Master blaster Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 I’m very quiet on this forum. Been a member for a long time but I’m rarely online to be honest. So greetings to everyone. Anyway, I’ve been playing with the Aguilar th500 for the last 3 years. As people know, it’s a great little amp which sounds great. However, I feel really let down but it’s design, due to the amp cutting out mid set. Now I know design issue probably isn’t down to Aguilar but they did choose to use a Bang and Olufsen Icepower module for the power section. The problem is a small component has failed, a complainant that according to my tech costs little to replace. But down to it being a non universal design, and the uk distributor being unhelpful, the whole module needs to be replaced. At a large cost. (The amp is out of warranty). We’re looking at over £200+ for a replacement. This is rediculaous in my opinion. Why can’t they use a module that uses universal components? Feels like it’s a way to con people out more money then what’s needed to me. I love this amp, but I feel like I want to move away from Aguilar. I’m loooking around online at possible replacements but I feel lost. And I live to far away from any music shops with a decent selection of amps to try some out. Does anyone have any advice/opinions on possible replacements that share a similar tone to this head? Sorry if this is a bit rants. Look forward to peoples opinions/input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 What's a universal component? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master blaster Posted April 6, 2019 Author Share Posted April 6, 2019 He called it a controller or something. I’m not tech minded at all. It had a similar fault before where the first tech I took it to said it needed a new board. The guy that has it now fixed it buy resoldering a back joint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 B&O Icepower is as close to industry standard as you'll get, they also have a good reputation for reliability which is why they are chosen by so many manufacturers (so talkbass told me). From my understanding , most Class D stuff isn't really designed to be repairable as it's so much more complex technology. (hence why most amp companies don't develop their own amp modules) Mind you my tech was telling me that a lot of older solid state amps use obsolete MosFets, and that I should find an all valve amp to buy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 It’s difficult this, I feel for you. B&O is fairly standard as a power module as mentioned, but some people use Hypex as a power module, and that may be something worth looking into, the tone is also slightly different. The amp world you will get a myriad of choices Depending on what you want, but also people will tell you what THEY like and that may not be right for you. If you like the Tone Hammer sound you could get the TH pedal from Aguilar relatively cheaply second hand and then get a relatively clean power amp to allow it to shine through. Straight power amps like crown and QSC can give you this, or get something like a Peavy mini max or mini mega which is cheap second hand and should give you what you need to project the pedal. If you like a bit of drive, things like the Tech21 amp range may tickle your fancy. Hope your search goes well 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
three Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 Hmmm... for me Agi as a company is not what it was, and its more recent products don’t appear to have the reliability of earlier gear. I use a db750 and love it but I’m not sure I’d buy a more recent amp. An OBP3 just failed on me - out of warranty and impoosible to repair because of the epoxy seal. £200 to replace with fitting - Agi didn’t appear to give a toss. To the OP, I hope that you get this issue resolved at reasonable cost - £200 is a lot of dosh 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speed Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 Hi Had the same issue (kind of) with my Markbass... power module went faulty after 3 years 6 months out of warranty and £200 to sort it Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 If you like the warmth of the TH500 but don’t use too much of its its gain/drive I’d check out the Ashdown RM500. Capable of those nice warm tones, and plenty powerful like the TH. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 Lozz is right. I traded a TH500 in for the RM500 and much prefer it. And Ashdown really look after their customers - their after sales service is legendary. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 7, 2019 Share Posted April 7, 2019 Who is suggesting this course of action? Is it Aguilar or one of their authorised service/repair centres? