Ampeg or Ashdown?

[FBS1996]

.

[bassguppy]

whatever one gives you a tingle.

[StrangerDanger]

One's a name and one's legit. You decide.

[RickenBoogie]

what's the question? trying to pick one or the other? they both make alot of different models, from decent to fantastic, and plenty in between. what are you looking for?

[jmattbassplaya]

Owned models from both companies and I personally think Ampeg wins very convincingly. Ashdown makes great stuff at great prices, but I think Ampeg just makes better stuff (albeit at somewhat less reasonable prices).

[BigOldHarry]

no comparison. Ashdown. Ampeg has been living on its name alone for years.

[GusVCD]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

no comparison. Ashdown. Ampeg has been living on its name alone for years.

[2]

[Keith Richard M]

Aren't they both made in China?

[skwee]

Meh? Carrots?

[SoonerMatt]

Vintage Ampeg > UK Ashdown > US Ampeg >>>>>> Outsourced Ampeg > Outsourced Ashdown

[bluesdogblues]

Originally Posted by Keith Richard M

Aren't they both made in China?

I don't know about Ashdown but Ampeg are made in Vietnam these days. But from what I learn, the quality is still good.
CMIIW

[tom once dead]

I've got no time for Ashdown MAG series, they're muddy and terrible. The ABM sound pretty damn good though. That said I'm an Ampeg fan through and through. Every gig I use my rig in a good room/stage I get blown away by the tone that thing is putting out.

[JdoubleH]

Originally Posted by Keith Richard M

Aren't they both made in China?

Your point? I just assume everything is now.

[Turock]

I'll take a V4BH, SVT, or B100R, over anything Ashdown (or anybody else), that I've had experience with.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

no comparison. Ashdown. Ampeg has been living on its name alone for years.

RIIIIIIIIGHT! Not one MI company lives on its name alone. It's way too competitive a business for that. If the products get too bad, people don't buy them, especially now that you can look up a hundred product reviews of anything out there within seconds. Actually Ampeg is one of the more innovative companies out there. They were the first major manufacturer to have neos and micro sized heads, for example...Portabass line...look it up if you don't believe it. You just don't like Ampegs, so naturally you think they're just trading off the name, just like all the Fender haters. The name don't mean squat if the products aren't there.

Anyway, Ashdown and Ampeg...Ashdown makes nice stuff and I could get used to it if I had to, but Ampeg makes stuff that makes it effortless for me to get the sound that I want.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by bluesdogblues

I don't know about Ashdown but Ampeg are made in Vietnam these days. But from what I learn, the quality is still good.
CMIIW

Nope, Ampeg is no longer in Vietnam. They got out in late 2008. They're now in China, South Korea, and the US.

But you're right that the quality is still good, and in the case of the cabs, much better than when they were in St. Louis. The idiot in charge of LOUD who moved them to Vietnam and let quality control go to hell is no longer there, and the new guys are much more adept at running it. I've used many rented new Ampeg rigs on the road and own a Micro VR, and it's all been very solid stuff that sounds as good as the American versions. I think Ampeg got a bad rap for moving when pretty much everybody but Mesa has moved. But even Mesa has plenty of Chinese parts, so what's the difference really?

[cnltb]

I don't "love" either, but absolutely dislike Ashdown.

[bannybassman]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

no comparison. Ashdown. Ampeg has been living on its name alone for years.

+1

[4-string]

Ashdown. Ampeg doesn't do much for me, but enough bass players disagree.

Both companies have plenty of good gear to choose from, can't go much wrong with either.

[s_mcsleazy]

im glad someone finally said how i feel about ampeg. yes i like the b-15 and the old svt but ampegs from the 90's onwards are just not great. the micro vr however is alright.