DirkThrust

[quote name='escholl' post='335215' date='Nov 23 2008, 11:30 PM']But sometimes it seems it's become cool to hate ashdown, to the point where that attitude starts to eclipse what's important - which is how the products perform. If performance is crap, then by all means, trash them for it -- but if not, at least give them credit where it's due. And what does it matter how many product lines they have? [/quote] I can't speak for anyone else but my own feelings about Ashdown are mainly disappointment. When they first appeared in the 90s they had a great new product range with a smart retro look and a big fat tubey retro tone. All the reviews raved about how good they were. Far from being an Ashdown basher I'm usually an Ashdown defender when I hear people say things like " I tried one in a shop and it sounded horrible" or the usual comments about them sounding woolly. I still think my ABM is the best sounding amp I've ever heard this side of an Ampeg SVT. I've also owned numerous MAG combos and ABM cabs and been perfectly happy with them I just think Ashdown have lost the qualities and goodwill they had early on. To use a car analogy, when they first appeared they were maybe not the Rolls Royce but certainly the Jaguar of bass amps with an image of handbuilt quality, made in Britain - which still counts for a lot in many countries - reliable and with a strong brand image. They weren't the cheapest but people will always dig deep to pay for quality. These days they are looking more like British Leyland, with a confusing mish mash of products, no real brand image, a reputation for unreliability and an ability to produce exactly the opposite of people are buying in large numbers. Does it matter how many product lines they have? Maybe not, but the companies that are having the most success are the ones that have one or two rational lines that give the majority of people pretty much what they want.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='334846' date='Nov 23 2008, 01:08 PM']They need to come out with something sh*t hot if they're going to be spoken of in the same terms as Genz, Epifani, Aguilar, Mesa and the rest. IMO That 'something' needs to be a complete reinvention of Ashdown brand from the ground up. This ain't it.[/quote] Yes. I love my ABM500. It's the best sounding amp I've ever owned but there's nothing they make now that I want, certainly not a £1600 valve head or a Chinese made ABM or a twin channel mini amp that isn't bridgeable. Ashdown have lost the plot IMO. They need to look at what other companies are producing and what people want.

Received this reply from him "Hi there serial number 82270 and the neck has clay dots I will take the neck of I was told it was stamped why I have stated of at that money I took in for the money for someone studio time which they no money to pay me"

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='334304' date='Nov 22 2008, 11:28 AM']When I was younger, Bruce Foxton was God....the reason I play bass. Still sounds as good as sound as ever for a Precision 30 years later.[/quote] Same here. I went out and bought a bass after listening to All Mod Cons. What a player

He originally listed this at start price 99p and I placed a bid on it. I've been after a hot rodded P for a while and I figured that as long as it didn't go for a lot I could refinish it and make something half decent out of it but he cancelled all the bids and relisted it at that price. I emailed him to get some more info about and questioned his statement that it is old, and I got back a rather snotty and barely literate reply telling me it was definitely made in 1964. Erm...ok

It was quite a nice looking bass before that. I've never seen them with the matching headstock before. Who knows what it is?

[quote name='artisan' post='333624' date='Nov 21 2008, 08:54 AM'] that's the '70s one you're thinking of mate. the '60s one doesn't have the block markers or bound neck,it comes in black,white or 3tsb. [/quote] Haha of course. THat'll teach me for not reading the post properly. Although I did play one of those Mex 60s reissues and it wsa very nice. Very difficult to tell apart from the US made one

[quote name='Leowasright' post='331740' date='Nov 18 2008, 07:37 PM']If Fender ever did start doing a Candy Apple Red version of the 60's MIM classic, I might be tempted, Jazzes....[/quote] Same here. I think they only do them in black and sunburst which I've already got. Pity because I just love those block markers. Now, CAR or LPB and I'd be up there this morning.

Yeah I'd much rather do it myself. Is the book more comprehensive than say the setup section on the Fender site or Gary Willis' setup guide? I've read through those and generally use them for minor stuff

He's got a matching Precision in "banana cream" too. Nice

From now on I think I probably will do it myself. The reason I took it back there was because it was a free warranty setup and I was a bit concerned that there was a problem with the neck. Probably over caution on my part. I've not heard of neck problems being common on Fenders but you may know different. I've usually done it myself in the past but beyond setting the string height and intonation and a bit of minor trussrod adjustment I've never really needed to do much. I wasn't happy the last time I had a professional setup on a Fender either so I'm beginning to think I'd be better off saving my money. That one cost me £45 and I ended up putting it right myself.

