Matte_black Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 Hello! I'm heavily downsizing my amplification due to the fact my car has a small trunk and that when I gig I usually use a Pod XT straight into the PA. But I need to have an amp for the (rare) jams I can put myself into (usually with drums and maybe guitar). I've sold tube amps and 15s, I'm stuck with a nice (to me) SWR Henry Jr. (4x8") and a cheap Warwick ProFet 3.2 (bought for cheap as a buckup). The cab is portable... not smallest or lightest but I can lift it easily. What bothers me is the amp, it also must have some ground solder gone and has a slight buzz... must open and check. In the meantime I was hunting for a decent amp. I was going to buy an Ashdown MK (of course used) but... well, it's 14kg. This means I'd have to do 2 trips (1 with cab, one with bass and head). I kept considering a combo (just for the portability) but the various TCs and Galliens didn't really look convincing at all. And my experience with small chinese combos isn't super. So I kept searching. I've found a few MB500s and also had an eye on the Ashdown PI amp... but reading the reviews I wasn't really 100% sure that saving some buck would have been the best choice. So I ended up getting an Aguilar TH350 instead. From what I read it should be loud enough and well built. My only concern is that it's usually regarded as a warm amp, not very bright sounding. I like slap a lot and I'm afraid it could be too dark sounding for my taste. On my Warwick I keep the Contour control at maximum and keep the Bright and Deep controls on too. The rest is flat but of course this means there's some serious "scoop" in the amp... and now I'm wondering if the Aggie can provide the same thing. Any idea? I ordered it unseen/untested, could return it if not happy but I still hope it will suit me just fine. Quote
molan Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 Paul Turner uses a TH500 (same pre amp as the 350) for all of his club gigs - he gets a fabulous slap sound Quote
Matte_black Posted August 30, 2014 Author Posted August 30, 2014 Thanx! Well, this slightly reassures me. Are Paul's skills included in the package? Quote
tonyclaret Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 I have just got one of these and it sounds great. It isn't super sparkly, but it's thick and snappy. A lot of people say and I couldn't agree more, the aggie stuff really sits in the mix well. I suppose it all ends up to your own ears. If you don't like it you won't have any issues selling. Quote
Matte_black Posted August 31, 2014 Author Posted August 31, 2014 I must admit that in pure theory the EBS Reidmar would have been better for my taste... but the fact it's only slightly cheaper and made in PRC (while the Aguilar is made at the Aguilar factory) makes a difference. Quote
Lozz196 Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) I used an Aggie rig at the London Bass Guitar Show. Was very impressed and coaxed a very nice Bruce Foxton/Jam type tone from it, which certainly isn`t lacking on highs & high-mids. My thoughts were of a more modern sounding Ampeg, as Tony says reckon it would sit very well in the mix. Edited August 31, 2014 by Lozz196 Quote
Matte_black Posted August 31, 2014 Author Posted August 31, 2014 I hope the eq. section wlll be powerful/versatile enough to get what I want. Quote
Dood Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 I've a TH500 and have to say it does a beautiful slap sound. There is plenty of top available! I reviewed one with the SL cabs and a Spector 'super jazz' Coda bass and found the sound to be big and fat with just the right amount of bite, rather than being all top and no..well.. balls! Quote
goblin Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 Another Aguilar TH500 user here, and again, get a great slap sound out of it Quote
Matte_black Posted August 31, 2014 Author Posted August 31, 2014 good to know! I've also found a few clips on youtube, one of Bill Dickens (with tons of top end) and some of Anthony Wellington... darker sound but still good. Quote
JTUK Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 I use a DB750 and that has the same sort of EQ stage and it has a great slap sound IMO Quote
Matte_black Posted August 31, 2014 Author Posted August 31, 2014 Good! I'm a bit "worried" about the drive being unuseable but it's a sort of free-gadget, so I can live with it anyway Quote
molan Posted August 31, 2014 Posted August 31, 2014 What are you worried about the drive being unusable? Quote
Matte_black Posted August 31, 2014 Author Posted August 31, 2014 Maybe "worried" isn't the right word... anyway if it ends up being nice sounding - more power to me! I play a lot with a pick, maybe if it's not too harsh it could be good to have. I'm not used to onboard effects. Quote
