bass San Diego on way back to LA hoping to audition the Aggy DB112's and the Bergantino HD112's, but they were closed and unable to see me at short notice. I'm using an Accugroove Tri 115 and an Eden 115t. They sound better together than individually but I am eager to try these 12's soon. I'm using the Sadowsky RV-5 I bought from them in 2010.

[craig.p]

Originally Posted by KJung

You are correct that it will reduce the low bass. However, it will equally eliminate to top end. That setting of the drive, with the gain very low, will emulate the basic tone of a classic sealed 10" cab... all mid punch.

On the top end question, within a BG's operating range it'll actually slightly increase top-end content, not reduce it. But way up in the sparkle range -- of value only to a slap player who prefers a hi-fi sound imo -- you're right, that zone does get killed.

I interpreted the OP's requirements as actually more deep bass and upper treble, with the minimum of midrange distortion. However, if he wants massive mid punch and not much else, the drive control at high settings will get your there!

Yeah, I guess we read his requirements totally different. Oh well... Sorry for any confusion.

[AMp'D.2play]

This past Sunday, my S.O. spent the day visiting her grandchildren, so I had the house to myself.

I used this opportunity to play my TH500 through my 2 x Bergantino HD112 stack at volume. (prior to this, I'd only had it hooked up to a single, 8 Ohm, SWR Golight 210.)

I dare say I like the TH500 even better through the Bergs than I do my AG500. With both the Gain & Drive towards the low end of the spectrum, I was able to get a tone as clean as I would need. Playing around w/ the EQ (I'd jotted down some notes from the various TH500 threads on the preferred settings of other TBers), there were some sweet tones coming out.

At ~ 25 lbs less than my AG500 (incl wooden head case), I'm now questioning whether I even need the AG500 anymore.

[speyer]

I love nights like that around the house.

[tbone0813]

So I should have my HPF Series III Saturday and my second AE112 sometime next week. I can't wait to get all these together for a little jam session especially since I am loving my MTD 535---->TH 500---->AE112.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by tbone0813

So I should have my HPF Series III Saturday and my second AE112 sometime next week. I can't wait to get all these together for a little jam session especially since I am loving my MTD 535---->TH 500---->AE112.

Given the massive sub bass that the MTD puts out, the big low end of the TH500, and the rather tight voicing of the AE112's, that should be quite useful with that rig. My guess is, a setting around 9 o'clock will result in very little tonal difference besides a very slight tightening of the low end, but a noticable reduction in cone pistoning/wasted power.
Let us know!