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GB Shuttle 6.2 vs. Aguilar TH500???
- Thread starter pauliebass
- Start date
The LMIII sits right in-between the Shuttle 6.2 and TH500 IMO and IME. Bigger, rounder, warmer, smoother than the bighter, tighter Shuttle 6.2, but much more even, balanced and clean (especially up top) than the Aguilar.
The more I've played Markbass amps like the LMII/LMIII etc, the more I am hear an augmented upper midrange that is slightly spongey. This is mostly noticeable in direct comparison to other amps. That said, I gigged with an LMII for a few years and it served me very well. I have simply come to prefer other amps. I still want and need to check out an Aguilar TH500.
Compared to the Mesa M6 that you use, or the GK micro's, and even the Genz Shuttle line, the upper midrange is quite smooth and relaxed with the LMII/III. I like that, but if you really like that super bright, aggressive 'grind', I can see where the LMII/III would sound a bit too relaxed. Of course, you would HATE the TH500 if you were looking for that sort of vibe
Compared to the Mesa M6 that you use, or the GK micro's, and even the Genz Shuttle line, the upper midrange is quite smooth and relaxed with the LMII/III. I like that, but if you really like that super bright, aggressive 'grind', I can see where the LMII/III would sound a bit too relaxed. Of course, you would HATE the TH500 if you were looking for that sort of vibe
Hey Ken, I suppose "aggressive grind" is one to put it. You may be right. Yet with the proper right hand attack/touch, I get a sweeter/softer presentation than you would think. It is not what I would call 'grindy', ...even from the Mesa M6 Carbine.
I don't mean to take this too far off topic. I am simply moving away from the Markbass LMII/III amp sound. (Note: I recently got a Markbass CMD121 112 Combo) for rehearsals and small gigs. (LMII/LMIII head essentially) So I have one at home currently and I've been playing it a lot through a variety of cabs. Its good, but is leaving me wanting something different, especially in the mids and upper mids.
One can also conclude that the relaxed mid-range of MB LMII/III's is part of what keeps them from sounding sterile or digital. (They do NOT sound sterile or digital) The Markbass LMII/III amps definitely have an organic presence to some degree. They do not sound sterile. That's for sure. That's how I hear them.
I have also realized I would be happier with a bit less sizzle than the uber clear, clean tone I get from my Mesa M6 Carbine. It borders on 'modern' just a little too much at times. Not sure what I would replace it however.
The Streamliner 900 I tried was just a bit 'too organic' and tubey for me. But I didn't gig with it to see where it sits in a band mix.
The Mesa M6 produces clear, focused midrange that feels 'punchier' and 'faster'. I like that, but it is now sounding a bit 'modern' to me. I would like something a little more old school, and not quite as sizzly up top and not as deep down low.
PS: And all this leaves me wanting to evaluate a GB 9.2 or TH500 to hear where they live. That's how I got on this thread in the first place.
+1 to all of the above. If you were looking for 'M6/M9' voicing in a micro, I always recommend the GK MB800. Quite similar tone profile (although I always recommend with the caveat that I am pretty unimpressed with the build quality/reliability of the entire GK line at this point).
The head that, IMO, comes closest to your comment of 'a little less modern but still full range', with a tighter low end is the Genz Benz Shuttle Max 9. It is quite 'tight and bright' out of the box, but the EQ is magnificent, and with some boosting of the low end ( a couple of clicks) and a pretty decent cut to the upper mids, a boost to the tube preamp and a bit of extension rolled in with the variable 'bassboost/hi pass' button, it is pretty darn nice. It doesn't have the kick of the M6 (hardly any amp does other than the M9... that little GJ MB800 gets close), but it gets plenty loud, is a GREAT match with the AE410, and has EQ out the wazoo!
That all being said, if you are looking for a lightweight DB750/751 that gives you 3/4's of the slam, 100% of the tone, in 1/10th the weight and 1/4 the size, the TH500 is pretty hard to beat. It will put a pillow under the band, and give you a bit of the 'feel' of an all tube sort of thing.
You are zero'd in my friend. Definitely have the Shuttle Max 9 or TH500 on my radar to check out. Even the Shuttle 9.2 might make me happy. played one briefly at the AZ GTG last month and it sounded good too.
As I posted above, they really did a nice job with the 6.2 update... fatter, warmer, louder, punchier than the 6 (due to the revoicing, the different gain structure, the new power management system, and the revised 'voicing button' tone). But man, the Max 9.2 (if you don't mind a 'micro light but not micro sized' head is really something. The EQ, the dual channels, the variable voicing controls, etc. is really something. And, plenty of slam. Not quite what some would think of '900 watts', but definitely more than the typical 500 watt micro.
