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Aguilar TH 700

#141
jake bassist said:
Well, in the meantime I had chance to try AG700. It's nowhere close to be labeled "clinical". Actually I had to dial down Low Mid almost all the way down to get the clean, or better to say, rone of my bass.
Amp has huge headroom while retaining clean sound. Very fast response. Deep switch covers too wide low freq band for my taste, bright on the other hand was exactly on spot. Didn't notice much of a hiss/noise except in extreme settings.
So far and by far, the loudest amp I've heard in up to 1000W category
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I have a gig coming up in about a month that has an AG700 for the backline. Look forward to trying it but am bringing my TH700 as well because we are recording video and audio from the gig. If I don't like the sound I'm getting from the AG out of the gate can swap it out quickly.
 
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#142
jake bassist said:
Well, in the meantime I had chance to try AG700. It's nowhere close to be labeled "clinical". Actually I had to dial down Low Mid almost all the way down to get the clean, or better to say, rone of my bass.
Amp has huge headroom while retaining clean sound. Very fast response. Deep switch covers too wide low freq band for my taste, bright on the other hand was exactly on spot. Didn't notice much of a hiss/noise except in extreme settings.
So far and by far, the loudest amp I've heard in up to 1000W category
Click to expand...

Just to show how tastes vary, I reallyike the deep switch on the AG700. Because it thickens the sound more that just making it "dubby". Having said that, I like the deep switch on the AG500 even more, because where the AG700 boosts everything the under 250hz by 6db, the AG500 deep switch only boosted frequencies 100hz and under by the same amount. So you didn't have to cut low mids as much. On this head, and all Aggie stuff, I think even though the bass control shelf corner frequency is 40hz, the slope is mellow. So if you boost it you boosting stuff up well above 40hz. Makes it very musical. I don't ever use the bright switch on any amp and don't really like or use the one on the Ag700 either.

uwrossl said:
THIS!!!! So spot on and exactly what I've been trying to put to words since moving over to a TH700. Particularly this:

"It's tight, punchy, present, but yet not sticking out like a sore thumb. The Tone Hammer creates, by default, a very natural and easily recognizable tone for the average non-bass playing listener to enjoy. It just fits in"

I admittedly was one of those that initially did not like the TH500 when using it as backline and it's because I had no clue how to use the controls. It bothered me because the way people described it sounded exactly like the sound I wanted. After a few TB'ers pointed that out to me I pulled the trigger on the TH700 and an instant love affair began! LOL It's an amazing little amp and after playing my first gig with it this past Friday I'm even more enamored.
Click to expand...

In general it seems Aguilar's tonal goals are the opposite of "bedroom tone"
 
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#143
pigpen1 said:
I don't ever use the bright switch on any amp and don't really like or use the one on the Ag700 either.
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I'm the same way, but I will give the Aggie guys props for a more usable (for me) broad bright lift staring at a usable point (3KHz IIRC) than some heads where they go for some kind of 5-7KHz or higher boost glass cutting tone/string noise enhancer effect. :)
 
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#144
pigpen1 said:
In general it seems Aguilar's tonal goals are the opposite of "bedroom tone"
Click to expand...

Ha!!! Totally. Funny thing about that statement is that I didn't necessarily care for the sound of the TH while playing at home right off the bat. After I pulled up a couple backing tracks to play to and then a rehearsal I was blown away. After that first show...well even better yet. Small boxy bar that I've had trouble in before and instantly had a killer sound with the TH. Something magical about the way it sits in a mix. My LM III was the exact opposite. Sounded great at home on it's own but was so difficult to find the sweet spot with it in the mix of a band. If you cut the low end it sounded thin. If you boosted it was too much and so on down the line.

I've since come to love the TH at all times.

PS...I've never liked or used a bright switch on an amp that had one either. Maybe if I played slap I'd like it but it's not usable for me. Haven't tried the AG700 yet though so can't say what they have going on with it or whether i'd like it or not.
 
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#145
  • pigpen1 said:
    Just to show how tastes vary, I reallyike the deep switch on the AG700. Because it thickens the sound more that just making it "dubby". Having said that, I like the deep switch on the AG500 even more, because where the AG700 boosts everything the under 250hz by 6db, the AG500 deep switch only boosted frequencies 100hz and under by the same amount. So you didn't have to cut low mids as much. On this head, and all Aggie stuff, I think even though the bass control shelf corner frequency is 40hz, the slope is mellow. So if you boost it you boosting stuff up well above 40hz. Makes it very musical. I don't ever use the bright switch on any amp and don't really like or use the one on the Ag700 either.



    In general it seems Aguilar's tonal goals are the opposite of "bedroom tone"
    Click to expand...
  • My point exactly, I also liked more deep on Ag500, that what I meant with "too wide" on ag700.
  • But it was just an observation. I never use neither deep or bright switch on any amp. That's what 3 band onboard pre is for.
 
