Double Bass Aguilar TH350 - use with a pre-amp?

[jebo]

One gigs get going again I'll need to buy a new amp for upright/low volume electric bass gigs and I'm thinking of the Aguilar TH350 since it's so portable. I've never tried an upright through any of the TH series amps though. Does anyone feel the need for an outboard pre-amp with any TH series heads?

One worry I have about the TH350 is that it doesn't have an effects return and if I feel like I need to use my preamp with it I will not have the option to try the effects return instead of the input.

So are people A) feeling like they need to use preamps w/ TH series heads? B) if so, are you using the input or the effects return (for the TH500 or TH700)?

If its helpful I'm using an old carved Hofner bass w/a full circle & a Headway EDB-1 preamp if nescessary.

 

[Fat bob]

I have a tone hammer and have been using it on a couple gigs recently with upright, and been comparing it to other amps (clarus, pbj, markbass..) I dig it very much for upright. Though I have a nice preamp around i don’t feel the need to use it at all- simplicity is best. Maybe the 500 for electric bass gigs that creep up in volume? I noticed it’s the house amp at smalls,

 

[jebo]

I have a tone hammer and have been using it on a couple gigs recently with upright, and been comparing it to other amps (clarus, pbj, markbass..) I dig it very much for upright. Though I have a nice preamp around i don’t feel the need to use it at all- simplicity is best. Maybe the 500 for electric bass gigs that creep up in volume? I noticed it’s the house amp at smalls,

How do you think it compares to the Clarus? I was also looking at the Clarus SL. Every amp that I've owned so far has sounded better for upright w/ my EDB-1 preamp... would be great to just plug into one amp. I have a more powerful head for louder gigs. Looking for something small, portable & like 300-450 watts. I've also noticed that about the smalls rig!

 

[bherman]

Clarus will be much more neutral/uncolored sounding. I had a TH and wasn't crazy about its baked-in sound, but many people love them. My favorite amp inthe category you describe is the Genzler Magellan 350. Simple, small, clean, and full-featured.

 

[Ric Vice]

Try this one out, audition a QSC K8.2 and see what you think. I used one for several years. One caveat 5String isn’t ideal with the 8.

 

[Ryan in PDX]

I love my TH350 for bass guitar. It has never occured to me to try it with my upright. It does have a bit of a "rock n roll" voicing, as do the DB112 cabs I use it with.

You like your EDB-1 preamp. So... If you don't need the preamp section of an amp head, why not cut out the middleman and go with a powered speaker? My standard rig is:
Full Circle -> fdeck HPF-Pre -> DI box -> QSC K10
In your case, your EDB-1 would get you the high input impedance and eq you're used to.

The K10 is stupid loud, and an easy carry. I would like to try a K8 sometime for the even-easier carry.

I also have a K9, who carries herself and has a mean growly tone, but the audience can't keep themselves from petting her!

 

[BobDeRosa]

I love the TH350 for upright and use it for EBG as well. No need for a preamp for either and it's plenty loud. It's very portable and capable of a wide range of tones. Just don't buy it on the day before a gig and expect to dial in the perfect sound--be ready to experiment with the settings for a while. It's got your standard Bass/Treble/sweepable Mid, but also Gain and Drive that interact with each other and with the mids. Find the sound you want in your practice room and learn enough about what each control does to replicate that sound at the gig. The only thing it lacks is Effects -- you need the TH500 for that.

 

[basss]

I've used the TH500 and own the clarus. The clarus sounds better with upright IMO. The Aguilar had lots of piezo honk/twang unless I dialed out mids and highs which masked the character of the sound. I do like that amp with electric bass.

 

[dylanjohnson]

I love the TH350 for upright and use it for EBG as well. No need for a preamp for either and it's plenty loud. It's very portable and capable of a wide range of tones. Just don't buy it on the day before a gig and expect to dial in the perfect sound--be ready to experiment with the settings for a while. It's got your standard Bass/Treble/sweepable Mid, but also Gain and Drive that interact with each other and with the mids. Find the sound you want in your practice room and learn enough about what each control does to replicate that sound at the gig. The only thing it lacks is Effects -- you need the TH500 for that.

I used a TH500 on a gig and couldn't get a sound with it. I agree... For me I think I would have needed much more time to dial it in. The controls were confusing to me and I just didn't have the time to get it dialed. I like amps I can set basically flat, but I'll bet there are lots of possibilities with the TH.

 

[BobDeRosa]

I used a TH500 on a gig and couldn't get a sound with it. I agree... For me I think I would have needed much more time to dial it in. The controls were confusing to me and I just didn't have the time to get it dialed. I like amps I can set basically flat, but I'll bet there are lots of possibilities with the TH.

It's kind of like playing itself -- the more you do it, the better you get at it. See if this helps. For every gig, indoor or out, I start with the Gain just boosted slightly, maybe 7:00 or 8:00, and use the Master for volume. I keep the Drive off altogether and set everything else at high noon. You'll get a decent baseline sound that will then tell you what it wants. Get far enough out in front of your amp so you can start hearing what the audience is hearing. Boomy or cloudy? Start with the Bass control and don't be afraid to cut. Then Treble. When that combination starts getting better, listen carefully to what the mids sound like and adjust the Mid Freq first to find the place on the spectrum that needs work. Then use the Mid Level to cut or boost that frequency. Use Drive last. You may find you don't even need it, but if you do, play with the combination of Drive and Gain that makes you happy. It's complex, but worthwhile, and it gets easier the more you do it. Good luck.

 

[dylanjohnson]

Thanks, Bob!