Those '57 re-issues look fantastic. I'm GASing for one myself but I'm trying to convince myself that I don't need another Precision.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='329539' date='Nov 15 2008, 08:33 AM']However since it sounds like the bass is new and under warranty, the shop should fix it or replace it with one that plays properly if they don't have the ability to sort it out.[/quote] Of course, and to be fair to the shop they couldn't be more helpful. They've taken it back again and the last time I saw it it was clutched in the tech's sweaty mitt as he disappeared into his workshop. He told me that he sent it back to Fender for the original work as it was a warranty problem and they agreed to take responsibility for it. Maybe that would explain why it took three weeks before I got it back I'm just trying to get some understanding of what the problem is rather just dumping it on someone else and remaining blissfully ignorant. Looking at those diagrams I would say that the original problem would have been cured by shimming the neck at the body end of the pocket if it hadn't been for the slight upturn in the neck.

[quote name='johnnylager' post='329363' date='Nov 14 2008, 07:40 PM']Difficult to say without seeing it, but it sound to me as if he has shimmed the body end of the pocket and not it's full length.[/quote] Yes, as far as I can see that's what he has done. I'm going to see if he can rectify it first under warranty but I'm getting a bad feeling about it. Surely he must have noticed that it won't play above the 12th fret. Either he doesn't care or doesn't know.

Yes I'm kicking myself that I didn't check it more thoroughly before I took it away. I had a quick acoustic noodle down the neck and it seemed ok. Obviously I missed the problem area. It's a stock Fender HMV bridge. The latest type. I've taken the bridge saddle off, soaked it in WD40, removed the grubscrew and tried to screw it back in but it goes so far and comes up hard against something. It's obviously a manufacturing fault. I've tried filing the thread but I can't cure it. I just don't know what could cause the neck to be deformed like that. Surely shimming wouldn't cause it. It's under warranty so I'm gonna take it back and get this idiot to sort it or replace it.

I've just collected this from the shop who were doing the set up and there seem to be a couple of problems with it. As far as I can see the tech has shimmed the neck but now if you look down the neck from the body it appears to bow up at the body end so it is unplayable above the 12th fret. Also one of the grub screws in the bridge saddle on the A string is jammed solid so it isn't possible to even raise the action on that string, not that it would help much. So I'm at a loss as to what I do now. I'm gonna take it back tomorrow but any ideas what the problem may be?

[quote name='Hamster' post='328869' date='Nov 14 2008, 09:01 AM']The position has been advertised in several places, and as she's removed her e-mail addy from the first post I wouldn't be surprised if it's been filled.[/quote] I see. Still, pity she hasn't got the good manners to respond even if to say no thanks.

Has anyone else responded to this ad? I've emailed and PMed and have yet to receive any response whatsoever

[quote name='Protium' post='328622' date='Nov 13 2008, 07:42 PM']TBH I'd rather have the UK-built ABM EVO II than the new Klystron or EVO III heads.[/quote] So would I. Best sounding amp ever.

PMed

Glen Hughes and Bitchy Ritchie Blackmore

THere's an interesting thread about it here [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=485143"]Here[/url] Edit. Having read it, it's actually not that interesting. Just the usual TB jibber

If £1600 is the MRRP I would imagine that it will be discounted when the shops have some stock. Looking at their website I've just discovered that Ashdown have a plant in the USA and they have a whole range of US manufactured products Since when? With Ampeg reportedly suffering problems since their move to Vietnam I wonder if Ashdown are trying to grab some of the market share that they have lost. Starting manufacturing in the USA would certainly appeal to a lot of the Americans who swore never to buy Ampeg again. I just can't see another reason for introducing a line of backbreakingly heavy amps and cabs when everyone else is going smaller and lighter. I wonder how they are different from the ABM range.

I've just had another look for the mag but I can't find it. I don't think it was so much that there was anything actually wrong with the bass, just that for the sort of money they are going for, which is around the one grand mark new, you are getting up towards boutique bass territory, and it's a very fiercely contested part of the market.

These do look really nice. There's one in a shop near me in black/white/maple but it's about 1100 quid I saw a review of one in a mag. I think it was Guitar and Bass Magazine but I've just had a quick flick through the pile and I can't find it. It was that exact model you've pictured. IIRC the review wasn't exactly glowing. It criticized the relicking for looking a bit artificial in places and ESP had curiously lacquered over the worn away bits so that it wouldn't relic any further. They said it was well made and had some good sounds but for the money there are better alternatives. I'll try and dig the mag out if I get time.