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Tone Hammer DI appreciation thread
- Thread starter dwagner
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- aguilar bethel tone hammer
It’s called the “Agua Sledge,” but I’ll add that I had a difficult time getting it to sound like my THDI. It might be able to do it, but the knob settings are definitely not a 1:1 affair.
IF what you all are saying is true - I am stunned. If volume matching of the drive to the clean sound is not possible, then there is no point having the drive on a foot switch to accidentally turn on, it should be a toggle that is manually turned on up with the control knobs somewhere.
Of all the stuff in the revamped line from KORG/Aguilar, I am most interested in trying the AG and TH amps. They should be showing up on the used market.
For my interests, the new pedals aren’t knocking it out of the park.
For my interests, the new pedals aren’t knocking it out of the park.
This has always been true of the TH pedal - for me I would be happy with toggle switches instead of the foot switches, which would allow for a smaller form factor. Occasionally I’ve thought of rehousing my TH pedal in this way but I have enough projects in my life without adding another one!
The Aguilar TONE HAMMER Preamp V1 has a pristine D.I., phantom power and the EQ is very user friendly for bass players.
With the AGS ON and gain lowered you get a tube amp vibe and almost a "cab sim" (shaping).
The new V2 is less good in my opinion so hurry up and buy the V1, it's a great tool, a great compromise!
=> Use ROLLS PM50se/PM55P for Headphone/IEM Out and Aux In!
May the Groove be with you.
With the AGS ON and gain lowered you get a tube amp vibe and almost a "cab sim" (shaping).
The new V2 is less good in my opinion so hurry up and buy the V1, it's a great tool, a great compromise!
=> Use ROLLS PM50se/PM55P for Headphone/IEM Out and Aux In!
May the Groove be with you.
- Feb 16, 2008
- 21,240
- 23,633
- Disclosures
- John K Custom Basses
since i have both versions, probably that the newer V2 can't be powered thru the 48V XLR . otherwise, IMO, the V2 is just as good.
TONE HAMMER Preamp D.I. V1 settings:
ENGAGE footswitch: ON (blue LED)
AGS footswitch: ON (orange LED)
=> Tube-like tone / Shaping ("amp / cab sim")
TREBLE: +/- 18 dB @ 4 kHz
=> Pot below "T" of TREBLE = Cut noises
BASS: +/- 18 dB @ 40 Hz
=> Pot on "A" of BASS = Punchy tight bass sound / Speaker-friendly
MID FREQ: 180 Hz to 1 kHz
Approximately...
At 7 o'clock: 180 Hz
At 8 o'clock: around 250 Hz
At 9 o'clock: around 300 Hz
At 10 o'clock: around 350-400 Hz
At 11 o'clock: around 400-450 Hz
At noon: around 500 Hz
At 1 o'clock: around 600 Hz
At 2 o'clock: around 700 Hz
At 3 o'clock: around 800 Hz
At 4 o'clock: around 900 Hz
At 5 o'clock: 1 kHz
MID LEVEL: +/- 17 dB of cut or boost
=> Cut around 100 Hz-200 Hz for boominess / very small rooms (At 7 or 8 o'clock)
=> Cut around 200 Hz-300 Hz-350 Hz for muddiness / vocals help (At 8 or 9 or 10 o'clock)
=> Boost around 500 Hz-700 Hz-1 kHz for presence / definition (Noon to 5 o'clock)
GAIN: Input sensitivity level
=> Pot below "G" of GAIN = warminess, light grit, growl...
=> Pot above "G" of GAIN = extra grit, extra growl, dirt, overdrive, distortion...
MASTER: Output level
... And adjust according to your tastes, your ears, the bass, the basses, the project, the band, the style, the place, the room and the conditions!
May the Groove be with you.
ENGAGE footswitch: ON (blue LED)
AGS footswitch: ON (orange LED)
=> Tube-like tone / Shaping ("amp / cab sim")
TREBLE: +/- 18 dB @ 4 kHz
=> Pot below "T" of TREBLE = Cut noises
BASS: +/- 18 dB @ 40 Hz
=> Pot on "A" of BASS = Punchy tight bass sound / Speaker-friendly
MID FREQ: 180 Hz to 1 kHz
Approximately...
At 7 o'clock: 180 Hz
At 8 o'clock: around 250 Hz
At 9 o'clock: around 300 Hz
At 10 o'clock: around 350-400 Hz
At 11 o'clock: around 400-450 Hz
At noon: around 500 Hz
At 1 o'clock: around 600 Hz
At 2 o'clock: around 700 Hz
At 3 o'clock: around 800 Hz
At 4 o'clock: around 900 Hz
At 5 o'clock: 1 kHz
MID LEVEL: +/- 17 dB of cut or boost
=> Cut around 100 Hz-200 Hz for boominess / very small rooms (At 7 or 8 o'clock)
=> Cut around 200 Hz-300 Hz-350 Hz for muddiness / vocals help (At 8 or 9 or 10 o'clock)
=> Boost around 500 Hz-700 Hz-1 kHz for presence / definition (Noon to 5 o'clock)
GAIN: Input sensitivity level
=> Pot below "G" of GAIN = warminess, light grit, growl...
=> Pot above "G" of GAIN = extra grit, extra growl, dirt, overdrive, distortion...
