• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Should I get the Epifani Ul501 and ul410?

I love the Epifani sound! I use to own the UL410 S1 and the UL502 both great gear! I'm just curious/concern about the company direction. I myself is debating on the Aguilar Tone Hammer 500 amp w/ SL410 or the Epifani 501 w/Ul410
 
I wanted to experiment with another rig which was a markbass amp w/ a Schroader cab, but got out of that rig and now debating between Aguilar and Epifani. Genz Benz got my interest as well, especially the Shuttle max 9.2.

I'm at namm today...
and trying them both, they both sound good,,
why'd you get rid of your epifani if you liked the sound?
 
The 410UL is a classic, and if you like that wide tone with a bit of scoop in the low mids, and that 'space' between the top of the driver and tweeter, it is great. Gigged one for over 10 years as my primary cab.

The 502 was another thing. Very strange amp... plenty loud, TONS of low end, but an unusual mid voicing and very limited tone controls. I really, really had trouble with that head in many rooms.... it went from to bassy to too thin with just a touch of the knob. Also, even with the treble control shifted down, I found the treble response very 'hi fi'... clean and clicky... sounded great in the basement, disappeared the first time a cymbal hit. This is why many describe the 502 as a 'dark' sounding head.

Both the Markbass heads, especially the F500, and the Genz heads, especially the Max 6, sound wonderful with the 410UL... punchy, tight, articulate, but still plenty of bottom, and LOTS of control over the mids.

If you want that more super clean, super wide, super hi fi type tone that the 502 attempts to achieve, the TecAmp Puma500 is a much better options IMO... similar voicing, but MUCH better EQ control over the mids, and a more usable treble response.

IMO and lots of IME.

Edit: Have not heard the 501, but it looks like basically a single channel SMPS version of the 502 (which had a toriodal transformer and class D amp).