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Aguilar GS410 makeover (Bitter End, NYC backline cab)

Tonegasm

Tonegasm

Fast cars and vintage guitars.
Mar 22, 2010
2,988
914
NJ
#1
So I scored this Aguilar GS410 on the major cheap locally. It was pretty ugly when I took it in. Really filthy, rusty, and gross. This cab was used for several years as part of the backline at the Bitter End, NYC. Some great and really famous people have played through this cab as well as some of you in the NYC area. The only issue with it is that I think the tweeter is blown. Not really an issue for me as I hate tweeters and never use them.

I pulled the bent and rusty grille off, pulled off the logo, straightened the metal grille to almost perfect flatness, and will be sandblasting it. Blew all the dust and dirt off of the speakers and tweeter and the cabinet itself (the was a ton). When the grille comes back I'm going to paint it, silicone the logo back on, and mount it. I'll also use a hair buzzer with a #1 attachment to "shave" off any of the carpet covering that's sticking out. Clean and beautiful once again. Still waiting to hear back from Aguilar on whether or not I can still use it as-is with the blown tweeter.

Question: paint the grille black like it was or silver? Other suggestions?

Before:

image_zps17a8946a.gif


After (went with a clear cadmium-plated grille):

E5BBE7B5-EFD4-4384-B4CB-AE32E3BEFB07-17736-00000894DDF6EE70_zpsb2648d4f.gif
 
#2
Here's the update and finished product after some research and a little elbow grease.

The tweeter was definitely blown and I was able to source an identical and cheaper replacement than offered by Aguilar. All of that is explained in this thread:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/aguilar-gs410-tweeter-q-961891/

I chose to go with a silver grille, so after I straightened and sandblasted it I gave it to a plating house across the street from my shop and got it cadmium plated. A much faster and easier option than spray painting it. It came out great. The tweeter came in today, wired it up, and the cab is functioning perfectly. I didn't like the fact that the grille was screwed to the cab without and standoffs to support it from the back, so I turned some out of 303 stainless on my Hardinge and was good to go. I siliconed the logo to the grille, screwed it all together, and here is the finished product. Ready to go for my next gig on March 30.

:)

Before:

image_zps17a8946a.gif


After:

E5BBE7B5-EFD4-4384-B4CB-AE32E3BEFB07-17736-00000894DDF6EE70_zpsb2648d4f.gif

0E80C321-F895-43DD-A664-7D03A1E45147-17736-00000894E2FE6B27_zpsc2b37f6b.gif

4192BA6A-71D7-4C53-82F4-6A2CD336851E-17736-00000894E7325897_zps51be4967.gif

B16D528F-BE79-4FDF-8CD8-226F706010D4-17736-00000894EB478CDF_zpsb4e25c18.gif
 
#11
This was the house bass cab at The Bitter End? Interesting.

Granted, I haven't played at The Bitter End in over a year, but I recall them having a couple of Hartke 4x10" cabs. The first one was an older XL series cab. And then I got to use a Hartke 4x10" Hydrive cab that Will Lee had donated to the club. I never played through an Aguilar cab there. Although I had very fond memories of the Aguilar 4x10" cab that was part of the house backline at The Living Room.

Anyhow, very cool rehab of an old cab. It looks great, and I hope it sounds just as good!
 
#13
ShoeManiac said:
This was the house bass cab at The Bitter End? Interesting.

Granted, I haven't played at The Bitter End in over a year, but I recall them having a couple of Hartke 4x10" cabs. The first one was an older XL series cab. And then I got to use a Hartke 4x10" Hydrive cab that Will Lee had donated to the club. I never played through an Aguilar cab there. Although I had very fond memories of the Aguilar 4x10" cab that was part of the house backline at The Living Room.

Anyhow, very cool rehab of an old cab. It looks great, and I hope it sounds just as good!
Click to expand...
I also remember the house cab being a Hartke for the longest time, but the guy I bought it from is a great friend of the owner of the Bitter End, and he bought it off of him. I took it as truth as it's not really a story worth fabricating. :smug:
JimmyM said:
If I was Dave B, I'd be considering offering the grill in that color.
Click to expand...
Indeed!
 
