Genz Shuttle 6.2 v Aguilar TH500

[tonyclaret]

Hi,

I currently have the Genz, which is a great amp. Recently had my head turned by the Tonehammer which also sounds great. Big and meaty compared to the shuttle. However I'm holding back from changing as I've seen a few comments on other forums saying the top end is rolled off and not as bright as the Shuttle. I kinda like the sparkle the shuttle has.

Anyone any experience of both or opinions.

Cheers
Tony

[tonyclaret]

Bump

[leroydiamond]

Gigged the Tone hammer 500 for the first time last night. I have never had the pleasure of playing through a shuttle and all though its early days with the Tone hammer, it is safe to say that this this amp is not about sparkling highs. The EQ section is somewhat complex, as the gain/drive controls impact significantly on the overall tone (will take more time to get a handle). However I really enjoyed using this amp. It is quite a departure from the more Hi fi tones of the Markbass/Tecamp heads I have used for the past number of years and might well be more appropriate for my current needs (playing classic rock covers).
The Tone hammer is more 'old school' in terms of tone, so if your a slap happy kind of guy, this will not be your thing IMO. The Tone hammer is about a tighter low end and rolled back highs IMO. As always, with a new head, it will take me several gigs to find my tone, but I am off to a good start. There is a lot of information from Tone hammer users over on Talkbass if you want to check it out.

Edited February 16, 2014 by leroydiamond

[Lozz196]

These amps make me think of a slightly more modern Ampeg type tone, was really impressed when I used one.

[tonyclaret]

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1392573004' post='2370192']
Gigged the Tone hammer 500 for the first time last night. I have never had the pleasure of playing through a shuttle and all though its early days with the Tone hammer, it is safe to say that this this amp is not about sparkling highs. The EQ section is somewhat complex, as the gain/drive controls impact significantly on the overall tone (will take more time to get a handle). However I really enjoyed using this amp. It is quite a departure from the more Hi fi tones of the Markbass/Tecamp heads I have used for the past number of years and might well be more appropriate for my current needs (playing classic rock covers).
The Tone hammer is more 'old school' in terms of tone, so if your a slap happy kind of guy, this will not be your thing IMO. The Tone hammer is about a tighter low end and rolled back highs IMO. As always, with a new head, it will take me several gigs to find my tone, but I am off to a good start. There is a lot of information from Tone hammer users over on Talkbass if you want to check it out.
[/quote]

Thank you, tempted to get the pedal as a tester before parting with a bigger wad.

[molan]

I recently had the pleasure of watching Paul Turner slapping like a complete funk-god through a TH500 and into a pair of Aguilar SL112 cabs. There definitely wasn't any lack of sizzle or snap in his tone. He wasn't using any pedals either, just a passive Alleva Coppolo 5 straight into the Tone Hammer.

I used to own an original Shuttle 6 and never got on with it. I always found it a bit thin sounding and seems to spend more time fiddling with the eq than playing through it. The TH is a real 'set it & forget' head. When I use one I tend to set most things flat and just tweak bass and mids dependent on room characteristics. I sometimes add some of the drive if I'm after a more vintage tone but I find I'm using that less and less these days.

Of course, the cab choice is going to make a big difference to the final tone. The TH is pretty flexible and seems to partner modern brighter neo loaded cabs as well as more vintage voiced ceramic drivers. I find some Shuttles can get very brittle sounding through neos - ha could just be my ears though!

If you are after a new TH then I'd strongly recommend hunting one down soon. They are all going to start rising in price soon

[Musicman20]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1392676907' post='2371609']
I recently had the pleasure of watching Paul Turner slapping like a complete funk-god through a TH500 and into a pair of Aguilar SL112 cabs. There definitely wasn't any lack of sizzle or snap in his tone. He wasn't using any pedals either, just a passive Alleva Coppolo 5 straight into the Tone Hammer.

I used to own an original Shuttle 6 and never got on with it.

If you are after a new TH then I'd strongly recommend hunting one down soon. They are all going to start rising in price soon
[/quote]

The bass on the latest .2 is much fatter. The HPF was pretty strict on the 6.0 due to the design to pair with smaller compact cabs but I agree. The .2 series are really really nice!

I'd like to try a TH500 but it does tend to take a fair bit of sparkle off. Totally depends on what you like though

How much are they going to raise by? They seem to have jumped from £590 to £650 ish.

[molan]

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1392678974' post='2371638']

How much are they going to raise by? They seem to have jumped from £590 to £650 ish.
[/quote]

To my ears Aggie stuff always comes into its own in a live band situation. Almost all their heads and cabs sound better cranked up I think. There's definitely some brands out there that seem to be 'tuned' for immediate impact in a shop demo environment. I can totally understand the thinking behind this but some of these can get very harsh at any kind of serious volume. It's been a while since I've heard Shuttle, of any size, at serious volume - odd really, they've definitely sold well but I don't see me out gigging much. Maybe it's just the sort of gigs I go to

There's been a two tier rise at a few places. They moved from £599 to £629 but average price rises are going to be about 15% (maybe more on some lines). These are slowly filtering through already and the £650 price means UK dealers are swallowing a bit of margin loss to try and stay competitive. My guess is that they'll hold the £650 for a while but could creep to £679 later in the year.

