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What's wrong with the Tone Hammer 500?

DerekW

DerekW

Feb 4, 2014
2,443
4,629
Sarnia Ontario/Detroit Michigan
#1
I've listened to a bunch of TH500 demos in YouTube, etc. and I find it very appealing. On my short list of wants...

But I'm constantly seeing them pop up on the TB classifieds, and on almost every ad it says something like "almost new", "3 months old", "just bought this year", etc, etc.

What is it that people don't like about this amp that they are turning around and selling them so quick?
 
#4
Amp flipping happens at all levels.
To loud, too heavy, not powerful enough, lousy tone, gave up playing altogether, the band breaks up, bills past due, taxes, divorce, upgrades, reliability issues, warranty hassles, really wanted something else, any of the above.

What is wrong in my view just takes a look under the hood.
 
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#5
FFTT said:
What is wrong in my view just takes a look under the hood.
Click to expand...
Well, that's because you're a tubaholic! ;) I like toobs, tu, but sometimes (most of the time) SS gear is far more practical. Plus the Tone Hammer 500 has absolutely nothing to apologize for, in any area, it just sounds wonderful. :cool:

I have had my Tone Hammer 500 for a few years now, it is a fantastic amp that always sounds great through any cab I have plugged into it, so far. :bassist:

My only wish is for Aguilar to make a stereo version, basically two of these amps in a 2-space rack size. (Dave B., are you listening?) ;)
 
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#7
G-MonRV5 said:
Just got one in the last few weeks, and mine is going nowhere! Be suspicious if you want, but you're missing out on some serious tone (in a 5lb package) if you don't jump on this train.
Click to expand...

Had one for a year - still think it's a great amp, one of the first class D amps to provide the same "oomph" as class A/B product with a big fat transformer. But I sold mine…found things that I like better for my tonal goals and purposes, which may not be the same as yours.

So - moral to the story - grab one of those used ones, and rejoice in all that Aguilar did in bringing this product to market!
 
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#8
Jeff Scott said:
Well, that's because you're a tubaholic! ;) I like toobs, tu, but sometimes (most of the time) SS gear is far more practical. Plus the Tone Hammer 500 has absolutely nothing to apologize for, in any area, it just sounds wonderful. :cool:

I have had my Tone Hammer 500 for a few years now, it is a fantastic amp that always sounds great through any cab I have plugged into it, so far. :bassist:

My only wish is for Aguilar to make a stereo version, basically two of these amps in a 2-space rack size.
Click to expand...

I've just had too many issues with PCB & solid state gear in the past.
Tubes, hand wired, zero proprietary components for me.

As someone living in Ohio, you should at least try out a Reeves since they are built in your state.
 
#11
Beyond all the other reasons for flipping amps, sometimes you're at a gig or jam or concert and you hear another rig and compare that tone to the best tone's
you've been getting and you decide to go for a different rig.
 
#12
Hi Derek! I've only had my TH500 for less than 2 weeks, thus far I'm pretty impressed. For me, the true test for is how well does a piece of gear work in a Live Gig environment. I'm looking forward to get this thing on a stage and check it out.

It sounds to me like you're doing your research, which IMO is crucial before you shell out the hard earned cash on new equipment.
 
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#14
I just gave my first ever guitar lesson last week reluctantly, but a young fellow in the neighbor just bought a used Fender Starcaster and a little used Kustom starter amp and begged me for a starter lesson.
He had the guitar tuned badly almost two steps too high.
After getting it in tune, He couldn't even play an E minor chord clean.

I'm sure all too many buy gear hoping to learn, find out they sound awful because they can't even tune the instrument and just give up without any serious effort.
 
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#15
DerekW said:
I've listened to a bunch of TH500 demos in YouTube, etc. and I find it very appealing. On my short list of wants...

But I'm constantly seeing them pop up on the TB classifieds, and on almost every ad it says something like "almost new", "3 months old", "just bought this year", etc, etc.

What is it that people don't like about this amp that they are turning around and selling them so quick?
Click to expand...

From my reading every thread on the TH-500 or TH-350 very few have mentioned either not enough power (they want 700w or more), or not HI-FI (sparkle and ultra lows of say a GK) enough for their tonal goals as a reason of moving on. That's about it...
Personally I use a TH-350 for small to medium gigs and love it, bigger gigs get PA support or I use my shuttle 9.2 for more volume requirements and also as an alternative voicing choice.
 
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#17
+1,000 for the TH500. I was constantly "flipping" amps and cabs, never satisfied. The TH500 changed all of that. I have had zero gas (when it comes to amplification) for 1 1/2 years. Before, I was going through amps and cabs almost quarterly :/

I own two TH500's and three GS 112's. I've always hoped to run the whole monster rig, but two 112s and one TH500 always get the job done, especially with in house support.

I make my living teaching lessons and gigging. The TH500 is easy to travel with and sounds great through any cab, especially Aguilar ;)
IME
 
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#20
tastybasslines said:
I have a friend who manages equipment and amp rentals for professional bands performing locally. He did some work on my bass recently and I got to see this wall o' bass amps while I was there. It was like heaven. This is a person who gigs himself, and plays and sets up rigs every day with every amp and speaker cabinet combo you can imagine. ALL THE TIME. When I saw this wall, I asked him what both his favorite and least favorite amps were. Aguilar were his least favorite - they were weak and broke down the most and whatever else. Genz Benz were his favorite. Now we are not all professionals and don't need to use multiple 1000 watt heads at a time, but to address the OP, I'm sharing an "industry insiders" opinion, so to speak. FWIW. I was surprised too.

IMG_20140618_112156_585_zps1b7d27be.gif
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Very interesting and surprising at the same time.
I've never worked in amp rentals/equipment management, I've just gigged Aguilar amps for a bit more than 7 years now and cannot share the experience you describe.
I've never had any problems whatsoever with my DB 750 or TH 500 and to be honest (no disrespect towards that guy), "weak" is not the adjective I'd use to describe the Aggie amps, quite the opposite.
To me, they slam very hard and sit in the mix almost perfectly (live and studio). I've had reliability issues with Markbass, Ampeg, Trace Elliot and especially Gallien Krueger in the past. In fact, my GK experience was so bad that I'd never pay more than 10 bucks for any of their amps.
I'm sure though that the guy you mentioned knows what he's talking about and, obviously, he's had issues with the Aggies.

Btw, that is quite a sight....:woot:
 
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