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Aguilar Tone Hammer

#282
I'm a pedalboard user and I use the Vodoo Labs Pedal Power 2.
Each connector is 9V and I have one of the adapters that feeds two of them, so that it'll work for an 18V pedal. This seems ideal for this application. I'm wondering if anyone has tried this. In addition, I'm wondering if anyone runs the TH on just a 9V supply.

Your experiences and input would be appreciated.
 
#284
barend said:
Good question,

I was wandering the same thing.
I have the Tonehammer. I think the clean sound doesn't fatten the sound when you are playing in the 'clean mode'. If you set the EQ knobs in the middle position the sound it pretty much as your original sound (although there is some Aguilar edge on it, but I am not completely sure). You can make it more 'fat' with the EQ knobs. But if you use the AGS it will fatten the sound, you can go from a more clean fattened sound to a heavily overdriven sound if you turn up the gain.

I am also curious what other people experience are in this.

What I noticed is that there is a volume boost when you engage the AGS. So it is not so usuable if you want to switch between the clean channel and the AGS channel in one song.
Also I noticed quit some hiss/noise when you turn up the treble more than 12 o'clock.
Click to expand...

Barend, I noticed in an earlier post you wanted a good slap sound and liked a marcus miller type slap sound and smoother transition between fingerstyle and slap. Are you getting this with the tonehammer?
 
#285
Poon said:
I'm a pedalboard user and I use the Vodoo Labs Pedal Power 2.
Each connector is 9V and I have one of the adapters that feeds two of them, so that it'll work for an 18V pedal. This seems ideal for this application. I'm wondering if anyone has tried this. In addition, I'm wondering if anyone runs the TH on just a 9V supply.

Your experiences and input would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

Try two 9v batteries.
:hiding:
um ...bump?
 
#288
It's here.
It works for what I'd hoped it would, which was to add more top end sheen to my Reverend BH5.
Those who have noted the AGS adds "uncontrolled boost" to the signal when engaged are correct: it'd be nice to be able to toggle warmth/grit in and out without having to boost gain from the clean signal.
That's a problematic design flaw, as far as I'm concerned.
 
#289
Brief update: it *does not* effectively drive my QSC PLX power amps.

So, that's the end of the experiment for me.
If anyone wants mine, check misc and amp classifieds.

thx-alan
 
#291
Chef said:
Brief update: it *does not* effectively drive my QSC PLX power amps.

So, that's the end of the experiment for me.
If anyone wants mine, check misc and amp classifieds.

thx-alan
Click to expand...

Hi Chef,

Sorry you don't like it. I accept that it can't be for everybody. But; the Tone Hammer has a lot more output than necessary to drive the PLX series. If you would like, jot me a PM or give us a call tomorrow. Maybe we can figure out what's up.

Hope this is helpful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dave B.
 
#292
Aguilar/Dave B. said:
Hi Chef,

Sorry you don't like it. I accept that it can't be for everybody. But; the Tone Hammer has a lot more output than necessary to drive the PLX series. If you would like, jot me a PM or give us a call tomorrow. Maybe we can figure out what's up.

Hope this is helpful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dave B.
Click to expand...

Dave,

The Tone Hammer really does need a control to balance the AGS channel against the clean channel. I know that would require a pretty major change in the case as well as the electronics, so I don't imagine it's a modification we'll see on the near horizon. Otherwise, it's a great tool for tone shaping.

Munji
 
#294
Dave B;
thx for the reply...unfortunately, it came after I flipped it. Unless there was something wrong with the unit I had, my experience is that it will not drive a qsc/plx. At least not like any of the other preamps I use.
With an Eden Navigator, or my aggie 680, I run the PLX 1602 at about 40%; and it's *real dang loud.*
With the Tone Hammer, input at 80%, output at 80%, and qsc dimed...it just wasn't gonna get her done.
I coulda pushed it more, but above that it was starting to get noisy...

I'd be glad to test another unit if you like; but the AGS gain thing was gonna be a problem for me anyway and would have seen me flip it for that reason as well. I could have lived with that if the TH met my "preamp in my gig bag pocket" dream...but it didn't.
Cie la Vie, and again, thx for the reply.
 
#295
Chef said:
(...) I could have lived with that if the TH met my "preamp in my gig bag pocket" dream...but it didn't.
Cie la Vie, and again, thx for the reply.
Click to expand...

as of now, that title belongs to my sansamp para DI box. the voicing of the EQ is AWESOME. was hoping i could switch on and off the great sounding overdrive, and was hoping the tone hammer would be that... but c'est la vie!
 
#296
Aguilar/Dave B. said:
the Tone Hammer has a lot more output than necessary to drive the PLX series.
Click to expand...

Dave, could you specify an average output voltage level at the top end of the (mostly) linear range, for both the balanced and unbalanced outputs?

Granted it will vary based on the input level, but please give us some kind of realistic estimate based on an average input. Thanks!
 
#299
bongomania said:
Dave, could you specify an average output voltage level at the top end of the (mostly) linear range, for both the balanced and unbalanced outputs?

Granted it will vary based on the input level, but please give us some kind of realistic estimate based on an average input. Thanks!
Click to expand...


Sure. With -20 going in, and all the knobs set at 12:00:

nominal output:

1/4" -20dBu
XLR -14dBu balanced
XLR -20dBu unbalanced

Again with -20 going in, and the master volume raised to clipping:

max output:

1/4" 4VRMS
XLR 8VRMS balanced


I hope this is helpful. I don't know of any power amp that this won't drive. Please let me know if you need more info.

Best Regards,

Dave B.
 
#300
Thanks very much, that is exactly the type of info I find helpful, and I appreciate it. I see you say the 4/8V levels were with the master volume raised to clipping; about what voltage output levels could one expect right before the pedal starts to clip noticeably?

Thanks again!
 

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