Ashdown amps

[Mattbass97]

Be recently heard a couple people saying that from there experience and the experience of there friends that Ashdown bass combos (electric blue, mag etc.) where in reliable, is this true? what's your opinion

Cheers

[Mattbass97]

I recently heard**

[Outsider]

*their.

I own an ashdown amp, haven't gigged with it much but its reliable. Not going to get rid of it soon.

[AdamR]

I bought my Mag300 a year ago. Havent had an issue yet.

[DrayMiles]

IMO I wouldn't buy one... I posted my reasons on another forum somewhere... If you do gig with it (more than 4 gigs a month), I wouldn't be surprised to hear of it crapping out on you. Just my 2 cents..

Although some people think they're good... But the previous posts don't lend themselves to have confidence in the stuff.. for me anyway.

Good Luck!

[Mattbass97]

Originally Posted by DrayMiles

IMO I wouldn't buy one... I posted my reasons on another forum somewhere... If you do gig with it (more than 4 gigs a month), I wouldn't be surprised to hear of it crapping out on you. Just my 2 cents..

Although some people think they're good... But the previous posts don't lend themselves to have confidence in the stuff.. for me anyway.

Good Luck!

Thanks I think I'll be passing on Ashdown haha

[GBassNorth]

Up until a couple of days ago I had an Ashdow MAG300 EvoII 210combo. It played very well and seemed reliable (but I only had it for a few months). The reason I sold it was because it was much heavier and bulkier to transport than a 110watt 210 combo should be. I tore the rotator cuff in my shoulder and found it impossible to move this amp without significant pain. The placement of the handles on each side dictates that you have to carry it width wise down halls and thru doors and considering your hand locations it's a tight fit thru a normal doorway.
I flipped it for a GK MB210 500watt (actually only 250watts without the extension cab) that ways a mere 33 pounds and sounds every bit as good as the Ashdown and has twice the power.
So, although I liked the tone of the Ashdown, it was underpowered, over weight, had a non-defeatable tweeter and not designed well for transportation. The GK tone is as good as the Ashdown and it doesn't have any of the Ashdown shortcomings, so I feel I made a nice swap.

[Morten_B]

Originally Posted by Mattbass97

Be recently heard a couple people saying that from there experience and the experience of there friends that Ashdown bass combos (electric blue, mag etc.) where in reliable, is this true? what's your opinion

Cheers

For some reason Ashdown always get bashed here on Talkbass: Bad tone, bad reliability, bad just about anything that a product can get bashed for... Over here in Europe the Ashdown products work amazingly well though

To be honest I don't feel that you will get many unbiased Ashdown replies here on Talkbass

[4-string]

Originally Posted by Morten_B

Over here in Europe the Ashdown products work amazingly well though

Yes, that is interesting.

Between an Ashdown Thomann spes. edt combo, mag 4x10 cab, ABM EVO II 500 2x10 combo, a couple of pedals and my current MK500 I haven't had one single issue with Ashdown.

There were some problems just as they started making the ABM line in China IIRC, should be sorted a long time ago now.

[nukes_da_bass]

Bro in law needed a cheap combo so i did some "shootouts" of 112 combos under $300.00.
I found an Ashdown combo in his pricerange that sounded great and it crapped out on him after less than 6 months with only one gig and he had a problem with the local dealer honoring the warranty....
So yes, Ashdown has zero positive points with me and also I have zero credibility with my bro in law regarding equipment recommendations based on that fiasco.

[Ironderby]

I love the sound by Ashdown, haven't owned anything else, and probably won't. As for reliability, good ol' British engineering

[Morten_B]

Originally Posted by 4-string

Yes, that is interesting.

My Klystron 1000 is actually made in the USA, don't know if that is good or bad for reliability It works perfectly though...

[bassguppy]

not again...

[AdamR]

Originally Posted by DrayMiles

IMO I wouldn't buy one... I posted my reasons on another forum somewhere... If you do gig with it (more than 4 gigs a month), I wouldn't be surprised to hear of it crapping out on you. Just my 2 cents..

Although some people think they're good... But the previous posts don't lend themselves to have confidence in the stuff.. for me anyway.

Good Luck!

Have you ever owned one ? I bet if you do a search you will find something bad about ever amp maker out there, Example, Ampeg and the SVT7 Pro or GK and the MB212 combo. Everyone had a lemon once and a while, The internet just assures that you hear about them.

[GBassNorth]

Originally Posted by AdamR

Have you ever owned one ? I bet if you do a search you will find something bad about ever amp maker out there, Example, Ampeg and the SVT7 Pro or GK and the MB212 combo. Everyone had a lemon once and a while, The internet just assures that you hear about them.

Oh no, don't say that.... I just traded an Ashdown MAG300 evoII 210 combo for a GK MB210 combo. Didn't have the ashdown very long but had no problems with it, just didn't play well with a shoulder injury due to weight. Have there been inherent problems with the GK combos?

[AdamR]

I dont remember hearing problems with the MB210, Just a few issues with the 212. But you missed my point. Its the internet and people are more likely top complain wen they have an issue then praise when they dont. For every one with a problem there are hundreds without. I just bought a GK head and will keep the ashdown as my backup.

[JAUQO III-X]

I have yet to have any kind of issue at all with any of the Ashdown gear that I have used.

[moles]

Yeah didn't we just do this last week?
In point form:
-have MAG 600 and 2 414T Deep 4x10 cabs
-gigged the **** out of it for 5 years or so, often at top volume
-seriously, it's been rained on and ****.
-I'm cheap and lazy, so it hasn't been in the shop for 'servicing' once, although I pop it open and vacuum the internals when I remember
-and yet no problems whatsoever

[oldsalt]

I own a lot of amps. The Ashdowns, contrary to popular TB opinion, are my most reliable rigs. 140+ shows a year. My iamp800 lasted for twenty of those. My three SWR rigs, less than that. I've owned my Ashdown rigs since 2003 & have only ever had one problem in the countless hours these things have spent on the road beneath the bus & that was a button coming off a sub harmonics effect. As far as CS is concerned.....Ashdown sent me a button. There you go. Use them confidently! See everybody when next week's Ashdown recovery group meets.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by moles

Yeah didn't we just do this last week?
In point form:
-have MAG 600 and 2 414T Deep 4x10 cabs
-gigged the **** out of it for 5 years or so, often at top volume
-seriously, it's been rained on and ****.
-I'm cheap and lazy, so it hasn't been in the shop for 'servicing' once, although I pop it open and vacuum the internals when I remember
-and yet no problems whatsoever

I've been using Ashdown amps for over 14 years and I have indeed not had one problem at all.

But part of that may be that I know how to use an amp.

About 8 years ago the bulb in one of the vu meters went out and I had to replace it.


I'm not into the flavor of the month, when I first heard and started playing Ashdown amps and cabs they pretty much for a while were unheard of.



I use UK and China made and no problems at all.

Originally Posted by oldsalt

See everybody when next week's Ashdown recovery group meets.

Ashdown endorser.