Aguilar TH500 and cab combinations

[rufus.K]

I have a TH500 and have run it through maybe six different cabs, in varying combinations. Generally, its always got enough low for the job, its the articulation and a bit of extra bump when I dig in that youre prolly looking for. I use mine with the master dimed, and use the gain knob as my volume, I find that that seems to give me the room I need. I alway have to cut some BASS and make up with low mid, which theoretically should free up some watts (read: headroom)
Higher efficiency speakers/cabs help.

 

[iamjustin]

With my TH500, I've used 2 Black Market Custom 112s that are 300w at 8 ohms each (for a 4 ohm load) and it's been plenty of enough to push my drummer that plays very hard (we play heavy musics) or I've used my GS412, which is more than I've ever needed, but pushes significantly more air

 

[PJ Katz]

I play bars and small clubs with TH500 and a single sl112. I was thinking of getting a Berg CN212 (4 OHM, 700W RMS) or just another sl112. Any recommendations? I know I'll be able to get 15 to 20% off with the holidays around the corner. Not sure if I can get a discount on the Berg. Sorry for the hijack.

Have (2) SL112. Never looking back. Deep,Headroom,Tone.

 

[Plutonium244]

I play bars and small clubs with TH500 and a single sl112. I was thinking of getting a Berg CN212 (4 OHM, 700W RMS) or just another sl112. Any recommendations? I know I'll be able to get 15 to 20% off with the holidays around the corner. Not sure if I can get a discount on the Berg. Sorry for the hijack.

I have been using a TH 350 with a SL-112 for smallish gigs, which worked fine. I have been running the TH 350 through 2 SL-112's lately, and it is super fat; I daisy chain them (actually you have to with the TH350 because it has only 1 speaker out) which is OPTIMAL because it lowers resistance to 4 ohms so you get the full amp power, AND it doubles the speaker surface. It really seems like I am getting 4x the sound quality/level by running a 2nd SL-112. Volume is no issue at all, with no clip either. And that's with a TH350. The 2nd SL-112 really put this rig over the top. Do that.

And yes, the TH 500 uses the same power stage that is in many "800W" amps such as the MB800 and numerous others.

I would recommend just getting a 2nd SL-112, daisy chain them under your TH 500, and slay.

 

[BillyLebuA]

I own a TH500 and agree with the previous posters who said that the amp is not the problem--it should have more than enough power into your 4 Ohm load. Also, in my limited experience, your cabs work well with the head so you should be good there. You're stacking the 210 on top of the 112, correct?

Please let us know the settings you're using on the TH500, your bass(es) and how you run the controls on the basses.

Is there by chance a keyboard player in your band? Or more than two guitars?

First thank you for your reply

Yes, I stack the TC electronic rs210 on top of rs112, that would make them run 4ohm.

I use american standard P-bass with Aguilar P/U.
Here is my amp settings.
Gain : 10-11 O'clock
Bass : Around 1
Mid : Around 2
Mid Freq : At 11-12
Treble : 2
Master : it goes from like 9-1 O'clock.

I play in several bands, sometime with key players sometimes without.

My gig are mostly Pop, HipHop, Gospel, RnB
The drummers are most likely Gospel chops and hit the kick hard.

I'm sorry that I misinformed you guys by saying "Not Loud enough".

TH500 is loud but the problem is "my setup" (TH500+RS210+RS112) Farts every now and then when I try to push the mid and I feel like the low end is not kicking me when I turn the bass up, it seems to be more boxier.

 

[BillyLebuA]

Let me go off the topic a little.
Today I went to mesa boogie store in Hollywood and compared TH500 vs the new Mesa Subway D800 side by side.

They both were hooked up with Mesa Subway 112, Subway 115.

Both amp were very Loud!
Mesa EQ sounds more transparent and the "deep" switch is very powerful.
When the "deep" switch is engaged. It makes it almost sound like "PA-Subwoofer".
It sounds very deep and low.
Mesa seems to have a bit more "headroom". When I pushed the level up. The sound stays clear and crisp.

TH500 : Though it's 300watts less than Mesa but turns out, the volume is almost equivalent. The usual suspects are warmer tone, tight low-end, Punchy mid. When I push it up it gets loud but not as punchy in the low-end. The low feels kind of empty when compared to D800.

I think the volume has something to do with the Mesa Subway cab.

As everyone said, the cabs really make significant difference.

