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New Aguilar AG 700!
- Thread starter redhed
- Start date
The Aguilar AG700 is a really loud amp with a wide frequency response and a little growl. It may have a lot of growl, but I was trying to dial it out (drive at 0). IMO, it goes deeper than the Magellan or Subways and louder then the Quilter BB800. I did not keep it because I want my Mesa M6 sound in a light package, and so far, when I compare any light amps to my M6, none of them sound as deep, clean and/ or as loud.
I have been using with the amps: a MIA Passive Fender Precision V with LaBella Deep Talking Light Flats, a MIA Passive Fender Jazz V with TI Jazz Flats and a RevSound RS115X cabinet.
I have been using with the amps: a MIA Passive Fender Precision V with LaBella Deep Talking Light Flats, a MIA Passive Fender Jazz V with TI Jazz Flats and a RevSound RS115X cabinet.
Soo... bass block or Aggie... what's the comparison? How do they contrast and compare?
Have you tried rolling back the master on the Quilter in order to match the wattage of the cab and then increase the gain?
Yes, I did roll back the master and increase the gain on the Quilter. When the gain passes 3, it starts changing the sound. I like nice and clean like my Mesa M6. When the master is turned up on the quilter, it also does something strange to the sound. Not distortion, something else. I can get some good sounds on the quilter, but not at the volume I want. Maybe an active bass would make a difference. I also use no pedals. Maybe a 212 may give the extra volume I need. I have a Tone Hammer on the way that I will be comparing soon.
odds are the Tone Hammer will have way more "growl" (hair, etc) than the AG700.
I can't imagine running the input gain of any amp at zero. That just doesn't make sense to me. Then again, there are guys that dime the master and control their overall volume with the input gain so more than one way to get a noise out of the amp.
I can't imagine running the input gain of any amp at zero. That just doesn't make sense to me. Then again, there are guys that dime the master and control their overall volume with the input gain so more than one way to get a noise out of the amp.
I have owned this amp for close to a month now after owning a Subway D800+. It feels louder and is very punchy to my ears. Prefer it much more to the Tone Hammer 500 I had for a while. Feels like a Tone Hammer but the bright and deep switches add what I felt was lacking in the Tone Hammer. Headroom on this amp is plenty for the hard rock band I play with. Competing with the loud drummer hasn't been an issue since I purchased it. Subway was great but too many tonal options on it where I never settled on a eq i was completely satisfied with oddly enough. In this case simple eq was best for my tonal goals.
Al Kraft
Supporting Member
- May 2, 2016
- 10,777
- 40,459
- Disclosures
- Mesa Boogie beta product tester and player support
I couldn't either and had never had an amp of any type where the gain control was more about voicing than, well, gain. It's why I think a new TH can be such a disappointment to an "unbox it, plug it in, and play" person who does't study the manual and understand the subtleties of the design. It took me a while to get the hang of the controls and their interactions - and I even owned a TH pedal for years before buying the amp. It's interesting that the newest Aguilar has this same oddity.
Yeah, let me know when you get it. My GK was blown up at Midwood Maynia due to crappy AC power in Midwood Park (took out three other amps too). Now I'm in the market for a replacement and I'm highly considering either just another GK or the new Aguilar
My experience (owned multiple times) was that despite the manual and knob twiddling, I could never get the tone and feel I was looking for. When I radically cut the gain, it cleaned up but lost balls and attack. It was close but no cigar. Could be my technique but I found it to not particularly flexible. If you dig the inherent tone, you're set as it is a cool sound, just not what I'm looking for. As always, YMMV.
Hey guys,
I tried it at my local store a few weeks back and loved it.
Kept the TH500, sold my Markbass Alain Caron combo and used the money to put the AG on order (it's back ordered).
Anyone else waiting too?
I tried it at my local store a few weeks back and loved it.
Kept the TH500, sold my Markbass Alain Caron combo and used the money to put the AG on order (it's back ordered).
Anyone else waiting too?
