Aguilar TH 700

[rodl2005]

I'm new to this party... long time SVT/810 and Vintage PBass with flats kinda guy playing a mix of southern fried blues, kicked up country and Americana.

I was looking for a rig that would be used for three things:

1. Be a great sounding rig I could use for practice at home - we have a small house and the SVT consumes our entire living room
2. As a small head that I could use as a backup to the SVT on a gig - I've never had a problem, but you know - just in case
3. Be a smaller rig that I could use for gigs where my family tags along and I can transport everybody in one vehicle

So, I bought a TH700 and SL115 cabinet, with the hopes that, if it sounded good, I would add a second SL115 to use for #3 above. It arrived today.

My initial observations - holy crap, what a great "vintage-meets-modern tone" I was able to get with this rig. By that, I mean it wasn't as soft and "pillow-y" as my SVT, but was fat and warm yet really clear. As good as it sounds in my living room, I have to believe it will sound even better in a live mix. I had to set aside any pre-conceived notions about how to use the gain, drive and EQ controls - where I found the best tone was by twisting knobs and landing in a completely non-intuitive place. Weird to me, but, there you have it.

I have to think it is only going to get better over time as the speaker breaks in (I could tell a distinct difference over the couple hours I played it). I also have new flats on my PBass (gross) that will break in over the next decade or so. And I know how adding a second cab takes it to another level, so getting that thing ordered now.

And, gulp, as much as I hate to admit it.. this is so light and so compact. I don't mind moving the SVT around on gigs given how much of a blast it is to play, but yeah. It is also super quiet and has great features. Very happy with my purchase.

Spot on! Glad you like it.

I don't THINK I've ever used mine thru an SVT810, but I know that I can get SO DARN CLOSE to that tone, using the "drive" control.... with my Bassman Pro Neo 115 cabs. It's amazing!
The DRIVE control, as complex as it is, seems to me to "also" be a "sealed, multi-driver cab" emulator?????
Whatever it REALLY is, it works, like no other.
And, I love it!

 

[Frankie Fender]

Spot on! Glad you like it.

I don't THINK I've ever used mine thru an SVT810, but I know that I can get SO DARN CLOSE to that tone, using the "drive" control.... with my Bassman Pro Neo 115 cabs. It's amazing!
The DRIVE control, as complex as it is, seems to me to "also" be a "sealed, multi-driver cab" emulator?????
Whatever it REALLY is, it works, like no other.
And, I love it!

Along the same lines, that's the reason I sold my DB750. I did a direct A/B'ing between the two and saw very little difference in the tone. Granted, the DB slays at louder volumes, and I will always be a fan, but I seldom venture into that territory any more, and the TH700 gets me 90% there, and I can strap it to my back. Never could do that with the Beast!

 

[Alexander]

Spot on! Glad you like it.

I don't THINK I've ever used mine thru an SVT810, but I know that I can get SO DARN CLOSE to that tone, using the "drive" control.... with my Bassman Pro Neo 115 cabs. It's amazing!
The DRIVE control, as complex as it is, seems to me to "also" be a "sealed, multi-driver cab" emulator?????
Whatever it REALLY is, it works, like no other.
And, I love it!

Ha - thanks, Rod! I think you and I have similar tastes in gear!

There is a shop across town that carries Aguilar gear - I may have to head over there later to get that second SL115

 

[Jeff Scott]

Along the same lines, that's the reason I sold my DB750. I did a direct A/B'ing between the two and saw very little difference in the tone. Granted, the DB slays at louder volumes, and I will always be a fan, but I seldom venture into that territory any more, and the TH700 gets me 90% there, and I can strap it to my back. Never could do that with the Beast!

I would thing the Db750 could fit in some backpacks.................

 

[blowinblue]

I would thing the Db750 could fit in some backpacks.................

You would be correct, my friend.

M. M.

 

[jake bassist]

Yesterday I took my TH500 to the store and A/B/C it with AG and TH700. Admittedly I hate store comparissons so take my observations with pinch of salt. I ended up leaving store with AG but am still not sure that was the right choice. I like the "clean" factor from AG (with my basses) BUT I find Low mid control too pronounced in mix with others. Overpowering compared to treble,hi mid and bass. I have to dial it almost all the way down to get it at the same "level" as the others and get the clean ton. But I don't like twisting eq so much.Think that maybe 250-270Hz would sit much better in the mix instead of 300Hz.
Now to TH500 and 700. With master and gain in the same position (drive was off) I didn't notice any difference in power output. And 700 sounded a bit less clean, defined and precise. Same ballpark sound wise of course..... but different, more compressed tone. And as I said maybe because of that 700 "compression" 500 and 700 loudness was about the same, and they did sound different.
I hate store try outs cause. It doesn't give me realistic picture and can't really check headroom and few other things. All the drumm kits and acoustic guitars start reverbrating (small store with no separated booths )

 

[uwrossl]

