Yo Aguilar, where's your Micro????

[Altitude]

I think the AG500 _is_ Aguilar's micro amp. That said, if they were to deliver a product like the one you describe, I would be instantly interested. I use an F1 now and love it - going on 2 years with no significant amp GAS, which is saying something for me.

 

[JimmyM]

Spencer, I'm glad you're excited about getting an Aggie head, but it's actually a hybrid, not a tube amp. Yeah, I'm nitpicking, but a tube amp has a tube power section as well as the preamp.

 

[ElMon]

Few things I keep telling myself about my heavy DB750:

* It's not as bad as the SVTCL I used to shlepp. Compared to that Big Daddy Aggie IS
a micro-head

* No other amp I've owned simultaneously makes my trousers tight AND instills fear in
guitar players

* You forget all about the awkward weight as soon as you play the first note.



Still, I'd jump all over a 5 lb cigar-box sized Aggie head.

 

[jimmy rocket]

I'm hoping my LMII thats en route and my Tone Hammer are friends, and make a pseudo- micro aguilar. Because Aguilar stuff sounds dirty dang good, and I want to ride a bicycle to some gigs and practices.

Careful there! That's the rig that made me sell my LMII and step up to an AG500.

All kidding aside, that will give you a very convincing approximation of the "Aguilar sound" at about 1/2 the weight of the AG head.

I have a GK micro head, and I still carry the Aggie out to most venues because the tone is just incredible.

 

[mattygbass]

i sold my f1 and bought an svt classic

but id really love a db750, its worth every pound and aching muscle,

and i dont think you can get a louder or better sounding cab than a db410 or 810 for that matter.

 

[spencer]

Spencer, I'm glad you're excited about getting an Aggie head, but it's actually a hybrid, not a tube amp. Yeah, I'm nitpicking, but a tube amp has a tube power section as well as the preamp.

Iknow this, but... the tone says otherwise.... Its just so thick,

 

[EricF]

Few things I keep telling myself about my heavy DB750:

* It's not as bad as the SVTCL I used to shlepp. Compared to that Big Daddy Aggie IS
a micro-head

+1

* No other amp I've owned simultaneously makes my trousers tight AND instills fear in
guitar players

+2

* You forget all about the awkward weight as soon as you play the first note.

+3

Still, I'd jump all over a 5 lb cigar-box sized Aggie head.

Despite my earlier comment, I might buy an Aggie micro...for home use. As long as we're dreaming here, let's put a headphone out on it, too.

 

[kirkm24]

The DB750 is my dream amp. If I had a steady gig to justify it I would definitely pick one up.

 

[vin*tone]

I'd settle for a Headphone amp. DaveB???? You listening Gad-dammit?

 

[ElMon]

The DB750 is my dream amp. If I had a steady gig to justify it I would definitely pick one up.

Let me fix that for you:

"The DB750 is my dream amp. I picked one up and immediately snagged a steady gig that justified the expense"

 

[NKUSigEp]

I'll add my thoughts to this...as stated in another thread, I don't have any inside information. Just years of experience with their gear and watching their marketing.

IMO, Their current line of AG series amps are pretty light (17 and 18 lbs). The recent trend of ultralight/micro amps has produced models that are convenient for people with health issues and light travelling needs, but they aren't selling off the shelves and have a very niche market. They sacrifice tone and cool looks (c'mon, who doesn't like staring at a massive rig?) for weight. Ok, some may even sound good but how good compared to other stuff? From my own experience, the few times I did need something smaller than an AG500 and a 1x12, I just used a DI.

It just seems a bit pointless to devote resources to making something aimed at an already flooded market. Stick with what works for you, ya know? And having said all that, who knows? Either way, I think Aguilar has cemented their place in the low-end world and can afford to wait and see where this trend is going. I don't think it would take a whole lot of effort on their part to mate a Tonehammer to a 500 watt micro power section and sell it. Hell...we'd all probably buy one! LOL

 

[JimmyM]

Let me fix that for you:

"The DB750 is my dream amp. I picked one up and immediately snagged a steady gig that justified the expense"

Yep, happens just like that

 

[tom once dead]

A microhead for something you don't need to carry for more than 5mins but no micro basses which we hold hours on end.. Where have all the real men gone?

