Aguilar Tone Hammer 350

[scotch]

+1 Totally legit 'pro' head, and the only thing you lose is a bit of open, wide, deep low end when really pushed. And, for some, that actually isn't a bad thing. The absolute volume is not that different.

The size of the TH350 is pretty amazing, and again, all the quality and tone. I couldn't help buying one!

That should be a GREAT DB rig. The drive control with the gain set low should do a great job 'wooding up' the DB and controlling low end boom, and then you still have the semi-parametric for the always present DB feedback/wolf note control in a live setting.

Cool! Are you going out with Sixpence on DB, or another band. Let me know if you will be anywhere near Milwaukee/Chicago!

Yeah, I can't wait to see how the TH350 works with the double bass. The band is pretty large, 6 piece with drums and 3 vocalists - so I really have to get my stage sound "right"!

The DB gig is with Canadian country star, Paul Brandt. All Canadian dates, I'm afraid. First "preliminary" gig is the Grand Ole Opry on March 12. Ricky Skaggs is sitting in with us! No pressure, lol!

Sixpence just played Milwaukee and Chicago! (I should probably advertise tour dates on talkbass, it would be cool to meet you guys!)... The Milwaukee gig was lame (well attended, but the room was tough), but Chicago was at a venue called Space - it was really great! Cool room, great staff and sound! Highly recommended for a 'musical' show atmosphere!

 

[KJung]

Yeah, I can't wait to see how the TH350 works with the double bass. The band is pretty large, 6 piece with drums and 3 vocalists - so I really have to get my stage sound "right"!

The DB gig is with Canadian country star, Paul Brandt. All Canadian dates, I'm afraid. First "preliminary" gig is the Grand Ole Opry on March 12. Ricky Skaggs is sitting in with us! No pressure, lol!

Sixpence just played Milwaukee and Chicago! (I should probably advertise tour dates on talkbass, it would be cool to meet you guys!)... The Milwaukee gig was lame (well attended, but the room was tough), but Chicago was at a venue called Space - it was really great! Cool room, great staff and sound! Highly recommended for a 'musical' show atmosphere!

Awesome... Skagg's at the Opry. That is the real deal there. Have fun with it!

Yeah, post up if you swing through in the summer. I'll check out 'Space' sometime. Sounds like a cool room.

Heading to Martyr's in Chicago in a couple weeks to see Oz Noy, Weckl, and Anthony Jackson. That actually puts pressure on me as a listener I don't really listen to that sort of 'post fusion' stuff much, but Oz is so creative, and Anthony is, well 'Anthony'. Got to do it when you can!

 

[scotch]

Yikes! That should be humbling! I'd love to see Anthony Jackson sometime.

 

[KJung]

Yikes! That should be humbling! I'd love to see Anthony Jackson sometime.

I've seen him once in a VERY small venue (basically a 'living room' type venue at the University of Michigan a while back. He is one of a kind. A combination of perfect execution with 'painful looking technique' with that huge instrument and his small hands. He really is a 'force unto himself'. NOBODY plays like him.

He was sight reading stuff on that gig that I couldn't pull off in 10 years of woodshedding. Literally perfect execution, and a sense of time that is scary... like he is tapping his foot in 64th notes or something. So precise, it hurts sometime

Anyway, sorry for the OT to the Aguilar thread!

 

[ersheff]

Finally got to try the TH350 at high volume. Dayuuuummm.
Sounds killer through just one Bag End S15-D.
Sounds a little extra killer with an additional S12-D stacked on top.
SUPER tight, yet hairy. I really like it.
The low end is better than I was expecting. All the talk of BE's lacking in low end had me worried, but it just sounds tight and balanced.
An interesting note: stacking the 2 cabs theoretically makes a 3db difference in volume. While it's definitely noticeably louder, it's not night and day. If going to a TH500 would only increase the volume an additional 1.5db, then that extra $200 for 150 more watts really isn't that significant.

 

[scotch]

I imagine the biggest benefit of the 500 would be more clean headroom. I'm not really a "clean headroom" guy though & it's the harmonic saturation that makes Aguilar gear appeal to me in the first place!

There's certainly a role for both amps to fill! Either model makes a more than adequate gigging amp for the vast majority of players in my opinion.

 

[KJung]

Finally got to try the TH350 at high volume. Dayuuuummm.
Sounds killer through just one Bag End S15-D.
Sounds a little extra killer with an additional S12-D stacked on top.
SUPER tight, yet hairy. I really like it.
The low end is better than I was expecting. All the talk of BE's lacking in low end had me worried, but it just sounds tight and balanced.
An interesting note: stacking the 2 cabs theoretically makes a 3db difference in volume. While it's definitely noticeably louder, it's not night and day. If going to a TH500 would only increase the volume an additional 1.5db, then that extra $200 for 150 more watts really isn't that significant.

