Ashdown ABM Combo Amp Section Removal?

[Normanbiscuit]

[font="Tahoma"]Has any one attempted - or indeed know if it is possible to remove the Amp section of my older C115 ABM Combo and use it as a separate head?
The idea is to use it with a smaller cab for rehearsals as the the combo is a bit of a heavy beast to haul into my new Ford KA and it's even trickier to get it onto the back of the Ducati.
Would the amp fit into a rack? is it a self contained unit? will I have to sell it and get something smaller - bit reluctant to go the Chinese way - incidentally do ashdown still offer a 5 year warrenty on their gear now it's made in noodle land? - had to effect mine after 4.5 years and was glad it was in place.(blown speaker)[/font]

Edited November 17, 2007 by Normanbiscuit

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I'd email ashdown to see if thay'd sell you a suitable sleeve mount it in to turn it into a head.

Howeverfor a potentially cheaper solution it should fit into something like this:

[url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=30611&&source=14&doy=17m11"]http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...4&doy=17m11[/url]

It will need a bit of modification You'd need to drill some holes on the top where the screws are in the top of the combo and maybe block off some space at the sides.

If you decide to try this it might be a good idea to either:

Take the removed amp into the shop to check it'll fit
or
confirm that you can take the case back for a refund if it looks lke it won't work.

[Dood]

Woh dude!!! Your post is huge!!! I'm going to edit it and move it to a better forum for you.... GOSH! You must want to be heard!!

[Sercet]

If you do this, let us know how it works out. I'd like to do the same thing.

Steve

[Lfalex v1.1]

I did it with a Trace H122SMX (2x10) Combo.
Took all the gubbins out of the enclosure;

Speakers, Horn, Crossover, wires, Amp, the lot.

Peeled back the carper, lay it face down and ran a jigsaw through the side sections holding the "amp" onto the combo.
Sanded them flush. Stretched the original carpet back over the new "top" of the "cab", cut to size and re-glued it.
Filled the original hole for the speaker cable.
Routed a space for a new connection plate on the rear, wired it up and sealed it off (so the jack socket doesn't "breathe" like a port for the enclosure)

MADE my own sleeve for the head in 12mm MDF, carpeted it, slotted the head in (make sure you accurately mark/drill where the securing bolts go!)
You might get a sleeve out there, but the SMX I have is the same width as the cabinet, so 3" or 4" wider than a 19" rack mounter. I reckon the Ashdown might be the same..

Cost?

The new back panel for the "cab"
A small sub enclosure to seal off the new jack socket
8 screws
Wood glue
Carpet
4 rubber feet
A fold out handle (sprung loaded) I actually got a Penn Fabrications one identical to the ones left on the "new" cab
A sheet of MDF I already had.

One trip to Maplin. Less than £35.
One afternoon's work.

Result?

5 years later it still works.
Everyone likes it better than the originals (it's the same width as the cabs, not narrower)
Fits in the boot of a Punto without lowering the rear seat or cracking the rear screen!
I can use the new head with my Trace 1x15 or 4x10 or bastardised 2x10 or any 2 together.

Worth the effort.
Happy cannibalising, but take it easy and be careful!

Edited November 24, 2007 by Lfalex v1.1

[Normanbiscuit]

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='93672' date='Nov 24 2007, 10:13 AM']I did it with a Trace H122SMX (2x10) Combo.
Took all the gubbins out of the enclosure;

Speakers, Horn, Crossover, wires, Amp, the lot.

Peeled back the carper, lay it face down and ran a jigsaw through the side sections holding the "amp" onto the combo.
Sanded them flush. Stretched the original carpet back over the new "top" of the "cab", cut to size and re-glued it.
Filled the original hole for the speaker cable.
Routed a space for a new connection plate on the rear, wired it up and sealed it off (so the jack socket doesn't "breathe" like a port for the enclosure)

MADE my own sleeve for the head in 12mm MDF, carpeted it, slotted the head in (make sure you accurately mark/drill where the securing bolts go!)
You might get a sleeve out there, but the SMX I have is the same width as the cabinet, so 3" or 4" wider than a 19" rack mounter. I reckon the Ashdown might be the same..

Cost?

The new back panel for the "cab"
A small sub enclosure to seal off the new jack socket
8 screws
Wood glue
Carpet
4 rubber feet
A fold out handle (sprung loaded) I actually got a Penn Fabrications one identical to the ones left on the "new" cab
A sheet of MDF I already had.

One trip to Maplin. Less than £35.
One afternoon's work.

Result?

5 years later it still works.
Everyone likes it better than the originals (it's the same width as the cabs, not narrower)
Fits in the boot of a Punto without lowering the rear seat or cracking the rear screen!
I can use the new head with my Trace 1x15 or 4x10 or bastardised 2x10 or any 2 together.

Worth the effort.
Happy cannibalising, but take it easy and be careful![/quote]
Tis true that the Amp section is wider than a standard rack at 57cm as opposed to 48cm so the Maplin sleeve is sadly a no go.
Don't think my carpentry skills run to cabinet sleeve making so it looks like a ebay job.
Now that ABM's are made in China I can't see them giving/selling me a sleeve.
R

[Lfalex v1.1]

Making the sleeve was the easy bit.

Cut a top and bottom, plus two sides to sandwich (standing vertically) between them.
I just screwed through the top/bottom into the edges of the sides (they're quite thick on mine, mind!) 6 screws top, 6 bottom= 12 per side and 24 in total.
It's fallen, and it just bounced!
I just sanded the outer edges slightly, carpeted, and added feet, a handle and corner protectors.

[Normanbiscuit]

Finally got the Amp Section out - took about an hour mainly because I was feeling my way.

Ended up taking off the grab handles which gives a good view inside of the Eminence BETA speaker.

The four top bolts under the plastic caps on combo top are the only restraint/fixing.

It has a sticky rubberised strip front and back and thus takes ages to jiggle it out - through the front aperture


(the back has the speaker connection lead silliconed into a hole).

Very tight fit length wise. Pics when I've done the sleeve and filled the now vacant top slot.

*****STOP PRESS voodoosnake has just PM'D me saying that Asdown resleeved his ABM for £75!!!
Looks like I'll be getting the Jigsaw out.

Edited December 8, 2007 by Normanbiscuit