Aguilar TH500 and cab combinations

[Plutonium244]

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.

Do you lose some highs by running the gain low and master up? I often bring my bass volume down from max as a way to roll off just a bit of the high end and buffer it a little -- kind of poor man's compression. Not sure it woul work the same on the gain/master of the amp, so interested to hear your thoughts. Usually I am running the amp gain as high as is practical, but setting the master lower.

 

[Plutonium244]

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.

It's also possible OP is getting some wave cancellation with the two non-matching cabs. If the cones are not exactly aligned, could be getting some cancellation since the wave forms will not match up exactly. Some people believe in this magic, others don't. I think it depends on the cabs, and their orientation, etc. so "sometimes" this can be an issue.

 

[Latitude94941]

I strongly agree with Rufus's guidance re gain and master. If the highest you've been running the master is 1:00, you still have a ton of untapped power (unlike a lot of amp's volume tapers, the TH500 is pretty linear through it's range). With a passive bass, running the gain between 9:00 and 10:00 and using the master to set your volume is a good game plan.

Agree with others that you should roll back the bass control on the head to noon (it's centered around 40-50 hz).

The TH500 treble is centered at 4 kHz, so not sure why you're turning it up to 2:00 unless your trying to accentuate string noise or pick clack if you're using one--I would run it flat or even cut to taste.

Try experimenting with the mid-frequency control (right now with the frequency control at noon and level at 2:00, you're boosting a pretty wide band centered at 400 hz.)

Instead, try boosting with the frequency at 3:00 (roughly 700 hz) for more definition.

Try cutting with the frequency at 7:00-8:30 (200 hz) to cut mud and get more punch.

Watch to see what your keyboard players are doing with their left hand and maybe have a tactful conversation with them if necessary.

Final stupid question (but I've made this mistake myself because the button is so small and gets punched in by mistake) is the active/passive switch in the OUT position?

Good luck--Let us know how it goes.

 

[rufus.K]

Do you lose some highs by running the gain low and master up? I often bring my bass volume down from max as a way to roll off just a bit of the high end and buffer it a little -- kind of poor man's compression. Not sure it woul work the same on the gain/master of the amp, so interested to hear your thoughts. Usually I am running the amp gain as high as is practical, but setting the master lower.

I don't think I'm losing highs how I'm doing it, I really prefer high clear voice. My amp bass cut works with the low mid boost to not make the rehearsal room get muddy. I liked the AG500's eq section better cos I had 2 mid bands to play with, so with the TH500 is a balancing act.
All this is predicated on the fact I'm using a particular bass with this group and those settings in that room. If I were to switch to my SR5, it would be a different eq situation, however my ratio of big master and low gain would be similar.
Usually I'm playing thru 2 SL112 cabs for portabilities sake. I'm sure with a 410 or a 15/6 my eq would also vary, but likely still keep gain lower and master higher. I just roll the Drive knob to taste. I used to hate the drive knob when I first got the amp, but I was using high gain and low let master, those two are quite interactive.

 

[Plutonium244]

I don't think I'm losing highs how I'm doing it, I really prefer high clear voice. My amp bass cut works with the low mid boost to not make the rehearsal room get muddy. I liked the AG500's eq section better cos I had 2 mid bands to play with, so with the TH500 is a balancing act.
All this is predicated on the fact I'm using a particular bass with this group and those settings in that room. If I were to switch to my SR5, it would be a different eq situation, however my ratio of big master and low gain would be similar.
Usually I'm playing thru 2 SL112 cabs for portabilities sake. I'm sure with a 410 or a 15/6 my eq would also vary, but likely still keep gain lower and master higher. I just roll the Drive knob to taste. I used to hate the drive knob when I first got the amp, but I was using high gain and low let master, those two are quite interactive.

I use 2 SL-112's too, and have recently come around to using "drive" more on the TH 350, I didn't care for the drive knob at first either, and preferred drive at zero. Lately I have had it about noon and like the ample fatness of it. I think it helps too when using a five string, fattening up the B string. Generally play 4 strings, though.

