Aguilar AG700 Vs. Mesa D800+ need feedback

Never played an AG700, but the fan on my D800+ is dead quiet.

 

You might want to email Aguilar about that. Especially since it’s used, it might be an issue with the amp. Most modern amps have a sensor that tells the fan to go on only when it needs to, and if you’re playing so soft that the fan is louder than the actual output, that sounds suspicious. How long do you have to return it?

 

When I owned an AG700, I found the fan to be on almost from the get-go, too. I would have preferred a silent fan operation, and I even called the company to inquire, and they noted that it was part of the design to ensure it could safely operate. Given a choice, I really prefer quieter fans for home-recording. Now. if the tone is significantly more suited to my style, I'd be willing to make an exception. But, glad you will be able to at least compare the AG700 to the D800+. The subway series amps I've tried are very quiet, and when the fans do come on, I find them to be rather mild overall. The AG700 is a nice amp: very powerful, full sounding, perhaps less "give" than the tube emulation in the Subway amps. But, it has a nice tone. Very curious to hear your thoughts after comparing them both, though they both have their merits, and may suit different players/styles accordingly of course.

 

Good synopsis based on my own observations of those two heads.

 

Keep in mind with the Mesa D series amps -- the knobs are useful across their entire range. Some amps you get the gain up to 1 o'clock and the rest is just dialing in how much worse you want to sound. You turn the master past 1 o'clock to increase your chance of damaging your speakers without increasing the volume. You turn the EQ past 2 o'clock and it starts to distort. etc. so when you're A/B'ing these heads, play with the knobs on the Mesa more extremely than seems intuitive based on how most other amps work. my 2 cents.

 

Nice review, the points you found favorable are things that were on the TB community's most often cited list of important features.

 

I tried them both and picked this;

Gorilla GB30 Bass Guitar Amp | eBay

 

I’ve owned both Otto And the fan on the Aguilar is louder than the one in the Mesa. I didn’t find the fan on the Aguilar that bothering though but I suspect in a church or maybe a theater setting (where there are frequently moments of silence) it would be audible. I’ve owned the Mesa D800+ and currently own the WD-800 and I had to literally feel for air flow through the vents to make sure that the fan was working. Very quiet.

 

First, I thought your review was very well written, It also matched my own experience playing the AG. As for the deep switch, I found it a bit overwhelming too and couldn't understand why as the bright switch seemed a little more useful.

After playing it I noticed in the specs that the deep switch provides 6 dB boost staring at 250 HZ. I wonder if this broad low-mid and low boost might require some EQ trimming to get in reined-in, but didn't have an opportunity to go back and try it out again.

I came away with the impression that Aguilar was going for a more direct competitor (than the TH) to the GK and Mesa heads while still retaining some of their signature tone. I got the sense it would work well in rock or modern country band, but didn't quite have the versatility/subtlety designed into the SW heads.

 

The key to dialing in the Deep switch is utilizing the High Pass Filter. Engage the Deep switch, then crank up the HPF to fine tune out any boominess.

 

I could be wrong, but I don't remember the AG700 having a variable HPF, although an external one would be perfect for what you suggested.

The 800+/WD/TT all do and it is great for tone shaping when beefing up the low end. Additionally I think the Mesa deep implementation is a little more musically tailored (at least to my ear) and a more subtle, but every effective low voicing boost.

 

Sorry I read it wrong, I thought he was talking about the Deep switch on the Mesa. I wanted to say 'but the Deep switch does not make it too thick!' but now I realize he was talking about the Aguilar and not the Mesa.

 

It’s great to have plethora of great class D bass amps available cause the way you feel bout that subway is the way I feel about every amp Aguilar makes from DB750/751 down to the TH350 and everything in between . Tried subway TT800 Hated it from jump … too many knobs … too many toggle switches … and not good for ole skool funk and r&b imo

 

Maybe the TT-800 wasn't the right choice for you is you don't like many knobs... there are models with less knobs too which might have been a better choice?

 

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