Nice matchup! Those Bags are very efficient (loud per watt). You would notice a more open low end and a bit more volume with the TH500 when really pumping, but it probably wouldn't change your life or anything. Primarily more full sounding low end at high volumes, with a bit more absolute volume.

 

[AMJBASS]

The Bag End S15D is a very unique cabinet. I have always been a fan. It doesn't have a particularly wide frequency response, but it does sit VERY well in the mix. I can see the Aguilar being a great match with it!

I've got nothing but good things to say about the TH350 so far. I usually don't like reading reviews that are completely glowing but I do think this head warrants it. For this particular tonal footprint I don't know that there is anything better on the market than either of the Tone Hammer heads.

 

[velalv]

Here is my new little TH350, sitting on top of my Berg AE210. It is really small. This will sit in my practice space, with the TH500 on the gig. Dig it! Sounds just like the big one up to a certain volume (and that 'certain volume' is pretty darn high).

I saw this in the shop and played through this rig (both amp and cab) in a shop here in town and loved the tone. Really liked it with the SL112 as well.

My only question was about the mismatch power wise. The TH350 will only get 175 watts out of that cab right at 8 Ohms, and if I recall, that Berg rated for 400. Is that going to be enough to fill up room on a gig and get over a non-shielded drummer? Or should I think about getting a 500? I play in a church band, so I am not trying to bring down a house on my own. Also, how do you think the tone will be different between the Berg and SL. The SL sounded a bit "scooped to me", but again, this was all in the shop.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

 

[scotch]

I was just touring with my fairly loud rock band - no drum shield & floor wedge monitors. TH350 through a Mesa 1x15 8ohms. Plenty loud with that cab!

I'll be using my TH350 through single SL 112 next week - will report back!

 

[KJung]

I saw this in the shop and played through this rig (both amp and cab) in a shop here in town and loved the tone. Really liked it with the SL112 as well.

My only question was about the mismatch power wise. The TH350 will only get 175 watts out of that cab right at 8 Ohms, and if I recall, that Berg rated for 400. Is that going to be enough to fill up room on a gig and get over a non-shielded drummer? Or should I think about getting a 500? I play in a church band, so I am not trying to bring down a house on my own. Also, how do you think the tone will be different between the Berg and SL. The SL sounded a bit "scooped to me", but again, this was all in the shop.

Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

Remember, the power rating of a cab has NOTHING to do with how loud per watt, or how much power the cab needs. It is a rough guide of MAXIMUM power that can be continuously applied without causing thermal damage to the driver. So, kind of a meaningless spec, and is the basis for so many thinking you can 'underpower' a cab, which you cannot

I have never heard the Aguilar 112 neo, so can't comment. The Berg AE210 and the TH350 will perform at a reasonbly high level, and will handle any '210 sized' gig (i.e., a moderately loud pop band in a relatively small club, playing to the volume of an unmic'd drummer.

The AE210 is more 'punchy than deep' so it isn't going to shake the rafters. But it slots itself wonderfully in a mix, and is very articulate and fun to play through.

Of course, the TH500 gets it a bit louder and deeper, but it wouldn't change your life.

If I was forced to guess on the SL112 versus the AE210, the AE210 will get louder, the SL112 will go a bit deeper.

 

[rodl2005]

I know we're all watt crazy these days but as long as those watts are of a good punchy variety the 175 of em should kick well 'ard. I used a 150w tube amp thru a EV 115 for years before I switched to an anaemic 300w ss amp that couldn't cut a tomato.
This TH350/500 will thump, imo, even at 8ohms.
As KJ said, whether a 210 will be enough 4 u, is another matter.

 

[GregC]

Sixpence just played Milwaukee and Chicago! (I should probably advertise tour dates on talkbass, it would be cool to meet you guys!)... The Milwaukee gig was lame (well attended, but the room was tough), but Chicago was at a venue called Space - it was really great! Cool room, great staff and sound! Highly recommended for a 'musical' show atmosphere!

I went to Space for the first time in November and totally agree with your comments--excellent place! Glad you had a great experience there, too.

Yeah, post up if you swing through in the summer. I'll check out 'Space' sometime. Sounds like a cool room.

Speaking of bass legends, Ken, Stanley Clarke is playing at Space in late April. It's very rare that I go to jazz gigs, but I may just buck up and do it this time since the venue's so darn nice. The club is in Evanston, so it might be an easier trip for you than the city proper.

Sorry for adding to the OT, all.

