Ashdown ABM Evo IV footswitch not working

[Bassmanesh]

Ive been using Ashdown combo amps (Evo and Evo II combos with extension cabs) for years and have always loved the spund and reliability. I have just taken ownership of an amazing ABM Evo IV 600w head and I'm blown away by the sound but I'm having issues with the 4 way footswitch and hope someone can help.

 

As per the manual I plugged it in before powering the head but the switches don't control anything; the sub-harmonic is always on despite the switch position, and the drive, eq and comp switches do nothing.

 

I've checked the physical switches on the front of the amp and they're all out. Without the footswitch the physical switches work correctly so don't know why this isn't working with the footswitch?

 

Any advise would be brilliant. Thanks

Edited Wednesday at 20:45 by Bassmanesh

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

It sounds like you are using the same amp & footswitch I have.

 

Did this work previously, or has it never worked for you?

Is it the FS-4 footswitch unit you are using with the four switches marked valve, EQ, Compression, & sub Octave?

Are you using a high quality shielded TS cable to connect the footswitch to the amp (the leftmost socket on the back of the amp)?

The footswitch is supplied with a 2.5m shielded TS cable - if you are using that one, check it isn't faulty.

Try other cables

[Bassmanesh]

Thanks for the reply Jean-Luc.

 

I've just received both the amp and footswitch, so I don't know if it's worked before. 

Yes, it's the FS-4 which is labelled as you say. 

The cable is hard-wired in the footswitch rather than in a 1/4" socket, but I am connecting it to the correct socket on the rear of the amp. With the cable being hard-wired I cannot change the cable.

 

I might have to open up the FS-4 to check inside the unit, but I'm not sure what I'm looking for (unless it's an obvious fix)

[Muppet]

Whereabouts in Northants are you? I have a FS4 that maybe you can try out to see if it's the footswitch or the amp? 

[Bassmanesh]

Hi Muppet

 

Thanks for the offer.

I'm in Desborough, North of Kettering, but I go into Northampton on Monday evenings (county music for the kids) and Saturday afternoons.

Work in Wellingborough, if that's easy?

[Bassmanesh]

Having taken the pedal apart to check connections my brilliant other half said "have you tried a different cable to see what happens?" - which I hadn't!

 

I connect a guitar lead (with nothing attached) into the amp and again the sub octave, eq and valve all were present in the sound.

 

Does that mean there's an issue with the amp?

Edited Thursday at 18:50 by Bassmanesh