 

[Jeff Scott]

You really should own both, so you can have two amazing American Made killer bass amps, one from the West Coast the other from the East Coast; what could be better than having these two amps in your collection available to you whenever you need them? ( starts getting wallet out to do the same).

 

[blindrabbit]

I have been using a TH 350 with a SL-112 for smallish gigs, which worked fine. I have been running the TH 350 through 2 SL-112's lately, and it is super fat; I daisy chain them (actually you have to with the TH350 because it has only 1 speaker out) which is OPTIMAL because it lowers resistance to 4 ohms so you get the full amp power, AND it doubles the speaker surface. It really seems like I am getting 4x the sound quality/level by running a 2nd SL-112. Volume is no issue at all, with no clip either. And that's with a TH350. The 2nd SL-112 really put this rig over the top. Do that.

And yes, the TH 500 uses the same power stage that is in many "800W" amps such as the MB800 and numerous others.

I would recommend just getting a 2nd SL-112, daisy chain them under your TH 500, and slay.

+1 to this. I also run a TH350, and use two Traynor TC112 cabinets with it. I am PLENTY loud running with almost all my controls at or around noon...the EQ is super powerful, I think the most extreme I've ever gone with anything (other than the mid frequency knob) is 11 o'clock or 1 o'clock. I play in a punk band with a strong drummer and two guitarists with half stacks (Orange, Marshall). I just played a decent sized club a few weeks ago without any PA support, all I did was bring my master up to about 1 o'clock and it was fine. As it stands I couldn't justify stepping up to a TH500, I just don't need anything more than what the TH350 has to offer, so it is tough to imagine a situation where the TH500 isn't enough!!!

The one advantage that the Mesa does have though is that it can run at 2 ohms. I'd love to have that capability with my TH head, I'd grab a third 1x12 cabinet in a heartbeat.

 

[rufus.K]

Here is my amp settings.
Gain : 10-11 O'clock
Bass : Around 1
Mid : Around 2
Mid Freq : At 11-12
Treble : 2
Master : it goes from like 9-1 O'clock.
.

Try with more master and less gain. The best advise I ever got with this amp is to crank the master and use the gain as my VOL, keeps it clean, and use the DRIVE knob to warm it up. Usually my drive is around 10 or 11 now, where I disliked it before when gain was higher and master lower.
Play with reducing the bass knob, lower your mid Freq to say 9 o'clock and the mid level to 3.

 

[rodl2005]

Yes. Do what @rufus.K says. This will let the TH500 stay as clean as it will.

 

[jhfishn]

I know this may be a different take on it but I have to agree with the amp opening up more with different cabs

I have been using an Aguilar AG500 since 2009 with all manner of DB series cabinets and even though they could get pretty darn loud .... I was just never satisfied with the overall tone. I am talking DB112, DB212, DB410 and DB210. Something was just missing to me so ........... I picked up a GS112 and boom ... the amp opened right up.

I have since picked up a 2nd GS112 with a net result of having to drop my overall volume by at least 1 to 2 notches which is mind boggling to me how the cabs could have made that much of a difference.

The wild thing was I sat a DB112 next to a GS112. If I had to choose 1 box in a controlled situation it would be the DB112 but on a live stage where I need projection, punch and clarity along with enough volume and headroom and bottom the GS112 x2 in my case is a huge leap forward.

I know others may disagree but what I am saying has been my experience. To make the situation a bit more clearer my comments are based on using a passive USA Bob Glaub with Lindy Fralin P/J's and a pedalboard first going into a t.c. Electronics tuner, buffer, an Aguilar Tone Hammer preamp pedal followed by an Aguilar Octamizer, Filter Twin, MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe, MXR Phase 90, MXR Overdrive and then to the amp. Even the effects are more pronounced.

I intend on eventually picking up a TH350 soon so maybe I can report on the difference however I do need to say that the cabs mentioned above at one time or another were used with a TH500 as well as my AG500.

I know this may be apples and oranges but this is what I have experienced recently so maybe just even borrowing a cab from a friend mat be the thing to do if possible to see how you like it.

Best of luck on your search too .... it can be a drag but when you find something you're happy with it makes it all worth the search

 

[vivaknoxvegas]

I run a TH500 into a GK 212MBE II, 4ohm, 600W. Lots of volume, cab sounds pretty good to me. I know it's not the greatest 212 but I found it cheap locally and it works for what I need it to do.

