Aguilar Tone Hammer as preamp

melodicly · #1 03-20-2010, 09:53 PM

Getting very tired of my RBI and as much as I have looked around I can't find a Tone Hammer to try out with my power amp. Is anybody using this as a preamp in front of a power amp? I really just want a simple clean pre to go with my active Pedulla and fEarful cabs, but can't afford $500+ for Demeter etc. I would go micro head for that price as I don't enjoy hauling a rack around, but it was the cheapest watts I could afford at the time. Really all I need is bass, sweepable mids of some sort and treb. Gain or some kind of drive and a compressor might be nice, but not required.

Any suggestions outside of the Tone Hammer are welcome. I have been looking for a used BBE of some sort or maybe even the Phil Jones Bass Buddy, but again none around here to try out.

Swift713 · #2 03-20-2010, 09:58 PM

I love my Bassbuddy but the Tone Hammer looks nice too. The clips on their site sound great.

melodicly · #3 03-20-2010, 10:09 PM

do you use it with a poweramp for gigs? I think it looks a bit nicer than TH as far tonal possibilities go.

MarshallLaw · #4 03-20-2010, 10:10 PM

VT bass!

::::BASSIST:::: · #5 03-20-2010, 10:18 PM

I've used both the bass buddy and VT bass with a poweramp. The BB is much better in dialing in rooms with graphic eq and the compressor is quite good, but I prefer the clean tone of the VT Bass by far. Much warmer and fatter. You could try the VT Bass with a 7 band graphic eq pedal and have pretty much the best of both worlds.

One thing though.... the bb does have a DI while the VT does not. I'd love to hear a TH. That ones on my shortlist.

melodicly · #6 03-20-2010, 10:36 PM

Isn't the VT just a pedal form of an RBI, more or less? I am looking for modern sounding punch and mids, not old school tube ampeg type tone. Really, I think I can get most of what I need out of my Pedulla pre just need a bit more eq for room control etc, but not looking to color the sound anymore.

::::BASSIST:::: · #7 03-20-2010, 10:49 PM

Yeah, the VT is ampegish for sure, but though vaguely similar to the BDDI in tone, it really does have its own thing going on IMO.

By your description the bass buddy would be perfect for you. Its very uncoloured, has a decent compressor and the graphic eq to add punch and room control.

The BB is also excellent as a personal practice/headphone amp... thats what I mainly use it for. It can even be used on its own for an acoustic vol level living room jam with its 10w at 8 ohms. About as loud as an acoustic piano depending on your cab. Should work well with the 15/6.

melodicly · #8 04-23-2010, 02:13 AM

Just a little update for future searches....

The tone hammer ROCKS before a power amp. Offers head room like I could never dream of with the RBI! Love it. Wouldn't mind having an RBI for recording that certain sound, but the TH records great as well. Not quite as warm as the RBI I would say. Still want to try a Bass buddy too, but now thinking of the Genz Benz 9.0. oh this g.a.s. hurts sometimes!

my $.02

BobaFret · #9 04-23-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melodicly

Just a little update for future searches....

The tone hammer ROCKS before a power amp. Offers head room like I could never dream of with the RBI! Love it. Wouldn't mind having an RBI for recording that certain sound, but the TH records great as well. Not quite as warm as the RBI I would say. Still want to try a Bass buddy too, but now thinking of the Genz Benz 9.0. oh this g.a.s. hurts sometimes!

my $.02

Good to hear. I'm waiting on a DCM1000 to arrive and will be pairing it with a TH.

Joshyswing · #10 04-23-2010, 09:14 AM

I had the Tone Hammer and used it as a pre going into my Bergantino IP cab and it sounded amazing. I also own the RBI and that too is a great pre. You can't go wrong with either one. The upside to the RBI is that you can get "tube" emulation with that blend knob.

Gearhead17 · #11 04-23-2010, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melodicly

Isn't the VT just a pedal form of an RBI, more or less? I am looking for modern sounding punch and mids, not old school tube ampeg type tone. Really, I think I can get most of what I need out of my Pedulla pre just need a bit more eq for room control etc, but not looking to color the sound anymore.

That sentence above smacked me in the face! The RBI has a natural midrange cut in it and is mostly the reason you probably cannot stand it. The VT bass brings in more midrange than the RBI, but it really is a tube rig emulator like the RBI. The RBI is warm sounding for sure, but the lack of punchy midrange really sucks. The RBI is not designed to give you your bass's inherent tone, it will change it drastically.

