la bam

The evo2 i had didnt have the compressor on, but this compressor on the evo iv is pretty much outstanding for what i use it for. No hassle, no dramatic changes, just great compression at the turn of a dial.

Its very very balanced without squashing before 12 oclock. the more you add the more your sound changes but the core compression (used for balancing output) is fantastic.

The valve drive is more warm and gradual. So you can use it with a little bit of drive and it warms up your sound without grit, (you can tell the difference b switching it in and out) then the more you go the nicer it becomes. As always with this, make sure your input is registering fairly high to help the valve drive.

The finish really is top class. the handle is like a piece of hand crafted furniture. really thick, strong and superbly finished.

Job well done, Ashdown.  

I saw this on a deal i couldnt refuse as i needed another amp, as i need 2 (1 for gig and 1 backup etc).

Ive always liked ashdown and previously had:

mag300 & 4x10 deep cab. (my first real bass rig).

superfly and 4x8 and 1x15 cab. (completely underpowered).

little giant 1000. (i thought it was impressive).

abm evo2 115 combo and 2x10 cab. (really liked this).

However, my main amp at the moment is a markbass evo - simply because it has upto 12 amp models on it (all very impressive) and a tuner and fx if needed, as well as x2 channels. It was really well, my only gripe would be the eq is a tad bland.

Anywho, back to the evo iv..........

This thing is built like a tank - very solid and you can tell its been made for the road and rigours of playing. Not just solid, but well built and finished.

So, in the house i thought id try it with my 6x10 .............. it nearly blew the roof off!

so, winding everything and i mean everything back, i was able to get a volume that wouldnt upset people 10 streets away!

and WHAT a sound!

I cant quite describe the sound - its kind of nice and warm, but in no way harsh, and really really well balanced across the strings when using the compressor - no need to dig in or hold back to get a lovely sound. Its very controlled and gives the right amount of sustain per note when playing normally. ie its not too fat or too thin, just lovely.

Then onto the twiddly things .... the valve drive adds a real nice warmth without going all svt. But on turning up, its easy to see how you can really drive this to a nice level and dirt if needed without it sounding false. Its certainly an improvement on the previous versions.

The compressor works really well - fantastically well to be honest. Simply turn it up to 9oclock or 12 oclock for really nice control without any clamping or change to sound. Job done.

The sub harmonic button is not something i really use, but it does work well if you like that.

Now, for the best thing ever ...... the EQ. I didnt think id ever be interested in eq, but having previously had an evo2 i knew what boosting the high and low  mids can do. Well, this is a different beast. It can do what the evo2 did, then a million times more. I struggle to think of a sound you couldnt get out of this amp with such control, with or without the valve drive. It really is impressive.

Add to that a whole host of pro level inputs, outputs and DI options and youre prepared for anything.

Ashdowns biggest strength (and ive always said this) is none of the above, but its how it sits in the mix. Now, for me, this amp is SO much better than any of the other ashdowns ive played, and more importantly much more flexible too, so i really cant see how it wont be a perfect fit with a bit of eq twiddling, and drive adjustment.

Oh, and the output volume through a 6x10 ? enough for anything, and i mean anything that can be thrown at you! So dont worry about volume.

i'll know whether this becomes my go - to amp as soon as weve had next practice. Signs are very promising. Ive spent ages finding a kind of svt sound that fits our band, but im sure this could do that in spades if needed.

Still available.

£185 delivered is an absolute bargain for this - sansamp, tuner, compressor, chorus, filter and Di.

I've had 5 offers of £175. Is it worth missing out for £10?

Will take £185 delivered.

I had the 210tv 8ohm and to be honest it was unbelievably light, loud and responsive. I genuinely never had very lm3 nowhere near half.

You'll be happy with it.

Tiny Turner.

Stung.

 If you're lucky you may find a tech21 VT bass amp for £400. That does the svt style.

You can pick up 8x10s ridiculously cheap. There's always ones on eBay for under £100.

A 6x10 maybe a better option but they're usually more expensive.

A 4x10 should suffice though if driven properly, and is more flexible as you can also dad another 4x10 if not, and they're easier to carry around. As a very rough guide you would want your amp head to be giving out approx 300w at 8ohm (depending on cab).

If you need more clarity try changing your eq on your current rig to see if that makes a difference - add some high mids.

If you love the ampeg svt sound there's ways to get close, but you'll never be spot on.

A VT pedal, flyrig pedal etc will definitely get close and be more flexible. You'll then just need to know that your loud enough with your current amp and cab.

If it was my choice id probably be looking to spend £100 second hand on a cab (you can get some real bargains), and the rest on a better head.

Not on the courier site I used. 

You can quite easily go through their process without that information being offered.

That's not correct. 

It says click to say you have read and understand the prohibited items list.

Basses and cabs are NOT on that list, so its fair to assume that theyre ok to send and fully insured. It even pops up to says 'we recommend you insure your item for its full amount.' and 'click here to insure your item for its full amount'. THAT is misleading.

Markbass Evo.

X2 inputs and x2 channels. Switchable too and blendable.

