Ashdown Rootmaster RM owners club

[BassAdder60]

1 minute ago, ossyrocks said:

I would like to ask about the light in the VU meter.

 

I have a new RM800 EVO II, bought in their "last chance" sale.

 

Some people on here seem to be saying that as well as a green flashing LED in the meter when levels are good, there's also a red flashing led when you push it too hard. Mine does not flash red at all. I just have to keep an eye on the needle to trim the input accordingly.

 

So, should there be a red flashing LED in the meter?

 

Rob

Mine is new ( also from the last sell off batch ) and it doesn’t flash red 

Nor did one I had about 3yrs ago 

I wouldn’t worry as it’s not even stated in the manual it has one !! 

[Fraserwill]

Ok reporting back. So I put in a cheeky offer of £165 and it's just been accepted. When I spoke to Dave Green at ashdown he was able to look up the warranty because you could see the serial number in the eBay listing and he told me it's still in under warranty until February. So I can post it straight to him and he'll have a look for me. 

I'll try it out when I get it and see if I can be bothered but it's good to know that I can get it fixed if there's an issue. 

Thanks for all the feedback in this channel, looks like I'm joining the club!

[BassAdder60]

Yep the service and support by Ashdown is first class 

 

They often support their products outside of warranty too especially if you visit in person and take a pack of biscuits for Dave !! 

[Lozz196]

Yup, a packet of biscuits at Ashdown HQ is almost like one of those entry swipe cards, impossible to get in without one.

[Fraserwill]

So I got the RM 500 in the post but it didn't work at all, not just needing a warmup. Just a very quiet fuzzy sound even using headphones. Seller swore it was working when he tried it. So I went back to him but he sort of panicked, refunded the full amount and told me to throw it away! 

So I sent to ashdown and got it back today. So now it's working via headphones!

So two issues remain.

1) I'm outputting to my trace Elliot 2x10 combo which I can unplug the speaker from but that only has a guitar jack. No sound output so I presume I need speakon compatible cab as the manual says those cables must be used?

2) not a major thing but the sub seems intermittent. If I play a single note I can hear it cut in and out in the background like every second. Is that normal? 

Looking forward to trying through a speaker soon!

[Reggaebass]

11 minutes ago, Fraserwill said:

So I sent to ashdown and got it back today. So now it's working via headphones!

So two issues remain.

1) I'm outputting to my trace Elliot 2x10 combo which I can unplug the speaker from but that only has a guitar jack. No sound output so I presume I need speakon compatible cab as the manual says those cables must be used?

2) not a major thing but the sub seems intermittent. If I play a single note I can hear it cut in and out in the background like every second. Is that normal? 

Looking forward to trying through a speaker soon

Hi Fraser, I never found the headphone switch very good on mine, it never sounded clear and used to stick occasionally, I had Dave green remove mine, I think really you need to put it through a cab to check it out properly, good luck 

[Fraserwill]

Thanks mate. I just realised I was using a short extension to get the speaker cable to the amp as the one there is not long enough. That's for a guitar so is different shielding or whatever b to speaker cable. So balancing the amp on a chair and plugging it in direct worked! So now I have a working free RM 500!

I can take out the TE head (it's removable) and put the RM on the shelf. May get a different can soon any recommendations?

[Fraserwill]

So all that remains is the wonky sub effect. Anyone else had this? Seems to work like a square wave, getting quiter and louder at about a 1s interval. Oddly it seems to be any note below the 10th fret on the A string! So seems like a frequency thing. I probably won't use this much but its fun to put it on and play sledge hammer!

[BassAdder60]

Sub should only work if the Sub control is not fully anticlockwise 

 

I would check that first 

[Fraserwill]

1 hour ago, BassAdder60 said:

Sub should only work if the Sub control is not fully anticlockwise 

 

I would check that first 

Yes I have tried different settings. The sub works but not consistently. Fully clockwise you can hear it fine but on lower frequencies the sub sound only gets quiter and louder at a set rate (just under 1s at a guess). Higher up on the neck it seems fine. I'll try other combos of EQ, compression, shape, input gain etc. to see if it gets better/worse. It is easy to hear though.

[BassAdder60]

Most folk don’t use the SUB feature as it’s tracking isn’t great 

 

I’m sure it’s working correctly from how you described it 

[3below]

On 28/06/2024 at 20:01, stewblack said:

Used my RM 500 1/12 combo at a couple of recent gigs. The first one (a small outdoor festival) I paired it with the matching 1/12 cab. The second one a bar in Bristol I used the combo on its own. 

The sound was wonderful on both occasions. What I noticed however - and I've remarked this before - with both cabs it's monstrously loud, an absolute beast. With just the combo it's significantly quieter than I'd expect. I mean I really had to crank the volume to get a decent level.

I understand the impedance implications and how these affect the efficiency of an amp, and I have many years of practical experience in the differences playing with two cabs and then one. My point is this is remarkably different from what I'd expect.

Anyway, that aside, I'm more than happy to recommend the RM series, and paired with the 12" Ashdown cabs they are particularly good. 

