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Thunderfunk TF420 vs. Aguilar AG500

#121
davidmwilson said:
I gigged the Thunderfunk for the first time at a three hour show last night, using my EA NL-210. I took the MTD and Lakland DJ 5.
The sound was amazing, I think one of the best I've ever had. The AG500 doesn't lack for low end, but the Thunderfunk just felt warmer on the low end the whole time.
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+1
I used my TF with my newly aquired Berg HT210 at a gig last Friday night. The sound was so incredibly warm and absolutely huge sounding! Everyone in the band commented on the great tone and the additional warmth using the TF and Berg. I know you've heard it before in my previous posts but the TF just keeps on impressing me! :smug:
 
#122
rayzak said:
Hey DaveAceofBass,
Thanks for keeping this thread updated every so often. I've enjoyed reading through it. These two heads were pretty much the finalists in my search for a new head. I should be recieving the Aggie ag500 soon. I too, owned a db359 and have since been longing for that Aggie sound. Hopefully the 500 will cure that for me. I'll post a review when I get it.
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I think you will be very happy. I really dig the distortion channel. And unlike most people, I can get a clean tubey sound. Very little distortion unless you boost the active EQ a lot. I think you will really dig it. I sure do.

I'm still interested in hearing the TF, but I'm happy with what I have and don't need to change anytime soon. Nonetheless, I'm sure the TF is great!!!
 
#123
About the thunderfunk.. Is all you get from it smooth warm tones? Or can you get a bit more gritty/low end punch sort of sound from it.

I'm comparing the thunderfunk and a GK2001rbp + power amp atm.
I'l be using an Aguilar 4x12 so, yeah. I'd love a warm amp, just don't know if i'd want it to be so warm and smooth that i couldn't get anything else from it, ya know? Also, would the 400 watts in the thunderfunk be enough the push the 1200 watt aguilar?
 
#124
popinfresh said:
About the thunderfunk.. Is all you get from it smooth warm tones? Or can you get a bit more gritty/low end punch sort of sound from it.

I'm comparing the thunderfunk and a GK2001rbp + power amp atm.
I'l be using an Aguilar 4x12 so, yeah. I'd love a warm amp, just don't know if i'd want it to be so warm and smooth that i couldn't get anything else from it, ya know? Also, would the 400 watts in the thunderfunk be enough the push the 1200 watt aguilar?
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You can get warm and smooth, if you play that way, with a ThunderFunk. You can also get killer growl and loads of punch if you play that way too. In my case I get both without touching a knob on the amp. It can hit very hard or sing, depending on what "you" do. It's like the old BASF commercials... Dave didn't make my bass, he made my bass better;)

That's what I love about my TFB-420.
 
#125
DaveAceofBass said:
I think you will be very happy. I really dig the distortion channel. And unlike most people, I can get a clean tubey sound. Very little distortion unless you boost the active EQ a lot. I think you will really dig it. I sure do.

I'm still interested in hearing the TF, but I'm happy with what I have and don't need to change anytime soon. Nonetheless, I'm sure the TF is great!!!
Click to expand...

So DaveAceofBass,
That is interesting info on the second channel. You say you can get a tubey sound with it? I assume the saturation knob has something to do with it. Could you give a little more detail?

I posted earlier concerning the AG500 and the ThunderFunk. I am chomping at the bits to hear/purchase one of these amps. I am just a little apprehensive to jump into the world of Solid State. I was originally gravitating toward the DB750, but then Aguilar came out with the 500, and upon research, I heard about the TF. Decisions, decisions. Truely this is the land of plenty.
We are blessed.

Anyway, back to channel 2, just want to hear a little more about your experience with it.

Thanks,
David
 
#126
dmrogers said:
So DaveAceofBass,
That is interesting info on the second channel. You say you can get a tubey sound with it? I assume the saturation knob has something to do with it. Could you give a little more detail?

I posted earlier concerning the AG500 and the ThunderFunk. I am chomping at the bits to hear/purchase one of these amps. I am just a little apprehensive to jump into the world of Solid State. I was originally gravitating toward the DB750, but then Aguilar came out with the 500, and upon research, I heard about the TF. Decisions, decisions. Truely this is the land of plenty.
We are blessed.

Anyway, back to channel 2, just want to hear a little more about your experience with it.

Thanks,
David
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Well, I have a DB359 and I definitely think it sounds better overall, it's more organic. But it also is more "buzzy" from lights and stuff, and it weighs 50 lbs. The AG500 doesn't get that buzz sound from lights, and it retains the overall tone of an Aguilar. The 2nd channel is designed to sound like a tube amp. With the saturation set low, it's got just a tiny bit of grunt like a tube amp has, although it still "feels" different. By adjusting the Saturation, it will get really distorted, but it's a warm distortion, like an overdrive. Not as defined as the clean channel, but tons of bottom in it's tone. I don't know how I describe a sound with words, but I think you will like it. Also I hear the TF is great too, so think what features appeal more to you. The Aguilar sound with another channel, or an amp with parametric EQ, limiter, and those other signature controls--timbre and such. Good luck, I'm sure you'll make a great decision. BTW, the AG500 sounds great with upright too......contrary to popular opinion.
 
