Sparky Mark

I recently had the opportunity to A/B an ABM500 Evo 2 head with 210 + 115 ABM cabs and a MAG600 Evo 3 head with 210 + 115 MAG cabs. Started with the MAG, punchy, clear, good tone with EQ set flat, and 1.6k pot boosted really brings the sound to life. Anyhow, overall sound was pretty balanced and clean with EQ centre freqs well positioned for adjusting to almost any tone. No distortion facility (other than by sending the VU meter into the red with extreme EQ settings). Then went to ABM and I thought something had gone wrong! Massive bass, subdued mids and little top end? With the EQ set flat the tone seemed massively mid scooped when compared to the MAG. I wondered whether the cabs were responsible so I swapped the heads over, but there was no real difference, the ABM staying very dark. Even the sales guy was surprised at how soft the ABM sounded in comparison. Valve drive was the extra tonal facility but I didn't play too much with extreme settings for distorted tones. I had to boost the mid, high mid and high sliders on the ABM to approach the definition of the MAG. Interestingly the MAG has a lo boost button which works at 50Hz, whilst the ABM does not, almost as if this boost is part of the ABM's preset flat EQ. By switching back from ABM to MAG I was able to get the ABM to sound just as deep and round as the ABM, and was able to boost the ABM mid and top to get the MAG type sound. The power stage of these amps is identical, the difference is in the preamp. The ABM has more EQ (7 bands) than the MAG (5 bands plus hi and lo boost buttons) and the valve drive is a benefit if you want to set a different footswitchable tone. The ABM also has a lot of extra facilities not directly linked to sound but to operation (mute, footswitchable octaver, comp, valve o/d etc). This is where I'm going to get shot, but for me the ABM flat seemed much more suited to old school warmth, but could be EQ'd to punchier tones, whereas the MAG flat seemed much more neutral. Based on this I have now bought a MAG600 and can confirm that through my Bergantino HT112ER/EX stack it is every bit as capable as my LM3 for about half its price. I'm hoping reliabilty of the ABM and MAG are the same as the bit that does the work and gets hot (the power amp) is the same. It usually follows that the more parts there are the more there is to go wrong, so the MAG may even have a slight advantage. I really like Ashdown amps (I now own three) and had the ABM been at a similar price to the MAG, probably would've gone that way, but the extra £275 just didn't seem worth it as I do have a VT Bass pedal for valve type tones, but I'm still going to keep my eyes open for a used ABM500 Evo 3 all the same.

Best tone and weight is the Hydrive 410, compact size (for a 410) and can be had for around £300 secondhand ( but worth it). 410XL heavy but compact size with great tone, silly cheap secondhand. I had one for 15 years, built to last and loved it. 4.5XL even bigger and heavier than 410XL. If you need the extra oomph and can carry it, and need a big 410 this is the best choice. But IMO a 410XL is a better cheap choice/compromise, and you won't look silly using it in a small venue.

[quote name='lollington' post='1109859' date='Jan 31 2011, 06:59 PM']Hijacking the thread somewhat, but recently picked up a LH500 myself. Does anyone else notice a notice jump in volume around the 6 mark? Seems to be pretty quiet up till then....[/quote] There are dozens of posts on BC and TB noting this characteristic of the volume pot.

[quote name='lozbass' post='1078221' date='Jan 5 2011, 08:15 AM']I'll be at my local Dawsons later and will have a go on one of the Epiphone EB3 short-scales (I think they had three in stock when I last looked) - I'll report back.[/quote] I thought the new Epi EB3's were all long scale - hence serious head dive. The Epi EB0's are short scale I think.

I've owned and gigged both HX115 and HX410 cabs and all of the following is IME/IMO. The 410 is louder and goes deeper and has a more controlled bass response (i.e., less boom) and more present mids. Two 410's with the LH1k will be monstrously loud! However, neither sounded as good with my LH1K as they did with my Hartke 3500 or LM3 heads. If you haven't already pulled the trigger I recommend you try a 3500 with the HX410, it also has a tube pre and a much more flexible EQ section which can achieve many more varied tones than the LH1K, and although only 350w will drive a pair of 410's perfectly well and very loud.