• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New Aguilar AGRO (w/Pics and Clips)

chrisrhoads

chrisrhoads

Jun 5, 2006
142
0
Seattle, WA / Los Angeles, CA.
www.wearetherhoads.com
#1
Well thanks to the wonderful people at Aguilar (Mike Zat, David Avenius, and Dave Boonshoft). Fedex showed up at my door this morning with my AGRO. Figured that this thread would be worthless without pictures and some sound clips so I thought I would document my experience.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Ok let me start by saying the AGRO is light. Maybe a little over 1lb. I could see someone wanting to rack mount it, but it is so small and light, it might be better served just being kept outside and set on top of your setup. The AGRO came with power supply, the external footswitch, and the usual Aguilar Documentation. I plugged it into my DB750 through instrument out of the AGRO straight into the preamp of the DB750. Very versite tones, that added even more options to the DB750s tonal palet. I tested it with the GS410 and the DB410. But for now I am going to keep my oppinions and ideas on where it works best very short and sweet. That is until I have really gotten the opportunity to tweak and play with all the possible set ups and options, (home/studio/live etc).



For the following recordings I bypassed all my outboard gear and went straight from the AGRO into Protools. I recorded with a Valenti Jazz with Nordstrand NJ4 single Coils, all controls on the bass set flat. Due to time restraints I left all the controls on the AGRO straight up at 12 oclock, and only messed with saturation and master volume.

*there is a slight hum that is audible on the tracks with higher saturation that is caused from bad power in my appartment. Sadly the only outlet by my DIGI002 always has this effect on any gear plugged into it.*

AGRO saturation at 7oclock (aka off)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

AGRO Deep Switch Endabled Saturation at 7oclock
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

AGRO Satruation at 9oclock (this resembled a slight overdriven tube warmth, that could really be controlled based on your finger attack.)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

AGRO Saturation at 11:30oclock (right around noon was where I would really start to hear the AGRO kick in. True overdrive that sounded quite sassy but not too over the top. Curious to see how this sits in a mix in a fullband setting when needed.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

AGRO Saturation at 3oclock (this is just getting gnarly by this point, although you still do have some control based on your touch at this setting)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Full AGRO Saturation (Thus why they call it the AGRO)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#9
Nice! Sounds really good!

On the AG500 I thought the dirty channel didn't have enough low end EQ range since its such a dry sounding head ... so the AGRO with a bigger, fatter amp seems like it'd be pretty sick.
 
#12
7 knobs and a switch. Why in the world did they not just put it in a pedal? I mean, even something the size of a GK Diesel Dawg...

I could see if they wanted to make it a full rack size, with a DI out...That would be more like a Sansamp RBI/RPM.

But seriously, 2 inputs, 2 outputs, and 7 knobs. Sounds good, but IMHO there are pedals and rack units that sound better and are cheaper. Pick one or the other...
 
#13
Just got mine ... so far it seems like it kills! Going to give my barge blended setup a run for its money. My blended guitar pedals setup sounds insane through an amp, but direct has some HF scuzz that they're counting on a 12" guitar speaker to sort out.

Jamming the AGRO on headphones, it does not seem to have the same problem. The AGRO will do a tube screamer sound, it'll do an insane idealized big muff, it'll do a touch o' grind sound. Super versatile. For revision 2 I'd like to see a two button footswitch for switching between two saturation levels and a front panel instrument level out. As it is I think I'll just drill a hole in one of the rack ears to run the inst. out to the front of my amp or ...

... I should have DB900 in a couple days ... if this sounds the way I think it will sound I may have the ultimate practical (short of two amps with lots of mics) live distortion rig on my hands. Bass->AGRO->DB900->Amp/PA.

Bypassed sound is very nice too! Its got some gain on it, and sounds a lot like the AG500 did flat (surprise surprise)... which would please lots of passive bass guys.

Another great thing is that going passive to active doesn't mess with the distortion sound!

Killer little box.
 
#14
This thing is such a tweakers delight. I just found a great low gain pickstyle grind setting. Contour about 10PM, deep on, presence maxxed, bit of a mid cut. Try Faith No More "I won't forget you" like that ...
 
#19
I have a few songs in my current band that call for distortion. It is a bummer that there's no DI though...so I'm thinking I might go MXR M-80 instead. Any idea how these distortions compare? I've been unable to find M-80 soundclips. I do know the Agro sounds great on the clips I've heard though.
 
#20
Dude, try it with a DB900. Or use it as a line level effects box into a tube pre, then take a DI off that. The clean setting has no EQ, so I don't understand why you'd want a DI on this box (since its not really a bass pre).

The distortion smokes everything else I've tried, and it has tons of tone shaping that will get all kinds of different grind colors.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back