Ashdown amps

[Halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Hello bassists!

Looking at buying a new bass amp combo. Are Ashdown any good?

Options are 550 touring combo 2X10 550 watt (spyder) or the MAG 300 2X10 300 watt combo.


Looking to spend around £2-300

[voxpop]

Ashdown amp are great. I love the sound, it's rich, detailed and sounds great with a P bass.

For around £300 you can pick up a 2x10 ABM combo,these are much better than the mag series.

[MB1]

MB1.
"I'll second that emotion!"
Great Customer Service.....LOCAL ....ish
A UK built ABM Evo 2 combo should suit!

[gjones]

[quote name='voxpop' timestamp='1346916917' post='1794712']
Ashdown amp are great. I love the sound, it's rich, detailed and sounds great with a P bass.

For around £300 you can pick up a 2x10 ABM combo,these are much better than the mag series.
[/quote]

I think he means secondhand (probably from the for sale section on basschat).

[voxpop]

Plenty of ABM 2x10 evo 2 or 3 combos on eBay or the for sale thread on here.

The EVO 3 model has a very useful compressor.

[WurzelHedghog]

I picked up a MAG 300 2x10 combo on ebay 3 years ago and still run it with a 1x15 cab as my main rig, very pleased with it

[Mr. Foxen]

Ashdown make a full range from cheapies to fancys, so you can pretty much get what you pay for, plus great support at every level.

[franzbassist]

Hello, and welcome!

[quote name='Halfmanhalfbiscuit' timestamp='1346914691' post='1794692']
Options are 550 touring combo 2X10 550 watt (spyder) or the MAG 300 2X10 300 watt combo.
[/quote]

Of those two, the Sypder 550 wins hands down. No contest.

[essexbasscat]

You'll find a bit more oomph from an ABM 500 combo, the 300 can be a little underpowered in some situations.

[voxpop]

I have my 500 watt 2 x 10 ABM combo for sale....


http://basschat.co.uk/topic/186236-for-sale-ashdown-abm-evoiii-2x10-combo-l250-12-months-old/page__fromsearch__1

[Lozz196]

Ashdown are well used amps, many pros use them, and watch any televised festivals, it`s more than likely you`ll see Ashdown bass amps all over the place.They have a reputation (un-warranted in my opinion) for a warm woolly sound, but I don`t think either Bruce Foxton or JJ Burnell could ever be described as having woolly sounds, and they both use Ashdown. As with anything, it`s how you use the eq. They do have a nice rich sound to them though.

[Orbs]

I've used my Ashdown ABM 500 regularly for the past 10 years or so, and it has always worked faultlessley giving me a great and varied sound. It looks well engineered and put together too, I'd certainly recommend them....

[EssentialTension]

I used a MAG300 1x15 combo with a 1x15 extra cab for a long time - it worked for me, nothing wooly at all despite what some people say, and no break downs.

[nottswarwick]

Well I've just bought my ABM 500 head back a year after selling. Says something I'd think...

[Raggy]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1347096934' post='1796870']
Ashdown are well used amps, many pros use them, and watch any televised festivals, it`s more than likely you`ll see Ashdown bass amps all over the place.They have a reputation (un-warranted in my opinion) for a warm woolly sound, but I don`t think either Bruce Foxton or JJ Burnell could ever be described as having woolly sounds, and they both use Ashdown. As with anything, it`s how you use the eq. They do have a nice rich sound to them though.
[/quote]

Totally agree.

Saying that, I have not seen Bruce Foxton use one yet, he still seems to be taking his VBA stack out.

[bassicinstinct]

Been using Ashdown rigs of one sort or another since the late nineties and have never had an issue with any of them.

The sole reason I went from my Mag rig to the Superfly gear was to try to save my back due to my rapidly advancing years.

[RhysP]

I sold my Ashdown ABM C110 300watt combo & bought an EBS combo - I really wish I'd just stuck with the Ashdown as it's the only amp I've never had any trouble with.

[bartelby]

I love my JJ-500. Prior to that I had Ampeg PF-500 and before that a MarkBass LMII.
The Ashdown is by far the best sounding amp I've had. And more reliable than the 2 PF-500s.

[RandomBass]

[quote name='nottswarwick' timestamp='1347112209' post='1797080']
Well I've just bought my ABM 500 head back a year after selling. Says something I'd think...
[/quote]
Good man!
Cheers
Geoff

[shizznit]

I find that Ashdown amps, especially the ABM models are quite fluffy sounding. Not that I don't like that...I do like the Ashdown tone, but they don't work out well with me personally. Passive basses do sound fantastic through these amps. If you are looking for a big trouser shaking tone then you can't go wrong with an Ashdown.

[Mr Fretbuzz]

Looking forward to my MAG 300 Evo iii head and 410T cab this week:-)

[0175westwood29]

what do you guys think of there 115 combos seems to be quiet a few out there?

any favs?

andy

[RandomBass]

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1347220616' post='1798256']
Looking forward to my MAG 300 Evo iii head and 410T cab this week:-)
[/quote]
Thats one of the new MAG heads with the grind emulator, right? If so, I'd really like to know what you think of it.
Cheers
Geoff

[chrismuzz]

[quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1347220953' post='1798263']
what do you guys think of there 115 combos seems to be quiet a few out there?

any favs?

andy
[/quote]

Don't know if they would be gig worthy, but they sound niiiiiice!

[Mr Fretbuzz]

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1347429341' post='1800596']

Thats one of the new MAG heads with the grind emulator, right? If so, I'd really like to know what you think of it.
Cheers
Geoff
[/quote]


Not sure what the change is Geoff but its got the sub-octave and compression on it as far as I know :-)