Tone Hammer or Streamliner with Baer ML112

[5StringPocket]

I've been digging the TH and Baer stack for a few months now (active Jazz with rounds). I stopped my search at the TH and never actually tried the SL (though any time one's up in the classifieds I usually lurk around...)

To me, I think Aggie's do the extended range Jazz snarl very well. I've interpreted the description of the SL to be a better match for a P, IMO.

Overall, of the one's I considered, there's kind of a spectrum from the Orange Terror (mentioned above) - TH500 - SL900. It's like going from a 100 Grand to a Snickers to a Milky Way. Oh and they're all fun sized.

Edit: Right, my point is, I have a hard time making up my mind, and I thought the TH was a great "goldilocks" solution in that class of mean micros.

I have a Valenti PJ5 which is very much more P than J and a Carvin SB5000 with single coils which has that jazz feel and voicing. My PJ5 is a great match with the STM900 through a pair of ML112 cabs but the SB5000 not so much. I built a twin 3012HO loaded cab with a HF horn crossed at 1900 Hz and the opposite is true. The SB5000 is perfect through the STM900 with this cab but the PJ5 sounds a bit dull. Same amp and basses but two cabs with different voicings. The PJ5 tone has more focus to the mids and is not as wide which seems to provide a nice punch with the Baer ML112's. The SB5000 has a bit more booty down low and more upper mid and treble presence. Perhaps the Aggie TH500 voicing (more present low and middle mids but not so big in the lows) would be a better fit for the SB5000 with the ML112's. I'd like to give that a spin. Too bad Aguilar doesn't offer a TH800.

 

[GRoberts]

I'm in. Played a Streamliner at the talkbass AZ get together last week. Definitely tubey. Too much going on to spend time turning the knobs to dial it in though. But definitely a nice amp. My first instinct was 'not for me.' But that is not a fair assessment since I didn't really work the settings for my bass.

The Orange TB500 however was very plug and play and really amazing with the fEarful cabs. Not nearly as good with my Bergie AE410 however. More investigation is warranted. I was very impressed with the Orange TB500 Terror. It is not however a micro-bass head even though it is relatively portable. the Orange TB500 is more of a lunch box shaped amp.

More feedback on the Tonehammer 500 is wanted.

 

[4StringsEnough]

Between the Tonehammer and the Streamliner, I'd choose the Markbass TTE500. ;-)

 

[CL400Peavey]

If they made a tonehammer 900 or 1500 I would buy one today.

 

[KJung]

Between the Tonehammer and the Streamliner, I'd choose the Markbass TTE500. ;-)

Lots of good options out there now in the 'tubey hybrid micro' category. TH500, TTE500, Streamliner (interestingly, I wouldn't include the GK MBFusion500 in this list... nice sounding, but very little 'tube' tone, even with 3 preamp tubes... more like the Mesa M6). The Orange 500/1000 seems interesting also, but I HATE the form factor of that one.

 

[CL400Peavey]

The Orange 500/1000 seems interesting also, but I HATE the form factor of that one.

+1

I would be very interested in a Pre/Di box or 1u rack from them though. The lunchbox form just doesnt do it for me, for the same reason that the original Monique doesnt.

 

[astack]

+1

I would be very interested in a Pre/Di box or 1u rack from them though. The lunchbox form just doesnt do it for me, for the same reason that the original Monique doesnt.

I'll +1 your 1+. If someone convinced me that a particular pedal nailed that front end, I'd buy it. I'm curious about the Tech 21 Oxford character pedal for that reason. But where's the toobs??

 

[eeyorebass]

Thanks for all the great food for thought. A Streamliner 900 came up in the classifieds, so I snagged it. I'll be ordering the ML112 sometime next week.

I'll spend some time with them and let you know how it works out. I've been reading through the Streamliner EQ threads, so I know I've got a learning curve coming, but I'm excited.

thanks again,
jeremy

 

[CElton]

The Streamliner and the ML-112 match up nicely.

 

[eeyorebass]

They certainly look killer together. I can't wait to experience how they sound.

jeremy

 

[CElton]

They certainly look killer together. I can't wait to experience how they sound.

jeremy

Sounds much bigger than it looks.

