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Aguilar Tone Hammer 350

#581
sk8 said:
I'm thinking of picking one of these up as I think it will suit my needs. I'm normally about clean and fat as my core sound. Think Hiwatt Custom territory. Can these amps do that? I tend to prefer a mid scooped sound to a harsh middy one.
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IMO, you may be off target here. Not sure what Hiwatt you are talking about, but I do not think that Hiwatt and the Aguilar TH are even close to the same family.

Hiwatt is about big clean sound. You see guys on here talking about keeping the TH gain control below 1/4 of the way up to avoid the baked in dirt. Hiwatt has crystal clear high end for days, the TH does that old school top end roll off thing. Very different amps.

If you are looking for a Hiwatt type sound, I would be looking at something like a Thunderfunk.

I own the TH 350 and also own a Hiwatt DR201, which is what I am basing this on. YMMV.
 
#582
Has anyone had a chance to play an EBMM Sterling through a TH350? I've got my eye on a Sterling, and I'm wondering how the (brighter?) aggressiveness of the Sterling might pair up with the warmer TH. While I've had more active than passive basses over the years, I've only played passive basses since buying my TH350.
 
#583
blindrabbit said:
Has anyone had a chance to play an EBMM Sterling through a TH350? I've got my eye on a Sterling, and I'm wondering how the (brighter?) aggressiveness of the Sterling might pair up with the warmer TH. While I've had more active than passive basses over the years, I've only played passive basses since buying my TH350.
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I sometimes play a SBMM ray 34 through an Aggie TH 350 and it sounds excellent to me, although its alnico not ceramic like the sterling you mention... And I use a Hartke rig which is very bright too ;)

Hoping someone with EBMM sterling experience can chime in for ya ;)

Anyone ?
 
#588
I had a th500 for a brief moment and sold it because it wasnt really gig bag backup size and i have other big heads. I moved too quick on that one. Recently made an impulse buy on a th350 and really really like the post EQ DI. Have not tried it with many speakers yet, but its awesome with my crazy8! It will meet my gs412 at some point.

The tone keeps pulling me into practicing micheal jackson covers, but it pretty much sounds good on anything.
 
#589
The other thing I really dig about my TH350 (I use the TH500 for most gigs, and have the TH350 set up all the time in my rehearsal space) is the way Aguilar spec'd it.

Other companies hit a low price point by either massively defeaturing their offering and (IMO) cheapening the entire circuitry/quality (like the little GKMB200), or give you lots of watts but really cut corners, resulting in reliability issues (Ampeg, for example).

The TH350 is the exact same front end as the TH500, which lower power. Same quality, same tone, and 90% of the features (you just lose the second speakon and effects loop) as the larger, more powerful and more expensive unit (TH500) in a lower cost, somewhat lower powered and much smaller format. Really nice approach to provide a lower cost, smaller unit that is truly 'pro quality' for those who are either on a strict budget or don't need the full power of the larger format.:bassist:
 
#590
KJung said:
The other thing I really dig about my TH350 (I use the TH500 for most gigs, and have the TH350 set up all the time in my rehearsal space) is the way Aguilar spec'd it.

Other companies hit a low price point by either massively defeaturing their offering and (IMO) cheapening the entire circuitry/quality (like the little GKMB200), or give you lots of watts but really cut corners, resulting in reliabilith issues (Ampeg, for example).

The TH350 is the exact same front end as the TH500, which lower power. Same quality, same tone, and 90% of the features (you just lose the second speakon and effects loop) as the larger, more powerful and more expensive unit (TH500) in a lower cost, somewhat lower powered and much smaller format. Really nice approach to provide a lower cost, smaller unit that is truly 'pro quality' for those who are either on a strict budget or don't need to full power of the larger format.:bassist:
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I have to agree with you 100%

It was strict budget (and no patience to save more) that forced me to choose the 350... but as I don't use FX loops and having gigged the 350 for roughly four months and never felt it was under powered, I'm extremely happy with my purchase. I do wonder if the extra headroom of the 500 would be useful, but again, I am not left wanting more.
I looked at most of the sub 500w micros at the time I was buying and was tempted by cheaper options, but also at that time the Aggie was the only one that didn't seem plagued with issues, had a real affinity with players tonally (not brand worship), and the TH500 detailed thread pretty much convinced me (by anecdotal comments) I had found the amp I was after. Also mentioned in that thread was the fact that the 350 really was a littler, lower powered version with all the same tonal abilities and cone punishing bottom end.
Superb amp :)
 
#591
+1 With a reasonably high sensitivity 4ohm cab(s), I could pretty much do any gig I do with the TH350 (the only thing I find different from the TH500 is that the 'preamp overdrive' indicator comes on at my hardest hits toward the end of the night, but there is really no noticeable change in tone). With a lower sensitivity cab (like my previously owned Thunderchild cabs) or a large, single 8ohm cab at loud volumes, the TH500 will give you a bit more volume, and a more open low end, and is worth the cash IMO.
 
