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AG700 - Clipping like crazy!

#61
agedhorse said:
Hold on a minute, based on your comments I think you may be confusing clipping with something else.

On the Subway amps, the input clip LED is completely independent of the master volume control, turning the master up has no effect on input clipping.

The yellow LED in the master section is not a clip LED, it’s an indication that the output is being driven hard enough to cross the threshold into the output tube overdrive emulation limiter. This is not clipping, and can flash on ~25% of the time and be perfectly fine.

I don’t know why you think either amp is clipping (or clipping like crazy), perhaps let us know what makes you think this is the case?
Click to expand...

i can assure you, I know what clipping is. In reference to the AG700 I am talking about red light, nasty distorted clipping.

I only spent one 45min set with the Mesa, and can’t remember which light it was - but I only did it to test my theory. Unlike the Aguilar, I didn’t see the light go on once during my set, and it only had one small 1 speaker cab.

Now that I know the difference in the lights, I’d go as far as to say the Mesa is a much more powerful and more smartly-designed amp than the AG700, even though it wasn’t my cup of tea sonically.
 
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#62
CatDaddyOTB said:
i can assure you, I know what clipping is. In reference to the AG700 I am talking about red light, nasty distorted clipping.

I only spent one 45min set with the Mesa, and can’t remember which light it was - but I only did it to test my theory. Unlike the Aguilar, I didn’t see the light go on once during my set, and it only had one small 1 speaker cab.

Now that I know the difference in the lights, I’d go as far as to say the Mesa is a much more powerful and more smartly-designed amp than the AG700, even though it wasn’t my cup of tea sonically.
Click to expand...
I am learning alot in regards to "clipping", like "Pavlov's dog" I am associating that red light (or blue light on the AG) with the "cutting out" I experienced; everytime that blue light went crazy it "cut out". Thanks for the information! The Mesa sounds like a better amp. Period. Thank you for this insight. Let me ask you, if your tone isn't the AG or the Mesa, have you tried an Orange OB1-500? Thanks again for sharing your experience! -Bill
 
#63
Lemur Bassman said:
I am learning alot in regards to "clipping", like "Pavlov's dog" I am associating that red light (or blue light on the AG) with the "cutting out" I experienced; everytime that blue light went crazy it "cut out". Thanks for the information! The Mesa sounds like a better amp. Period. Thank you for this insight. Let me ask you, if your tone isn't the AG or the Mesa, have you tried an Orange OB1-500? Thanks again for sharing your experience! -Bill
Click to expand...

Hey Bill!!

the shame of it is that I actually love the sound of the AG700, but it just didn’t meet my gigging needs. I still have my old AG500SC with which I haven’t had any of the same issues.

however, many do not share my experience and love the AG700! Which is great.

I have played a few Orange amps - I play in a psych-rock band where I typically go between a P with flats & Moog bass, and I love the Orange sound for that. Most of the rest of the time you’ll find me playing active J basses, which is when I desire something a bit tighter/cleaner.
 
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#64
Lemur Bassman said:
I am learning alot in regards to "clipping", like "Pavlov's dog" I am associating that red light (or blue light on the AG) with the "cutting out" I experienced; everytime that blue light went crazy it "cut out". Thanks for the information! The Mesa sounds like a better amp. Period. Thank you for this insight. Let me ask you, if your tone isn't the AG or the Mesa, have you tried an Orange OB1-500? Thanks again for sharing your experience! -Bill
Click to expand...
Cutting out is unrelated to clipping. Perhaps (as in almost certainly) there was another cause for the amp cutting out?
 
#65
CatDaddyOTB said:
i can assure you, I know what clipping is. In reference to the AG700 I am talking about red light, nasty distorted clipping.

I only spent one 45min set with the Mesa, and can’t remember which light it was - but I only did it to test my theory. Unlike the Aguilar, I didn’t see the light go on once during my set, and it only had one small 1 speaker cab.

Now that I know the difference in the lights, I’d go as far as to say the Mesa is a much more powerful and more smartly-designed amp than the AG700, even though it wasn’t my cup of tea sonically.
Click to expand...
Ok, if the clip light turns red on the AG700, turn the input gain down until it stops flashing. This is covered in the owner’s manual on page 4.
 
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#67
agedhorse said:
Cutting out is unrelated to clipping. Perhaps (as in almost certainly) there was another cause for the amp cutting out?
Click to expand...

