how loud do you play your DB750/DB751?

EscapeNote · #1 05-10-2011, 01:59 PM

Just curious: for those of you who play through Aguilar DB750 or DB751 amps, what is the loudest you've ever run the master volume?

I owned one for a couple of years - still the best sounding amp I've played through. But it had WAY more volume than I could have ever imagined needing. I never ran the master past 2 /12 (with Gain optimized for my bass level) and I used it with quite a variety of cabs.

I understand the concept of 'headroom'. But for me that amounted to 'the other 70% of the Master Volume', a range I never got to. (Actually there was one time - during a soundcheck in a 10,000 seat auditorium, when I was alone on stage, I turned it up to 4 just to see what it would feel like. The FOH guy got REALLY nervous, came running to the stage - I assured him that I was only testing it and that I wouldn't play that loud in performance (which I didn't) and so turned the master back down to 2.

Factoring the considerable weight of the amp and the enormous headroom that I'd never use - even on some pretty big stages - I sold mine a couple of years ago. But I've yet to see anything on the market that offers a comparable tone in a lower weight/power class.

Does anyone out there turn the master on this amp past 2, 3 or 4 on a regular basis in performance situations?

negative theory · #2 05-10-2011, 02:01 PM

I used to run mine at noon. That was pretty cool. These days I run right around 9:00 - 10:00, depending on the room, PA and how loud the drummer is hitting that night.

I tried to get away from this amp, but nothing else sounded like this amp. I would rather have more power than I need and have the sound that I want than just about anything else.

allexcosta · #3 05-10-2011, 02:31 PM

A volume knob at 2.5 is just fine...

You can always carry less cabs...

thisSNsucks · #4 05-10-2011, 09:30 PM

I pretty much run everything on my DB751 at 12 o'clock.

EscapeNote · #5 05-11-2011, 01:56 AM

Negative theory - what kind of cabs were you using when you ran yours at noon? (I am assuming master volume at noon and input volume optimized for your bass, yes?).

thisSNsucks - same question.

In my experience the DB750 or 751, with any reasonable combination of speakers (2x10, 4x10, 2x12) would have been INCREDIBLY loud at 'noon' or 6 on the master volume, assuming that you had the input optimized. Are you guys really playing that loud in performance situations? (Please don't think I'm being judgmental - not at all. I really want to know - to challenge my own current perspective...) My stage volume has decreased over the years but I remember well a period when I ran "hot" (hence the tinnitus in my ears - but that's another post for another time!).

Are you guys really playing that loud on a regular basis?

gillento · #6 05-11-2011, 06:26 AM

I've had the same experience as you with the db750.

Try the Genz Benz Streamliner 600! Similar tone (no kidding!!!) in a much lighter package.
The taper on the SL600's master pot is laid out sou you can use all the way and don't need to fiddle on the fist quarter to get a manageable volume level.

thisSNsucks · #7 05-11-2011, 06:48 AM

Well I run the gain at 12 even though I could definitely turn it up. I've never clipped the amp before even with the gain turned all the way up. I just notice that on the 751 the higher you run the gain, the woolier it gets. With the gain set at 12 I dig the tone so thats where I leave it.

I play through 2 GS112's and have to compete with a hard hitting drummer and two overdriven guitars playing through all tube 4x12 half stacks so yes, I have to be loud.

negative theory · #8 05-11-2011, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EscapeNote

Negative theory - what kind of cabs were you using when you ran yours at noon? (I am assuming master volume at noon and input volume optimized for your bass, yes?).

Oh, sorry. I was originally running an Aguilar GS 410 when I ran the master at noon. The gain knob was around noon as well, probably a hair past that. I'm currently using a Bergantino NV610 and noon is super loud.

As for your last question, yes. I play that loud all the time. I get nothing but compliments on the sound and hardly ever get asked to turn down.

babebambi · #9 05-11-2011, 12:57 PM

The loudest I've set my DB751 was master at noon.
Well, gain and EQ pretty much around noon too, no deep, no bright.
Through 4x 115, to cover a small outdoor festival type gig, no PA for bass.

That was the happiest my DB751 has ever been

EricF · #10 05-11-2011, 02:10 PM

How much of the DB750's potential volume I'm not using has never been a concern. I LOVE the sound that comes from the cabs (my fav is the DB115), and that's all that really matters to me.

LouisV · #11 05-11-2011, 02:32 PM

I agree with EricF. It doesn't matter to me what I'm not using (but, I am happy to know it's there!) I just love the way my DB750 sounds. I've used it with AccuGroove Tri 112L, Aguilar GS112, GS210, Ampeg 410, and an SWR 115. Never had to turn it up past 2.5, unless I wanted to frighten someone: "It can get THIS loud."

Lex P. · #12 05-11-2011, 08:12 PM

Gain at 11, Master around 9 -10 with two Bergantino HS210's. The places I play VFW's, Legions, Bowling Alleys are always asking us to turn down.

I've had this head for over 14 months now. Longest I've gone in years with out GASing around. I don't care if it's a bit heavy it sounds so d*mn good with my Fender P-Bass.

It's not like I'm carrying it in a marathon, it's usually hauled in a cart except to load it from the basement to the truck and back. No biggy!

EscapeNote · #13 05-11-2011, 08:54 PM

Hey thanks all for the responses! It sounds like this amp really opens up at around noon on the dial. In the musical contexts that I am usually in I could never get away with that, but I'm sure it must be fun for those of you who can...

Negative Theory, I'll bet that combination of the DB750 and the Berg NV610 is pretty awesome!

I would still very much like to see Aguilar come out with something along the same design principle - a hybrid amp, tube pre and mosfet power - that's perhaps half the weight and power. Many other amp makers are doing this; I think Aguilar could do it BETTER.

Gillento, thanks for the suggestion. I played a Genz GBE 750 for awhile, thought it had a lot of punch but really didn't like the EQ and the tendency toward harshness up top (the DB750 still has the sweetest top end of any amp I've every played through). I hear the the Streamliner is a different beast though, so I'll keep an open mind and make time to audition one.

Munjibunga · #14 05-11-2011, 08:59 PM

As loud as I FEEL like playing it. GOSH!

EscapeNote · #15 05-11-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

As loud as I FEEL like playing it. GOSH!

LOL!