 

[GregC]

On topic, I will probably pick up the 350 or the 500 in the next couple months. I'm extremely happy with my Walkabout, but I'm very intrigued by the TH amps and want an amp that can fit in my carryon bag in June. I'm getting married in Virginia and a couple of my bands will reform the night before my wedding. Looking forward to trying one of these at practice through my NV610.

 

[rodl2005]

Sound great thru a Berg NV cab!
Makes me wonder why I carried my 60lb tube amp in.

 

[KJung]

Since I've been flapping my gums so much about this head over the last 6 months, I went ahead and broke my rule about 'no more videos'

Here is a quick clip of the TH350 with my Bergantino AE210 (very even cab with a tight low end) and my Nordstrand Nordy VP5 with two month old well broken in Dunlop Nickel wounds.

If you have good phones, the quality of the clip is quite good through the actual frequency range of the rig (I record in that PCM 48K 24 bit whatever mode), and the rig is at 'gig volume'. So, at least a sense of 'my tone' that I like with my rather modern voiced 5 string P bass!

Here is the clip:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Vo66BE8Eutk

 

[scotch]

Since I've been flapping my gum so much about this head over the last 6 months, I went ahead and broke my rule about 'no more videos'

Here is a quick clip of the TH350 with my Bergantino AE210 (very even cab with a tight low end) and my Nordstrand Nordy VP5 with two month old well broken in Dunlop Nickel wounds.

If you have good phones, the quality of the clip is quite good through the actual frequency range of the rig (I record in that PCM 48K 24 bit whatever mode), and the rig is at 'gig volume'. So, at least a sense of 'my tone' that I like with my rather modern voiced 5 string P bass!

Here is the clip:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Vo66BE8Eutk

GREAT video demo, Ken! Here's what I like about it & wish more "pro" demo videos had these qualities:

a) You can get a sense of the actual volume in the room compared to a speaking voice. No separate micing or mixing. As you turn up, you can hear stuff in the room vibrating & making noise too -perfect!

b) Amp is set to very usable and musical settings. No death metal, super-scoop slap or 'niche' tones. Just solid, working man bass tone.

c) Short musical phrases - not too long winded where you have to fast forward (yawn - I want a demo not a concert!). There's also decent variety, just a few seconds of slap & plenty of fingerstyle to gauge a good baseline opinion of the gear, not the player! (see d) below)

d) Good playing. Not a chops fest or style primer - just solid, familiar bass playing that showcases the gear. Clean fretting and technique, too. Ken is the kind of guy I look for when hiring a sub - not the flasher with the frills! This is also rather valuable in trying to evaluate the gear in an online clip.

e) A little low B string. Although I prefer 4-bangers, It's still good to hear that the amp or cab isn't farting out with the sub-bass tones.

f) 2 1/2 minutes. That's all we need, folks!

All of that aside, you can tell this is a giggable rig for a range of styles. Being a 2x10, it's not gonna cut it for your Metallica tribute band, obviously - but that sounds like a perfect pairing for jazz combo, coffee house gig, acoustic showcase or small room blues jam. I'd like to hear a double bass through that!

I'm going to use this as a reference for the next video demo I do.

 

[KJung]

Thanks so much! All your points are what I've always tried to accomplish with these videos. Not much of musical interest, but at least a data point for people. Thanks again. Coming from you, that made my day

 

[velalv]

Thanks so much! All your points are what I've always tried to accomplish with these videos. Not much of musical interest, but at least a data point for people. Thanks again. Coming from you, that made my day

Ken:

Thank you so much for posting this video. This was very useful, and confirmed my initial impressions at the shop, which is that I would like this combination very much tone wise. I appreciate it especially coming from a top player such as yourself. Sorry I did not get to this sooner, spent all day playing bass at church

I really thought the head sounded great through the Berg. I also liked the DNA, the DB 210/ 212, and the SL112. I did not like how it played with I also love the tone you were getting out of a P, I thought on first blush the tone was somewhat J bass like. I did not care for the TH out of the Genz or the GK at my local bass boutique shop.

I think for me it will come to a volume versus cost thing. Our church is in the middle of a move, I want to see where we land. I want to have a rig I can gig at local bars/church without PA support, but don't need a 4 10 or want to carry one. Your demo sold me even further on the Aguilar head.

My rig needs to move enough air for about 125 - 150 people to go along, not trying to rock a huge night club, just get good bottom with my Jazz Deluxe. Budget is about $1300. I would appreciate any suggestions on cabs to play with a TH 350 or 500 (may lean toward TH500). Mainly play CCM and some modern Gospel. Mostly finger style, occasionally pick, and slap once in a blue moon. Thx

 

[rodl2005]

Shows also what a nice cab the AE210 is too.
Thanks KJ:thumbup: