So... many.... amps! Advice? :)

[lordworm327]

Hey guys my first post,
I am in a metal band (www.myspace.com/theescapeartistband) bit of cheap advertising there.
Done quite a few gigs now and it's become apparent my combo isn't up to the task of playing some of these venues.

I have a 180w Ashdown electric blue combo amp, the venues we play aren't huge but when I crank my amp up to be heard it can't hack it. I've decided I need to upgrade my amp and my guitarist suggested I get a stack.

I'm looking at an Ashdown MAG 600H EVO II Head

and an Ashdown MAG 810 Deep Cabinet

this seems like ample power and has a decent write up and all comes to under £700 (don't know what that is in dollars)

anyone have any experience with this gear before and can recommend or warn me about it?

And anything else you would recommend in a similar price range?

Thanks guys!

[lordworm327]

oh also, another consideration was, that cab looks monstrous (while on one hand that is excellent thing) and wondered is it worth getting such an impractical beast or should i maybe get a couple of smaller cabs?

[Von Felgenhauer]

depends on pa support. if there is a pa 99% of what the audience hears is the pa, not your amp

[bmc]

Lots of great product made in the UK and Europe worth pursuing, versus other countries where shipping will nail you.

[thumbellino]

I've been using an Ashdown EVO 500W amp with their 600W 1-15 cab for smaller shows; larger shows, I add an Ashdown EVO II 300W amp with their 600W 2-10 cab. They generate big stage volume, and each head has a DI for your engineer. The gear has been on the road for over four years straight with no malfunctions, just a little simple maintenance - tightening chasis and circuit mounting screws. The tone is great, and the EQ circuits responsive to whatever is input: P, J, or the occasional fretless. Whichever brand you might select, a hybrid [tube pre-amp and transistor main] should be considered, given your tone and big volume requirements. My gear was carefully selected and purchased used to remain within budget. Cheers.

Thumbellino

[JimmyM]

for 700 pounds, i'd go for it. playing metal, i'd use an 810 too.

[RickenBoogie]

If you'd rather, 2 410's might be an easier to schlepp alternative.

[Zegie]

Originally Posted by lordworm327

I have a 180w Ashdown electric blue combo amp, the venues we play aren't huge but when I crank my amp up to be heard it can't hack it. I've decided I need to upgrade my amp and my guitarist suggested I get a stack.

Welcome to the forum. IMHO you would be hard pressed to beat an Ashdown. However you don't tell us in what respects your existing set up 'can't hack it'.

Some suggestions:

Have you considered plugging in another cabinet to what you already have?

Could there be something wrong with your existing amp/speaker?

You also might like to take a look at this - it's classed as 250 watts - but a little bird tells me it contains a 300 watt unit amp as used in their other products. This with another cab suits me.

Good price too!!

http://www.thomann.de/gb/ashdown_t15250s.htm

http://www.thomann.de/gb/ashdown_mag410t.htm

Good luck.

Z.