Built in tuner and x2 do outs.

Fantastic for things like this.

Still available.

I have a markbass 6x10.

That was made to be 6ohms.

Which is a great compromise. Plenty of power and no risk with ohmage.

I was thinking the exact same thing.

Great stuff! I do have a bit of a soft spot for ashdown. I've previously had mag300, superfly, little giant and ABM 500 Evo ii combo.

I was looking for a backup amp for my markbass Evo which I have set up as an svt emulator, which works well in our band.

I know the ABM won't sound anything like an svt, but I do know itll fit in with any mix when required and give years of trouble free service on the road.

I've just ordered an Evo iv 600 as I really liked the Evo ii.

Should arrive next week. It'll be interesting to see how updated it is.

I'll get them up tonight when I get home. Pretty much excellent condition.

I absolutely love this pedal. A complete professional box of tricks.

sansamp, character dial, tuner, compressor, octave, chorus, drive, di out = everything you need.

only selling as i thought this is what we would be using for festivals and were we have backline supplied, but we have gone down a different route.

the sounds are fantastic. and it fits in your bass case so nothing extra to carry around.

Fitted with the non prickly side of velcro, so easy to attach to a pedal board and also helps it from so moving around on carpet. 

Comes with tech 21 power supply.

great condition. comes with tech 21 box.

£195 delivered

One of my main issues is that it asks you to check the prohibited items list, to check your item is not on it and ok to send, which amps and speakers do not appear on, so assumed ok, then confirms you are fully insured - which you are not because of the unmentioned restrictions and reductions list, and even smaller print of reduced insurance despite paying full cost of insuring an item for that value.

Be careful everyone.

Hi all,

I thought id share this here - as im pretty appalled at what a lot of us may be falling victim to.

Did you know, that when sending an amp or speaker via a courier or courier comparison site, and you pay for your amp and/or speaker to be insured for its full amount for peace of mind - that you are actually only covered for 'upto' £200 damages - not its full value ?

Its in the hidden prohibited and restrictions list in companies such as dpd.

Im appalled as they actually ask you to follow there proceedure and insure your parcel for its full value, which you do - and pay handsomely for - and they then confirm to you that its fully insured for its full value - only to find its not insured to anywhere near its value once theyve taken your cash and you have a legitimate claim.

Its a terrible con - and i urge everyone to thoroughly check before sending ANY amp, speaker or cab via courier. Judging by how many amps and cabs are for sale on here, and how many offer postage for high price items, i thought id let people know.

heres DPDs sneaky page:

https://www.dpdlocal-online.co.uk/prohibited-items

amps and cabs are in the not mentioned special provisions items section at the bottom.

oh! - and just done a double check - GUITARS (and basses) are only insured for £100 - and must be sent in a hard case.

i certainly wont be sending anything ever again.

As I've got older I've fallen into the if I don't gig it I don't keep it camp and tried hard to get rid of any sentimental attachment to any item. So I only use what I can easily and cheaply replace.

My bass cost on average £100-200 each, the cab £300 and the most expensive is my amp head at around £600.

Obviously id be gutted if the basses got nicked or damaged, but I know they could be replaced cheaply, without any major financial crippling or loss of quality.

I have a relic vintage v4 icon that I have as a backup bass. I love it as it's the same style as my main bass, (my main isn't a relicd) but I can get it bashed, caught, dropped, scratched and leave it out of its case permanently so I can just grab it when I fancy a play.

This means my main stays in great condition and the backup can get dented all it wants - despite them being essentially the same bass.

Joe Rogan is a successful stand up comedian and TV presenter. He has years of experience and to be fair a lot of charisma. He also has very interesting guests, a script (although you'd never realise because he's that good) and a information internet and audio visual helper. 

The way he does his podcast though is top notch. Not at all 'traditional presenter' like or false.

Should be fairly easy to fill a few segments too - just see what the most popular contributed to posts have been on basschat and discuss them.

If I'm honest - there's an ampeg svt3 and 8x10 cab at our practice room. I plugged in once before the rest of the band arrived, as I've always wanted to try one. I gave it 2 minutes before I decided it must have been thrashed to death or broken. Awful fuzzy sound, no real punch or warmth. Really disappointed. Sounded like an old gorilla amp. So I used my own amp instead. 

Then a few weeks ago for whatever reason, I couldn't bring my amp so I had to use it. I had a little eq and drive play around and it was still sounding pretty poor if I'm honest. Way too much drive not to get in the way of what the rest of the band were playing. Imagine a nice standalone bass tone then whack a thin sounding guitar distortion pedal on full over the top and that's what I was getting.

Then, the band turn up, and as soon as the drums are playing ..... Wham!! The bloomin thing comes alive! Punchy, tight, warm ..... and errrrrr where has the awful overdrive gone? I don't know. I know it's still there, but I can't hear it. I reckon it turns into magic bass dust and just makes the whole rhythm section that little bit better.

I don't know why I'm surprised, every rock band for 40 years has had those svts or similar on stage, but for some reason I thought I knew better.

I didn't.