#148
pigpen1 said:
I play passive jazzes these days so they are in need of a deep switch, at least to my ears.
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Maybe with the AG. But I have found no need for a deep switch with the TH. I run my Sadowsky MV4 almost exclusively in passive mode because I just like passive basses for vintage rocknroll.... but do love the option of active and the sound of the Sadowsky Pre. I have only ever had to push the bass on the TH to about 1 o'clock and was more than enough. I do run the Broughton HPF+LPF always on with a little bit of the clean gain to push the front end of the amp a little harder and the lows cut at below 40hz. Seems to work really well with the TH starting to gradually boost around 40hz when you do boost it.

I would imagine though if the AG deep is boosting around 250HZ though that that would be very usable as it's not pushing a "deep" sub/dub bass kind of thing and as someone else mentioned is thickening it up.

I thought one of the "selling" points from Aguilar on the AG was that it had this massive low end. Was that meant in general or because it has the deep switch? Just curious to have an idea of what to expect when I use the backlined AG at our upcoming gig.
 
#149
uwrossl said:
I would imagine though if the AG deep is boosting around 250HZ though that that would be very usable as it's not pushing a "deep" sub/dub bass kind of thing and as someone else mentioned is thickening it up.

I thought one of the "selling" points from Aguilar on the AG was that it had this massive low end. Was that meant in general or because it has the deep switch? Just curious to have an idea of what to expect when I use the backlined AG at our upcoming gig.
Click to expand...
IMO the AG is very full down low, but not obnoxious or overdone. Flipping the deep switch simply seemed to extend or broaden that full, rich feel in the lows along with a mild bump in the lower to middle mids. I don't have much time on the head, but that was my impression when I played it. The deep circuit seemed to be more broadly re-voicing than "crank the sub-lows" focused - it did not convert the lows to something that were out of control or out of proportion to my ear.
 
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#150
uwrossl said:
Maybe with the AG. But I have found no need for a deep switch with the TH. I run my Sadowsky MV4 almost exclusively in passive mode because I just like passive basses for vintage rocknroll.... but do love the option of active and the sound of the Sadowsky Pre. I have only ever had to push the bass on the TH to about 1 o'clock and was more than enough. I do run the Broughton HPF+LPF always on with a little bit of the clean gain to push the front end of the amp a little harder and the lows cut at below 40hz. Seems to work really well with the TH starting to gradually boost around 40hz when you do boost it.

I would imagine though if the AG deep is boosting around 250HZ though that that would be very usable as it's not pushing a "deep" sub/dub bass kind of thing and as someone else mentioned is thickening it up.

I thought one of the "selling" points from Aguilar on the AG was that it had this massive low end. Was that meant in general or because it has the deep switch? Just curious to have an idea of what to expect when I use the backlined AG at our upcoming gig.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that the deep switch on the AG700 doesn't boost just 250 hz it boosts EVERY UNDER 250HZ by 6db. I just like a really warm sound and I run the deep switch on all the time plus run the bass at about 2 o'clock.

I could just never get enough 80hz out of the tone hammer but who knows it could be my cab too. What kind of cab do you run with it? I always ended up with the bass around 3 o'clock with my TH. I see you play sadowsky so probably our tonal goals are a little different.

It has good low end, not nearly as much as a GK MB though. I would say it has tones of usable low end though. Hard to compare it to my d800+ which without voicing/deep/eq isn't strong down low.
 
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#151
Al Kraft said:
IMO the AG is very full down low, but not obnoxious or overdone. Flipping the deep switch simply seemed to extend or broaden that full, rich feel in the lows along with a mild bump in the lower to middle mids. I don't have much time on the head, but that was my impression when I played it. The deep circuit seemed to be more broadly re-voicing than "crank the sub-lows" focused - it did not convert the lows to something that were out of control or out of proportion to my ear.
Click to expand...
It just boosts all frequencies under 250hz by 6db. I actually like the deep on the Ag500 better because it only boosted under 100hz.

I'm kinda on the search for a good cab at this point. Had an Aggie DB212 and HATED it. Back to playing an avatar neo 410 until I can decide on something else.
 
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#152
pigpen1 said:
Keep in mind that the deep switch on the AG700 doesn't boost just 250 hz it boosts EVERY UNDER 250HZ by 6db. I just like a really warm sound and I run the deep switch on all the time plus run the bass at about 2 o'clock.

I could just never get enough 80hz out of the tone hammer but who knows it could be my cab too. What kind of cab do you run with it? I always ended up with the bass around 3 o'clock with my TH. I see you play sadowsky so probably our tonal goals are a little different.

It has good low end, not nearly as much as a GK MB though. I would say it has tones of usable low end though. Hard to compare it to my d800+ which without voicing/deep/eq isn't strong down low.
Click to expand...

Play a Sadowsky mostly. Run it with TI Flats and play vintage rock n roll mixed with soul and blues. Also play a Serek Midwestern w/flats and sold my current P to order a Moollon Classic P IV. So far have only paired the TH700 with my Berg NV212. Mention all of this because the tonal goals may or may not be that different but it always helps to know what people are after and so I'm curious what your after!