#592
I've got both heads and to be honest, I could easily do without the TH500. I have never needed the extra power on any gigs I have used it on. Like Ken has said, both of these heads sound identical. Aside from the added headroom of the TH500 of course.
 
#594
I 95% agree with this! :)

I am in love with my TH350, and although it was budget that led me to choose it over the 500, not only do I have no regrets about my choice, I think it was the better one. I *really* appreciate the light weight and portability factor of the small head - not like the 500 is a monster or anything like that - and I also enjoy having the extra dollars in my pocket. My only disagreement with your statement would be that I haven't hit any situations where I need the extra headroom (I'm running 2 12" cabinets, so I'm getting every last drop of power out of this little beast). I rarely go past noon on the master, be it at practice or at gigs. I'll see occasional flicking of the light, but its minimal, and I don't really care about it.

The TH350 is the best amp I've ever owned, and I say that as a person who absolutely loved my previous amps (GB Shuttle 6.0, SWR Redhead among the group). I don't think that anyone could possibly make a mistake with either the TH350 or the TH500.

Pimmsley said:
I have to agree with you 100%

It was strict budget (and no patience to save more) that forced me to choose the 350... but as I don't use FX loops and having gigged the 350 for roughly four months and never felt it was under powered, I'm extremely happy with my purchase. I do wonder if the extra headroom of the 500 would be useful, but again, I am not left wanting more.
I looked at most of the sub 500w micros at the time I was buying and was tempted by cheaper options, but also at that time the Aggie was the only one that didn't seem plagued with issues, had a real affinity with players tonally (not brand worship), and the TH500 detailed thread pretty much convinced me (by anecdotal comments) I had found the amp I was after. Also mentioned in that thread was the fact that the 350 really was a littler, lower powered version with all the same tonal abilities and cone punishing bottom end.
Superb amp :)
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#595
I chose the TH350 over the TH500 because:

  • I don't use effects and have no need for an effects loop
  • I only run one speaker cabinet at 4 ohms and have no need for the additional Speakon output
  • Lower price
  • The smaller size allows it to fit in my gig bag better
  • 350 watts is plenty enough for most gigs

Awesome amp!
 
#596
Budget had nothing to do with my TH350 purchase; I just thought that it would work well with my Crazy 88 4ohm cab. It has been a great match and suits the majority of my needs. The tuner-out and mute are features that I use all the time. I have no requirement for an effects loop at all. Leaving all the dials at noon gets me where I want to go, tone-wise, except when I am using my Godin A4 - for that, I cut the bass to about 10:30 or 11:00.

I am extremely happy with it.
 
#597
Size had the most to do with my TH350 purchase, initially... It was the only micro head that actually fit in a typical gig bag pocket & still inspired me tonally.

My criteria when I bought the amp was simply for a tour backup unit that would fit easily in my 'accessory' road case. (The case holds stuff like spare cables, tubes, tools, batteries, etc...) I tried the amp on a theater gig, just to see if I liked it as much as I did at home & at rehearsal spaces) & I was knocked out! It actually kept up just fine with my 'normal' touring amps: all tube Mesa Buster 200w and a Fender Bassman Pro 300w.

The truth is, I've been using my TH350 more than my "main" amps for almost a year now!

I don't call it my "backup" head anymore. ;) I still use my heavy all-tube amps regularly too, but the little TH350 can hang with them no problem!
 
#598
scotch said:
Size had the most to do with my TH350 purchase, initially... It was the only micro head that actually fit in a typical gig bag pocket & still inspired me tonally.

My criteria when I bought the amp was simply for a tour backup unit that would fit easily in my 'accessory' road case. (The case holds stuff like spare cables, tubes, tools, batteries, etc...) I tried the amp on a theater gig, just to see if I liked it as much as I did at home & at rehearsal spaces) & I was knocked out! It actually kept up just fine with my 'normal' touring amps: all tube Mesa Buster 200w and a Fender Bassman Pro 300w.

The truth is, I've been using my TH350 more than my "main" amps for almost a year now!

I don't call it my "backup" head anymore. ;) I still use my heavy all-tube amps regularly too, but the little TH350 can hang with them no problem!
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+1 Hey, are you guys heading out on the road and heading North at all coming up? (Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison?).

And yeah, +1 to all the above... very impressive, small, pro quality amp that pumps much harder than you would think!
 
#599
KJung said:
+1 Hey, are you guys heading out on the road and heading North at all coming up? (Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison?).

And yeah, +1 to all the above... very impressive, small, pro quality amp that pumps much harder than you would think!
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Not on the books yet- just a run in Texas & a show in Georgia this year. (I assume you mean Sixpence?)
 

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