Aguilar TH350 or TH500. Your search is over once you've tried or bought one of those, and by search I mean the search for the best amp you ever have or ever will own.
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Help me choose a head (analysis paralysis)
- Thread starter Billfordofau
- Start date
Aguilar TH350 or TH500. Your search is over once you've tried or bought one of those, and by search I mean the search for the best amp you ever have or ever will own.
Another question I have I suppose, what does the tube pre really do? Does a hybrid with a tube pre (LH500, T-Max, MB Fusion) really have that much more oomph?
I've looked at the Aguilar heads also, and they're definitely on my radar, but again the cost factor comes into play. Why should I buy a TH500 for 6-700 when I can get a pf500 or GK mb500 for a couple hundred less? Is it really that superior of a head?
As far as the cabs go, I'm reading a lot of great stuff around here and elsewhere about the GK neo cabs. That seems like a good direction.
I've looked at the Aguilar heads also, and they're definitely on my radar, but again the cost factor comes into play. Why should I buy a TH500 for 6-700 when I can get a pf500 or GK mb500 for a couple hundred less? Is it really that superior of a head?
As far as the cabs go, I'm reading a lot of great stuff around here and elsewhere about the GK neo cabs. That seems like a good direction.
From what I understand (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, other TBers), the main attraction to amps with a tube pre is that they provide a more natural warmth or grit from overdriving the tubes. I've heard the Tone Hammer heads do this well without actually having any tubes. The GK MB500 fusion is the same price as the Aguilar TH500.
The GK neo cabs get a lot of love. I haven't personally played one, but as you saw, a quick search will give you a bunch of info on them.
If you like THAT sound then the TH is great, though I wouldn't say it is that superior.
IMO power tubes will give you more of a benefit compared to a tube pre.
If you are interested in GK, you should also at least entertain the thought of a 800RB; though I would skip the GK cabs
IMO power tubes will give you more of a benefit compared to a tube pre.
If you are interested in GK, you should also at least entertain the thought of a 800RB; though I would skip the GK cabs
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On a budget take a serious look at the Fender Rumble v3 500 head.
I use in alternate to my Mesa boogie titan v12.
I have been very pleased with the tone and the output.
It's a killer head for 399.
I use in alternate to my Mesa boogie titan v12.
I have been very pleased with the tone and the output.
It's a killer head for 399.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Consider either the Carvin Bx-500 (has the tube pre), or Kustom KBX-500. I haven't played the Kustom, but have read some good things. I have the Carvin. It's 500 watts at 4 or 2 ohms, and lots of EQ options.
I play trumpet in a soul band sometimes -- the house amp there is a carvin bx500 into two avatar cabs, 1x15 and a 2x10. It really sounds great and has no trouble filling up the room.
I think a tube pre is strictly a marketing gimmick.
p.s. the rumbles are a good value but I have experience with both the 1x15 and the 2x10. Plenty loud but they don't sound good to me.
I think a tube pre is strictly a marketing gimmick.
p.s. the rumbles are a good value but I have experience with both the 1x15 and the 2x10. Plenty loud but they don't sound good to me.
I certainly understand a budget. However, if it were as simple as least amount of $ per watt those pyramid car stereo amps that cost like $79 and are 1000 watts would be a good choice. They aren't.
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Another shout for the Rumble 500 head, the overdrive circuit is brilliant, pair it with Ampeg cabs would be my preference.
So you REALLY opened a can of worms here. You need to define two things, your budget, and the approximate sound you are looking for. Next step, try used and see what is available in your area. Don't be afraid to drive an hour or two. See if your local store can order in another couple heads for you to try out.
So just a few I'll go on about, I tried out the MB500 and didn't like it, I had a TH500 for a while and it's really nice (most usable overdrive I've heard in a pedal IMO), and I just got in a GK 700RB to try out and it's pretty awesome I have to say. All that said, that was for me and what's right for one is not always (in fact is quite often not) best for another. Just keep that in mind.
So just a few I'll go on about, I tried out the MB500 and didn't like it, I had a TH500 for a while and it's really nice (most usable overdrive I've heard in a pedal IMO), and I just got in a GK 700RB to try out and it's pretty awesome I have to say. All that said, that was for me and what's right for one is not always (in fact is quite often not) best for another. Just keep that in mind.
First off, thank you for not mixing drivers and understanding the benefits of a two 2x10 rig...you are lightyears ahead of most "I need an amp rig" threads. Kudos there.
Both the PF500 and GK MB500 are good heads, I have the MB200 and it's a little beast. However, I wouldn't necessarily jump to the "Good amp + tube = better amp" assertion. I'm no anti-tuber, by all means I think that a full tube amp sound/feel is something unattainable by solid state or hybrids. Some amp companies do get very close (I hear Mesas are very close), but that has to do with the circuitry in the power section IME, which is part of the mojo of all-tubers. The tone stack on the GK amps are pretty much all the same, so recording DI with them will be a pretty standard experience. I had a Fusion 550 (a huge freakin head) and I couldn't hear too much difference when recording. The pushed preamp tubes did sound slightly different, but it wasn't the overdrive sound I was looking for or got with my Traynor YBA200 (it integrated more signal path into the DI I think). Sold it and prefer my MB200 overall, which handles dirt and OD pedals just fine. If you want tube grind there are lots of options out there that will end up being more versatile.
My advice would be either head plus a dirt pedal to get tubeish grind. The preamp tubes don't make enough of a difference IME, especially in a live band context.
I guess what I'm asking is what does a $700 Aguilar TH500 get me that a GK MB500 or Ampeg pf500 won't get me? Is the build quality that much better or the tone that much better? I understand comparing a Crate or Behringer to Ampeg SVT is stupid, but I'm more curious why the difference in the former situation.
I've become a bit of a pedal geek so that's probably going to be more my speed, getting the overdriven sound out of pedals rather than the amp itself. That said, it sounds like the amps with the tube pre would be more or less wasted on me, at least for my uses.
The other factor which I may or may not have mentioned is portability does play a role. The thing that drew me to those little GK heads was how light they were. That would be pretty nice.
And sorry for opening a can of worms. I've been reading these forums long enough to know posts like these get some eyes rolling. I also learned a while back from this forum that mixing drivers is a no-no. The thing I really like about the idea of a 2x210 cab set up is how versatile it can be. That's definitely the cab direction I'm going.
Lots of good replies and great info here. Thanks a ton and keep em coming!
That's pretty much what I realized for me, too. Helps save some cash, plus I play a lot of different styles of music so I like to run my amp pretty clean. I like the clean tones I get out of my GK MB800 and can dial in a little grit on the head if I need to, but I usually use pedals if I want more than just a touch of hair. Also, I'm a fan of the twin 210s.
i guess I'm going to have to come into this thread and suggest the Power > Preamp set up as well. Pretty cost efficient and allows for a lot more tone control. Slightly bigger set up. If you want something smaller than a text book then ignore this post.
Got nothing bad to say about the TH500. Nice head and very very light. But the GK and Ampeg heads are also very good as well, though I like the Ampeg and Aggie more than the GK. But I don't think the PF500 takes a back seat to any other 500w micro heads I've played, other than it being a little bit heavier than most, which is no big deal to me.
Yes, what is it, 15 pounds instead of 11?
I've tried several, and came back for another PF500.
If you use a shallow rack with a Class-D power amp, the result can be very portable, too!
My 6U with Crown XLS1500, VT Bass, TC M300, tuner, power strip comes in at 32 lbs. Less than half the old Peavey I formerly lugged, with 10X the power.
