Should I trade my Ampeg SVT 450H for a Aguilar AG 500

tdub0199 · #1 01-31-2011, 10:16 AM

I'm just not liking what I can get out of the SVT 450H and have a guy willing to trade me a Aguilar AG 500 for it, I have been looking at either a Gallien Krueger 700RB II or a 1001RB II, would the Aguilar tone come close to the well known tone of the Gallien Krueger RB series heads? Thanks in advance!!!!

rockstarbassist · #2 01-31-2011, 10:27 AM

I'd do that trade all day long.
The Aguilar sounds pretty un-G-K like. It's very fat and big and punchy, tho. Not as top-end grindy as the G-K's. Which isn't bad/worse, just informing. Still I'd do that trade in a heartbeat.

Arranger · #3 01-31-2011, 10:55 AM

Yes, do the trade and you'll start to learn what you're looking for in an amp. That's a good trade and the sound will be very different. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to try the AG first!

What are you missing in the Ampeg sound?

tdub0199 · #4 01-31-2011, 11:04 AM

Thanks guys!!!! Yeah I know that I'm def. not a tube guy....

Alex1984 · #5 01-31-2011, 03:06 PM

I'd definitely do the AG trade. GKs sounded slightly too grindy to me.

kosmicwizard · #6 01-31-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdub0199

Thanks guys!!!! Yeah I know that I'm def. not a tube guy....

Funny thing is your Ampeg SVT 450H is an SS head made to look like a SVT. So while you may say I am not a fan of the SVT 450H I don't think you should assume that you know what an Ampeg is supposed to sound like or any tube amp general. That said, I would trade for the Aggie, everyone has different tonal goals and nothing bad will ever come from trying out different amps and deciding what is closest to the sound you hear in your head. Cheers.

big evil robot · #7 01-31-2011, 04:07 PM

Short answer: Yes

Slightly less short answer: Hell yes.

I had the 450h in it's previous incarnation the 350, and it does have fairly good tone, but it lacks in power. The AG500 will blow it away, and it's a lighter amp to pack around.

Is the trade for the single channel version of the AG500 or the dual channel?

BassBob1 · #8 01-31-2011, 04:34 PM

yes

i am a fan of ampeg which is my current rig (svt 7pro and 410hlf) and with that said i would probably offer my 7 pro for the AG and i love the 7 pro. My only problem with my 7 pro is that its not an all tube svt which i know at some point i want. I'm not a fan of GK heads, just not my sound. I have heard some great sounds from other players thru an AG.

So yeah. go for it.

naturalkinds · #9 01-31-2011, 04:35 PM

You would make us all very disappointed in you if you didn't accept that trade offer.

Calaverasgrande · #10 01-31-2011, 04:41 PM

I had one of the previous iterations of that Ampeg and it really should not have SVT written any place on it. It sounded nothing like an SVT. The Aggie is a super amp and that is an umcommonly good trade. I would palm the guy a $50 on the way out if its a straight trade!
If you dont like the GK sound or the Aggie sound I would next try a Mesa M6 or M9.

blastjv · #11 01-31-2011, 04:46 PM

The AG500 is a fantastic amp.

The only point against you making that trade is that if you describe yourself as "definitely not a tube guy" the AG500 is often regarded as a very 'tubey' sounding solid state amp.

Of course, if you make the trade and don't like it, you could probably sell it and buy 2 of the Ampeg 450's.....

-John

**jmattbassplaya** · #12 01-31-2011, 06:24 PM

The 450 isn't a tube head, but a solid state made to look like a real SVT. They aren't bad, but the AG500 is just that much better of a head. I'd do the trade in a heartbeat.