How do these amps compare

[nikmark]

Anyone out there know how the Aguilar DB 750 compares (overall) to the Ampeg SVT 8PRO?

[Steve Conner]

Both are hybrids with tube preamps and solid-state power sections. The DB750 is a big, heavy, hernia-inducing, breaker-popping beast of an amp, based on traditional solid-state amp technology. The SVT8 Pro is more compact and lighter. As far as I know, they achieved this by making it Class-D with a switching power supply. If the words "Class-D" and "switching" make you retch in horror, then buy the DB750.

But I bet they both probably sound awesome

[David Schwab]

But I bet they both probably sound awesome

I guess if you like the SVT you'd like the Aguilar DB 750, but I tried one out when they first came out.. I gave it a good 30 seconds before pulling out my cable and thinking to my self "rubbish!"

It sounded like a heavy blanket was on top of the speaker cab. I love bottom end, but not at the expense of everything else. The AG 500 was equally bad. Just dull and lifeless. No snap at all.

What my criteria was when trying amps was to get the same tone I did from my bass DI'd, but louder. None of the tube amps can do that of course, but the DB 750 had a very exaggerated tube tone.

I found two, maybe three amps that sounded true to my bass, and one was too small to use live (the SWR LA-12).

You want clear tube warmth? Get an Alembic F-1X or F-2B and a nice clean power amp. That's what tubes are supposed to sound like.

I use an old TubeWorks BlueTube when I want tube coloration. I changed the tube to a 12AU7 for more overdrive than distortion.