Matte_black Posted September 4, 2014 Author Posted September 4, 2014 (edited) Just got it and spent a few minutes with it... what can I say? It's the first Aguilar I play thru and I must say I'm impressed by the build quality. It's not a bright amp but it's very organic and warm. Very powerful too (or at least, the volume pot gives you an immediate punch when you turn it for the first quarter). For my own slap sound I need to boost the highs at maximum but it's not a big deal. Very scooped sounds could be a bit diffucult to achieve, the frequency of highs is a bit off for my taste. But as I said, the amp eq. section is more focused on mids (where you can decide the boost/cut frequency). It's very light, as you can guess, even if it's not smallest. Well packed, the power cable is thick and heavy. The drive knob is nice, I didn't expect it to be so useable. I'm running it thru my Henry Jr. and played both my usual bass and my headless. They both have ceramic humbuckers but very different wood combination and they both sounded nice with slap, pick and fingerstyle. A big thumb up. If the highs control was centered on different frequency and with a bit more power it could really be the perfect amp (for my own taste, of course). [url="http://s1366.photobucket.com/user/Prometeus666/media/SAM_6722_zps2366af60.jpg.html"][/url] Edited September 5, 2014 by Matte_black Quote
Highfox Posted September 4, 2014 Posted September 4, 2014 They are nice amps. It's always the old story that it may sound totally different in a live mix, where you might not need or hear all those highs. I have sometimes used a passive jazz with mine and never been found wanting more highs.. personal taste as you say. Enjoy the amp. Quote
molan Posted September 4, 2014 Posted September 4, 2014 [quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1409824973' post='2543619'] They are nice amps. It's always the old story that it may sound totally different in a live mix, where you might not need or hear all those highs. I have sometimes used a passive jazz with mine and never been found wanting more highs.. personal taste as you say. Enjoy the amp. [/quote] Another great Aguilar trait is that they always seem to sound great in a live band mix Quote
Matte_black Posted September 4, 2014 Author Posted September 4, 2014 I'd like to keep it scratch-free. Not sure if I'm going to use a bag or build something around it with a handle. Quote
tonyclaret Posted September 5, 2014 Posted September 5, 2014 [quote name='Matte_black' timestamp='1409827238' post='2543642'] I'd like to keep it scratch-free. Not sure if I'm going to use a bag or build something around it with a handle. [/quote] You got a bag? I might sell mine if you're interested. Quote
JTUK Posted September 5, 2014 Posted September 5, 2014 [quote name='tonyclaret' timestamp='1409949455' post='2545004'] You got a bag? I might sell mine if you're interested. [/quote] I might be interested in an Aguilar bag Quote
Matte_black Posted September 5, 2014 Author Posted September 5, 2014 I see the bag sells for €50 but it's not good, you have to remove the amp from it to use it. Much better the Markbass bag, you only have to open front and back. Quote
tonyclaret Posted September 6, 2014 Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) Cool, I though most bags were that form. (You have to take them out to use) Certainly good selling point if the mark bass fits. :-) Edited September 6, 2014 by tonyclaret Quote
Matte_black Posted September 6, 2014 Author Posted September 6, 2014 Honestly - no idea I had that bag for my LittleMark II and it was nice. Buying a simple bag only 'cause it fits and has an Aguilar logo on it doesn' make much sense to me, at that point I'd prefer something that could protect the sides but still leave front and back free for use. Quote
eddiehoffmann Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 TH 500 user here. If you can't get the bass sound you want out of the Tone Hammer, then what you have in your head is not a bass sound Plug your TH 350 into good sensitive cabinets and you'll be in tone heaven. Quote
JTUK Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 I am currently really enjoying running my bass passive thru it. As said, it isn't super bright and it wont be my main gigging amp, but I like it so far. All my cabs have horns and the basses have an active option so I think it will work well. It makes you work the EQ section rather than go to filters on most amps, and I am also liking that. Since it is so small, I might sound check it tonight but very unlikely to use it outside a pub. Quote
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