 

[eeyorebass]

Update: the amp and cab got here just before the weekend, but I was swamped and only got the spend about an hour with them.

First impressions are great, though! I still need to play with the SL EQ a bit just for my own familiarity. I've already found some great sounds. Everything said about these two pieces being a solid pairing is true in my experience.

I have a low key rehearsal later this week, so I'll be able to play it with a couple other people at low-ish volume. Very excited.

 

[ChuckTrucks]

this is close to the kind of tone I'm after:


I prefer to have more texture in the mids and a more controled low end. I'm guessing the ML112 will 'punch' a bit more. I also use rounds on my jazz instead of the flats on that video.

I think the Streamliner is edging further into the lead.

Jeremy

My god that is a big beautiful bass tone, that is the same exact tone I go for.

 

[stringmaster54]

I'm narrowing my choices down to the SL900 and TH500 myself. Interested in old-school Blues, Swing, and Country (not the more modern rawk stuff). Play a P-Bass. I do like the SVT sound, but it's way overkill. Which of the above would get closer to that sound, all things equal? Which would sound better at lower volumes? No cab yet either, but would likely go with matching brand. Thanks!

 

[rodl2005]

As I haven't spent much time with the TB500, & the STL just didn't work for me at all (I must have "bassy fingers" as I even cut bass on my Shuttle 6.0) the TH500 gets my vote here.
It does the "old school blues/funk/soul" type tone pretty much spot on, & under 5lbs etc etc etc

 

[KJung]

I'm narrowing my choices down to the SL900 and TH500 myself. Interested in old-school Blues, Swing, and Country (not the more modern rawk stuff). Play a P-Bass. I do like the SVT sound, but it's way overkill. Which of the above would get closer to that sound, all things equal? Which would sound better at lower volumes? No cab yet either, but would likely go with matching brand. Thanks!

Really depends on the cab. With the Baer ML112, which is relatively tight down low, and has a mid driver that does a pretty good job emulating the 'top of the driver breakup' like a sealed 110 cab, the Streamliner is absolutely stunning..... fat, articulate, tubey. Old school Blues, Country, etc..... perfect.

However, just like an SVT or other big all tub amps (which the Streamliner emulates very well... do a search of some of JonhK's SVT versus Streamliner comparison clips), a cabinet that is a bit wide, polite in the mids, etc. can result in a bit of too much of a good thing (i.e., too high of a low end versus mid punch ratio).

If you are considering the Baer ML cabs, then I would recommend the Streamliner all the way for your tone goals. With many other cabs, the TH500 will give you 'Aguilar's version' of a tube tone (nice in its own way... rougher, more midrange and more midrange distortion, less sparkle up top) and will be a bit less picky with cab matching.

IMO and IME!

Edit: If you decide on the Streamliner, it has a unique tone stack that is 'old school' (kind of like the Alembic pre). Knobs at noon does not result in a 'base tone' that works with most cabs. Also, the gain/volume ratio has a HUGE impact on the tone of the amp (very interacting with the EQ). Don't be afraid to crank the gain... it tightens the amp up nicely, just like a big old tube amp. Additionally, the master volume is a very nice audio taper design, meaning you can use its full range. Where a more typical, modern amp like a GK or whatever goes from 'off to maximum' very quickly (and maxes out at noon), the Streamliner doesn't even start to get loud until after noon, and has useable volume to 3 o'clock or more on the master, depending on the pregain level. Finally, the 'power amp clip' light really isn't a 'clip' light at all, but rather an indication that you are in the 'tube emulation/power management' range of the amp's output. So, that indicator flashing on the hardest hits when you are really cranking is actually a good thing!

 

[obimark]

This is a case where you can't read too much into watts, while the TH is rated at 500 watts, I can personally tell you it is a LOUD REAL 500 watts, the SL 900 is loud too, but I have played both and can tell you through the same cabinets it is not louder than the 500, other than by maybe a small fraction at best.
The TH 500 is louder than the SL 600.