Definitely not a fan of bright amps or a bunch of sizzle on the top end. Run the NV212 with the tweeter either off or at a 1/4 on. Good vintage tone when paired with the TH but is definitely not a monster on the low end. Cab reaches to 40 hz but I think most of it's heft and magic comes in at around 80hz and up due to being sealed.

Always love the back and forth and learning how everyone uses their gear. As I said I would have never bought a TH if TB'ers hadn't show me the way with it's gain structure!
 
#153
pigpen1 said:
It just boosts all frequencies under 250hz by 6db. I actually like the deep on the Ag500 better because it only boosted under 100hz.

I'm kinda on the search for a good cab at this point. Had an Aggie DB212 and HATED it. Back to playing an avatar neo 410 until I can decide on something else.
Click to expand...

While I love the TH700 I've never been able to get along with any of the Aggie cabs. Much more mid focused and do feel that they lack a bit on the low end. Have only played the DB410 and the SL112's and wasn't a fan of them regardless of the head I was using. I could make them work but they wouldn't be my first choice on cab to purchase.
 
#154
uwrossl said:
While I love the TH700 I've never been able to get along with any of the Aggie cabs. Much more mid focused and do feel that they lack a bit on the low end. Have only played the DB410 and the SL112's and wasn't a fan of them regardless of the head I was using. I could make them work but they wouldn't be my first choice on cab to purchase.
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I know what you mean. I had a db212 and it just collected dust after a while. Very mid-forward and ganky no matter what I did with EQ. I do like the SL cabs. Most Aguilar cabs don't have tons of baked in lows but will reproduce lows really well if you eq them that way. Never had my db212 give out on me on the low end. I think the sl's are less mid-foward and like I said they will pump out the lows if needed, but they aren't baked in.
 
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#155
uwrossl said:
Play a Sadowsky mostly. Run it with TI Flats and play vintage rock n roll mixed with soul and blues. Also play a Serek Midwestern w/flats and sold my current P to order a Moollon Classic P IV. So far have only paired the TH700 with my Berg NV212. Mention all of this because the tonal goals may or may not be that different but it always helps to know what people are after and so I'm curious what your after!

Definitely not a fan of bright amps or a bunch of sizzle on the top end. Run the NV212 with the tweeter either off or at a 1/4 on. Good vintage tone when paired with the TH but is definitely not a monster on the low end. Cab reaches to 40 hz but I think most of it's heft and magic comes in at around 80hz and up due to being sealed.

Always love the back and forth and learning how everyone uses their gear. As I said I would have never bought a TH if TB'ers hadn't show me the way with it's gain structure!
Click to expand...
Sounds like our goals aren't that different we're just getting to them differently.
I'm probably gonna pickup a used Ag 500 at some point and if I get another tone hammer it will be the 700 for sure.
 
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#156
Well after a week with the TH700 I returned it. Although at first I thought I liked it because I could feel the difference in power, doing a side by side comparison with the TH500 with different cabs I found the TH500 to sound better. Best I can describe it is the tone of the TH500 sounds more broad and full where I found the TH700 tone to be narrow and thinner that the TH500. Although the initial impression was they sounded very similar, no matter how much I tried I could not get the TH700 to sound the same as the TH500. The TH700 may be for some, but for me I prefer the sound of the TH500.
 
#157
Low Class said:
Well after a week with the TH700 I returned it. Although at first I thought I liked it because I could feel the difference in power, doing a side by side comparison with the TH500 with different cabs I found the TH500 to sound better. Best I can describe it is the tone of the TH500 sounds more broad and full where I found the TH700 tone to be narrow and thinner that the TH500. Although the initial impression was they sounded very similar, no matter how much I tried I could not get the TH700 to sound the same as the TH500. The TH700 may be for some, but for me I prefer the sound of the TH500.
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I didn't see that one coming. I could imagine a new user to the TH world having an issue like that, but am surprised you felt there was such a big difference as an experienced TH user. I have not played the TH700 yet, but had fully expected my first impression (when I get one) to be "TH500 tone with more clean headroom".
 
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#158
Low Class said:
Well after a week with the TH700 I returned it. Although at first I thought I liked it because I could feel the difference in power, doing a side by side comparison with the TH500 with different cabs I found the TH500 to sound better. Best I can describe it is the tone of the TH500 sounds more broad and full where I found the TH700 tone to be narrow and thinner that the TH500. Although the initial impression was they sounded very similar, no matter how much I tried I could not get the TH700 to sound the same as the TH500. The TH700 may be for some, but for me I prefer the sound of the TH500.
Click to expand...
I have been using a TH350 for a few years and loved it, so I bought a TH700 and love it even more! To me the TH700 is just a "larger" sounding version of the 350. Beautiful tone with gobs of headroom. Glory glory hallelujah!
 
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