BassByBaldSteve
Supporting Member
- Nov 17, 2011
- 703
- 741
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fodera Basses, Aguilar Amplification
I'm shocked this head isn't getting more love on here as of yet. I was an early user of the Mesa Subway D800, and if you liked that head (and I absolutely loved it and still do. MB got that piece of gear as right as they could have) you will love the AG700. I got mine today, and even though I only got about a hour with it before lessons and a rehearsal, am floored by what Aguilar did here. First, it gets LOUD, but you lose zero tone even when you push it hard. The EQ points are expectedly what they should be, but that deep switch is a whole other animal. The Mesa one, at least for me, was always overpowering in a really not-useful way. Like, it threw off a ton of bass, but the overall voice was thinned and became muddy and indistinct. Not so here. When you engage the AG700 deep switch the tone thickens in a way that maintains presence but widens the tone to such a degree you can feel it on your skin and in your bones. It's a killer tool to have at the ready, especially for laying down deep grooves in hip hop, EDM, or funk situations. It'll murder for slap solos, as will...
The bright switch. Different animal that slathers the sound with this tasty high-fi glaze, but again retains thickness and presence without any detectable harshness. It's crystal clean and glistening. Sadowsky, Nordy, Coppplo, Fodera, heck, any modern J players will love this head, as will anyone prone to dropping the thumb. You engage it with the Deep switch and the starting point with the EQ flat is close to Marcus. Just huge.
If you liked the Subway D800 but are over the baked in tone (which, again, I was and still am a huge fan of. Until the AG700, it was my favorite micro), you've gotta take the AG700 for a spin. I'm leaving on a two week tour in a few days, so I'll be sure to post thoughts on the DI and how it does live. But so far in the home it obliterated my hopes and took over my #1 spot in less than an hour. Crazy great job by Aguilar on this one. They nailed it.
For reference, I used two GS112 cabs (one NT, one with tweeter), and played my Fender Jazz Bass Plus V w/kubicki pre. I'll run it with my P-bass w/flats and geezer EMG tomorrow.
The bright switch. Different animal that slathers the sound with this tasty high-fi glaze, but again retains thickness and presence without any detectable harshness. It's crystal clean and glistening. Sadowsky, Nordy, Coppplo, Fodera, heck, any modern J players will love this head, as will anyone prone to dropping the thumb. You engage it with the Deep switch and the starting point with the EQ flat is close to Marcus. Just huge.
If you liked the Subway D800 but are over the baked in tone (which, again, I was and still am a huge fan of. Until the AG700, it was my favorite micro), you've gotta take the AG700 for a spin. I'm leaving on a two week tour in a few days, so I'll be sure to post thoughts on the DI and how it does live. But so far in the home it obliterated my hopes and took over my #1 spot in less than an hour. Crazy great job by Aguilar on this one. They nailed it.
For reference, I used two GS112 cabs (one NT, one with tweeter), and played my Fender Jazz Bass Plus V w/kubicki pre. I'll run it with my P-bass w/flats and geezer EMG tomorrow.
Yep,
Mine set flat out of the box sounds sweet!!
I'm running a sl410 ( 4 ohm) but just for the heck of it I plugged up my sl112 with it and whoa!!!
That's gonna make a good monitor for my drummer on this next little run I do.
As for the input gain.
It does create a little hair but not crazy.
It will be a lot cleaner with gain off and master cranked.
I've got mine set around 11 o'clock.
The amp is LOUD and bald Steve is right.
The EQ stays in tact.
Also,
The low and hi mid knobs are very musical and the overall taper on ALL the knobs is on point.
Killer amp!
Mine set flat out of the box sounds sweet!!
I'm running a sl410 ( 4 ohm) but just for the heck of it I plugged up my sl112 with it and whoa!!!
That's gonna make a good monitor for my drummer on this next little run I do.
As for the input gain.
It does create a little hair but not crazy.
It will be a lot cleaner with gain off and master cranked.
I've got mine set around 11 o'clock.
The amp is LOUD and bald Steve is right.
The EQ stays in tact.
Also,
The low and hi mid knobs are very musical and the overall taper on ALL the knobs is on point.
Killer amp!
Yeah! I really lilke the bright switch. This function boosts a quite wide range so I can feel a full amount of treble is enhanced. It is pretty similar to the "ultra hi" of Ampegs', but still keeps the characteristic of Aguilar, which is good for me
In my preference, I need a little more bit of touch for treble, so I use an outboard preamp with a little more treble boost. It's quite enough for me!