We're all playing METAL

 

[JonesKY]

My AG500 & 112 cab is plenty portable for me. If I need more power, I'll add the 2nd 112. If I still need more, then I'll need to rent some power amps & cabs.

 

[Altitude]

The recent trend of ultralight/micro amps has produced models that are convenient for people with health issues and light travelling needs, but they aren't selling off the shelves and have a very niche market.

Interesting. Do you supporting data for this assertion? I was under the impression that the MarkBass LittleMark II in particular was one of the hotter selling amps in the last two years. That said - I have never seen a micro head as backline (perhaps the music gear equivalent of rental car fleets), so until we do, and if we do, the standard size gear is probably outselling it overall.

 

[naturalkinds]

OK. I'm as big an Aguilar fanboy as anyone else, but, honestly, it's nuts to (a) consider the AG500 similar in spect to a micro amp and (b) not be extremely excited about the prospect of Aguilar creating a micro amp. 18 lbs is pretty darn heavy -- percentage-wise it is 300% heavier than a Little Mark.

Even if you're committed to the DB 750 being the best sounding amp period, there's something unbelievably nice about the idea that I could schlep a (non-existent) 6 lb Aguilar micro and my GS 112 to a rehearsal rather than either (a) playing a micro by another brand at rehearsal (b) schlepping the DB around, when it's really overkill for rehearsals in a terrible sounding and smelling practice space.

Just my two cents. I'd welcome it with open arms.

 

[Altitude]

honestly, it's nuts to (a) consider the AG500 similar in spect to a micro amp

We agree - my point was that, if you were to ask the guys at Aguilar, they would tell you that the AG500 represents the best of their effort to package Aguilar tone and quality into a smaller package, and that they have no intention of delving into whatever technology is required to reduce size to what we would call the micro level.

But if they did, I would certainly have a listen.

 

[naturalkinds]

Good point, Will. I think that's right. But the strange thing is that they were already happy sacrificing part of the DB 750 tone when they made the more affordable AG line of amps. It's not just about watts; the DB sounds different. And if they were already happy to sacrifice some of the excellence of their flagship amp to make something smaller and more affordable, why not plunge further? I'm not suggesting that they send their stuff overseas, or anything like that, but just suggesting that there are a lot of great sounding micro heads out there -- and neo cabinets, too, but that's another discussion re: Aguilar! -- and that our favourite brand would be well-welcomed in that world when they're ready for it.

I guess this is all most a declaration of my faith in the company than a criticism of it. As far as I can tell, there have been no direct posts by the Aguilar staff saying that they don't ever have intentions of releasing a micro head. (But I'd love to see contrary evidence!)

Kind regards,
Emilio

 

[NKUSigEp]

Interesting. Do you supporting data for this assertion? I was under the impression that the MarkBass LittleMark II in particular was one of the hotter selling amps in the last two years. That said - I have never seen a micro head as backline (perhaps the music gear equivalent of rental car fleets), so until we do, and if we do, the standard size gear is probably outselling it overall.

At the moment, no. If you give me enough time I'm sure I could come up with something better than an educated guess though. What I do see is quite a few micro amps on the used market - typically indicative of products that aren't necessarily bad but just weren't what people were used to or what people expected from them; as well as products that were only needed for short-term use and didn't win over the buyer to keep it longer than necessary. It may also be because they are cheaper to ship and easier to sell due to their light weight. I'm not saying I wouldn't check one out if Aguilar put something together, I just wouldn't camp out over night for it.

...18 lbs is pretty darn heavy...

Maybe compared to the Little Mark, but if you think 18 lbs is pretty darn heavy, you need to get off Talkbass right now and start doing some situps and pushups!!!! Seriously...other than that, the rest of your post made sense.

 

[RCCollins]

it may simply be that they don't find class D to be appropriate for (bass) amplification, as the conventional wisdom held for a LONG time... they're not alone in this belief, either...