Dickyc1981 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 After everyones great help with my valve amps question, I now have moved on to cabs. Today I tried my setup and was working through some borrowed amps and a couple of different cabs. I tried an Aguliar 1x15, Ashdown 2 x 12 and an Ampeg 4 x 10. The Ampeg sounded really nice but a little flappy at high volumes. So, not a simple Ashdown Vs Ampeg question but............ Is a high end Ashdown cab going to be much batter than my Ampeg B410HLF? Obviously I would love an SVT or similar but I would like to upgrade and Ashdown is about what I can stretch to!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Only you could answer that by trying one out. Personally, I'd try as many cabs as you can from every other manufacturer that you can find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Better is only really in the ears of the user. I`ve played through some very expensive rigs and not liked them, and played through budget 210 combos and loved the sound. The difficulty is trying these things out - unless you decide to go for distant selling regs and order over the internet. Sure you have to pay shipping charges if returning, but it`s a small price for getting the right cab - as long as you don`t have to do it too many times that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I regularly play through an Ampeg 4x10 and it's fantastic. I've owned Ashdown ABM cabs before but they don't compare very well with the Ampeg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dickyc1981 Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1409775068' post='2543315'] I regularly play through an Ampeg 4x10 and it's fantastic. I've owned Ashdown ABM cabs before but they don't compare very well with the Ampeg. [/quote] But which Ampeg? Mines the cheapest of the cheap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 [quote name='Dickyc1981' timestamp='1409775739' post='2543329'] But which Ampeg? Mines the cheapest of the cheap! [/quote] The one I'm talking about is one of these babies http://www.ampeg.com/products/classic/svt410hlf/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I've played through a lot of various Ashdown cabs provided as backbone at venues over the past couple of years and have not found them able to reproduce the sound I need from my bass, they just sound muddy. I agree with the other posters, try as many cabs that you can and listen critically and also with the cab behind you as that is how you will usually be listening to it on-stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1409775068' post='2543315'] I regularly play through an Ampeg 4x10 and it's fantastic. I've owned Ashdown ABM cabs before but they don't compare very well with the Ampeg. [/quote] My opinion is the opposite. The ampeg cabs I've used either have thick indistinct rumble and/or clicky tweeter. The best ashdowns I've used were the mag410s. Used two of them against 2 very loud guitarists and they were fantastic. It was the two I traded with Conan ages ago. The 37kg weight of each one eventually did my box in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 [quote name='Delberthot' timestamp='1410303309' post='2548109'] My opinion is the opposite. The ampeg cabs I've used either have thick indistinct rumble and/or clicky tweeter. The best ashdowns I've used were the mag410s. Used two of them against 2 very loud guitarists and they were fantastic. It was the two I traded with Conan ages ago. The 37kg weight of each one eventually did my box in. [/quote] The cab the Ampeg replaced was an Ashdown Mag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grenadilla Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 The Ampeg B410HLF is their bassiest 410. (the deep cabinet that tilts back to move) Next comes the PF 410 with ports on the back. There is a sealed 410 also that is like a SVT . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 There you go...that ^ explains a lot. Ashdown doesn't work for me and Ampeg would be my choice out of those two. Having said that, I used a Ashdown NEO 210 combo and it perform well so maybe you need to know your way around the various models to find what you want. I don't get why companies add to the confusion with multiple product lines... as generalisations like Ashdown is crap might not apply to whole range, but it only takes one bad cab to doom quite a product range..??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marvin Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 [quote name='grenadilla' timestamp='1410475100' post='2549945'] The Ampeg B410HLF is their bassiest 410. (the deep cabinet that tilts back to move) Next comes the PF 410 with ports on the back. There is a sealed 410 also that is like a SVT . [/quote] The B410HLF doesn't tilt back to move, that's the SVT410HLF. Ampeg did do a 410HE sealed cab in both the B and SVT ranges. However, the B series range is now discontinued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashdown Engineering Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1410535743' post='2550541'] There you go...that ^ explains a lot. generalisations like Ashdown is crap might not apply to whole range [/quote] Phew ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anders Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 If by better cab you mean a cab that actually works better I would not go with Ashdown that's for sure,from the ones i've tried.I would wait for the right one which may be a bit more expensive to come up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashdown Engineering Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 [quote name='Anders' timestamp='1410556579' post='2550861'] If by better cab you mean a cab that actually works better I would not go with Ashdown that's for sure,from the ones i've tried.I would wait for the right one which may be a bit more expensive to come up. [/quote] Have you tried the CL Range of cabs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbrag Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Buy one or other 2nd hand and give it a proper go, if you dont like it you should be able to move it on without losing much money amd try something else. You never get the the right sound in a shop trying them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0175westwood29 Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Can't speak highly enough of my ashdown mag 810, awesome cab well built and sounds good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thodrik Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 In terms of the SVT line vs ABM line cabs, I would take the SVT cabs every time. I haven't tried the newer Ashdown Neo cabs so can't comment on them. Ashdown ABM head on top of Ampeg 8x10 is a popular combination in rehearsal studios around Glasgow anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrythebassdawg Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 (edited) I agree with many people above that I'd favour most ampeg cabs and amps over ashdown. I can't see why ashdowns are so popular. I'm not just talking about not being able to do nice clean sounds, I love rock sounds, and love the drive and roughness from oranges and ampegs, but I can't see ashdown's niche. they often sound muddy and flappy and boomy. Apart from the MAG series, which have always been very good for the price. This is only my experience so far. Having said this I'll probably find myself proved wrong next time i use one! Edited September 23, 2014 by Harrythebassdawg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandad Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 (edited) I don't think I'll ever part with my Ampeg B115E cab. To my ears it gives an even warm tone across the bass spectrum, it's made of ply, good handles, on castors & easy to move. The Ashdown equivalent I tried was the ABM115. Tremendous low end, someone mentioned mud, & not much else. Very heavy - chipboard, I could hardly lift it. I have used Peavey TVX cabs, great value for money, but I agree with the majority advice & say stick with the SVT range. Edited September 23, 2014 by grandad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Try an SVT 212 AV blew me away tight punchy bottom end and very loud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt on your Bass? Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) Ashdown. C'est tout. mag abm or cl. No smaller than 410 in my experience. Peg I find muddy Edited October 20, 2014 by Salt on your Bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Dean Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I've had an ampeg 8 x 10 , Ampeg portaflex , Now I have a barefaced super12T but right now I favour my ashdown Neo 2x 10 ..been very impressed with it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 It can also depend on where you hear a cab. I've tried cabs in one venue that sounded amazing , but then in another , sounded muddy. Quite often a cab at lower volume doesn't sound as good when it's really working. Echoey places can really spoil the sound of what would be a good cab. I would just take that into consideration when deciding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevvo66 Posted October 21, 2014 Share Posted October 21, 2014 Mmm .everyones hearing varies what I hear in a cab may not suit you and likewise ,try every cab you can get your hands on .you could spend hundreds on one cab and a couple k on a pair then not like them when you get them home .it happens been there done that .ive also played cabs and combo which are dirt cheap and sounded great as mentioned earlier .just have a word with other bass player and get their views .i am happy with my set up at the moment but I never rule out changing it ,if it does not give what I want anymore and I've had some rigs but that's another story ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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