Ashdown Mag Evo II

Ironderby · #1 08-05-2011, 01:06 PM

Would you reccomend it?
i love the ashdown sound, and i play in a band thats about to start gigging.

1) is it good value for money?
2) will it cope well for practice/gigs (my last 2 amps have blown from overcranking of the master knob)

Thanks.
Link: Ashdown Engineering | Bass Amplification

RickenBoogie · #2 08-05-2011, 01:53 PM

ANY amp will die if abused like that, but Ashdown is as good as any otherwise.

Ironderby · #3 08-06-2011, 02:21 AM

Not what i was looking for. Im sure thats not the case, if i want to keep up with guitars i crank it up, but if i get this bigger amp, will it be loud enough? thats what i wanted to know

Cosmo_Smallpiece · #4 08-06-2011, 02:35 AM

What was you last amp? If you're getting the MAG because you think the extra watts will give you more volume to compete with loud guitars I'm afraid you're barking up the wrong tree.

You should be looking at your speakers. Either get more of them, or more efficient ones, or ones that have a natural voicing more suitable for cutting through a wall of guitar noise.

I'm not altogether sure the Ashdown sound is best for being heard in a dense mix either.

Ironderby · #5 08-06-2011, 02:40 AM

Yeah i had a 150w 12inch Peavey that was 13 years old.
Will the 180w 15inch be better? or should i just push my budget and get the 307w Evo?

Cosmo_Smallpiece · #6 08-06-2011, 02:55 AM

I'm always in favour of budget pushing

You'll appreciate the quality long after you've forgotten the pain of paying for it.

The answer to all your questions is yes but probably not as much as you'd think. I used to gig with the 250 watt 1x15 MAG with 2 fairly loud guitarists but I was really pushing it to it's limits. It'll be a bit louder than the Peavey and the 307w MAG will be a bit louder still but it's not going to be a significant difference. What you'll mainly get is more clean headroom.

More information would be useful. How many guitarists, how loud do they play, how loud is your drummer, what size venues, what kind of music?

Personally I'd get the MAG 2x10 307watt version and add a 2x10 extension when I could afford it if volume is an issue.

Ironderby · #7 08-06-2011, 03:00 AM

Thats what i thought, i might as well spend the extra £100 now then £370 to buy it a few months down the line.

2 Guitarists, erm pretty loud to say we're only practicing. About as loud as a gig would be, same as the drummer, he's a real hard-hitter. And we have some gigs arranged for pubs about 20x20ft or small gig venues about 15x30ft.

thanks alot, i'll buy the 2x10 307 and see how that goes, then see about pumping it up when i have more funds

aledeville · #8 08-06-2011, 03:15 AM

Naaaa, with a 210 against two loud guitards? No way. Remember to always bring a gun into a knife fight.
410 is the least I'd say.

Cosmo_Smallpiece · #9 08-06-2011, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aledeville

Naaaa, with a 210 against two loud guitards? No way. Remember to always bring a gun into a knife fight.
410 is the least I'd say.

I agree, but the OP is on a limited budget.

How about getting the MAG head and looking for a used 4x10? If you're not bothered about weight then Peavey, Harke and Ashdown all do decent budget 4x10s

Cosmo_Smallpiece · #10 08-06-2011, 03:50 AM

You say you blew your last 2 amps. What was it that croaked? The amp or the speakers?

Whereabouts are you anyway? You're talking about pubs so I'd guess the UK. If your guits and drummer are that loud they're probably going to get told to turn down in your average pub anyway. Nothing will clear the place quicker than making the customer's ears bleed

cccy · #11 08-06-2011, 04:24 AM

I sold a MAG EVO II C115 combo a few months ago... It is quite versatile for a cheap-line amp and the VU meter will help you with your blowing up problem. You play as hard as you normally would and adjust the input volume, then you can crank up the output volume as much as you want.

I sold it for 250 GBP almost brand new (which is about as much as I paid for it) and I don't think I could sell it for more than that. If that answers your value for money question...

I don't know how much combos usually weigh but this one is VERY heavy.. that was my main problem with it.

Cosmo_Smallpiece · #12 08-06-2011, 04:46 AM

Stonking bargain here. ABM 4x10 for £150

Ashdown ABM Cabs for sale - Basschat.co.uk

If you're in the UK of course

LiamPodmore · #13 08-06-2011, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cosmo_Smallpiece

Stonking bargain here. ABM 4x10 for £150

Ashdown ABM Cabs for sale - Basschat.co.uk

If you're in the UK of course

Sorry but thats a 4x8 not a 4x10, its a very good place to shop though, i got my Warwick ProFet 5.1 on there for £150.

Liam

Cosmo_Smallpiece · #14 08-06-2011, 05:06 AM

Oh yeah, of course it is. Must read thread more carefully.

fingerbun · #15 08-06-2011, 05:20 AM

Ironderby, sorry to break it to you, but it's quite possible, maybe even probable with your approach, that whatever you buy next will blow up as well.

You blew up a Peavey...they are typically quite tough and loud. Yes it was small, and more watts will help, but 300W is still a small amp, particularly if you are pushing the bottom end.

As others have said, more speakers and better speaker selection will make more of a difference. And you need to learn how to drive an amp without blowing it up. Any amp will blow up if pushed too hard.

If you post a bit more about the others in your band and the sound you are after, we may be able to help. But if you do nothing else, learn how to recognise when you are pushing an amp too hard.

lowendrv · #16 08-06-2011, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiamPodmore

Sorry but thats a 4x8 not a 4x10, its a very good place to shop though, i got my Warwick ProFet 5.1 on there for £150.

Liam

I have a Ashdown 4x8 and it's very loud and cuts thru. I run everything from 100-400 watts thru by itself.
the bottom end is surprising. I've yet to find a guitar rig I can't keep up with. OP should roadtest it first might work fine. For that price I would go for it. At times I do add a 15 to it.

Devo-lution · #17 08-06-2011, 06:00 AM

Work on your EQ (more mids, less bass)... Makes blowing up less probable and makes it easier to hear yourself.

And NEVER (really never) push any solid state amp into a state of constant clipping!!!!!! With a good cab, 300 watt can be plenty loud, but really, don't crank any SS amp all the way up into clipping.

Devo-lution · #18 08-06-2011, 06:01 AM

AND... I'd greatly prefer a vertical put 210 vs a 115... Much better dispersion, so you'll hear yourself much better + you can always add another 210 later on if you go for 8 ohms.

lowendrv · #19 08-06-2011, 06:07 AM

How loud can you get in that small of an area? Do you use a PA if so run signal to the board. I play places three times that size with no amp at all. Just a PA. at what I think is very loud. Two guitarists and four horn players.

lowendrv · #20 08-06-2011, 06:12 AM

Check this thread out you dont need as much as you may think.
Obsession with watts