Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 or TC Electronics Classic 450?

LedBelli Bass · #1 06-27-2011, 09:56 PM

Decision time . . .

I'm sorry if a thread of this topic is already out there . . . but what are opinions pro or con?

Aggie TH 500?

TC Classic 450?

GK MB series heads? <---- the ones I've played have impressed me with their tone, but I don't like supporting China . . .

Price wise, they are all in the same ballpark

John Wentzien · #2 06-27-2011, 09:57 PM

I vote for TC.........GREAT amps!

masturbasser · #3 06-27-2011, 11:13 PM

I'm buying the TC Classic 450 next week. Proaudiostar has them b-stock for $500 and brand new for $550. The spectracomp is what sold me. It's the first amp with built in compression people say is actually good.

Daniel Piper · #4 06-27-2011, 11:34 PM

Tonally they are significantly different. The classic is very tenaciously voiced with that 200hz shelved bass control and 5khz roll off. So, in effect no deep deep lows, and no zingy highs at all. the tone hammer is wide with deep lows and zingy highs (if you want them). Don't forget that the TH also has one parametric mid control vs the set high and low mids of the classic.

I own the classic and love it. It really has so much detail In it's chewy punchy mid range. But, as a 5 string player, it doesn't have a lot of love to give that low b. Does the b sound great? Yes, but not in a disemboweling way- more in a chest thumping way.

I use a tone hammer preamp to help widen the voicing of the classic sometimes.

Daniel Piper · #5 06-27-2011, 11:37 PM

I love the sound of the tc range with basses that have a lot of treble eg. Musicman basses. The 5k low pass makes the treble of these basses sweeter, while they in turn help to stretch the 'limited' voice of the tc preamp. IMO.

You can't go wrong with either I think.

JimmyM · #6 06-27-2011, 11:44 PM

Supporting China...LOL! What did Chinese people ever do to you?

Daniel Piper · #7 06-27-2011, 11:49 PM

What style of music/ type of bass/ cabs etc etc.

thereturnfc · #8 06-28-2011, 01:00 AM

Get rh450 ... U might like it more since price droped very closely to classic450

FrenchBassQC · #9 01-21-2012, 10:18 PM

I just bought a TC Classic and a Bergantino HT112 to go with from 2 different TB'ers and can wait to hear the greatness that will come from this combination and that will be my backup rig ... can't wait to hear the two together.

gillento · #10 01-21-2012, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Piper

... the tone hammer is wide with deep lows and zingy highs ....

zingy highs?
That's the about the only thing the TH500 doesn't do!

afroman · #11 01-21-2012, 10:53 PM

I own both and they are a bit different. Both are compact, loud and punchy/warm.

The TC has a low and high-end roll-off built it, so as it has beeb said it doesnt give you a lot tonewise in both ends of the spectrum. It does provide a sort of ampegish simulated tone in a lighter package. In disagreement with a lot of TB comments, I love the high quality compressor on the TC. IME it balances the sound/volume while enhancing and brightening up to overall tone. If you want a brighter or wider tone, then the TC is not fpr you. Go try a GenzBenz, Markbass or the GK micros.

The TH500 is still THE one micro amp that has really impressed me. The EQ is perfect and the semi parametric mids really brings the amp to the forefront in comparison with others. The drive circuit enables a range of subtle grit to overdriven tones. It still has a vintage inspired warm tone with not a lot of really bright tones available. Nonetheless it is capable of a variety of sounds not capable with the TC.

In the end I think both amps are great. I own both and plan to keep them. Dont hate on the non-USA products. But if that is a deal-breaker, then the Aguilar th500 is made right there on their NYC offices.

Hope this helped somewhat.

**johnsonabq** · #12 02-28-2012, 09:33 AM

+1 on the RH450 instead of the Classic.

**nostatic** · #13 02-28-2012, 10:05 AM

Made in NYC vs made in Thailand

Support in NYC vs EU (and highly variable)

TH500 is a more "even" amp (for lack of a better term), and is plenty mid-focused which I prefer. Ymmv.

Munjibunga · #14 02-28-2012, 11:56 AM

Skip them both and get a GK MB800. It does everything either one will do, and much more. (I have a TH500, and it's very good, too. I'd gig it.)

bongomania · #15 02-28-2012, 12:34 PM

+1 for the GK MB series, I'm really impressed by the performance of mine, and the fact that it was quite inexpensive makes it a no-brainer.

Second choice the Aggie. Both GK and Aggie have decent customer service.

TCE has given me some frikken terrible CS, so their amp is not even in third place for me.