WonderHorse Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 I recently bought a Trace Elliot GP7SM 130 head and Marshall VBC412 off two members off here, but due to the fact I don't have a car at the moment I use the bass amp at the rehearsal studios with my new band. Before I continue I'd like to say that despite having never tried an Ashdown before the first rehearsal I'd always thought they were a bit poo. Don't ask why, 'cos I don't know. Though I think it has something to do with the bassist from System of a Down using one. Anyway, the sound guy pushes the combo (a 4x10/4x12. I've had a look on the website but it must be an old discontinued model) through the door and I'm slightly disappointed because of my aforementioned prejudice. So I hesitantly plug my bass into the 'high' input option (there is a low and high input, could someone please explain the difference?), have a quick fiddle with the tone knobs, setting them up to my preferred EQ settings (boost mids, high mids and treble. Set the bass at just after midnight). I was very impressed. I found the slider/knob EQ arrangement extremely easy to use. I also like the fact there is a 'grind' knob to dial in a bit of dirt. I like my bass to sound quite aggressive, with a boost on the mids and a bit on the treble. Sort of Geddy Lee, John Entwistle alike. Cut a long story short I've had a few more practices with it and dialled in my sound a bit more using the sliders and I really, really like it. If I ever need to upgrade from my Trace I'll look at an Ashdown straight away. And they're British! Can anyone explain to me what the sub-harmonic knob does? Sorry for the rant. I felt it was necessary with all the Ashdown haters on here. Quote
waynepunkdude Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 [quote name='WonderHorse' post='604790' date='Sep 21 2009, 06:03 PM']So I hesitantly plug my bass into the 'high' input option (there is a low and high input, could someone please explain the difference?), have a quick fiddle with the tone knobs, setting them up to my preferred EQ settings (boost mids, high mids and treble. Set the bass at just after midnight).[/quote] The high/low input is basically passive/active but I don't know which is which. Quote
WonderHorse Posted September 21, 2009 Author Posted September 21, 2009 Oh right. I'll do a bit of digging tonight on Google and see if I've been doing it wrong then. Quote
waynepunkdude Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 Have you got an active or passive bass? Quote
Protium Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 Whichever one is louder when you plug the bass in is the "passive" input. It makes no difference really unless you are really loud (and can't turn down any more) or really quiet (and can't turn up any more) on the VU meter Quote
WonderHorse Posted September 21, 2009 Author Posted September 21, 2009 I use my passive at rehearsal Quote
bassmansky Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 Another ashdown fan!that must be at least ten on here now i never use the sub-harmonic on my amp because basically i cant tell the difference from when its on and when its off!According to the manual 'with the sub harmonic in, an octave below the notes being played are produced'. Quote
EssentialTension Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 [quote name='WonderHorse' post='604790' date='Sep 21 2009, 06:03 PM']And they're British![/quote] I used Ashdown for ages (although not any more) and good amps I say. But a lot of them are actually Chinese these days. Quote
phatbass787 Posted September 21, 2009 Posted September 21, 2009 Nice story, always liked a happy ending Quote
dave_bass5 Posted September 22, 2009 Posted September 22, 2009 I think you will hear the Sub Harmonic knob working more if you turn it up and play up near the body. I never used it on my old Ashdowns but i guess its nice to have if you need to thicken the tone up a bit. Quote
bassmansky Posted September 22, 2009 Posted September 22, 2009 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='604947' date='Sep 21 2009, 08:44 PM']I used Ashdown for ages (although not any more) and good amps I say. But a lot of them are actually Chinese these days.[/quote] or american!still a british owned company though cant say that much these days! Quote
EssentialTension Posted September 22, 2009 Posted September 22, 2009 [quote name='bassmansky' post='605850' date='Sep 22 2009, 05:27 PM']or american!still a british owned company though cant say that much these days![/quote] True Quote
dannybuoy Posted September 22, 2009 Posted September 22, 2009 I like the sound of them, but most of the combos I've used have been pretty weak volume wise. I'd love to try an ABM500 with big cabs some day though! Quote
waynepunkdude Posted September 22, 2009 Posted September 22, 2009 I don't like the heads but the cabs are savage. Quote
dave_bass5 Posted September 22, 2009 Posted September 22, 2009 [quote name='bassmansky' post='605850' date='Sep 22 2009, 05:27 PM']or american!still a british owned company though cant say that much these days![/quote] Does that really mean anything these days? Quote
acidbass Posted September 22, 2009 Posted September 22, 2009 +1 on Ashdown. I recently wrote a review of a MAG-300 4x10 combo, which I'll post on here now that it has come back into my mind! Great amps and cabs IMO! Danny Quote
nash Posted September 22, 2009 Posted September 22, 2009 [quote name='waynepunkdude' post='606109' date='Sep 22 2009, 09:22 PM']I don't like the heads but the cabs are savage.[/quote] i'm the other way round. i find the newish ABM cabs to be really bad, the MAG cabs to be better and the older ABM cabs better again. a friend had the newer ABM 8x10 and it was so dull and quiet IMO. i've never had a decent tone using the newer ABM cabs. too compact for any real big grunt. Quote
dave_bass5 Posted September 23, 2009 Posted September 23, 2009 (edited) Well after not exactly praising Ashdown in the past ive just got my MAG 307 C-115 back from one of the bands i play in. Its on loan to the other bass players. Seems like the power stage packed up halfway through their gig on sat night. :-( Edited September 23, 2009 by dave_bass5 Quote
bassmansky Posted September 23, 2009 Posted September 23, 2009 [quote name='dave_bass5' post='606112' date='Sep 22 2009, 09:24 PM']Does that really mean anything these days?[/quote] Does to me Quote
simon1964 Posted September 23, 2009 Posted September 23, 2009 [quote name='waynepunkdude' post='604792' date='Sep 21 2009, 06:05 PM']The high/low input is basically passive/active but I don't know which is which.[/quote] High = high input gain so you would use it with a lower output bass (usually, but not always, a passive bass). Low = low gain, so you would use with a higher output (usually active) bass. Effectively an active / passive option, but high / low is actually a more accurate desciption. I used to gig with Ashdown stuff and always liked it. I switched to Mark Bass because its so much lighter, rather than any sound/tone/quality issues. Quote
bassicinstinct Posted September 23, 2009 Posted September 23, 2009 A [b]big [/b]vote for the Superfly range (head and cabs) from me. Quote
WonderHorse Posted September 25, 2009 Author Posted September 25, 2009 Nice to see there's a few poepl on here who don't slate Ashdown, then. Got practice tonight so I'll have a play about with the sub-harmonic knob and see if I can hear a difference Quote
EssentialTension Posted September 25, 2009 Posted September 25, 2009 [quote name='WonderHorse' post='608756' date='Sep 25 2009, 04:28 PM']Nice to see there's a few poepl on here who don't slate Ashdown, then.[/quote] You've not read the Ashdown are crap thread then? Quote
phatbass787 Posted September 25, 2009 Posted September 25, 2009 [quote name='EssentialTension' post='608773' date='Sep 25 2009, 04:51 PM']You've not read the Ashdown are crap thread then?[/quote] Whats the point in reading a set of posts by idiots? Quote
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