ASHDOWN ABM 410 CAB COVERING CLOTH TEARS

richtea · #1 01-23-2011, 10:40 PM

A BIT OF VENTING,
I picked up a new ashdown ABM 410 on thursday last week loaded it into my car unloaded at home then loaded it for a gig. When I got home I was horrified to find 5 small (about the size of a finger nail) chunks out of the covering cloth and scuff marks on top of the cab from my head.

No old vans, no "roadies", Just me bieng carefull with a brand new piece of gear. The rest of my gear is pretty much in showroom condition and has had years of giging. I did a search, and no one seams to have mentioned this before. Any one else had similar issues? I am not a fan of "road worn" I am road worn enough, and like my gear to look like somone actually cares for it. Perhaps it is meant to wear quickly to give a "distressed" look, but if thats the case. A label simillar to those you get with a new flying jacket, " leather will distress with wear", or "cab covering sutable for bedroom use only", might be a good idea.
If i want to sell my cab now I will have to discount the price sgnificantly even though it is brand new. Not impressed! It sounds great, but thats not the issue here, I would have thought a a company like Ashdown would have thought this through a little better. I could be wrong, but I thought that the ABM range is their pro gear, which makes it even worse.

richtea · #2 01-23-2011, 11:13 PM

some phonecam pics

richtea · #3 01-23-2011, 11:14 PM

some more

ahbassman · #4 01-23-2011, 11:17 PM

I have an ABM 210. Just like yours except two less speakers. I have also experienced the wear and tear that is shown in your pictures, but I didn't think anything of it. Things like this happen. If it still sounds good, what is the issue?

richtea · #5 01-23-2011, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahbassman

I have an ABM 210. Just like yours except two less speakers. I have also experienced the wear and tear that is shown in your pictures, but I didn't think anything of it. Things like this happen. If it still sounds good, what is the issue?

I agree with you to a point, It sounds great, and that after all is the cabs function. However, a car's function is to provide transport, how happy would you be if bits of chrome fell off the door handles every time you closed them? I have Messa and Genz cabs that have had 100's times more use, and look immaculate and still sound great. Companies have a choice when deciding which manufactuing materials to use, and in this case, wear and tear (punn intended) has not been properly addressed. This is a piece of performance equipment, which by its nature is intended to be moved from performance to performance. IMHO all aspects of the equipment should be able to stand up being loaded and unloaded with out undue dereriation or damage.
I suppose what I am saying is, there are lots of materials/finishes out there that will stand up to the job, why pick one that wont?

jlino56 · #6 01-25-2011, 08:30 PM

I've had a 210 and a 410 for about 7 years and I'm constantly repairing the covering on both cabs . The covering in the venting came loose and wasflapping in the wind causing distortion. After a quick glue down the problem was fixed. I'm no repair man and it shows. Great sounding cabs but the covering sucks.

richtea · #7 01-26-2011, 12:05 AM

I know its quite a minor gripe but the why should you have to spend your time fixing cab coverings. If they dont want to change the "look" then maybe a cover? I dont think anybody would mind paying a small premium for a dust cover. My Messa cabs come with one, and they work like a charm. I discovered that the seat belt latches were responsible for the damage on the back of mine, hardly a sharp aggressive surface. I cant find the bits so gluing back on is not an option for me. I cant belive that no one else has an issue with this.