 

Same effect with my RM500 1/15 combo.  Blues band 1, 6 piece with horns, 2 1x15 cabs, 150+ audiences, no problem,plenty of go.  Blues band 2, 3 piece, rehearsal today, as per @stewblack had to crank the volume quite a way.  The power increase at 4 Ohms (two cabs) is quite noticeable.  It is a really good piece of kit to get instant 'good' sounds with different basses.  In terms of bang per ££ (used or B stock) they are just phenomenal.

[FJ1200]

Hi, got my RM500-EVO II a few weeks ago but been on holiday and not had much chance to play with it.  It's a B-Stock as cash flow is a bit limited.  So a couple of things I could do with advice on:

1. I need a cab to pair it with, been looking a BFs for ages and had an email chat with Alex who recommended a 600W 8-Ohm Super Compact without the tweeter, and I could add a second for a versatile stack - but I also like the Ashdown EVO 410 600W 4-Ohm and it's half the price of a SC.  Without trying one I don't know though.  
2. I find the head a bit noisy and wonder if that's why it's a B stock item or if it's normal:  
   1. On the EQ if I turn them to 100% you get a sudden pop or noise on each one except the treble that just stays there. 
   2. The DI is quite noisy, and I use it a fair bit atm as no cab.  Before the RM I used a Behringer DI which was silent so it is very noticeable.
   3. Headphone socket a bit rubbish tbh and quite noisy, but I mainly use the RM DI'd through an old USB Onyx Blackjack on my laptop so its not an issue for now.

I like the Shape switch in, and find the EQ doesn't need a lot of tweaking.  I like the compressor, but the drive is a bit meh and I have a pedal I can use that has it.  Sub is ok, glad it's switchable, but I also have an OC3, although they do both have different tonality.  All in all, a happy bunny.

 

Edited September 21 by FJ1200

[ardi100]

I get that pop every now and again on my RM800. I can never tell what is causing it. Seems random.

[BassBunny]

"B" stock items from Ashdown are generally items that have been used for trade shows, demos or supplied to endorsees for a tour.

I got a B stock RM500 and it was perfect. I'd speak to Dave Green at Ashdown if you think it isn't quite right as I believe you still get the full 5 year warranty.

[Fraserwill]

Yep my warranty ends in Feb so I'm speaking to him now while I can about the sub that doesn't track properly.

Also trying to pair with speaker not tried any yet there are none for sale in South East! Need to try before I buy. Where are all the Sussex bassists???

[Merton]

I’d be inclined to drive to Epsom to get this if you’re in Sussex!

 

 

[Mcgiver69]

5 hours ago, Fraserwill said:

Yep my warranty ends in Feb so I'm speaking to him now while I can about the sub that doesn't track properly.

Also trying to pair with speaker not tried any yet there are none for sale in South East! Need to try before I buy. Where are all the Sussex bassists???

I'm near you in Burgess Hill, I'm pairing mine with a GenzBenz 2x10 and sounds massive. I got a BMF Omni 10 (2x10) and it works great with it too.

[Fraserwill]

Just got an EBS classic line 2x10 from badlands in Brighton. Adjustable tweeter, speakon connection and can carry in one hand. Happy days!

[Walliebal]

10 hours ago, Fraserwill said:

Just got an EBS classic line 2x10 from badlands in Brighton. Adjustable tweeter, speakon connection and can carry in one hand. Happy days!

Nice! And I see a stage tuner from Arion. That thing must be from the 19th century and still working 😆

[Fraserwill]

Well spotted! Yes I've had it from new so that rather she's me doesn't it? I've also got a boss be-5 from around that time too but I'm going to sell that.

[FJ1200]

I have a Boss CS-2 that I bought in the early 80's and a Tokai Flanger from 1985, both from RockBottom in Croydon.  Its not there any more sadly.  I still have the receipt for the flanger though!   Both pedals on the floor next to me.  Looking forward to trying them in the new amp - when I get a cab for it.

Edited September 25 by FJ1200

[police squad]

I picked up a nearly new RM 4x10 the 8 ohm one, off ebay, nearly 2 years ago. 100 quid. It was nearly Christmas which isn't a good time to sell. It's a great cab

[FJ1200]

I've looked at those and the 600W 4ohm one, looks good to me, is it loud enough at 8 Ohms  - so on an RM500 I guess you'd get 250W - or do you need to pair it with say, a 1x15 and get the full 500W?

[russ.c]

I joined the club today. I bought an Ashdown RM-800-EVO II and a tweed CTM 112 cab for a total of £630 new - I don't usually do black Friday but the timing was a perfect coincidence. It's for home use primarily but should I ever get out and gig then I've got an amp I can take with me to use a house cab, or I can get an additional cab to share the output. The CTM cab is only rated at 250W. I'll try not to blow it up.

 

The tracking on the sub is ok but I wouldn't record with it. The drive is not my cup of tea at all, and I'll be running my B7K V2 to make up for that. I won't be using it with headphones so I'm not too bothered about any potential LED interference. I thought I'd hate the notched output but it kinda works. Just trimming it with the input gain as others have suggested. The shape button is awesome and produces a lovely thick low end. Great that it can be used in conjunction with the EQ.

 

Overall I'm extremely pleased with the amp. The cab is the first I've used with a tweeter and nice that it can be switched off for more control over old school tones.

Edited November 27 by russ.c