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted April 7, 2019 Share Posted April 7, 2019 If this is an unhelpful distributor in the UK it further proves why they shouldn't exist. It just costs us more for the end product. When the distributor became involved, Aguilar products went up by £170-200. Id get involved with Aguilar's social media asap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master blaster Posted April 8, 2019 Author Share Posted April 8, 2019 The tech dealt with the distributor. It was just an instant “you gotta replace the board”. Its such a waste. I have the tone hammer pedal, which is lucky as I’m now having to rely on it with IEMs. I like the suggestion of a clean power amp. I think it’s that or something that’s not class D. It’s disappinting, I had a GK 700rbII for 8 years before this. Gigging just as much as I do now, and used a lot more for home practice. It was cheaper then the th500. But it never went wrong. Thanks for suggesting the ashdown. I very rarely drive the amp with gain and distortion. Will be interesting to try one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 Remember if you want no coloration From the EQ run it from out back of the amp and not in front, but I love having a very clean power amp. Aside from what you/I mentioned if you want to get the bean out the Jules M700 or Demeter Minnie 800D are stonking, Quilter bass block May be a good combination of power and intelligent EQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master blaster Posted April 8, 2019 Author Share Posted April 8, 2019 Holy crap the Jules and the dementer are expensive. Way out of the budget. 😜 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashdown Engineering Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 Wow, this is sad to read really. Hope you manage to get it sorted. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 6 minutes ago, Master blaster said: Holy crap the Jules and the dementer are expensive. Way out of the budget. 😜 I did mention getting the beans out!!!! Stick to my originals!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 (edited) For another cheap and cheerful (but heavy) Hartke LH500/1000 give incredible bang for buck, just remember that flat on them is 2-10-2 for bass-middle-treble second hand can be gotten for under £200 and pretty bombproof Edited April 8, 2019 by Cuzzie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 20 minutes ago, Master blaster said: The tech dealt with the distributor. It was just an instant “you gotta replace the board”. Its such a waste. Electrical stuff will always have a failure rate. These days its a pretty small number but it will never be zero. My brand new Mesa 400+ blew a valve the first time we plugged it in, in the shop. I'd email Aguilar and ask their opinion and if they have a service or repair centre in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 On 06/04/2019 at 19:53, LukeFRC said: B&O Icepower is as close to industry standard as you'll get, they also have a good reputation for reliability which is why they are chosen by so many manufacturers (so talkbass told me). From my understanding , most Class D stuff isn't really designed to be repairable as it's so much more complex technology. (hence why most amp companies don't develop their own amp modules) Mind you my tech was telling me that a lot of older solid state amps use obsolete MosFets, and that I should find an all valve amp to buy... All true Luke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 It is true that such a module may not be too easy to repair. Usually similar ones are not impossible to repair but it takes time = it has a cost. Who wants to try to find the issue, if you get no help from the manufacturer - and here I mean the original power module manufacturer, B&O. The single part probably costs £1 or less but to find the faulty component and hopefully the reason, too, may mean hours and hours of work. Naturally the company could offer some kind of replacement program in the name of recycling, but I doubt it. Machines put those modules together for that low price. If someone fixes those faulty ones by hand, the price may be higher than a new one. Mixed feelings? When Aguilar or any other shop buys thousands of those powers, the price is negotiable. When some Jane-Joe Ordinary, like me, wants to buy just one single unit, the price is naturally something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 Definitely talk to Aguilar direct...good chance they will be more helpful than UK distributor. I’d second the Ashdown RM500 suggestion, esp if you have the TH pedal, and like it 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Whats the poweramp unit in the TH500? I don't seem to see anything on the icepower website that fits the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 The TH500 uses the ICEPower 250ASX2 in Bridge mode. Gives 500w into 4 or 8 ohms. Sadly it is £266 from the UK distributor. You have three choices, fit a new 259ASX2 module, scrap the amp or fit a 125ASX2 module. The difference is 250 into 8R and 500w into 4R. If you are running 4 ohm rig, you will not notice the difference but obviously it is half wattage into 8 ohms. You could probably get a 125ASX2 fitted for about £160. I have a spare 125ASX2 module if you need one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 (edited) In bridge mode that would make it 500 into 8 Ohms? or 250w x 2 at 4 Ohms? Is it truly bridged or is each output putting out a max of 250w? Am I reading the docs wrong - or wouldn't the unit be running overly hot if running bridged @ 4 ohms? Edited April 9, 2019 by EBS_freak Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Chienmortbb said: The TH500 uses the ICEPower 250ASX2 in Bridge mode. Gives 500w into 4 or 8 ohms. Sadly it is £266 from the UK distributor. The TH500 is 250 watts into 8 ohms. Edited April 9, 2019 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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