The Aguilar Tone Hammer will give you the midrange you are looking for and I highly suggest you go for it. After hearing the tone samples on the site, I almost bought one myself. The unit seems to leave most of your bass's natural tone on there - of course with a little Aguilar flavor, but not a lot. I did not buy the unit because I did not want to do the pre-amp power amp rig again. Go for the Tone Hammer!

testing1two · #12 04-23-2010, 01:39 PM

I use the Tone Hammer as a pre before my Bergantino IP rig and it's brilliant.

ric stave · #13 04-23-2010, 01:50 PM

I have read the TH has enough output to drive a power amp, and the new Bass Driver DI does too - is this true of the VT?

melodicly · #14 04-23-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

That sentence above smacked me in the face! The RBI has a natural midrange cut in it and is mostly the reason you probably cannot stand it. The VT bass brings in more midrange than the RBI, but it really is a tube rig emulator like the RBI. The RBI is warm sounding for sure, but the lack of punchy midrange really sucks. The RBI is not designed to give you your bass's inherent tone, it will change it drastically.

The Aguilar Tone Hammer will give you the midrange you are looking for and I highly suggest you go for it. After hearing the tone samples on the site, I almost bought one myself. The unit seems to leave most of your bass's natural tone on there - of course with a little Aguilar flavor, but not a lot. I did not buy the unit because I did not want to do the pre-amp power amp rig again. Go for the Tone Hammer!

Yeah, I basically inherited the RBI when my Peavey died. I went and bought power amp and just dealt with it till someone offered me a straight up trade. I haven't looked back really. I'm sure I will get the hang of recording with TH.

Just cause I think it looks cool here ya go....

melodicly · #15 04-23-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ric stave

I have read the TH has enough output to drive a power amp, and the new Bass Driver DI does too - is this true of the VT?

Never used it myself but a TON of people here do exactly that.

ethompson2 · #16 04-23-2010, 03:46 PM

I have an Aguilar tone hammer that I like A LOT... The eq on the TH is very transparent, with everything flat it sounds pretty much like your bass just direct with no preamp.

trjazzluva05 · #17 04-23-2010, 10:45 PM

Hey guys...I have asked it before but never got an answer, how exactly would I hook it up to a preamp???

melodicly · #18 04-24-2010, 06:19 AM

1/4" or xlr. My amp doesn't have an internal 'jumper' switch, so if I want 1 input to come out of both channels I have to use the xlr in and a 1/4" TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) jumper cable. If I just use 1 cab I just use the 1/4" input. They both work the same however. The problem with that set up is if I wanted to use both cabs and have a DI going to front of house. Not a huge deal though since my cabs are 8ohm and my amp will do a 4ohm load so I can just daisy chain the two cabs together off one channel. That means I am only getting 800w to both speakers as opposed to 1000w, but really with FOH support I can't ever imagine needing even 800w into 2 12/6s. 500w into 1 12/6 is dangerously loud.

melodicly · #19 04-24-2010, 06:25 AM

I just saw you have a WT550. It's the same thing as if you took the 1/4" out from your Tone Hammer and plugged it into your 550 FX return (and bass straight into TH). That is exactly the same as hooking it to a poweramp as you are just bypassing the pre of the 550.

How does the TH sound in front of the 550? I guess you were using it as an fx pedal right?

trjazzluva05 · #20 04-24-2010, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melodicly

I just saw you have a WT550. It's the same thing as if you took the 1/4" out from your Tone Hammer and plugged it into your 550 FX return (and bass straight into TH). That is exactly the same as hooking it to a poweramp as you are just bypassing the pre of the 550.

How does the TH sound in front of the 550? I guess you were using it as an fx pedal right?

Ok cool man i might have to try that at my gig tonight with my 550...never attempted it because i didnt want to possibly blow my cab. so i would just use my 1/4 output on my TH to the balanced XLR in put of a poweramp, right? and i could still use my DI on the TH for FOH???? Oh by the way, i love the sound of my TH i front on my pre on my 550. I use it as a second EQ and its distortion. it gives my the same uncolored tone flat when i engage it. then when i use the EQ on it, it gives me so much versatility, but still never strays away from my WT-550 tone unless i want to. It also gives me alot more headroom when used with my cabs so i can get loud volume without hitting my output limit. im also warming up to the AGS as well. never use distortion most of the time but when i do...its funky!!!!