Soulfinger Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 [quote name='Oxblood' post='37713' date='Jul 27 2007, 11:49 AM']I always wondered what "RC" stood for in the name of these current products. Does it stand for "Republic of China", by any chance?[/quote] [b]R[/b]educed [b]C[/b]osts -> [b]R[/b]ather [b]C[/b]rappy, [b]R[/b]eally [b]C[/b]heap [b]R[/b]otten [b]C[/b]omponents -> [b]R[/b]idiculous [b]C[/b]raftsmanship -> [b]R[/b]esult: [b]C[/b]haos, [b]R[/b]epair [b]C[/b]ostly. Then again, maybe it really stands for Republic of China... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 [quote name='Oxblood' post='37713' date='Jul 27 2007, 10:49 AM']I'm convinced that it's all down to poor Quality Control in the far eastern production facility. It certainly isn't the design: that was done by Clive Button, no less:[/quote] I don't know.... It's easy to blame the Chinese, but IBM shifted their entire PC operation to China with no apparent dip in quality and Phil Jones makes his high quality amps in China. At the end of the day, if the Chinese are at fault the blame and responsibility is totally Ashdown's. Unfortunately, Ashdown's market place is driven by cost. That's why they went to China in the first place. They fix a unit price and make the amp to that price. The result is that corners are inevitably trimmed, components are brought by price not quality, and the manufacturing process is designed to use the fewest components. Then quality can suffer because turnover has become the key driver for the business. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPJ Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 [quote name='warwickhunt' post='22203' date='Jun 22 2007, 11:25 PM']I owned Ashdown gear before it went East and I have to say that I had a mute button that didn't, a VU meter that meant 'virtually useless' and tolex covering that came off quicker than a fat lasses knickers down the Bigg Market (Newcastle) on a Saturday night![/quote] Most of the fat lasses my er 'mate' has met dont even bother with the knickers these days...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickThomas Posted July 27, 2007 Share Posted July 27, 2007 (edited) I saw a certain Mr Manring and a certain Mr Lawson doing a gig together running through an abm 500rc. I have to say it sounded dammmmm good! A UK one that is Edited July 27, 2007 by NickThomas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timface Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 I think your just unlucky mate! I own a ashdown ABM500 RCII and mine has never let me down for the last two years!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fitzmaurice Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 [quote name='Hamster' post='19589' date='Jun 18 2007, 08:11 AM']I bet you half a mars bar it's a fried output transformer[/quote] On a SS amp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted July 28, 2007 Share Posted July 28, 2007 [quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' post='38312' date='Jul 29 2007, 12:05 AM']On a SS amp?[/quote] Keep reading Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muse_Cubed Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 My Evo II combo has been running like a dream for the last year...I thought it was the MAGs which had the transformer problems but maybe it's more of a widespread thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 (edited) I've had my EVO II ABM 500 for 4 years now and it hasn't let me down once!!! The worst problems I've had are the mute button falling off, (Ashdown sent me a loada spares FOC), and recently the VU meter bulb went (again Ashdown sent me two replacement bulbs FOC), not bad for 3 - 4 gigs a week!! Si Edited July 30, 2007 by Sibob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukeward2004 Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 Sorry to hear that about your new purchase, I would be spitting blood at ashdown if that happened to me! Personally, ive never played an Ashdown amp that I liked, and ive been put off ever buying one by the huge numbers people complaining of reliability issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted August 3, 2007 Share Posted August 3, 2007 gonna say what i have said before but there seems to be a down trend in problems with ashy stuff, maybe just maybe there were a few teething prblems with the contract change. but to be honest most manufactureres are going to send out dogs occasionally. mine is fine. does the job, if it goes wrong so be it, i'll get it fixed. electrical equipment will on occasions fail, much like some peopel will fall over dead before most think they should, ce la vie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hookys6stringbass Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 (edited) [quote name='bj_rocke' post='19359' date='Jun 17 2007, 10:47 PM']Just bought a brand new Ashdown ABM-500 RC EVO II and i used it today in practise for the first time. It was fine for about 15mins, then there was a really strong burning smell and the amp just shut down and won't turn on again!!!! Very weird! does anyone know why this might of happened? I wasn't driving the amp that hard.... the input was at about 9 o'clock and the VU meter was no where near the red, and the output volume was at 12 o'clock......[/quote] Same thing (sort of) has just happened to my NEW ABM-500 EVO II combo amp!!! in the middle of a gig!! There was a strong burning smell and the amp cut out. I still had power and i was getting an input signal (according to the V.U.) but no fecking sound! Up untill that point the amp sounded superb, i couldn't of been happier.... Edited August 4, 2007 by hookys6stringbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowhand_mike Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 (edited) Edited August 5, 2007 by lowhand_mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 MB1. Must admit they are extremely helpful when things do go wrong but.............. It would seem that sending a shipment of parts and assembly instructions to China has not been Ashdowns greatest move.I have not had any problems with my Ashdown Amplification.However i cannot say the same for there pedals ,which are made in the republic of China,I have just returned a defective chorus ,so i would say cheap is not cheerful!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctorbass Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 Try Peavey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveDDF Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 [quote name='Timface' post='38150' date='Jul 28 2007, 02:53 PM']I think your just unlucky mate! I own a ashdown ABM500 RCII and mine has never let me down for the last two years!!!!!!!!!![/quote] Same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 [quote name='doctorbass' post='42994' date='Aug 8 2007, 06:21 PM']Try Peavey![/quote] Eugh lol I'm genuinely sorry that all you guys have had Ashdown problems, i almost feel bad that mine is awesome! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted August 8, 2007 Share Posted August 8, 2007 Mine is very old now, the chassis says 1999 but the circuit boards have 1997 on them. No issues WHATSOEVER. (TOUCH WOOD) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hookys6stringbass Posted August 30, 2007 Share Posted August 30, 2007 Just got my ABM 500 combo back today... Ashdown had to replace the speaker!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
largo Posted September 1, 2007 Share Posted September 1, 2007 (edited) Just picked up on this thread. I always wonder why so many name players, especially in a band play Ashdown gear. Some of these guys can get any endorsement they like, so why Ashdown ? The Who (past tense), U2, Foo Fighters, Oasis etc. ! By the way my ABM EVO 500 RC II is great. Edited September 1, 2007 by largo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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