You can still get £629 from people holding older stock I think.

These rises will be across the whole Aggie range eventually - certainly any new stock will come in at the higher price. The good news is that availability and turnaround times on new orders will be a lot quicker (especially for cabs which used to be 6-12 weeks delivery) but this is being reflected in pricing.

[andyonbass]

Shameless plug.... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/230041-aguilar-th500/"]http://basschat.co.u...-aguilar-th500/[/url]

[Musicman20]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1392681041' post='2371669']
To my ears Aggie stuff always comes into its own in a live band situation. Almost all their heads and cabs sound better cranked up I think. There's definitely some brands out there that seem to be 'tuned' for immediate impact in a shop demo environment. I can totally understand the thinking behind this but some of these can get very harsh at any kind of serious volume. It's been a while since I've heard Shuttle, of any size, at serious volume - odd really, they've definitely sold well but I don't see me out gigging much. Maybe it's just the sort of gigs I go to

There's been a two tier rise at a few places. They moved from £599 to £629 but average price rises are going to be about 15% (maybe more on some lines). These are slowly filtering through already and the £650 price means UK dealers are swallowing a bit of margin loss to try and stay competitive. My guess is that they'll hold the £650 for a while but could creep to £679 later in the year.

You can still get £629 from people holding older stock I think.

These rises will be across the whole Aggie range eventually - certainly any new stock will come in at the higher price. The good news is that availability and turnaround times on new orders will be a lot quicker (especially for cabs which used to be 6-12 weeks delivery) but this is being reflected in pricing.
[/quote]

Ay, its a shame. I love Aguilar and I love the passion the guys there seem to have for their products.

I'm guessing this is due to having a more structured/more expensive distribution system, whereas before I remember the Bass Merchant used to get them in direct from Aguilar and deal with warranty issues directly.

Another mouth to feed, so to speak, with a middleman involved. I'm glad Aguilar stick to their guns and make top quality products though.

I've recently bought a new 'no lip' Tonehammer pedal and it does sound great. I think they have also just gone up as well.

It may be that I should try a TH500 before they go up again!

[artisan]

A big thumbs up for the Shuttle from me,it definitely isn't thin sounding at all.
I play my doghouse bass through it in my loud rockabilly band & my rig can shake the house with ease.

[chris_b]

[quote name='tonyclaret' timestamp='1392399742' post='2368311']
....Anyone any experience of both or opinions....
[/quote]

Don't ask me, I'm biased.

I've been using a TH500 (EQ pretty much flat with a slight boost to the bass and treble) since March last year and I've just bought another as a backup.

I'm an old fashioned player who prefers shaking the foundations with full, fat and punchy lows and low mids. This amp does just that.

[leroydiamond]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1392726243' post='2371958']
Don't ask me, I'm biased.

I've been using a TH500 (EQ pretty much flat with a slight boost to the bass and treble) since March last year and I've just bought another as a backup.

I'm an old fashioned player who prefers shaking the foundations with full, fat and punchy lows and low mids. This amp does just that.
[/quote]

+1. This is what the Tone Hammer does really well. Thick down low with that tube like grind if required.

Edited February 18, 2014 by leroydiamond

[Prime_BASS]

How flat would people say its response is?
And what's the DI like.

I love the sound of the 6.0 I have but live and rehearsals could use a little extra oomph in the lows without it clipping so much.

[Handwired]

You have a Shuttle, your tempted by a Tonehammer, why not the Streamliner?

[artisan]

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1392759427' post='2372520']
How flat would people say its response is?
And what's the DI like.

I love the sound of the 6.0 I have but live and rehearsals could use a little extra oomph in the lows without it clipping so much.
[/quote]
the Shuttle 6.2 has loads more low end ooomph than the older model.

[Musicman20]

I've just had a look, and sure enough the TH500 is £679 with some stores, and Aguilar seems to be in more generic music shops throughout the country now. I don't blame them if it means more sales, but I personally preferred using a bass specialist for these products (or a quality music store).

It is a hefty rise from the £600 or less prices from about a year ago. I realise they are NYC assembled and have a flawless record of reliability, but its now quite an expensive unit. I've also noticed the pedals jumping up from around £179 to £235 for the Tone hammer over a year....

I was thinking of picking up an Octaver effects pedal, and the Aguilar Octamizer was one of my choices, and it seems to have been heavily A/B'd with the MXR Bass Octave Deluxe. The price rises means I'll just get the MXR.

I love Aguilar and their design/style/brand, but I think they should have just carried on dealing directly with shops.

[Prime_BASS]

[quote name='Handwired' timestamp='1392794341' post='2372724']
You have a Shuttle, your tempted by a Tonehammer, why not the Streamliner?
[/quote]

If this is aimed at me I'll try a short as I can manage reply.

I had a streamliner's and just plain didn't like it, I find the controls on the shuttle a pain enough (essentially three volume knobs) and adding a mid scooped EQ to that made it all more confusing and could never really get a balance between lows and everything else.

Shuttle I can balance that a lot easier but the bass does feel rather empty in feel which is a bit of a downer at rehearsals.

[chris_b]

The STL 6.0 has a lot of the bass filtered out.

The 6.2 and 9.2 models have the full EQ monty.