Aguilar or Mesa Subway D-800

[akukulich]

I recently picked up a Mesa D-800+ and have used the Aguilar TH 500 a number of times. I took to the Mesa amp immediately. The Tonehammer required a lot of tweaking to get something close to what I was after, and I still wasn't necessarily in love with it. I'll put it this way; when I was shopping for an amp recently, the TH500 didn't make the short list. For me, the Mesa D-800+ is getting the job done. I'm very happy with it.

 

[logdrum]

Aguilar does bass exclusively, pickups, preamps, cabinets and amps.

Mesa's first products post modding Princeton amps (Prune street repair shop ) were tube bass amps, but they were known for the Boogie tube amps until the bass D180 and 400, So when the D800 came, I rolled my eyes and because of no tubes in the preamp... BUT it was a success! It has that tube side lineage to it's sound which will pop out if you know how they did their tone stacks. You don't even need the WD-800

If I remember correctly - Aguilar started out with tube bass amps as well but he always did bass products. I always though their tube amp was a perfected SVT. Amd they kept that tone in their D class amps. I always equate Aguilar for that NYC east coast sound and Mesa -- well is California. Having lived in both coast, their is this intangible difference in sound concepts and engineering musical instruments and amplification.

Maybe get both. I like them both. But I am hypocritical because I do not have a Subway bass amp nor an Aguilar amp. I do have an OBP3 and Aguilar pickups waiting to be fitted in a Jazz bass.

 

[WillieB]

TL/DR

owned and played both.

IMO ON:

Mesa !

Aguilar sounds sterile to me. Like using a crown amp/ashly preamp no color.

IMO OFF:

My tech likes Aguilar to work on but makes
no claim regarding tone.

disclaimer:
have used/played ...
yamaha, ampeg, walter woods, polytone, markbass, GK.

 

[MobileHolmes]

It's all about taste. I've never been an Aguilar fan, but it's just that they are too dark sounding to my taste (but my too dark is somebody else's warm hug so do with that what you will). I play and like GK, which should give you a sense of where my tastes lie.

 

[Orion1985]

I had a TH500 but traded it for a D-800+ because I got a good deal on a pair of 4 ohm cabs and needed to be able to handle a 2 ohm load. My preference is for the ToneHammer. As noted, the ToneHammer has a baked in sound, whereas the D-800(+) is much more flexible. I can recognize a good tone, but sometimes I have a hard time dialing one in. The ToneHammer has a great tone in my opinion and I’m not as proficient at finding it on the D-800+. That said, I’m perfectly happy with the Mesa. If you know the tone you are looking for and you know how to dial it in, you should be able to find it in the Mesa. If you like the ToneHammer sound and don’t feel the need to change much, the ToneHammer could work too. Both are great amps.

 

[DJ Bebop]

What’s the general thoughts between a Aguilar Tone Hammer 700 vs a Mesa Subway D-800?

What are your tone goals?
That may help you decide what would work for you and maybe help others give suggestions.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Thanks for this insight! I am in the same boat now...Mesa Boogie Subway 800+ or AG700. I am also a 2x15 guy and play blues rock-improv (Allman Brothers band-early, Grandfunk Railroad-Red album, early Led Zep, you get the picture). Any further insights for me?

If it's a price thing to stay in, D800+.
If you have a little more money, WD 800, a chance to get into the wooly if needed. I see some say the D 800+ still will do that

 

[MJ_Sotti]

I've had the Mesa 8's, great amps. I've had a TH500 that's great too.

But I use a AG700 and to me, it's simple and clean. Like my brain. To me the more knobs the more confused I get.

 

[Bonecat]

Played a benefit gig last night with 4 other bands. Highlight of the night was female fronted power trio. She sang lead and played a 60’s T-Bird through a D800 and Mesa 410. Tone for days. So good that every band after them used her rig. It killed.

 

[rodl2005]

Jeeeez, all this talk on the TH500/700 I'm gonna have to have a good play with it.
I've had mine for 10yrs + and not only has it been rock solid, but it sounds great with my Bergantino cabs and also with the Fender Bassman Pro Neo 115s I own.
Mine is currently residing at our rehearsal room and our drummer just packs it in his van at gig time.
I rarely play with the eq apart from adjusting the DRIVE or GAIN, or the MASTER VOLUME. As stated earlier, the DRIVE and GAIN are interactive and there's a lotta scope in these 2 controls.
I always thought if the GAIN was off and the DRIVE very low it was a pretty clean and natural sounding amp. Perhaps I've had the treble up a tad.