You might dig the TH500 also. That would definitely be 'the biggest change' for you of these heads. Super fat, gooey, warm, chewy tone... the 'Aguilar thing'.
Well I am evolving tonally. So who knows. The TH500 is very intriguing to me. Might buy one from MF or a place where I can return it on the chance that it doesn't work for me.
I recently tried an Orange Terror 1000 and was very pleased with the tone. It is most definitely voiced with a bit of built in grind in the mids. More old school, but punchy. Yet the TH500 is something I want to try. ....and more time with a GB Shuttle <something/.2/max etc> LOL
As I get more interested in Aguilar, I wonder how this comparison would relate my SM12.0 to the TH500. Is the tone/low end of the SM12.0 more similar to the shuttle6.0 or to the X.2 line? (I've tried to sort that out on the SM thread but still not sure what's in there as far as the HPF parameters)
To me the GB seems at times to lack some lows, but when I play out it always gets my tone to sit really well in the mix and I get lots of positive feedback on the sound, and DI quality.
To me the GB seems at times to lack some lows, but when I play out it always gets my tone to sit really well in the mix and I get lots of positive feedback on the sound, and DI quality.
More similar to the x2 line. The original Shuttle 6 was purposefully attenuated down low in order to work well with the original Shuttle cabs (which were very small and somewhat lacking in true low end). Given the much more full range current Shuttle cabs (really nice... the 112 is a fantastic small 112), the 6.2 now has the same tone profile of the 9.2 (which is also similar to the 9.0 and 12.0).
That being said, the Genz Shuttle heads are tight by nature, and are hi passed and voiced to always sound tight and kind of 'sit above the bass drum'. You can crank the bass control and even widen that bass boost/hi pass, and the cones will still be well controlled (i.e., not a lot of pistoning from deep bass). Depending on what you are looking for, that can (as most things) be a positive or a negative.
Sub'd!!!
I have the SMax 9.2 into a pair of Baer ML-112's but I'm "drawn" to the tonal description of the TH500 and seriously considering it as a back up in the next year...
Probably because of my love for my TH pedal
I have the SMax 9.2 into a pair of Baer ML-112's but I'm "drawn" to the tonal description of the TH500 and seriously considering it as a back up in the next year...
Probably because of my love for my TH pedal
KJung,
I'm hoping for a higher powered head from Aguilar - something between the DB 751 and Tone Hammer 500. And I'd like Genz Benz offer a head in between the GBE 1200 and Shuttlemax 9.2.
Luckily, I don't ever do a gig where the 500 watts of the TH500 don't do it for me. And, with my small 4ohm cabs (212's, 115's, 410's), those cabs can't really use much more power than what the TH500 and the Genz stuff puts out.
I guess if you are doing metal or something, with Marshall stacks and a stupid loud stage sound with the drums blaring through the monitors, I could see needing more power. Luckily, I only play with groups that have stage sound relatively to the volume of an umic'd drummer playing full tilt. Don't need much more than a 212 and 500 watts for that! Anthing else goes through the mains if I'm playing a huge room that requires big volume.
Me too! I can't remember the last time I needed more power. Don't think I ever have to be honest. All I need is good solid stage volume to match the level of Acoustic drums. That usually gets the gigs done without FOH support. and for the gigs that do have FOH, I usually play around the same volume. In fact, my Volume rarely varies anywhere I go. 500W's is plenty!
Questions of this manner should be taken directly to youtube.
Shuttle 6.2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx9OigytbNw
Streamliner 900 (for reference there are sections with a similar Shuttle A/Bd for a GREAT comparison, a recommended watch): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-27szg61bw
Here is a Tonehammer 500 reference video. This gentleman is a member of TB, also appears to be a damn good player: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA2DzxQc8bE
I've owned a TH500 and a Streamliner 900 and I dont feel like using words to describe those great amps. I havent owned a Shuttle but Im sure its damn good.
Shuttle 6.2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx9OigytbNw
Streamliner 900 (for reference there are sections with a similar Shuttle A/Bd for a GREAT comparison, a recommended watch): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-27szg61bw
Here is a Tonehammer 500 reference video. This gentleman is a member of TB, also appears to be a damn good player: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA2DzxQc8bE
I've owned a TH500 and a Streamliner 900 and I dont feel like using words to describe those great amps. I havent owned a Shuttle but Im sure its damn good.
