Thunderfunk TF420 vs. Aguilar AG500

[Quadzilla]

All-

I don't have a T-Funk but I do have an AMP BH-420 (the T-Funk's predecessor) and an Aguilar AG500SC. I just got the Aggie last week and brought it to this week's practice. I swapped the heads out a couple of times during practice. I will publish a gig report in the future.

The first thing I noticed is that the Aggie seemed a bit smoother, more buttery than the AMP. It has a slighlty more mellow, tube sound to my ears. I love the delivary of tone. I didn't seem quite as quick as the AMP.

The AMP seems to have just a little more edge and cuts thru a tad better or at least from the settings that I had the heads at. On the other hand, I thought that the Aggie projected the lows a bit better. Volume wise, I thought that they were pretty close at least at practice. A gig will tell more here. I really do love both heads. It's really hard to pick one. For features, the AMP has more adjustability (EQ-wise) but the Aggie has more bells in other areas (I prefer the pad switch over a separat jack, more controls on the effects loop and DI, etc). If I had to pick one based strictly on tone, I'd probably give the ever-so-slight edge to the AMP as it stands right now, but a gig or two would really help me finalize this decision. Some songs I prefer the warmth and lows of the Aggie and some I prefer the more middy-edgy AMP. Again, the differences are so slight. The two are not that far off in sound to my ears in the room where we practice. With either head, you will be in heaven!

 

[fclefgeoff]

Like Rayzak said, you'll get by with the ag500sc just fine, save your pennies

OK. David, I know that you are big on the Fulltone Bass Drive. How do you feel the 2nd channel of the AG500 compares to it? For reference, I usually only use the 1st channel of the Fulltone with the OD knob anywhere from 11 to 1 o'clock and the comp cut engaged. Is it safe to say that the AG 500 can acheive the same type of subtle, overdriven sound?

I'm torn because while I love my Fulltone, having a head that could produce that OD tone by itself would certainly simplify my set-up. BTW, The Fulltone is really the only pedal that I use and I usually leave it on all the time.

 

[David Wilson]

OK. David, I know that you are big on the Fulltone Bass Drive. How do you feel the 2nd channel of the AG500 compares to it?

well, as I said in my original comparison review, it's pretty damn close.

However, as someone who's been through many many on/distortion pedals pedals, the line between what works for you and what doesn't can be very small. If you have an od sound you love, and it sounds like you do, why mess with that? Just get the SC

 

[fclefgeoff]

Thanks for the reply, David. I was able to order a "scratch & dent" AG-500 from MF for $1015. I was really leaning toward the SC but I couldn't pass up this price. I guess if I'm not wild about the OD (or the scratch & dent), I can always return it since they have a pretty good policy.

 

[Thunderfunk]

If I had to choose I'd go with the Gibson. I prefer the mids to the TF and Aguilar, it's quieter (TF is pretty quiet too, Aguilar less so), and is more solidly built than the Aguilar.

You should note that your amp doesn't have the humbucking mod or the shielded transformer that makes it even quieter, and the mids are smoother than the Gibson, which means the Gibson would have more bark. I don't remember what serial number you have.

 

[UrbanIvy]

I'm looking into getting one of these amps. I'm having some (a lot!!) trouble in live situations with my Ampeg SVT 4 lately and am looking for a light weight alternative to either substitute on small/medium sized gigs or even replace it outright.

I'm going to hit each site right now, but does anyone know off hand if each amp can handle a rackmount effects processor w/ left/right/& power connectors? Just curious.

I read this entire thread, very informative. Thx all

Oh, will these amps provide similar output to the Ampeg mono bridged to a Schroeder 1210? (man that is one kick ass cab that I picked up!)