Merton

Gorgeous bass and understated classy rig. Love it

The only differences between the EVO and the II are...: 1. Headphone output on the II 2. Lighter 3. Polished chrome front panel replaced with matte finish 4. VU meter has not just a blue LED for when the amp is muted but yellow/green/red LEDs for showing your signal level (as well as the VU needle). If you can live without any of that then get the EVO

I love it! Great for home use but also awesome for gigs if you like it really gnarly. The Spyder 550 is basically the same preamp with an ABM poweramp and that’s also wonderful, but I’ve only had it a day so can’t comment on it in a gig situation. I suspect it’ll be significantly cleaner

PS I suspect it’s entirely a placebo effect which makes me “prefer” the 800. In a blind test I guarantee I’d not be able to tell them apart 🤣

Well, funny story... I swapped it for an RM800 EVO which Ashdown had as B stock. No reason other than I think I prefer the power module in it. It won’t really give any extra volume but a tiny bit extra headroom. Still rate the RM500 very highly

Made in Ashdown’s Chinese factory

I think so, at least one more 🤣

Gratuitous everything shot:

Given that Aguilar model wasn’t on the list I doubt it’ll get a chosen I’d love to try a Handbox R400 one day, everything written about them makes me think they’ll be right up my street.

I’ve had three RM heads - the original 800, a 500 EVO II and now an 800 EVO. The power section doesn’t make much difference at all but - and it’s probably placebo effect - I feel the 800 has more girth in it. Volume-wise there’s nothing really in it but of course the 800 will have more headroom. I just think I prefer that module over the 500 but I bet in a blindfold test I’d jot be able to tell them apart. Either which way the 500 is a bloody superb amp and would be my choice from your list. (Though there is a second hand 800 on eBay at the moment...)

Love the black bass on the left

Sure I should probably rotate the cabs 90 degrees to give a layout more like the Two10 I guess - will sort tomorrow and PM you!

They are great heads - do it!

Ashdown RM800 EVO (thanks @Ashdown Engineering!) and two Barefaced One10s. This little rig is a killer combination

Sexy and classy. Like me.

Greg has just bought* an Eden head from me. Given that I’m in Germany today it couldn’t have been easier! Top chap to deal with * strictly speaking he’s paid for it but doesn’t yet have it, I’ll be packing and sending it tomorrow... but his part of the deal is done and was a pleasure

I do a similar thing with the EQ at home but given I have fairly bring roundwound strings I just do it to tame the treble!

That EQ positioning is the same on the Little Bastard - due to the hand wiring and order of the preamp I think

Will PM so as not to derail Dave’s thread further than I already have!

I just bought an Ashdown head on eBay that I really don’t need, so I should actually really get on with selling my Eden head and shut up about the GK 🤣

I like GKs, they’re my second favourite behind Ashdown these days 🤓 And did the XLR, I’ll DI from my SansAmp first. So, hand it over 🤣