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

[Mulebagger]

Originally Posted by blowinblue

While many of you are enjoying pairing your TH500 with the latest flavor of the month, I seem to be firmly stuck in the past as of this posting. This is a great combination for the tone that I prefer. I know many on this forum whose opinions I value (including Mr. Jung) have little love for this cab. I dig the synergy between these two products. I never lose myself in the mix with this cab, nor do audiences lose me. My TH500 further improves on that. However, it is kind of crazy to schlep a 70 lb cab with a 4 lb head.



M. M.

I wouldn't say I don't like the GS 112s but I sure do like my GS 412. The GS 212 has a nice meaty sound that I didn't find in a pair of the 112s.

But when you're playing that KL, it would probably sound killer through a 25 year old Peavey TNT

[Mulebagger]

My buddy has a couple Ken Lawrence basses. They are truly amazing instruments.

[gustobassman]

Originally Posted by Mulebagger

My buddy has a couple Ken Lawrence basses. They are truly amazing instruments. Attachment 318168

A maple board fretless KL?? Really? That is unreal!

[Youngspanion]

Can anyone comment on using the TH500 with TC Elec.RS210 cabs. I play through a LM2 and I like the tone. I am also curious if the TH350 would serve as a nice alternative to the LM2 as far as, can it keep up volume wise.

thanks

[speyer]

I play my TH500 through two RS210's and get a fantastic sound for what I do. love the cab enough to have picked up 3 of them. Great take on a modern vintage tone that has beautiful grind to it on the gig IMO.

In the past few months I have gigged or rehearsed with 4 heads and the RS210's... they all sounded good through these great little boxes. (Genz SL600, Orange TB500, Mesa WA, Aguilar TH500) Of these, I'll admit the WA and TH500 sound the best because they have a flatter response than the others. The RS210 can get a little boomy with amps that have that sub-bass thing happening. With the TH500, everything is beautifully controlled and I get a killer vintage modern sound on the gig that kicks like a mule and sits perfectly in the mix.

I'll also admit that there are better cabs out there for more absolute volume and clairity on the gig, like a berg AE210v or a Genz neox vertical or Thubnderchild. But, If you already like the tone and volume you get out an RS210... the TH500 is a perfect pairing IME. I have a clip comparing the WA and TH500 through RS210's posted here. Might be worth a listen.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

Can anyone comment on using the TH500 with TC Elec.RS210 cabs. I play through a LM2 and I like the tone. I am also curious if the TH350 would serve as a nice alternative to the LM2 as far as, can it keep up volume wise.

thanks

Good feedback from Speyer above. I will just add that the TH500/TH350 don't have quite the even 'out of the box' response of the LM2, which I found to sound wonderful set 'flat' with the RS210 right out of the box.... warm, crisp, even.

The TH heads are more meaty down low, and have much more forward midrange presence and a less extended top end. Fatter, punchier, a but more 'rough and vintage'. If you are looking to fatten your tone a bit, and add some 'harmonic complexity' at the expense of clean, open top end, the TH heads might be a good option for you.

The TH350 cranks pretty nicely into an 8ohm relatively high efficiency cab like the RS210. I don't think you'd notice a big volume difference. You will hit the 'clip light' sort of thing on the TH350 pretty easily when cranking at 8ohms, but it is more of a 'power management indicator' than a problem. The head will just 'rough up a bit' up there.

So, with the TH350, volume... no issue. It will be quite different tonally.

[KJung]

Here is a 'real world' shot of the difference in size between the TH350 and TH500.

[speyer]

That 350 looks like a nice pocket sized, giggable backup head. COOL!

[TomB]

Originally Posted by KJung

Here is a 'real world' shot of the difference in size between the TH350 and TH500.

Is it an optical illusion or is the 350 actually somewhat "taller" than the 500?

[Fran Diaz]

Originally Posted by TomB

Is it an optical illusion or is the 350 actually somewhat "taller" than the 500?

Aguilar's website says they are the same.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Fran Diaz

Aguilar's website says they are the same.

+1 I took that quick picture at a slight angle looking down, which kind of tricks the eyes.

[Jimmy Stump]

Hey all, I'm really intrigued by the Tone Hammer, and am considering trying one out, but I would have to buy it without trying it. I've got two Bergantino AE210 cabs and a Markbass F1 head right now. What change could I expect with a TH500?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stump

Hey all, I'm really intrigued by the Tone Hammer, and am considering trying one out, but I would have to buy it without trying it. I've got two Bergantino AE210 cabs and a Markbass F1 head right now. What change could I expect with a TH500?

I own and gig the stuff you are talking about. The TH500 will have more upper bass/lo mid punch and fatness, less top end sheen and extension, and a more 'complex, warm, vintage' sort of midrange. It also has the ability to go from slightly overdriven warmth to screaming distortion and grind.

Quite different. No amount of knob twisting will make these two sound alike. You can get the TH500 'relatively' close to the F1 (but still not as smooth and extended up top), but the F1 cannot be EQ'd to match the girth and roughness of the TH500.

I still prefer my F500 (I run it virtually flat in the AE210) with my J Bass.. snappy, punchy, clean. But with the P, the extra fatness and warmth and the more orginic top end (which you can get somewhat close to with the VLE, but not completely) is really nice.

Definitely different beasts, and I still have my F500 (I had two, sold one recently) for my more 'direct to the mixing board' sort of tone goal. Loving the TH500 (and the 350) with the P though!

[Mulebagger]

Originally Posted by gustobassman

A maple board fretless KL?? Really? That is unreal!

It's my friend's KL. I believe he had the board made from Katalox. His fretted KL has a Katalox board as well and looks like new with 15 years of heavy playing.

[Art Araya]

just picked up a TH500 today from MF taking advantage of their president's day special. 15% off using online coupon code. that's $105 off - nothing to sneeze at! got a speakon cable to boot.

add me to the club.

waited for one to go on sale on Classifieds but that just doesn't happen and when it does it disappears in literally seconds. the 15% coupon gets me a new th500 for about $50 higher than what these sell for used on here. good deal.

[Dephect]

my tone hammer finally came in and i'm loving it. what's even better is now my 410 cab, amp and bass fits in my sedan trunk. it is a good day.

[Youngspanion]

Originally Posted by Dephect

my tone hammer finally came in and i'm loving it. what's even better is now my 410 cab, amp and bass fits in my sedan trunk. it is a good day.

Thats good news. What are you pumping it thru?

[Dephect]

berg ae410. i'm also warming up to getting a 2x12 cab as well.

[Dephect]

just browsed through the thread and a lot of great posts, especially about the eq settings and drive control. the one thing i definitely agree is that the EQ settings are definitely intuitive and requires a learning curve. out of curiosity, where do most of keep your gain/drive settings at?

[gillento]

Originally Posted by Dephect

.... where do most of keep your gain/drive settings at?

Mine are roughly at 9 o' clock: