Aguilar Agro - Bass Overdrive Pedal
Discover the AGRO Bass Overdrive to sculpt a sound ranging from warm grit to aggressive distortion without ever sacrificing the depth of your bass.
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From warm "Growl" to total distortion, without ever sacrificing your bass.
The nightmare of any bassist looking to dirty up their sound is the loss of definition in the low frequencies (the infamous "low-end loss"). Often, when an overdrive pedal is engaged, the bass guitar disappears from the mix and transforms into an anemic electric guitar.
This pedal doesn't try to imitate a generic tube amp. It's based directly on the overdrive channel of the legendary Aguilar AG 500 amp head. It's a circuit that has proven itself on the world's biggest stages.
Why is AGRO different?
Pas de bouton "Blend" nécessaire : Contrairement à d'autres pédales qui vous obligent à mélanger votre son clair pour garder des graves (souvent au prix d'un son "déphasé"), l'AGRO est conçue pour saturer tout en maintenant une fondation sismique solide.
Contour Magique : Le contrôle Contour est votre arme secrète. Tournez-le à gauche pour des médiums présents et perçants (idéal pour le rock progressif ou le jeu aux doigts agressif). Tournez-le à droite pour creuser les médiums (scoop) et obtenir un son lourd, parfait pour le Slap furieux ou le Métal moderne.
Présence Ajustable : Le bouton Presence vous permet de décider si vous voulez un son chaud et rond, ou si vous voulez que l'attaque du médiator tranche le mix comme une lame de rasoir.
Qualité Aguilar : Châssis en acier indestructible, True Bypass, et une fabrication soignée à New York.
Technical Specifications
| Characteristic | Technical Details |
| Type of effect | Bass Overdrive / Distortion |
| Circuit | Based on the AG 500 head saturation channel |
| Controls | Level, Saturation, Presence, Contour |
| Entrances/Exits | 1 x 1/4" Jack (In), 1 x 1/4" Jack (Out) |
| Bypass | True Bypass (Gig-saver: the signal passes even if the battery dies) |
| Food | 9V DC (Center Negative) or 9V Battery |
| Consumption | 7 mA (Very energy-efficient) |
| Chassis | Heavy-duty steel |
| Origin | Made in the USA (NYC) |
Comparative Table: Aguilar vs. The Competition
How does AGRO compare to other low-saturation standards?
| Model | Aguilar AGRO | Darkglass Microtubes B3K | Boss ODB-3 |
| Sound Type | Saturated amplifier (Organic) | Modern / Hi-Fi / Metal | Synthetic / Fuzz |
| Gravel Management | Optimized internal circuit | Blend (Clean/Dirty Mix) | 2-band EQ |
| Control of Mediums | "Contour" button (Scoop) | Switch "Attack/Grunt" | No (Balance EQ only) |
| Food | 9V Standard | 9V Standard | 9V Standard |
| Verdict | The most musical and versatile sound. | The benchmark for "Djent" and Metal. | The classic budget option. |
FAQ – The most frequently asked questions on the web
We have compiled the answers to the 50 most frequently asked questions on the web about Aguilar AGRO to give you the straight facts.
1. Does this pedal cut the low-end frequencies?
That's question #1. The answer is no . Aguilar designed this circuit specifically for bass. Even with maximum saturation, the low end remains full and rich. You don't need a "Blend" knob to compensate.
2. What is the difference between the "Saturation" and "Level" buttons?
The Level knob controls the overall output volume of the pedal (for boosting your amp, for example). The Saturation knob controls the amount of distortion and gain.
3. What exactly does the "Contour" button do?
It's a midrange filter.
À gauche (sens anti-horaire) : Médiums plats et présents.
À droite (sens horaire) : Médiums creusés (scooped). C'est là que vous obtenez ce son lourd et moderne typique du métal ou du slap agressif.
4. Is the AGRO a Fuzz or an Overdrive?
Technically, it's an overdrive that can go all the way to distortion. It doesn't have the "synthetic" or "square" sound of a fuzz. It retains the character of your instrument, but in a "nasty" version.
5. Does it work well with an active bass?
Absolutely. It has a large headroom. Whether you have a passive Jazz Bass or a high-output 5-string active bass, the AGRO handles it without unwanted compression.
6. Is this True Bypass?
Yes. When the pedal is off, your signal goes directly from the input to the output without being affected by the circuit. Aguilar also calls this the "Gig-saver bypass": if your battery dies mid-song, the signal continues to pass through (unlike electronic relays which cut everything off).