 

[rufus.K]

I often bring my bass volume down from max as a way to roll off just a bit of the high end and buffer it a little. Usually I am running the amp gain as high as is practical, but setting the master lower.

I'm using an active bass, so my high doesn't change when I bring my bass' volume down. I usually set run the bass' volume at 3/4 and turn it up and back down as needed.
If you're playing a passive , it likely won't be way for you

 

[engedi1]

I used to have your EXACT rig. I have owned the whole TC line of speakers 2x12, 1x12, and 2x10. They tend to be dark in tone, as does the tone hammer. I wonder if its a perception thing. I eventually sold all the TC gear and got an Audiokenesis Thunderchild 115. This speaker is reference monitor clean and is like a fEarful. I couldn't believe how much the tone changed. WAY less dark and so much more open and clear, could hear everything better. I am using an Eden 550 WT now, but I don't think I ever had a gig the TH500 couldn't handle.

 

[blindrabbit]

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.

Those 8s are gorgeous - I'd love to an 8x8 cabinet, but they are all too darn heavy for me!

I do know that a 4th 1x12 could be run, but in all honesty I'd only want to add a third cabinet. Four would just be silly on the stages and in the rooms I play, but I wouldn't mind adding a third to my current rig.

P.S. A Sterling run into the TH head is a glorious thing, isn't it?

 

[Marial]

I will soon be using my TH500 with a Bergantino CN112. I've tested this rig out at a local shop it is delicious-sounding.

 

[rufus.K]

Does it seem this amp has a learning curve? Although I use the Th500 mainly now, I don't really enjoy my passive basses through it as I do through an Eden wt500.

 

[BlazinJzZz]

I'm running my th500 through a berg cn212. Sounds AMAZING. There's some on sale in the classifieds. You might be able to snatch one up at a good price.

 

[meatwad]

I've only ran my TH500 through Ampeg 410 cabs (one or two 410HENs, or a 410HLF), and no matter which configuration I go with, volume and headroom is NEVER a problem.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Does it seem this amp has a learning curve?

Learning curve? For a simple bass amp?

 

[rufus.K]

Learning curve? For a simple bass amp?

I mean this amp's gain structure with the drive knob and ratio of pre and post volume didn't behave the way I expected it to, and took a while to find its voice.
Do you have this amp? Your answering with a snyde question didn't really address the first question.

 

[Marial]

Rufus, yes, they do. The big TH500 thread has some great examples of amp settings.

 

[denton57]

I am really loving my TH500. So much that I'm thinking of selling my vintage SVT. I love the tone through my DB112NT. I also have a DB410, but I have yet to play with them both together in a band setting. I think I would be happy with a second DB112NT and just call it a day.

 

[pravus]

Does it seem this amp has a learning curve? Although I use the Th500 mainly now, I don't really enjoy my passive basses through it as I do through an Eden wt500.

It seems so. I have seen a few posts with different people musing about all the different ways the drive control shapes the tone. It's not something that you can just dial in right away. You have to experiment with different settings and how they work together to really see the versatility of these amps.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I mean this amp's gain structure with the drive knob and ratio of pre and post volume didn't behave the way I expected it to, and took a while to find its voice.
Do you have this amp?

Check out some posts above and elsewhere.

I find the amp totally plug and play, great tone with any cab I have used it with. To me, the various gain/volume related controls were a cinch to grok.

Hope this helps.

Now, here is something that may require a bit of a learning curve.

Although, not as hard as you might think.

 

[direwolf333]

Does it seem this amp has a learning curve?

Like diming the master and using the gain for volume. That's new to me, also learning how it reacts to an active 18V Lull Jazz and Ampeg SCR-DI. I've mostly kept the SCR-DI EQ flat, Ultra high and low engaged and VOL between 2 and 3 o'clock. Using the Lull EQ to fine tune.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

The TH is a fine head - It's your cabs, in my opinion. I was running a TH500 into a Berg CN112 + CN210 and it was loud, sounded great. I sold the head to a buddy (I thought it didn't sound crisp enough for my tastes) and he runs it into a TC 4x10 4 ohm cab and it gets loud as sin.