I have played both and for my rock band am digging the TH 500 quite a bit. I also like the GB Stream liner 900 quite a bit as well, great amp. Probably a little more flexible in tone.

IMHO, the Aguilar somehow captures some TUBE warmth thru magic, because it is there. (it is not going to compete with a $3k tube head, but plenty good)
But don't think you can't get the TH 500 because it is ONLY 500 watts vs. the SL 900 watts, both are plenty loud unless you are touring with Styx or something. And as always the cabinet you are playign thru makes a BIG difference.

I could probably put my DNA DNS112 up on a small platform and play a moderate gig with just that and the TH 500 just fine.

 

[KJung]

This is a case where you can't read too much into watts, while the TH is rated at 500 watts, I can personally tell you it is a LOUD REAL 500 watts, the SL 900 is loud too, but I have played both and can tell you through the same cabinets it is not louder than the 500, other than by maybe a small fraction at best.
The TH 500 is louder than the SL 600.

I have played both and for my rock band am digging the TH 500 quite a bit. I also like the GB Stream liner 900 quite a bit as well, great amp. Probably a little more flexible in tone.

IMHO, the Aguilar somehow captures some TUBE warmth thru a use of magic, because it is there. (nOT going to compete with a $3k tube head, but dang good)
But don't think you can't get the TH 500 because it is ONLY 500 watts, it is plenty loud unless you are touring with Styx or something.

+1 in that most cabs can't make use of more than 500 watts. At 8ohms, the Streamliner definitely pulls ahead, and if you are cranking big cabs at 4ohms, the absolute open, uncompressed volume of the Streamliner is pretty impressive. However, in a typical 'moderate sized' 4ohm box or rig (410, 212 or 2 x 112, etc.) I don't hit the limit with either the Streamliner900 or the TH500.

The TH500 is suprisingly open and full and uncompressed down low, even when cranking the volume, so +1, no issue there unless you are driving a large, relativley low sensitivity 8ohm cab.

 

[obimark]

One other thing when you take into account getting the TH500 for $350 less on average, this is a VERY competitive fight.

NOW if Aguilar would just release a lighter 100 watt all tube head!! (Dreaming)

 

[eeyorebass]

Really depends on the cab. With the Baer ML112, which is relatively tight down low, and has a mid driver that does a pretty good job emulating the 'top of the driver breakup' like a sealed 110 cab, the Streamliner is absolutely stunning..... fat, articulate, tubey. Old school Blues, Country, etc..... perfect.

However, just like an SVT or other big all tub amps (which the Streamliner emulates very well... do a search of some of JonhK's SVT versus Streamliner comparison clips), a cabinet that is a bit wide, polite in the mids, etc. can result in a bit of too much of a good thing (i.e., too high of a low end versus mid punch ratio).

If you are considering the Baer ML cabs, then I would recommend the Streamliner all the way for your tone goals. With many other cabs, the TH500 will give you 'Aguilar's version' of a tube tone (nice in its own way... rougher, more midrange and more midrange distortion, less sparkle up top) and will be a bit less picky with cab matching.

IMO and IME!

Edit: If you decide on the Streamliner, it has a unique tone stack that is 'old school' (kind of like the Alembic pre). Knobs at noon does not result in a 'base tone' that works with most cabs. Also, the gain/volume ratio has a HUGE impact on the tone of the amp (very interacting with the EQ). Don't be afraid to crank the gain... it tightens the amp up nicely, just like a big old tube amp. Additionally, the master volume is a very nice audio taper design, meaning you can use its full range. Where a more typical, modern amp like a GK or whatever goes from 'off to maximum' very quickly (and maxes out at noon), the Streamliner doesn't even start to get loud until after noon, and has useable volume to 3 o'clock or more on the master, depending on the pregain level. Finally, the 'power amp clip' light really isn't a 'clip' light at all, but rather an indication that you are in the 'tube emulation/power management' range of the amp's output. So, that indicator flashing on the hardest hits when you are really cranking is actually a good thing!

I never did try the TH500, but I've lived with the ML112 and Streamliner 900 for a little while now, and all I can do is plus one this entire post.