Personally, I am am not 100% sure. The TH700 and the AG700 were on top of each other in the corner of the shop sitting on top of a pair of Aguilar cabs. See there video (not me playing):

The bummer is that in this video the person never plays the AG700. When I went in, I played both and the TH700 didn't cut out but the AG700 did. Now, the gain was on 10 or 11 o'clock, BUT, the AG700 has deep and bright buttons too. For me, I pushed them both in to get my sound. I played them both on the same day with the same bass and instrument cable. So, in this instance it is difficult for me to say it was the cable or bass or ? I played them one right after the other and the TH700 worked fine with the exact same set-up. So, again I am leery about the AG700. And because of this "bad" or perhaps "enlightening" experience I am 99% sure I will not go with Aguilar. That is why I am moving in the Mesa/Boogie Subway direction. Unfortunately, the closest guitar shop(s) to me do not stock the Mesa's to try. For me, and correct me if I'm wrong, but they sound on the "bright" and midrangey side and for blues-rock with a little bite (early Grand Funk, Humble Pie, early Zeppelin, early Allman Brothers, you get the picture) I am not sure if it will cut it. I hate to order it, try it, and then have to send it back. But, I might have to if that's the only option. Thank you! -Bill
 
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#68
Lemur Bassman said:
Personally, I am am not 100% sure. The TH700 and the AG700 were on top of each other in the corner of the shop sitting on top of a pair of Aguilar cabs. See there video (not me playing):

The bummer is that in this video the person never plays the AG700. When I went in, I played both and the TH700 didn't cut out but the AG700 did. Now, the gain was on 10 or 11 o'clock, BUT, the AG700 has deep and bright buttons too. For me, I pushed them both in to get my sound. I played them both on the same day with the same bass and instrument cable. So, in this instance it is difficult for me to say it was the cable or bass or ? I played them one right after the other and the TH700 worked fine with the exact same set-up. So, again I am leery about the AG700. And because of this "bad" or perhaps "enlightening" experience I am 99% sure I will not go with Aguilar. That is why I am moving in the Mesa/Boogie Subway direction. Unfortunately, the closest guitar shop(s) to me do not stock the Mesa's to try. For me, and correct me if I'm wrong, but they sound on the "bright" and midrangey side and for blues-rock with a little bite (early Grand Funk, Humble Pie, early Zeppelin, early Allman Brothers, you get the picture) I am not sure if it will cut it. I hate to order it, try it, and then have to send it back. But, I might have to if that's the only option. Thank you! -Bill
Click to expand...

Did you swap the cable from the one amp to the other? There's something more going on I think, I have not heard of this as an issue with any Aguilar amps.

The tone of the Subway amps are whatever you set the amp up for, they have a wide range of tonal profiles available. You might download the owner's manual(s) and read through the operating descriptions to see if one might be a better choice for you than another. My first thought would be that the simpler D-800 might be the best choice.
 
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#71
agedhorse said:
Did you swap the cable from the one amp to the other? There's something more going on I think, I have not heard of this as an issue with any Aguilar amps.

The tone of the Subway amps are whatever you set the amp up for, they have a wide range of tonal profiles available. You might download the owner's manual(s) and read through the operating descriptions to see if one might be a better choice for you than another. My first thought would be that the simpler D-800 might be the best choice.
Click to expand...
I used all the same cables when trying out those Aguilars. Same day, same everything. That's my reservation. D-800? Thank YOU for this tip, this is what I was looking for and I appreciate you taking the time to respond, it's very helpful and I am thankful for it -Bill
 
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#72
CatDaddyOTB said:
my issue was really around the fact that you can set your gain appropriately, turn up the master, and now you are clipping. because of this I found the amp running out gas in situations where the AG500SC did not.

hope this makes more sense : )
Click to expand...

Yes, thanks for clarifying.

It’s likely that in this case, the clip LED detector circuit is monitoring multiple points in the signal path, including post master volume.

Monitoring multiple points pre-master is common, but using a separate LED post master is is the most common (by far) way to monitor post master and power amp limits.
 
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#73
Lemur Bassman said:
I am learning alot in regards to "clipping", like "Pavlov's dog" I am associating that red light (or blue light on the AG) with the "cutting out" I experienced; everytime that blue light went crazy it "cut out". Thanks for the information! The Mesa sounds like a better amp. Period. Thank you for this insight. Let me ask you, if your tone isn't the AG or the Mesa, have you tried an Orange OB1-500? Thanks again for sharing your experience! -Bill
Click to expand...
The Subway D800+ is a killer amp. I like the added EQ options over the D800. I think you'd be able to get that slightly gritty, bluesy, rock tone you're going for. Getting a little overdrive on the input stage sounds great to my ears.

