Talk me out of buying...

[fishdude101101]

I know I'm in the wrong place....but I'm contemplating buying a DB 751. I know its overkill for any gig I play, but dammit I want it. I'd probably be better off with the TH 700, I had one in the past, and loved it, but sold it. My thinking is that if I like that sound It'd be the last amp I'd ever buy.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

It's overkill. It's way more expensive.
You love the sound of the 700 already.
Three great reasons not to buy.

 

[fishdude101101]

Next weekend I have the opportunity to play them back to back, so we'll see.

 

[pepj]

Buy it. One of the very best amps out there.
I wouldnt say that about a TH.

 

[fishdude101101]

Buy it. One of the very best amps out there.
I wouldnt say that about a TH.

Have you compared the two?

 

[SJan3]

I know I'm in the wrong place....but I'm contemplating buying a DB 751. I know its overkill for any gig I play, but dammit I want it. I'd probably be better off with the TH 700, I had one in the past, and loved it, but sold it. My thinking is that if I like that sound It'd be the last amp I'd ever buy.

Nobody needs a Cadillac. Some simply want one. If you can afford it, buy it.

 

[micguy]

A 751 has tubes in it. Normally that'd be something you'd need to consider, as tube amps have more maintenance to keep them running well for a long time. But in this case it's just preamp tubes, which can last for a very long time - decades, in most cases. So you carry a spare 12ax7 in your kit to each gig, just in case.

So....that's it - it costs more, and you should carry a spare tube. I probably haven't been very persuasive. Sorry. ;-)

Oh, and your "last amp I'll ever buy" comment. I don't believe you for a second. Anyone who would buy a DB instead of a Tonehammer is prone to emotional large dollar purchases. No way this is your last amp. Enjoy your next (not last) amp.

 

[fishdude101101]

A 751 has tubes in it. Normally that'd be something you'd need to consider, as tube amps have more maintenance to keep them running well for a long time. But in this case it's just preamp tubes, which can last for a very long time - decades, in most cases. So you carry a spare 12ax7 in your kit to each gig, just in case.

So....that's it - it costs more, and you should carry a spare tube. I probably haven't been very persuasive. Sorry. ;-)

Oh, and your "last amp I'll ever buy" comment. I don't believe you for a second. Anyone who would buy a DB instead of a Tonehammer is prone to emotional large dollar purchases. No way this is your last amp. Enjoy your next (not last) amp.

Persuasive, just not in the way you think haha.

But yeah emotional high dollar purchases are kinda my thing.

 

[iiipopes]

Despite the James Bond/Nancy Sinatra movie theme song to the contrary, you only live once. I have never regretted a quality purchase, or above the playing development stage I was in at the time. I grew into it. I have regretted many lesser purchases.

 

[stingray78]

The DB751 and DB410s were on my rider for many years. It sounds great and is an insanely loud amp, I mean way beyond just some "headroom".
If you don't need insanely loud, it is a bit like buying a Dodge Challenger Hellcat for you daily inner city commute. It may be fun, but it is total overkill.
That doesn't make it wrong though .

 

[Wasnex]

Buy two of them!

I have a DB751 in my collection. It's definitely an extraordinary amp if you like huge lows. IMHO it is not particularly flexible; so if you are not into huge lows, then I would look elsewhere. For live performances, I find that huge lows are often problematic. YMMV

The DB751 is big, heavy, and cumbersome by today's standards. It's also fairly expensive.

Another concern is repairability. The DB751 has a FET-based output section. It's likely the required FETs are no longer in production...meaning replacement parts are likely to become increasingly difficult to source. Aguilar may have a bench stock of the required parts. When they are used up, the only option left will be poor quality black market fakes.

I don't have a feel for the DB751's reliability. My impression is the DB750 was unusually prone to failure. I have come across multiple DB750s in the wild and all of them got stuck in standby and had to be sent for repair. Hopefully Aguilar fixed the source of the problem when they designed the DB751.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

You wanna' see how Jeannie talks me outta' stuff...?

 

[MN_Bass]

I’ve owned the th500 and ag700, my db750 will leave me when I’m dead, best amp I’ve ever owned. You can’t beat the tone amount of volume on tap if needed. The class d amps are great but don’t have that 3D tone of the DB750/1.

 

[fishdude101101]

Buy two of them!

I have a DB751 in my collection. It's definitely an extraordinary amp if you like huge lows. IMHO it is not particularly flexible; so if you are not into huge lows, then I would look elsewhere. For live performances, I find that huge lows are often problematic. YMMV

The DB751 is big, heavy, and cumbersome by today's standards. It's also fairly expensive.

Another concern is repairability. The DB751 has a FET-based output section. It's likely the required FETs are no longer in production...meaning replacement parts are likely to become increasingly difficult to source. Aguilar may have a bench stock of the required parts. When they are used up, the only option left will be poor quality black market fakes.

I don't have a feel for the DB751's reliability. My impression is the DB750 was unusually prone to failure. I have come across multiple DB750s in the wild and all of them got stuck in standby and had to be sent for repair. Hopefully Aguilar fixed the source of the problem when they designed the DB751.

Huge lows are kinda my thing. Too much is never enough lol.

What is this about FETs? Why do you say they are likely out of production? Could Aguilar not issue a new DB amp with a different FET output section, or another type of non class d?

 

[fishdude101101]

I’ve owned the th500 and ag700, my db750 will leave me when I’m dead, best amp I’ve ever owned. You can’t beat the tone amount of volume on tap if needed. The class d amps are great but don’t have that 3D tone of the DB750/1.

Yeah I've never been totally satisfied with my class D stuff. It's good enough and its cheap(er).

 

[pepj]

Have you compared the two?

Against the TH500, yes.
I sold the TH500 quickly.

 

[burgerdj]

Buy what makes you happy - just don’t go into hock to get it.

 

[Bob_Ross]

If you don't need insanely loud, it is a bit like buying a Dodge Challenger Hellcat for you daily inner city commute.

Slight Digression: One of the most common cars I see toodling around the inner city here in Tucson AZ is a Dodge Challenger Hellcat! I must see two or three every single time I go out to run an errand!

 

[Wasnex]

Why do you say they are likely out of production?

It's a market trend. Basically FETs are old technology. The vast majority of current bass amps are Class D.

I found a thread that indicates the outputs in the DB751 are Exicon ECF20N20 & EDF20P20 lateral mosfets.

Per this article I Exicon has stopped making this class of device: It’s the end of the production line for the lateral MOSFET - Electronics World.

 

[Geepers]

No worries, I’ll oblige…

Don’t buy it. Buy this instead and it truly will be the last amp you’ll buy.

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