As I said, I'll have to bring it home and really have a fiddle - said the bishop.

 

[Lemur Bassman]

I own and ag700 and a mesa d800 +. Both are great amps. Never could get along with the tone hammer I had though.

I am deciding upon the Aguilar AG700 and Mesa Boogie 800+. Is one "better" than the other? I understand the warranty is better on the MB and there is a place for headphones. As well as a quieter fan. Outside of this, what is your impression? Are both reliable? Is one better for certain genre's of music than the other? Thanks!

 

[fishdude101101]

I am deciding upon the Aguilar AG700 and Mesa Boogie 800+. Is one "better" than the other? I understand the warranty is better on the MB and there is a place for headphones. As well as a quieter fan. Outside of this, what is your impression? Are both reliable? Is one better for certain genre's of music than the other? Thanks!

Honestly just buy the Mesa. The longer I've had the aguilar the more I don't like it. The Mesa can do everything thr aguilar can do but better.

 

[Al Kraft]

Honestly just buy the Mesa. The longer I've had the aguilar the more I don't like it. The Mesa can do everything thr aguilar can do but better.

I agree with the recommendation here and for the reason given in the last sentence. However, if you are looking for something a little less polite and more GK MB brash with some Aguilar flavor, the AG isn't a bad choice IMO. The AG reminds me a bit of the Mesa Carbine in its somewhat unapologetic and hard hitting rock attitude nature. The 800+ can do that, but also has a lot of ability to be more subtle and support a wider range of voicings.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

You'll get everyone's favorite as an answer. I'd pick the Mesa, but you might prefer the Aguilar.

 

[fishdude101101]

I agree with the recommendation here and for the reason given in the last sentence. However, if you are looking for something a little less polite and more GK MB brash with some Aguilar flavor, the AG isn't a bad choice IMO. The AG reminds me a bit of the Mesa Carbine in its somewhat unapologetic and hard hitting rock attitude nature. The 800+ can do that, but also has a lot of ability to be more subtle and support a wider range of voicings.

No matter what I do with the Aguilar, it never sounds as thick as the Mesa, nor does it have the depth of tone the Mesa does. That is a subjective description, for sure, but its what I hear. It's more "punch" that it is "slam". KIND of "pokey" sounding. The DI Post-EQ sound on it is great though, but it doesn't translate to the sound coming out of the cabs. Over the years I've seen a lot more people be satisfied with the Aguilar stuff when they play an active bass with a nice preamp. Your experience may differ though.

 

[bass12]

I haven’t played the AG700, only the TH500. I LOVE the 800+ though, and given what I’ve been hearing regarding Aguilar’s customer support since the company changed hands (and knowing how fantastic Mesa’s customer support is) I wouldn’t even be considering an Aguilar amp at this point.

 

[fishdude101101]

I haven’t played the AG700, only the TH500. I LOVE the 800+ though, and given what I’ve been hearing regarding Aguilar’s customer support since the company changed hands (and knowing how fantastic Mesa’s customer support is) I wouldn’t even be considering an Aguilar amp at this point.

Yeah I bought a set of jazz pickups from them last year, the new DCB's that were said to be a drop in replacement for Fender J-bass pickups. Well the pickup holes didn't line up with those in my American Std jazz. Only thing Korg (Aguilar) could say was that not all j basses were the same, and that I should fill the holes and drill new ones. Oddly all their pre-Korg pickup fit just fine. In my opinion if J pickups don't drop in a USA Fender jazz then they certainly are drop in replacements.

Honestly I'm not surprised the company is falling off post Boonshoft, but even before that I think they lost their way a bit. Their older stuff was pretty good, but recent years they were way better at marketing than making amps.

 

[Lemur Bassman]

I haven’t played the AG700, only the TH500. I LOVE the 800+ though, and given what I’ve been hearing regarding Aguilar’s customer support since the company changed hands (and knowing how fantastic Mesa’s customer support is) I wouldn’t even be considering an Aguilar amp at this point.

Is Aguilar's customer support "sub-par"?

 

[bass12]

Is Aguilar's customer support "sub-par"?

Apparently, yes. Definitely not “high end”.

 

[Al Kraft]

Is Aguilar's customer support "sub-par"?

Based on recent posts on TB I suspect it is not quite what it used to be...which IME was outstanding. Perhaps things will get back to previous levels in time. Although I believe a lot of the customer focus and responsiveness were a reflection of the leadership of the company owner(s).