Look for a used one. Sell it if it's not for you and get your money back on it.
 
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#75
Hi

I have an aguiliar ag700 amp head that is working fine apart from when I am using it at high volumes- it seems to run into clipping (clip light flashes) really easily. Ive tested it out with a passive jazz bass, all tone controls set flat- with the gain set to 12:00 and I can only get the master volume to 12:00 before the clip light comes on constantly. The clip light seems to be responding to the master volume level although the manual says that the clip light should indicate the preamp is clipping. Obviously I can turn the input gain down or use the -10db pad but to get the same output volume I have to increase the master volume which results in the clip light coming on again.

Is this correct operation- ie the clip light responding to the level of the master output? Im using a barefaced big baby 2 (8 ohms) but the clipping behaviour is the same with no cab connected. I have nothing else connected in this scenario- just bass- cable amp.

Ive also emailed Aguilar support too.

Thanks

Phil
 
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#76
ceeprm said:
Hi

I have an aguiliar ag700 amp head that is working fine apart from when I am using it at high volumes- it seems to run into clipping (clip light flashes) really easily. Ive tested it out with a passive jazz bass, all tone controls set flat- with the gain set to 12:00 and I can only get the master volume to 12:00 before the clip light comes on constantly. The clip light seems to be responding to the master volume level although the manual says that the clip light should indicate the preamp is clipping. Obviously I can turn the input gain down or use the -10db pad but to get the same output volume I have to increase the master volume which results in the clip light coming on again.

Is this correct operation- ie the clip light responding to the level of the master output? Im using a barefaced big baby 2 (8 ohms) but the clipping behaviour is the same with no cab connected. I have nothing else connected in this scenario- just bass- cable amp.

Ive also emailed Aguilar support too.

Thanks

Phil
Click to expand...

Hey Phil, this is my exact issue with this amp. So many people love it and it just didn't work for me. I don't see the point of having an extra 200W if you can't even turn it up. I am hanging on to an old AG500SC because you can set the gain, and then turn the master up to where you need it. That's how it SHOULD work!!

I too reached out to Aguilar support, weeks went by and I finally got back an extremely unhelpful generic answer. It's a shame because it is a great sounding amp! The only solution that worked was more speakers, but that means more gear, more back ache.

I ended up letting this amp go. I now have an EICH T1000 which I am loving so far!

Hope you can figure something out. Best of luck!!
-CD
 
#77
ceeprm said:
Hi

I have an aguiliar ag700 amp head that is working fine apart from when I am using it at high volumes- it seems to run into clipping (clip light flashes) really easily. Ive tested it out with a passive jazz bass, all tone controls set flat- with the gain set to 12:00 and I can only get the master volume to 12:00 before the clip light comes on constantly. The clip light seems to be responding to the master volume level although the manual says that the clip light should indicate the preamp is clipping. Obviously I can turn the input gain down or use the -10db pad but to get the same output volume I have to increase the master volume which results in the clip light coming on again.

Is this correct operation- ie the clip light responding to the level of the master output? Im using a barefaced big baby 2 (8 ohms) but the clipping behaviour is the same with no cab connected. I have nothing else connected in this scenario- just bass- cable amp.

Ive also emailed Aguilar support too.

Thanks

Phil
Click to expand...
Let us know what Aguilar says. This is an unusual implementation of the feature and doesn’t match up with what’s in the owner’s manual.
 
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#78
Will do- can anyone else confirm that it is the master level that determines if the clip light comes on or not?
My amp is turn the master up too much = clipping, turn down = no clipping.

Its weird as this isn't how its described in the manual- any other amp I've used you just set the input gain so there's headroom before clipping and you're good to go!
The amp does sound great though.
 
#79
CatDaddyOTB said:
Hey Phil, this is my exact issue with this amp. So many people love it and it just didn't work for me. I don't see the point of having an extra 200W if you can't even turn it up. I am hanging on to an old AG500SC because you can set the gain, and then turn the master up to where you need it. That's how it SHOULD work!!

I too reached out to Aguilar support, weeks went by and I finally got back an extremely unhelpful generic answer. It's a shame because it is a great sounding amp! The only solution that worked was more speakers, but that means more gear, more back ache.

I ended up letting this amp go. I now have an EICH T1000 which I am loving so far!

Hope you can figure something out. Best of luck!!
-CD
Click to expand...

Thanks! Still waiting for a response- will have to check out the EICH. Is fairly clean with decent headroom?
 

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