Product:
Aguilar DB728 Power Amp

Aguilar GS410 Bass Cabinet

DB728 Suggested Retail: $2750.00

GS410 Suggested Retail: $1149.00

Hairball Music DB728 Retail: $1995.99

• 400 watt output
• Eight 6550 power tubes
• One 12AX7 tube
• One 12U7 tube
• Custom Toroidal output and power transformers
• Twin, quiet, high efficient cooling fans
• 2, 4, & 8 ohm selector
• 1/4" and Speakon connectors
• Ten year limited warranty
• Origin of Manufacture: USA

• Four 10" cast frame woofers, 56 oz. magnets
• Power handling: 700 watts
• High quality injection molded tweeter with integral phase plus
• Custom crossover with variable tweeter control
• Frequency response: 40Hz to 16kHz
• Sensitivity: 104dB
• Casters included
• Impedance: 4 ohms
• Dimensions: 28 1/8" H x 22 1/2" W x 16 5/8" D
• Origin of Manufacture: USA

First off, let me start by telling you I'm not a bass technician or an audiophile or a collector of super high end gear. I don't know how Toroidal output transformers work or one tube from another. I'm your typical road dog, doing weekend shows and studio recordings for local song writers or bands needing a bass player. I play all styles from the 50's on up to the latest and greatest, so when it came time to choose new bass gear, I needed to find a versatile sounding amp. This turned into one of the biggest musical undertakings I've ever had. I knew of some of the more mainstream gear such as SWR, Eden, Fender and such, so when it was time to check out new gear, I thought the task would be quick and simple - WRONG! After five months of intensive research and many questions and sleepless nights, it all finally came clear and I found the Aguilar amp to be in a class all its own. Now don't get me wrong, the aforementioned gear that I play was good in its own right, but nothing compared to the Aguilar sound. It should be noted that my previous rig was an AH250 Trace Elliot with 410 and 115 cabs.

There have been leaps and bounds of improvements made on bass gear in the last several years. It is now a bass players market out there with more choices of the finest gear available. My goal was to find a rig with the fattest, room filling low end tone to compliment a five string bass without having to buy tons of equipment and roadies to haul it! This brings me to Aguilar. I can tell you from the first moment you lay eyes on this behemoth beauty, you know you're in for something very special. The DB 728 delivers from the first note. If you have never tried a tube amp, I will guarantee love at first strum. I matched my DB728 power amp to the Aguilar GS410 cab (Rated at 700 watts at 4 ohms) and an Ashdown RPM 1 preamp for a tone that I thought was only reserved for rigs 3 times this size. With the amp set at the half mark and my preamp output set on three, I was louder and cleaner than my T.E. rig set at six. There is no problem being loud enough! My first show was with a 15 piece Blues Brothers style horn band and I had the Aguilar amp set at the half mark with my preamp output set on four. I had the tone pots set flat and I was almost too loud! The real compliment came from my guitarist saying not only could he finally hear every note, he FELT every note.

Along with the natural warmth of tubes, this set up produces the most gut rumbling induced lows, and with the GS410 adjustable horn, some of the cleanest, punchiest highs I've ever played. I was finally able to achieve that room filling, crowd pleasing, big thundering bass tone which is apparent throughout the entire bass register. This amp even made my older Fender P-bass sound HUGE. Unlike 18" speakers, which are very flubby and inefficient sounding, the GS 410 delivers a solid low end growl and punch that is very reminiscent of the old Ampeg 810 cabs from the 70's. The Aguilar GS410 is by far, more efficient and does not leave your lower back screaming at you after moving it (the cab comes with factory removable wheels). I don't see myself ever needing to buy another cab to keep up with any of the bands I play for. Another nice feature on the Aguilar amp is the built in "soft start". When you switch off the standby mode, your cab isn't hit with a sudden burst of energy from the amp.

Another concern was on-the-road durability. I needed something that would stand up to bumps and bangs year after year and with tubes, I was very concerned. Aguilar's ten year warranty, longer then any other manufactures, put my mind at ease. Equipment has a way of falling off the back of trucks and stages. I even heard of an Aguilar amp that took a header down a flight of stairs and suffered a couple of dings and dents and still performed without a hitch (I saw this amp and it still looked good even with the bruises). Of course, a good road case helps. The only real downside of this amp is the overall weight of 57 pounds that makes it a little bulky to lug around. It is also a bit pricey (suggested retail of $2400.00 - not what you would pay at Hairball Music) but I see this as an investment for "top of the line" sound. Once you plug in, you'll quickly understand that you get what you paid for.

All in all, the Aguilar DB728 power amp is the fattest, punchiest, most full sounding amp I've ever played. Once you hear it, nothing else will do when compared to an Eden, Farfner, EBS, Euphonic Audio, Mesa Boogie, Ampeg and SWR. The DB728 will compliment any preamp matched to it. It even sounds great with a straight DI box. The ultimate setup, of course, would be with the Aguilar DB680 or the smaller DB659 tube preamp. Compare and hear for yourself, and I think you will agree, Aguilar got it right!