#127
This is good to know. I think you are the only person so far that has really warmed up to channel 2. I noticed in your profile that you have/had an SVT 3. That is what I am currenty playing through. With your experience with the Ampeg, would you say that I could easily get a similar sound from the AG500 (at least as a baseline)? Not that I want that exact sound, that's the point, I want to explore some, but I think it would be comforting to know that I could dial up something that I a satisfied with and go from there.

Just out of curiousity, did you buy your DB359 new or used?
Thanks
David
 
#128
dmrogers said:
This is good to know. I think you are the only person so far that has really warmed up to channel 2.
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I wouldn't say that, if you read my review and other peoples reviews my overall impression has been that people like it. I thought it was great, and I'm picky having spent a lot of time / money on overdrive/distortion pedals in the past.
I can only remember seeing one person who didn't like it. Of course, there's no right and wrong, but most people I've seen have liked it.
 
#129
Well guys, got my AG500 all set up with my GS212 and i'm really diggin' the sounds coming out of this set up. Only was able to play around for a couple hours today, but this amp doesn't need much tinkering to sound great. It's more than loud enough for my needs and i'm going to have a blast with the second channel on this thing. If you like Cliff Burton, just crank the saturation knob... it nails it. I too think it gets a very nice "grind" with the saturation set low, almost borderline clean yet depending on how hard you dig in, you can dirty it up a bit... does that make sense? You can dial in as much 'fuzz' as you want, but it's very smooth across the entire spectrum. Channel one is very rich sounding to my ears, not quite as thick (in the words of DaveAceofBass) as my DB359 was, but definetly pure Aguilar. It may even be louder than the 359, but i've only been playing through my B-100R for the last 3 months so I don't really know. I can't wait to take it over and jam with my buds. One uses a Peavey 5150 head into a Marshall half stack and the other uses 100Watt Marshalls, or a CyberTwin, or a Laney... yeah, you think were bad :hmm: . We'll see how it cuts through all that as well as a hyper @$$ed loud drummer.
Bottom line for me... i'm gonna have a lot of fun with this amp. I don't think i'll be making the same mistake as I did with my 359, i'll be keeping this for a long time... seriously... honest... promise... for real!!!

Oh, davidmwilson... this was yours not to long ago :D Glad you decided on the 'Funk ;) Which, i'd love to check out as well, but as of this moment i'm completely satisfied.
 
#130
dmrogers said:
This is good to know. I think you are the only person so far that has really warmed up to channel 2. I noticed in your profile that you have/had an SVT 3. That is what I am currenty playing through. With your experience with the Ampeg, would you say that I could easily get a similar sound from the AG500 (at least as a baseline)? Not that I want that exact sound, that's the point, I want to explore some, but I think it would be comforting to know that I could dial up something that I a satisfied with and go from there.

Just out of curiousity, did you buy your DB359 new or used?
Thanks
David
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The AG500 and SVT3 are pretty different, IMO. But the AG still has that overall warm vibe going on. It definitely lacks the feel and personality my DB359, but that's cause it doesn't have tubes. On the other hand, it doesn't buzz as much as tube amps (light noise, etc). The AG is very, very similar in tone though. I absolutely love the sound, and everyone that hears it does too. I thought it was harder to find a sound on the SVT3, and I really think you would be making a wise choice to at least try the AG500. A friend of mine (chick bassist) was looking at Ampegs after she played on a SVT4, and tried them in the store, all of them. She couldn't find a sound she really liked. Then she tried my AG500. Now she wants an AG500. The sweet midrange is unbelievable too, way more punchy than my friend's SWR Studio 220. I'm sold. PS--Villex pickups are awesome, and so are RMC piezos!!!
 
#131
I don't have the experience that you guys have with all this bass gear. :crying:
A lot of you guys must have very well payin' regular jobs and/or be very busy pro players ! ;)
I just play in the little corner bars, vfw's, american legions, moose clubs, private parties, etc. !
I love tube amps for guitar.. ;) ...won't use anything else !
I found a used DB-359 & fixed it up !
I couldn't be happier! :hyper:
It sounds & FEELS just right. :D
Musicians & non musicians alike have been complimenting me on my sound.
For me though it FEELS sooooo good.
I think that the FEEL is just as important as the sound !

JJ
 
#133
I have owned both and am an Aguilar JUNKIE, however I can honestly say that the Thunderfunk is much more versatile with a nicer tone to it. I love Aguilar gear but not their all solid state stuff. T-Funk is the winner here.
 
#138
I don't know if I mentioned in the previous replies, but I am an Aguilar junkie. I just wasn't in love with the solid state tone. I am not knocking it! It just wasn't my cup of tea. Plain and simple! I am now using an Aguilar DB 680 + Ampeg SVP 1600 poweramp with my Aggie GS 212's. Pair that combo with my Lakland basses and I have finally found the sound that is in my head. The only GAS I have now is an Aguilar DB728 and a Lakland Bob Glaub with a joe osborn neck.
 
#140
cptnhook said:
smash,
I recall the BP review saying that the aggie low mid and high mid EQs are not voiced very well. Is that your experience as well?
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Like Smash, I wouldn't agree with that at all. They're voiced at very useful frequencies imo
And how does the aggie EQ section compare overall to the EQ section of the TF?
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As Smash said, it's less sohpisticated than the TF.
Similarly to him, I don't use much of the parameteric unless I'm maybe trying to dial out a particular freq range.
I tend to boost a bit of low mids and flavor to taste with the Timbre control.
 

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