birdy Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Just seen a pub band and the bass player had some sort of Ashdown combo. Sounded awful. Anyone gigging with Ashdown and getting good results? Maybe I am just not listening hard enough but it just sounded 'dull'? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 [quote name='birdy' post='471207' date='Apr 24 2009, 12:47 AM']Just seen a pub band and the bass player had some sort of Ashdown combo. Sounded awful. Anyone gigging with Ashdown and getting good results? Maybe I am just not listening hard enough but it just sounded 'dull'? Steve[/quote] You mean it was working and hadn't caught on fire?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifer Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Been gigging my ABM300 for nearly 8 years now, tried a few different amps but always gone back to it. What was he using? ABM? MAG? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassguppy Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I run an RPM1 preamp and ABM cabs. I have tried several other heads/pre's and have always found what I wanted with Ashdown. The valve to me is just what I'm looking for. Maybe you just don't dig the sound or the bassist you saw had a bad EQ'ing night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrenochrome Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Yup, been gigging solidly with my MAG 300r for about 4 years. My main cab is a Peavey Black Widow 15 cab; the Ashdown MAG 210 cab I also sometimes use can be a bit 'indistinct'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceguyhomer Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I sold my Genz Benz head and bought an Ashdown ABM RC500 EVO II after hearing a band a couple of months ago. The guy was using a MAG head and a 4x10 NAG cab with a US Jazz and it was the sound I've been searching for. I've done 3 gigs with it and love the tone I'm getting from it with my Sadowsky. It is more old school and thumpy but that's what I want in my blues band. I use it with the 'bright' button engaged though - sounds better IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxrossell Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Sometimes it's just down the the player and his settings. I've heard a guy make a Mesa 210 stack sound lacklustre, but to this day one of the best bass sounds I've heard was from this guy playing a chaeap Ibanez ATK into a Peavey TKO or TNT in some pub somwhere. I've never gigged with an Ashdown, but every time I've tried one I've found its sound to be pretty clear and punchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 [quote name='niceguyhomer' post='471257' date='Apr 24 2009, 07:22 AM']I use it with the 'bright' button engaged though - sounds better IMHO.[/quote] It's an EQ preshape that boost the highs and lows whilst scooping mids (+8dB @ 50Hz & 4kHz, -8dB @ 400Hz, filter slope - 6dB/octave). I find using a neck pickup with a pick sounds delicious with this engaged. Regarding it sounding dull when you saw it - yeah it can happen. My experience is that if you leave the EQ flat it isn't particularly bright, boosting the treble solves that (that's what it's there for ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 (edited) Just about any head/cab/combo can be made to sound bad, and of course you have to take into account that the sound one player wants may not be the sound [i]you[/i] want. I currently own an ABM500 head and an Epifani UL502, and through the same cab (a Barefaced Compact) I'd say the ABM has the edge for most things for the sound I'm after. Oh, and it's certainly no less bright than the UL502. Edited April 24, 2009 by 4000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_the_bass Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Always used my ABM 300 and ABM mini 15 for gigs. Always did the job for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Yep, my ABM C110 combo... although I DI to the PA and keep stage volume low (personal monitor really). The DI tone is perfect for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatbass787 Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Been gigging my Classic Rig 3-4 times a month for the last couple of years and was using ABM for about 6-7 years before that. Love the Ashdown tone(Ampeg with definition is how i see it) and touch wood never had any other issues either, i just love how it fits in with the band, doesnt get lost but doesnt overpower the mix. Cant't see me using anything else for quite awhile, although that new 320 watt valve head sure looks tempting. . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassicinstinct Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 My [b]Ashdown[/b] journey, over more years than I care to remember, has been: [b]ABM > Mag > Superfly[/b]. Never had an issue with any of the gear and it has always suited me perfectly. I'm now using a Superfly head with Superfly 2x8 and 1x15 and I've never been happier. Vive la difference I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huge Hands Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Happy with my MAG300 2x10T combo. Then again, I tend to play with a sound that I call "no teeth" - i.e. not bright or attacking at all, so this might not be the sort of sound the OP was looking for. (I wasn't gigging last night by the way!). A mate of mine is borrowing it at the weekend so maybe I can get an independent evaluation from him. Anyway, for me it suits me fine, but doesn't do my back much good when lifting it in and out of the car! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumnote Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I have a c110 which i use with a mini 4x8 which i use for some smaller gigs, and i have used in the studio and it sounds fine. Although small, i dont find them the easist to move which is the only reason i dont use it more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassicinstinct Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 [quote name='Huge Hands' post='471310' date='Apr 24 2009, 09:47 AM']Happy with my MAG300 2x10T combo. Then again, I tend to play with a sound that I call "no teeth" - i.e. not bright or attacking at all, so this might not be the sort of sound the OP was looking for. (I wasn't gigging last night by the way!). A mate of mine is borrowing it at the weekend so maybe I can get an independent evaluation from him. Anyway, for me it suits me fine, but doesn't do my back much good when lifting it in and out of the car![/quote] That is [b]precisely [/b] the reason I eventually went the Superfly route. Infinitely more manageable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foal30 Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Klystron and ABM cabs hundreds of gigs with this...I think I got it in 1998 0r 1999 sounds like a proper Bass Amp to me super reliable too...been a real good purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacebeer Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 I always loved my ABM 500 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flanker Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Birdy Ya big Berg antino snob!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 [quote name='bassicinstinct' post='471327' date='Apr 24 2009, 10:19 AM']That is [b]precisely [/b] the reason I eventually went the Superfly route. Infinitely more manageable. [/quote] Surely an infinitely manageable amp would actually carry itself to gigs..? [/pedant] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassicinstinct Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 [quote name='Rich' post='471424' date='Apr 24 2009, 12:37 PM']Surely an infinitely manageable amp would actually carry itself to gigs..? [/pedant][/quote] [b]THAT[/b] is my next planned upgrade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysbass Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Using an Ashdown Superfly 500 and a couple of Yamaha 2x10's. It sounds fine and is very portable. The amp gets a bit hot after an hour or so, but a small battery powered fan sorts that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 [quote name='Krysbass' post='471470' date='Apr 24 2009, 01:12 PM']Using an Ashdown Superfly 500 and a couple of Yamaha 2x10's. It sounds fine and is very portable. The amp gets a bit hot after an hour or so, but a small battery powered fan sorts that out.[/quote] Sounds like a fire waiting to happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumfrog Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 [quote name='EBS_freak' post='471507' date='Apr 24 2009, 01:47 PM']Sounds like a fire waiting to happen [/quote] nahhh, that's our guitarists ac30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdy Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 Interesting that a lot of you are using these to good effect. My recollections are that they can be deemed to be unreliable, it appears from this thread that perhaps that is not so true and they are in fact good solid workhorses? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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