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

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Green Lantern

How do you know that the company who bought them out told them to cut corners and to take short cuts? Granted with Fender in the CBS days it was evident which included masses running to Music Man amps and Boogie

Just do a search on the WT1205

Seriously, VERY old news here. They are now part of Marshall, with zero original employees as far as I know. Eden, like SWR, had it all going on for almost 20 years. That is rare for any company. Nothing to be ashamed of for that legacy. I would not, in any way, consider any of their products at this point.

That being said, I feel the Genz Benz Shuttle Max is probably the closest tonal/feature vibe to the old WT line of amps. The Aguilar tone is MUCH different, and IMO would appeal to a different player. Not better or worse, just 'different'.

[Jeff Scott]

Yeah, I am well aware of when that company bought Eden, nasty stuff ensued for years after that, unfortunately.

[pauliebass]

Originally Posted by KJung

Seriously The Aguilar tone is MUCH different, and IMO would appeal to a different player. Not better or worse, just 'different'.

That's why I own both.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by pauliebass

That's why I own both.

+1 I have a couple of other heads that I very much like that do very different things from the TH500! Lots of great stuff out there.

[MuthaFunk]

Originally Posted by KJung

Eden's glory days of stellar reliability and, for the time, cutting edge tone and features, ended about 15 years ago. The brand has been on a serious slide, starting with its being purchased by a larger company, for a long time now.

This brand was one of the most solid performers out there, and there are still old WT400's, WT800's and 410XLT's provided as backline and used by bar bands etc. that are still going strong after 20 years or more.

I've recently read a thread on the Eden forum where the Marshall customer service went wayyyy above and beyond to convert a used eBay purchase out of the US to European transformers so the purchaser could use it. It was clearly not the fault of the manufacturer but they took care of the purchaser all the same.

As you can imagine, all the "Edenites" over there were happy to read such a story. There any many of us that would like to see the brand bounce back.

I personally use a Walkabout to get those vintage tones and Eden for clean rock funk tones. The TH500 has had my attention for quite a while but previewing one in the Toronto are seems to be pretty hard. I'll just have to keep an eye out go a used on here on TB.

[Mulebagger]

Originally Posted by KJung

Eden's glory days of stellar reliability and, for the time, cutting edge tone and features, ended about 15 years ago. The brand has been on a serious slide, starting with its being purchased by a larger company, for a long time now.

This brand was one of the most solid performers out there, and there are still old WT400's, WT800's and 410XLT's provided as backline and used by bar bands etc. that are still going strong after 20 years or more.

About 15 years ago when Edens were popping up everywhere, I was still using my SWR SM400. I found them to be similar enough, but favoring my SWR to keep me from venturing down the Eden road.

Aguilar turned my head nearly 10 years ago and I haven't considered an Eden or SWR again. Never for reliability issues ( although the plastic knobs always bothered me). It was more of a sound/power issue.

The TH500 is a great amp no doubt is you like the sound palette. I still prefer my DB750, but not enough to lug it to casual gigs or practice. For the weight to power ratio, I've kind of found my sweet spot with the TH500.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Mulebagger

About 15 years ago when Edens were popping up everywhere, I was still using my SWR SM400. I found them to be similar enough, but favoring my SWR to keep me from venturing down the Eden road.

Aguilar turned my head nearly 10 years ago and I haven't considered an Eden or SWR again. Never for reliability issues ( although the plastic knobs always bothered me). It was more of a sound/power issue.

The TH500 is a great amp no doubt is you like the sound palette. I still prefer my DB750, but not enough to lug it to casual gigs or practice. For the weight to power ratio, I've kind of found my sweet spot with the TH500.

Whew, I coudn't get rid of my SM400 quick enough 20+ years ago or so when Eden hit with the WT300. Totally, completely different sounding heads to me, with the WT300 (eventually upgraded to the WT400) being relatively even, nicely controlled down low, with plenty of mid punch power, and the SM400 spending most of its power below 40hz (I actually had to get an external hi pass to make that head work myself), and a very scooped midrange with massive upper treble sizzle.

Again, all good stuff for the time, but neither brand seems worth even mentioning any more IMO.

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by KJung

Whew, I coudn't get rid of my SM400 quick enough 20+ years ago or so when Eden hit with the WT300. Totally, completely different sounding heads to me, with the WT300 (eventually upgraded to the WT400) being relatively even, nicely controlled down low, with plenty of mid punch power, and the SM400 spending most of its power below 40hz (I actually had to get an external hi pass to make that head work myself), and a very scooped midrange with massive upper treble sizzle.