MASTER: Output level
... And adjust according to your tastes, your ears, the bass, the basses, the project, the band, the style, the place, the room and the conditions!
May the Groove be with you.
This feature is important to me...so I am keeping the V1...
I’ve been busy with a couple bands lately, one is all acoustic instruments, the other a three piece electric with bass, drums, and guitar. The THDI is my core sound in both. My acoustic bass guitar is finicky to dial in but I can tame it with the TH in clean mode. Cutting treble and upper mids removes the click-clack sounds that come through the piezo on the bridge, leaving a full low end.
Today the acoustic band has an afternoon gig at an art space and the electric three piece is booked for an evening show at a pub. I might need a nap tomorrow
Today the acoustic band has an afternoon gig at an art space and the electric three piece is booked for an evening show at a pub. I might need a nap tomorrow
Cool. Thanks for sharing. When you say “clean”, does that mean not using AGS but still on?I’ve been busy with a couple bands lately, one is all acoustic instruments, the other a three piece electric with bass, drums, and guitar. The THDI is my core sound in both. My acoustic bass guitar is finicky to dial in but I can tame it with the TH in clean mode. Cutting treble and upper mids removes the click-clack sounds that come through the piezo on the bridge, leaving a full low end.
Today the acoustic band has an afternoon gig at an art space and the electric three piece is booked for an evening show at a pub. I might need a nap tomorrow
Yes, blue light only/clean channel with the acoustic. The AGS is perfect for electric bass in a loud mix.
Have you tried using the AGS without any gain dialed in? You might find that it helps to tame the click-clack sounds better than in the clean mode. With the AGS on, the preamp cuts everything above 3kHz with steep slope...
You can see the EQ profile in post No. 1825 in the following thread:
So, I've scoped a bunch of frequency sweeps through the Tone Hammer at different settings. I don't suppose anyone would be interested in seeing them though. 
Sounds like something I need to experiment with!Have you tried using the AGS without any gain dialed in? You might find that it helps to tame the click-clack sounds better than in the clean mode. With the AGS on, the preamp cuts everything above 3kHz with steep slope...
You can see the EQ profile in post No. 1825 in the following thread:
So, I've scoped a bunch of frequency sweeps through the Tone Hammer at different settings. I don't suppose anyone would be interested in seeing them though.
I tried AGS and low gain with my acoustic last night at rehearsal. To my ears, it accomplished what I needed in regards to taming the piezo sound. Compared to the clean channel, the AGS settings sounded leaner in the lows and less open and “airy” in the mids. I could see preferring the AGS channel in particular rooms. It would help with boomy spaces.
I can't believe how many times I've owned a THDI, sold it to try something else, then just came back to it as it does its job well!
So last 12 months I decided I wanted to go down the Sansamp path. Tried the Programmable BDDI (has the non mid control circuit), the BDDI v2 and VT Bass DI. All great pedals, but I again started to think about how natural the THDI sounds as a preamp straight into a mixing desk or effects loop of an amp. With the AGS on at low gain, to me it adds an amp like tone, but the highs and lows still sound natural to me.
I play a P bass with rounds and a pick. All I need to gig is my bass, my EBS Multicomp and the THDI. My settings I use are below. Wonderful furry, punchy rock tone.
AGS on
Gain - 8 o'clock
Bass - 12 o'clock
Treble - 11-12 o'clock
Mid freq - 3 o'clock
Mid level - 9 o'clock
Master - wherever suits
I do find that I need to cut mids at that frequency to remove some really nastiness that doesn't sound good either in or out of a mix but something about my settings just sit so right in a mix to support and still be heard enough. It's warm, controlled, punchy and growly.
And I went back to THDI v1 because it does phantom power, even though I've rarely needed that.
So last 12 months I decided I wanted to go down the Sansamp path. Tried the Programmable BDDI (has the non mid control circuit), the BDDI v2 and VT Bass DI. All great pedals, but I again started to think about how natural the THDI sounds as a preamp straight into a mixing desk or effects loop of an amp. With the AGS on at low gain, to me it adds an amp like tone, but the highs and lows still sound natural to me.
I play a P bass with rounds and a pick. All I need to gig is my bass, my EBS Multicomp and the THDI. My settings I use are below. Wonderful furry, punchy rock tone.
AGS on
Gain - 8 o'clock
Bass - 12 o'clock
Treble - 11-12 o'clock
Mid freq - 3 o'clock
Mid level - 9 o'clock
Master - wherever suits
I do find that I need to cut mids at that frequency to remove some really nastiness that doesn't sound good either in or out of a mix but something about my settings just sit so right in a mix to support and still be heard enough. It's warm, controlled, punchy and growly.
And I went back to THDI v1 because it does phantom power, even though I've rarely needed that.
I set mine a bit boring - just enough to do some mild levelling and give the attack of each note some extra oomph.
I run mine at 9 volts, but have also ran it a 18 volts. Didn't notice much of a tonal difference.
Normal mode.
Sensitivity - 12 oclock
Comp anywhere between 12 and 2 o'clock
Gain - match unity gain as I leave the comp on all the time.
I don't like the Tube mode as much, it sounds a bit flabby to me. The MB mode is cool for different reasons. I've played around with the internal trim to see what different settings do. I prefer to move the pot towards compressing lows a little more and leaving the highs fairly comp free. But then on the long run I like simple and the normal mode gives me that.
