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Aguilar ToneHammer 500 vs DB750 (video comparison)

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by punchdrunk, May 21, 2017.

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Which do you prefer

  1. DB 750

    32 vote(s)
    30.8%

  2. TH500

    32 vote(s)
    30.8%

  3. Tacos

    40 vote(s)
    38.5%
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  1. May 21, 2017 #1
    punchdrunk

    punchdrunk Inactive

    Jun 22, 2013
    Here's a quick early morning (and very hungover) video comparison between the two. I'm finding that the TH500 acquits itself quite nicely.
     
    andruca, hs123, WesW and 4 others like this.
  2. May 21, 2017 #2
    punchdrunk

    punchdrunk Inactive

    Jun 22, 2013
    GS412, I accidentally refer to it as GH in the vid.
     
  3. May 21, 2017 #3
    George Himmel

    George Himmel

    May 16, 2009
    Boston, kid!
    Former Manager, Bass San Diego
    On the video I really do like how the TH500 sounds, but I know how they each sound live too, so...
     
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  4. May 21, 2017 #4
    punchdrunk

    punchdrunk Inactive

    Jun 22, 2013
    I use both depending on the gig, but there is something spectacular about 750 onstage. It just whallops.
     
    franklindayala, wncBass and alembicguy like this.
  5. May 21, 2017 #5
    Dragonlord

    Dragonlord Rocks Around The Glocks

    Aug 30, 2000
    Greece, Europe
    Cool video! I know lots of people love the DB750, but personally when I tried it I found it a bit wooly for my taste. The TH500 sounds more defined, so my vote goes there...
     
    punchdrunk likes this.
  6. May 21, 2017 #6
    punchdrunk

    punchdrunk Inactive

    Jun 22, 2013
    Thanks, and I agree, the 750 can get a little wooly, I tend to try and guard against that by trimming the gain and the bass. It can get quite articulate when q"d correctly. But the to me TH is a better combination of fat warmth with clarity. I just wish Aguilar would create a TH750 and be done with it.
     
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  7. May 21, 2017 #7
    jmattbassplaya

    jmattbassplaya Supporting Member

    Jan 13, 2008
    Swap the V1 tube out and it clears right up :)
     
    rodl2005, Slough Feg Bass, Dragonlord and 3 others like this.
  8. May 21, 2017 #8
    chris_b

    chris_b

    Jun 2, 2007
    Me too. . . . and goes to 2 ohms.
     
    SteveHeissner, R Upsomegrub and punchdrunk like this.
  9. May 21, 2017 #9
    alembicguy

    alembicguy I operate the worlds largest heavey equipment Supporting Member

    Jan 28, 2007
    Minnesota
    This!
     
    punchdrunk likes this.
  10. May 21, 2017 #10
    Jeff Scott

    Jeff Scott Rickenbacker guru..........

    Apr 11, 2006
    Out there!
    So far, it's a dead heat between the two amps, and the tacos!!! :woot:

    Screen Shot 2017-05-21 at 8.19.20 PM.png
     
    the yeti and punchdrunk like this.
  11. May 21, 2017 #11
    g4string

    g4string Supporting Member

    Sep 19, 2002
    Melissa, TX
    I like tacos.....but they'll make you fat. So I voted for the TH500
     
    StrangerDanger and punchdrunk like this.
  12. May 21, 2017 #12
    Admiral Akbar

    Admiral Akbar

    Mar 12, 2013
    New York
    Pardon my ignorance -- but swap out the V1 for what exactly?
     
  13. May 21, 2017 #13
    jmattbassplaya

    jmattbassplaya Supporting Member

    Jan 13, 2008
    Another preamp tube. A lot of people rave about JJs, but I think they sound sterile. I personally love TungSols. They have a thick bottom end while maintaining a lot of punch and grunt in the midrange.
     
    Slough Feg Bass, gillento, Admiral Akbar and 1 other person like this.
  14. May 21, 2017 #14
    Tom Baker

    Tom Baker

    Feb 3, 2016
    Austin, TX
    I voted for Tacos and I'm not afraid to admit it.
     
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  15. May 22, 2017 #15
    jthisdell

    jthisdell

    Jun 12, 2014
    Roanoke, VA
    Nice posting, i've never had the opportunity to try one of their larger amps but I love my TH. Very versatile after you learn how the Drive and Gain work.
     
    jcerio and punchdrunk like this.
  16. May 22, 2017 #16
    punchdrunk

    punchdrunk Inactive

    Jun 22, 2013
    No one is gonna argue with the Doctor... (greatest Doctor of all time)
     
    Tom Baker likes this.
  17. May 22, 2017 #17
    Element Zero

    Element Zero Supporting Member

    Dec 14, 2016
    Fresno California
    Can you elaborate on the "wooly" sound? I read it before but don't know what I'd be looking for to hear that tone.
     
  18. May 22, 2017 #18
    Dragonlord

    Dragonlord Rocks Around The Glocks

    Aug 30, 2000
    Greece, Europe
    I gave it some thought and, since I'm not a native english speaker, I think I might end up confusing you even more. So I'll leave it to those with better language skills. OK, for what it's worth, I'd say more tubey in a loose/flabby kind of way. But I'm sure others can help more.
     
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  19. May 22, 2017 #19
    punchdrunk

    punchdrunk Inactive

    Jun 22, 2013
    Dragonlord, you summed it up fine. The easy way to say it is that the at gig volume, once the tubes get good and warm, the tone can become slightly saturated (in a musical/pleasing way). Couple that with its inherent bassiness and low mid push, and the overall tone develops a burnished type quality. It's feels absolutely fantastic in a mix, but it you arent careful that can lead you down the path of too loose of a bottom end. I usually end up (on the gig) dropping the gain down to around 10:30-11:00, and recovering the volume via master. It cleans things up, and I never engage the bass boost. That thing can be fatal to a good mix. I think a lot of the looseness stems from people eqing too much bass and oversaturating the gain.
     
    Pickebass, George Himmel, Dragonlord and 1 other person like this.
  20. May 22, 2017 #20
    Element Zero

    Element Zero Supporting Member

    Dec 14, 2016
    Fresno California
    Ah yes. I know this sound. It's quite easy to do on my Mesa. I had a TH500 and SL112 for a couple weeks and just didn't fall in love with it. My wife's P bass sounded great through it but my ATK 5 string did not. So back it went. I could EASILY see applications for its sound but it just wasn't me.
     
    Thom Smith and punchdrunk like this.
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