#14
Lublin said:
I also remember the house cab being a Hartke for the longest time, but the guy I bought it from is a great friend of the owner of the Bitter End, and he bought it off of him. I took it as truth as it's not really a story worth fabricating. :smug:
Click to expand...


Not accusing you of anything untoward in the least. I've actually kept a file of the house gear of the NYC venues I played at on a regular basis so that I'd be a little better prepared come gig-time.

Case in point: The Bitter End has always been a little weird about their house backline. Most NYC clubs with house backlines have a house drum kit that everyone can use. The Bitter End has one in the backstage room, but it's not readily available for everyone to use. And every drummer I've played with at that club has had to bring their own kit. In NYC that's a major hassle.

The same goes for some guitar amps, too. They aren't usually available, but the club MAY make them available at their discretion.

Be that as it may, I think you did an awesome rehab of that cabinet. The new grille looks pretty awesome. Although I think that Aguilar style grille cloth would look AWESOME!
 
#15
ShoeManiac said:
Not accusing you of anything untoward in the least. I've actually kept a file of the house gear of the NYC venues I played at on a regular basis so that I'd be a little better prepared come gig-time.

Case in point: The Bitter End has always been a little weird about their house backline. Most NYC clubs with house backlines have a house drum kit that everyone can use. The Bitter End has one in the backstage room, but it's not readily available for everyone to use. And every drummer I've played with at that club has had to bring their own kit. In NYC that's a major hassle.

The same goes for some guitar amps, too. They aren't usually available, but the club MAY make them available at their discretion.

Be that as it may, I think you did an awesome rehab of that cabinet. The new grille looks pretty awesome. Although I think that Aguilar style grille cloth would look AWESOME!
Click to expand...
All good! The Bitter End is definitely weird with their backline. I've played there as a guitarist, bassist, and drummer. The only time I've ever been able to use anything of theirs was as a bassist. Playing there as a drummer was definitely the worst. Not to mention, with the brick walls in there, it's not the most friendly room acoustically.
 
#16
Hey Guys,

That's definitely the cabinet we rolled over to them years ago. It was used in their backline. I used to play at the Bitter End a lot, before Aguilar Amplification. Good refurb!
 
#17
Aguilar/Dave B. said:
Hey Guys,

That's definitely the cabinet we rolled over to them years ago. It was used in their backline. I used to play at the Bitter End a lot, before Aguilar Amplification. Good refurb!
Click to expand...
Thanks, Dave!

I posted all of this info and photos and didn't post a single thing about how it sounds. :rolleyes:

So I plugged my '64 P bass into my Tone Hammer 500 and into the GS410. First I ran it with the tweeter off. Very nice and thumpy sound. A bit scooped but all I did was compensate with the TH500's mids. All good! With the tweeter engaged it was wonderfully clear. Brought some nice character into the sound.

Next I ran my 1998 Thumb 5 Bolt on into it. THIS is where it this cab shined! The tweeter was at 50% and I was in heaven! Extremely clear and growly. It really brought out what the bass was trying to sound like (if that makes any sense). Aguilar's crossover is really awesome.

Well done, boys!
 
#19
Lublin said:
All good! The Bitter End is definitely weird with their backline. I've played there as a guitarist, bassist, and drummer. The only time I've ever been able to use anything of theirs was as a bassist. Playing there as a drummer was definitely the worst. Not to mention, with the brick walls in there, it's not the most friendly room acoustically.
Click to expand...

True dat! I always felt horrible for the drummers I worked with at The Bitter End. The set up area is right out in the open, next to the bar. So uncool for trying to get ready for your set. And the brick definitely doesn't help. Plus, your crowd almost gets chased out once your set is done.

But oddly enough, when we did multitrack recording there, the sets sounded pretty good. And is it me, or has this club just been the beneficiary of some awesome generosity when it comes to their house bass gear?
 
#20
ShoeManiac said:
But oddly enough, when we did multitrack recording there, the sets sounded pretty good. And is it me, or has this club just been the beneficiary of some awesome generosity when it comes to their house bass gear?
Click to expand...
Agreed! We recorded a live track there and it was so good that we released it on an album! So weird given the room sound.

They got all that gear for free? Never knew that. They had this hammered to hell tweed Peavey 4x10 in the back room for the longest time. I always lusted for it. Looked so cool! Relic'ed before relics.
 

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