Again, all good stuff for the time, but neither brand seems worth even mentioning any more IMO.

+1, .....bass amps have come a long way indeed. Even the SM900 left e wanting. 900 sounded like sooooo much power back then, but today's TH500's et al whoop major butt on those other amps that were decent in their tie. We've come a long way since then! At least in my opinion.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

...Even the SM900 left e wanting. 900 sounded like sooooo much power back then...

Wasn't that 900 watts bridged @ 2Ω while frying eggs on top?

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Wasn't that 900 watts bridged @ 2Ω while frying eggs on top?

Yeah good point. There really wasn't any such thing as a 900W amp into a 'real world' load back then.

[Jeff Scott]

There were, they just didn't say SWR on it.

[ceerod]

New to forum and Aguilar gear. Picked up a TH500 recently and love it! I've been using SVT gear for years and find myself now wanting to get rid of my SVT Classic, 410HLF and 810E. On the fence about which aggie cab, 1 vs 2, etc. and have spent hours reading all the great info on this forum. Though not quite ready to pull the trigger on a cab when I do I'll def be able to make an informed decision. So thanks to all for the great info and greetings from Texas!!!

[Joeplanet]

Eden changed drastically for the worse. My 'born on' date is either 1999 or 2000. When they were awesome.

[rodl2005]

Originally Posted by ceerod

New to forum and Aguilar gear. Picked up a TH500 recently and love it! I've been using SVT gear for years and find myself now wanting to get rid of my SVT Classic, 410HLF and 810E. On the fence about which aggie cab, 1 vs 2, etc. and have spent hours reading all the great info on this forum. Though not quite ready to pull the trigger on a cab when I do I'll def be able to make an informed decision. So thanks to all for the great info and greetings from Texas!!!

Welcome. Lighten up time eh? ;p

The TH500 into the Ampeg 810 is fantastic btw.

[Saluki]

Slight derail on the eden stuff, but owned and loved a 405. Was thinking of picking up a Eden WTDI that could run through my STM900 bypassing the pre for different tone. Sure the same could be done for the TH500 as well. Not sure on the reliability, but for $135 probably worth a try.

[ceerod]

Originally Posted by rodl2005

Welcome. Lighten up time eh? ;p

The TH500 into the Ampeg 810 is fantastic btw.

Yep absolutely, my SVT-CL is easily 100lbs with its ATA case. The TH500 sounds soo good and is soo portable I honestly I haven't used the CL since I bought it.

Tested the TH500 at Sam Ash into a DB410 and then into (2)SL112's, I've been disappointed with my Ampeg cabs ever since.

[SpinyNorman]

Originally Posted by ceerod

Yep absolutely, my SVT-CL is easily 100lbs with its ATA case. The TH500 sounds soo good and is soo portable I honestly I haven't used the CL since I bought it.

Tested the TH500 at Sam Ash into a DB410 and then into (2)SL112's, I've been disappointed with my Ampeg cabs ever since.

I hear you. I got a TH500 a few weeks back, and my SVT-CL and 610HLF are probably going to go up on Craigslist in a week or so.

[GRoberts]

Originally Posted by SpinyNorman

I hear you. I got a TH500 a few weeks back, and my SVT-CL and 610HLF are probably going to go up on Craigslist in a week or so.

What cabs are you preferring with your TH500?

[SpinyNorman]

Originally Posted by GRoberts

What cabs are you preferring with your TH500?

I've been using a pair of Genz Benz Focus 112's for the past few weeks. After living with a full Hartke stack (HA3500/410XL/115XL), and the Ampeg SVT, I'm just starting on the mini-stack hobby.

I just snagged an Aguilar DB 112 on Amazon earlier today, and I'll likely pick up the matching DB 112NT if I like it.

Down the road, the Baer ML112, Bergantino HD112 (or HT112ER), G&K Neo 112, Avatar SB112, and Mesa PH 112 are likely candidates.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by SpinyNorman

I've been using a pair of Genz Benz Focus 112's for the past few weeks. After living with a full Hartke stack (HA3500/410XL/115XL), and the Ampeg SVT, I'm just starting on the mini-stack hobby.

I just snagged an Aguilar DB 112 on Amazon earlier today, and I'll likely pick up the matching DB 112NT if I like it.

Down the road, the Baer ML112, Bergantino HD112 (or HT112ER), G&K Neo 112, Avatar SB112, and Mesa PH 112 are likely candidates.

IMO, you will LOVE that DB112/nt stack with that head The HD112 is killer also. Don't like the HT112ER matchup as much due to that very hi fi, crystal clean, extended top end, which the TH500 is NOT about IMO and IME.