 

[Treb]

The one advantage that the Mesa does have though is that it can run at 2 ohms. I'd love to have that capability with my TH head, I'd grab a third 1x12 cabinet in a heartbeat.

You would have to hook up a fourth 1x12 to get to 2 ohms... (assuming they are 8 ohms a piece).

I run my TH350 into two Markbass 804 cabs, an 8x8" mini stack of tonal heaven.

 

[rufus.K]

I know this may be a different take on it but I have to agree with the amp opening up more with differenthusiasm cabs.

I have been using an Aguilar AG500 since 2009 with all manner of DB series cabinets and even though they could get pretty darn loud .... I was just never satisfied with the overall tone. I am talking DB112, DB212, DB410 and DB210. Something was just missing to me so ........... I picked up a GS112 and boom ... the amp opened right up.
I intend on eventually picking up a TH350 soon so maybe I can report on the difference however I do need to say that the cabs mentioned above at one time or another were used with a TH500 as well as my AG500.

I would agree with that. I too have both an AG500 and a TH500. They are voiced differently, and both open up a lot with a second cab. The GS cabs and the SL cabs also are voiced differently, I don't have a DB cab, but we can assume the same. The Th500 IMO is darker sounding to me.

 

[blowinblue]

I've owned a TH500 for a little over three years now. It has become my favorite head. Have had excellent results pairing it with an Epifani UL410-1 (4 ohm), Bergantino CN212 (4 ohm), Aguilar GS212 (4 ohm), and Aguilar DB115 (8 ohm). Like you, I find the Mesa Subway 800 intriguing, but I would never give up my TH500 to acquire the Subway. In fact, at one time I owned two TH500's. Not that the Aggie would ever need a backup.

If you're running out of headroom with the rig that you currently run...my suggestion would be to find another band. A quieter one. For the sake of your hearing. And that of your audience.

M. M.

 

[rufus.K]

I've owned a TH500 for a little over three years now. It has become my favorite head. Have had excellent results pairing it with an Epifani UL410-1 (4 ohm), Bergantino CN212 (4 ohm), Aguilar GS212 (4 ohm), and Aguilar DB115 (8 ohm). Like you, I find the Mesa Subway 800 intriguing, but I would never give up my TH500 to acquire the Subway. In fact, at one time I owned two TH500's. Not that the Aggie would ever need a backup.

If you're running out of headroom with the rig that you currently run...my suggestion would be to find another band. A quieter one. For the sake of your hearing. And that of your audience.

M. M.

What's your take on what I said about master and gain settings, as well as a bit of low cut to gain headroom?

 

[TIMD]

+1 on finding a used Genz Benz. I have been running my TH500 through an NEOx 212T for over a year, often without FOH support, and have never run out of juice. Sounds great too.

View attachment 731372

I use the same setup and couldn't be happier. I would think any decent 212 should be enough cab. My svt rig has stayed in the rehearsal room since I picked up this amp and cab and I never feel underpowered. The band I'm in consists of a loud drummer, percussion, 2 guitars, and Rhodes/synth and I never feel like I'm pushing the cab too hard.

 

[blowinblue]

What's your take on what I said about master and gain settings, as well as a bit of low cut to gain headroom?

Your way makes good sense, especially about cranking the master up. I do it a bit different. These are the settings from my last gig. At home all I do is lower the master (because I'm lazy). And keep in mind that my band doesn't play crazy loud.

M. M.

 

[rufus.K]

I usually rehearse with keys and drums like this, and use my bass' volume to bring it down. I keep the front end free'd up quite a bit.

 

[chaosMK]

TH500 is loud but the problem is "my setup" (TH500+RS210+RS112) Farts every now and then when I try to push the mid and I feel like the low end is not kicking me when I turn the bass up, it seems to be more boxier.

Sounds like a cab issue. Some cabs do not handle certain frequencies well when you throw a lot of volume at them. Example I have is the SWR Megoliath- this is one of the most monstrous epic cabs you will ever encounter with unmatched glory in sub-frequency lows. It can do 40Hz like no other. It was made for that. However, it farts out at moderate volume if you push 150-200 Hz at it. It just farts out in the low mids. I dunno much about the TC cabs but they do look like a smaller-sized design (less internal volume or whatnot) so I could see them strugglin after a certain point. Bigger cabs will usually be a little deeper and less boxy sounding.