From warm "Growl" to total distortion, without ever sacrificing your bass.
The nightmare of any bassist looking to dirty up their sound is the loss of definition in the low frequencies (the infamous "low-end loss"). Often, when an overdrive pedal is engaged, the bass guitar disappears from the mix and transforms into an anemic electric guitar.
This pedal doesn't try to imitate a generic tube amp. It's based directly on the overdrive channel of the legendary Aguilar AG 500 amp head. It's a circuit that has proven itself on the world's biggest stages.
Why is AGRO different?
Pas de bouton "Blend" nécessaire : Contrairement à d'autres pédales qui vous obligent à mélanger votre son clair pour garder des graves (souvent au prix d'un son "déphasé"), l'AGRO est conçue pour saturer tout en maintenant une fondation sismique solide.
Contour Magique : Le contrôle Contour est votre arme secrète. Tournez-le à gauche pour des médiums présents et perçants (idéal pour le rock progressif ou le jeu aux doigts agressif). Tournez-le à droite pour creuser les médiums (scoop) et obtenir un son lourd, parfait pour le Slap furieux ou le Métal moderne.
Présence Ajustable : Le bouton Presence vous permet de décider si vous voulez un son chaud et rond, ou si vous voulez que l'attaque du médiator tranche le mix comme une lame de rasoir.
Qualité Aguilar : Châssis en acier indestructible, True Bypass, et une fabrication soignée à New York.
Technical Specifications
| Characteristic | Technical Details |
| Type of effect | Bass Overdrive / Distortion |
| Circuit | Based on the AG 500 head saturation channel |
| Controls | Level, Saturation, Presence, Contour |
| Entrances/Exits | 1 x 1/4" Jack (In), 1 x 1/4" Jack (Out) |
| Bypass | True Bypass (Gig-saver: the signal passes even if the battery dies) |
| Food | 9V DC (Center Negative) or 9V Battery |
| Consumption | 7 mA (Very energy-efficient) |
| Chassis | Heavy-duty steel |
| Origin | Made in the USA (NYC) |
Comparative Table: Aguilar vs. The Competition
How does AGRO compare to other low-saturation standards?
| Model | Aguilar AGRO | Darkglass Microtubes B3K | Boss ODB-3 |
| Sound Type | Saturated amplifier (Organic) | Modern / Hi-Fi / Metal | Synthetic / Fuzz |
| Gravel Management | Optimized internal circuit | Blend (Clean/Dirty Mix) | 2-band EQ |
| Control of Mediums | "Contour" button (Scoop) | Switch "Attack/Grunt" | No (Balance EQ only) |
| Food | 9V Standard | 9V Standard | 9V Standard |
| Verdict | The most musical and versatile sound. | The benchmark for "Djent" and Metal. | The classic budget option. |
FAQ – The most frequently asked questions on the web
We have compiled the answers to the 50 most frequently asked questions on the web about Aguilar AGRO to give you the straight facts.
1. Does this pedal cut the low-end frequencies?
That's question #1. The answer is no . Aguilar designed this circuit specifically for bass. Even with maximum saturation, the low end remains full and rich. You don't need a "Blend" knob to compensate.
2. What is the difference between the "Saturation" and "Level" buttons?
The Level knob controls the overall output volume of the pedal (for boosting your amp, for example). The Saturation knob controls the amount of distortion and gain.
3. What exactly does the "Contour" button do?
It's a midrange filter.
À gauche (sens anti-horaire) : Médiums plats et présents.
À droite (sens horaire) : Médiums creusés (scooped). C'est là que vous obtenez ce son lourd et moderne typique du métal ou du slap agressif.
4. Is the AGRO a Fuzz or an Overdrive?
Technically, it's an overdrive that can go all the way to distortion. It doesn't have the "synthetic" or "square" sound of a fuzz. It retains the character of your instrument, but in a "nasty" version.
5. Does it work well with an active bass?
Absolutely. It has a large headroom. Whether you have a passive Jazz Bass or a high-output 5-string active bass, the AGRO handles it without unwanted compression.
6. Is this True Bypass?
Yes. When the pedal is off, your signal goes directly from the input to the output without being affected by the circuit. Aguilar also calls this the "Gig-saver bypass": if your battery dies mid-song, the signal continues to pass through (unlike electronic relays which cut everything off).