the review rig, I developed arthritis in my
right foot, which dramatically limited my
mobility. It was a relief to have this rig,
because I was able to minimize the stress
on my foot with such easy equipment to
transport. The Aguilar rig also passed the
gig obstacle-course test—navigating flights
of stairs and enduring long walks from the
stage to the car.
The Verdict
The Tone Hammer 500 and SL 112 are
solid additions to the Aguilar family. These
are ideal products for the bassist on the go,
as well as a player with back or feet problems. The Tone Hammer 500 gets close
to replicating the tone of its predecessors,
and outrivals the many mini-amps on the
market. While the SL 112 is one option to
pair with the Tone Hammer 500, Aguilar
also has a wide variety of other cabs to
fit a bassist’s particular needs. All said,
if you are looking for a portable, eye-catching rig that gives you a taste of that
Aguilar sound, try plugging into the Tone
Hammer 500 and SL 112.
Tone Hammer 500:
Buy If...
you want a user-friendly, super-
portable amp with warm tone
and decent power.
Skip If...
you need more power, prefer a more
hi-fi tone, or can’t play without tubes.
Aguilar Amplification
Street $699
aguilaramp.com
or use a mobile device to download
audio clips of the amp at
CLICKHere…
premierguitar.com/jan2012
SL 112:
Buy If...
you need a lighter rig, and have an
ear for a midrange-friendly cabinet.
Skip If...
you like a cabinet with a fuller
low end, or prefer the tone
of ceramic drivers.
Aguilar Amplification
Street $749
aguilaramp.com
or use a mobile device to download
audio clips of the cab at
CLICKHere…
premierguitar.com/jan2012
– Tim Brookes, Guitar: An American Life
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Banjos,
Mandos
& Ukes
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