Yesterday I took my TH500 to the store and A/B/C it with AG and TH700. Admittedly I hate store comparissons so take my observations with pinch of salt. I ended up leaving store with AG but am still not sure that was the right choice. I like the "clean" factor from AG (with my basses) BUT I find Low mid control too pronounced in mix with others. Overpowering compared to treble,hi mid and bass. I have to dial it almost all the way down to get it at the same "level" as the others and get the clean ton. But I don't like twisting eq so much.Think that maybe 250-270Hz would sit much better in the mix instead of 300Hz.
Now to TH500 and 700. With master and gain in the same position (drive was off) I didn't notice any difference in power output. And 700 sounded a bit less clean, defined and precise. Same ballpark sound wise of course..... but different, more compressed tone. And as I said maybe because of that 700 "compression" 500 and 700 loudness was about the same, and they did sound different.
I hate store try outs cause. It doesn't give me realistic picture and can't really check headroom and few other things. All the drumm kits and acoustic guitars start reverbrating (small store with no separated booths )

Exactly as you pointed out I don't think you'd notice a difference in power in a store environment. Where you notice it is in the headroom when playing with a full band. Where the 500 would start to clip and you'd get some of the distortion going the 700 hums along clean. Admittedly as in posts before...I'm honestly not a huge fan of the TH700 at home when working through scales and practice etc. But start to play along to tracks and the magic starts to happen. Put it in a band situation and bam...Could not possibly love it more. So I don't doubt that you were hearing exactly what you said as I get some of that from the 700 on it's own at home. I just sold my LM III and am most likely going to buy the TH350 for home use and practice.

Still have yet to plug into an AG but am anxiously looking forward to it simply for the purposes of comparison. Love hearing the comparisons though because when I AB'd the TH500 and TH700 at a rehearsal I didn't notice much if any difference but I will say the rooms at that particular space are kind of terrible acoustically so again not the greatest AB comp. All I can say is if you want more than what a 500 is giving you...get the 700 and use it with the band at rehearsal and live and I think you'd be hard pressed to be disappointed!

 

[jake bassist]

Exactly as you pointed out I don't think you'd notice a difference in power in a store environment. Where you notice it is in the headroom when playing with a full band. Where the 500 would start to clip and you'd get some of the distortion going the 700 hums along clean. Admittedly as in posts before...I'm honestly not a huge fan of the TH700 at home when working through scales and practice etc. But start to play along to tracks and the magic starts to happen. Put it in a band situation and bam...Could not possibly love it more. So I don't doubt that you were hearing exactly what you said as I get some of that from the 700 on it's own at home. I just sold my LM III and am most likely going to buy the TH350 for home use and practice.

Still have yet to plug into an AG but am anxiously looking forward to it simply for the purposes of comparison. Love hearing the comparisons though because when I AB'd the TH500 and TH700 at a rehearsal I didn't notice much if any difference but I will say the rooms at that particular space are kind of terrible acoustically so again not the greatest AB comp. All I can say is if you want more than what a 500 is giving you...get the 700 and use it with the band at rehearsal and live and I think you'd be hard pressed to be disappointed!

Yes I agree with your point about live enviroment. That's exactly what I meant about store tryout.
On the other hand having AG and Th500 gives me the best of two worlds. Now i live in Europe (am from DC area) and here used gear market is as good as dead. Very slim chance of selling my TH500. So getting 700 and having two same amps doesn't make much sense.
As I've said , other than mismatched Low mid freq, or level of that freguency AG is an excelent amp. Clean and powerfull. Even as frequency points specs wouldn't suggest that but AG is "wider" sounding amp than TH. His bassic tone has more bass and treble (less the low mid observation). TH has more rolled off highs and bass which gives him that punchiness. On the other hand cleaner voicing of AG makes him sound rather loud and present.
Maybe "my" TH500 is some freak case, I never got him to clip point. Even with gain at 13 and master at 14....or even more. Although my basses don't have high output so that may be it. But it sounds anyway as loud or louder compared to almost all other D amps I have/had. Mesa D800, Genz 9.2, Eich T900....etc

 

[hennessybass]

The DRIVE control, as complex as it is, seems to me to "also" be a "sealed, multi-driver cab" emulator?????

I've actually been thinking about that. Seeing a lot of guys talking about cab sim these days. And it makes a lot of sense if you are using a lot of dirt in your sound, using IEM, or in general taking control of what you are sending the PA.

Seem to me like the Drive / AGS is perfect for that kind of thing.

I guess you have to run in "post", but IME, that's not that bad of a thing (assuming you are not doing any crazy EQ). Also, since the DI (even in post) is pre master, if you are taking the approach of master high, gain low, seem like you would be sending a pretty nice sound to the PA in post mode.

 

[The Bass Clef]

I wonder if they’re gonna come out with some new SL cabinets that can handle the extra power of the TH700? Right now, the SL410x is the only SL cab rated high enough at 500W (8ohm version) - even the 500/4ohm version of the SL410x wouldn’t be “safe” for the TH700. A 350-400W/8ohm SL115 or SL210 would be pretty sweet!

Seems I saw the future last year... Aguilar released the SL115 a few months ago, and just announced the SL210 a few days ago (and both 400W and 4 or 8 ohm cabs available)! Both perfect for the TH700.

 

[craigmack1979]

My poor little Tone Hammer 500 is now obsolete? Oh the pain, the pain! What am I going to do now?

That’s a great amp !!