wateroftyne

[quote name='DirkThrust' timestamp='1318154522' post='1398520'] That all hinges on your definition of great. When Ashdown first started they were high end, exclusive and doing something different from all the others. Since then they've gone mass market or down market depending on your mindset. That's just a business decision. Being "eclipsed" is your viewpoint. The sheer amount of Ashdown gear out there speaks for itself. It sells in shops on it's own merit. A small number of bashers and GAS monkeys on an internet forum drooling over every over hyped new "me too" piece of tat is not the bass playing world. The Superfly and LG didn't set the world alight. So what? Why would you expect them to? The Superfly had a really innovative front end and the LGs sell at a price point not many other products match. The worst you can say about Ashdown is they lack focus with too many new products without exhaustive enough real world testing. Some people use them and like them. You don't. Every new product can't set the world alight. Many companies produce duffers. That's just the way it is. Criticizing Ashdown because you don't like the VU meter is like criticizing Markbass for being Yellow. Ashdown gets bashed for everything and at every opportunity. [/quote] Settle down, Mr. Angry. It's my opinion of course, but they just aren't what they used to be. The stuff just looks cheap and nasty - the subject of this thread is a casein point. Their attempts at digital stuff has been an embarrassment, and left a lot of people with unusable and broken gear. I want them to be great, because they're a British flagship. I just find them disappointing. In my opinion.

[quote name='DirkThrust' timestamp='1318149186' post='1398447'] Poor old Ashdown, they're a British company who've become successful. [/quote] Yeah - the Little Giant and the Superfly set the world alight... Ashdown were a great name in bass amplification. Now they've been eclipsed by every Tom, Dick and Harry after dropping the ball to many times.

It just breaks my heart that Ashdown gear used to look unique and classy. Now..,. the flat design, the stick-on logos, the terrible fonts - either squiggly and ugly, like a 13-year-old's school project - or boring as hell Arial.If you view the image above full-size you'll see the knob labels are printed all wonky. And that VU meter... GAH! I want to smash it to pieces with a hammer, and make their designer eat all the bits up. ...and relax.

It looks terrible... I hope that photo is a mock-up. Ashdown stuff just looks cheaper and cheaper with every new release...

The site runs OK-ish for me now on my laptop. There are occasional slowdowns which are definitely server-side. Typing a post on the iPhone is toe-curling, though.

Press the image button, paste in the URL... works for me, just like the old site...?

It depends what tone you're looking for. The TC has (IMO) an over-compressed tone, which some people seem to like, but I hated. Try at a gig before you buy...

Aye... it's a local lad selling this one. He's had it on a local forum for silly money, but I've resisted the urge to tell him he's on crack. Good luck to him, though...

[quote name='Crazykiwi' timestamp='1318015795' post='1397395']We don't know why but as a short term measure Ped's turned off the email notifications. [/quote] FWIW I'm still getting 'em...

I'm not sure he's ever regularly played a CAR P apart from the MIJ & Lakkie...?

[quote name='concretebadger' timestamp='1317316007' post='1389443'] Hi all My name's Martin and I currently live in the rural backwater between Leeds and Newcastle. [/quote] Sunderland isn't in North Yorkshire...? Welcome aboard...

Also, save the shouting for when you have nothing left in your armoury. Going in guns blazing isn't going to help.

FWIW, I've never stopped getting email notifications over the last couple of days... hundreds of 'em.

[quote name='NJE' timestamp='1317912713' post='1396157'] I will be really interested in trying one of these but I have to say that I am slightly dissapointed with the looks [/quote] Ahh.. I think it's quite bonny! [url="http://www.ebs.bass.se/2009/manuals/reidmar250.pdf"]..here's a link to the manual, too.[/url]

[quote name='tonyf' timestamp='1317909449' post='1396077'] [url="http://www.ebs.bass.se/2009/reidmar250.htm"]http://www.ebs.bass..../reidmar250.htm[/url] Ummmmmmm. Me likey.... [/quote] Yeah - me too.

I[quote name='BigJim' timestamp='1317908055' post='1396052'] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7onS0r7Sow&feature=player_embedded#[/media]! Only 250 watts though! [/quote] It's like a TC450. But with added honesty.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1317907463' post='1396039'] My only worry with custom is that, in all honesty, I don't really know which luthier I'd choose. I also don't want something that will lose a lot of money should I have to sell it. [/quote] Don't buy new.

I've had the full site on my iPhone for a while, but entering text is still as laggy as heck, and the whole thing is generally sluggish.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-fender-bass-/280750183462?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item415e03d426#ht_500wt_1413"]No affiliation[/url]..

Go for it. FWIW, none of my Fenders have what you would call 'precise' neck pockets. They all sound great, though.

I appreciate all your points, but I get the impression that you will never be happy with a production line bass. Next time, stick with a UK-based luthier - that way you know what's going on every step of the way.

[quote name='3rdUncle' timestamp='1317893157' post='1395777'] I think I'll get away with it. Spanish airports aren't as hellishly pedantic as they are in the UK. A few mates have brought laptops over and if I get one that I can carry in a laptop bag as hand luggage I think I should be OK. Maybe declare some daft wee things and maintain the head is mine. I'm going to chance it. [/quote] I hope it doesn't develop any faults...

I'm really tempted to go and see this just for the crack, but as I despise tyre kickers, I keep fighting the urge...

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1317657118' post='1392839'] The medium to high end Fender copy market is is out there making millions of dollars every year producing thousands of basses. The fact that they don't want any part of that market indicates there are some very lazy business brains sitting around the top table at Fender. [/quote] Maybe you should email Fender and and let them know where they're going wrong...

[quote name='krazy_olie' timestamp='1317651305' post='1392705'] Fender do make some top notch basses, just a shame they can't be bothered to apply their skills to something genuinely new. [/quote] Truth is, they don't need to.