| Author | Message | ||
| willie
Member Username: willie Post Number: 99 Registered: 11-2003 |
I was considering getting a Aguilar DB 680 Pre Amp. Anyone have any opinions or experience with these? Willie | ||
| 2400wattman
Senior Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 630 Registered: 11-2005 |
I have one and it's been my first piece of very high end bass pre amps. I absolutely love it's ease of operation, tone and reliability. They don't make them anymore but I think the used market for them is around $800.00-1,000.00. If you can get your hands on one get it and you won't regret it. | ||
| willie
Member Username: willie Post Number: 100 Registered: 11-2003 |
Do you have an Alembic F-1X and if so how do they compare? | ||
| 2400wattman
Senior Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 632 Registered: 11-2005 |
Yes, I have an F1-X as well. They both have X-overs but the Ag. has level controls for the lows and highs where the F1-X has a control only for the highs. It also has blend controls for the effects loop, tuner output and other goodies. It has some features that the F1-X does not have which are very useful if not mandatory (in my opinion). However, I use my F1-X and Super Filter in it's efx loop as my main rig. Now the F1-X is a great preamp by itself but, with the Superfilter in the signal chain and the sounds they provide together is why I use this set up over the Aggie. I really like the sounds that filtering provide. It's(the superfilter) operation is similar to parametric e.q.'s but the sound is drastically different. I know it sounds like I'm really pushing the Alembic stuff here but the Aguilar IS a fantastic pre amp. With it's two bands of fully parametric e.q. bass and treble controls it has tons of gutsy studio quality sound. You could get an F1-X and Superfilter used for probably the same amount or maybe a little more than the Aguilar but, Superfilters rarely come up for sale on the used market as opposed to the F1-X whisch come up quite often. Again, if you've got a line on a good used DB 680 pick it up as it will be one of the best investments in your rig. | ||
| willie
Intermediate Member Username: willie Post Number: 101 Registered: 11-2003 |
Actually I'm already using an F1-X with an SF-2 in the effects loops as the the heart my main system. I was just considering the 680 as something different. 10 tube stages gotta sound good | ||
| 2400wattman
Senior Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 633 Registered: 11-2005 |
10 tube stages do sound very good and it is different and a gratifying piece of gear. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3383 Registered: 7-2004 |
Didn't they make a Nigel Tufnel signature model with 11 tube stages? hehehehe Bill, tgo | ||
| 2400wattman
Senior Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 634 Registered: 11-2005 |
Bill, I saw that you posted here and I knew there was something sarcastic coming!;) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3384 Registered: 7-2004 |
Sarcastic? Me thinks not, just an attempt at humor. (Nigel Tufnel played guitar for Spinal Tap). Bill, tgo | ||
| dnburgess
Senior Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 581 Registered: 1-2003 |
I thought he was an English cricketer. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3386 Registered: 7-2004 |
Isn't that a big Buddy Holly fan from Manchester? Bill, tgo | ||
| willie
Intermediate Member Username: willie Post Number: 103 Registered: 11-2003 |
Still not sure whether to try for the DB680 or not or how it sounds | ||
| lmiwa
Intermediate Member Username: lmiwa Post Number: 107 Registered: 2-2008 |
Personally, for something I'm interested in, I check for feedback to avoid the truly awful stuff, but then I buy it at a good used price and try it out. I have to use it in my musical context - in a store, other people's opinions, etc. don't really tell me how it will work for ME. Then, if I like it, I keep it. If I don't, hopefully I bought it at a price where I can resell it for only a slight loss. The DB680 is certainly a good piece of equipment. If you can pick it up for a decent price, go for it. If you don't like it, put it back on eBay! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3389 Registered: 7-2004 |
Willie: Here is a link to the reviews of this pre-amp at harmony-central.com. This is the best gear review site I know of. I always check here before buying new equipment. Bill, tgo | ||
| briant
Advanced Member Username: briant Post Number: 243 Registered: 12-2004 |
I own a DB680. It kills. Buy one. You won't be disappointed. It is by far one of the best sounding preamps I've ever played through. Nice tubey goodness all around. It reacts wonderfully when you overdrive the input - that grinding Entwistle tone happens like magic when coupled with an Alembic bass. My DB680 is currently sitting in a rack with a Stewart World 1.6 power amp and it drives a 4 Ohm Markbass 4x10. This setup weighs less than my Mesa Boogie Venture combo amp and it destroys it in the tone department - and I love the tone from the Mesa Boogie. The Aguilar is just that much better. | ||
| hb3
Advanced Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 338 Registered: 2-2005 |
I use it, with the Aguilar power amp. It's super fat. | ||
| 2400wattman
Senior Member Username: 2400wattman Post Number: 635 Registered: 11-2005 |
I use mine with a Crown Macrotech 2400 pumped into an SVT. My band kind of hates me for it.  The tone is something else as opposed to the Ampeg amp I was using(SVT 4 Pro). It sounded good but the Aguilar just destroyed it in every area. |
