Why isn't Ashdown popular?

pica · #1 12-14-2011, 08:38 PM

I'm just wondering why Ashdown amps and cabs aren't popular. I was on their website and doing some other reading and their products seem to be really nice. You see all kinds of threads on GK, Fender, Ampeg, Hartke, Markbass, etc. but not much on Ashdown.

Kwesi · #2 12-14-2011, 08:44 PM

Because it's not Ampeg.

evilt70 · #3 12-14-2011, 08:45 PM

Had a buddy that had a Ashdown amp head, he got rid of it after it died the third time (and the dude as real careful with his stuff)

JimmyM · #4 12-14-2011, 08:46 PM

Ashdown doesn't have near the following in America that it has in Europe, and TB's membership is pretty heavily US-based.

jungleheat · #5 12-14-2011, 09:07 PM

People like what they know, and they don't know Ashdown. They do know Ampeg who are in every store in America and probably a lot of other places around the world. Do you think Ampeg actually makes the "best" amps and that's why they get talked about the most? Doubtful. But they are the most widespread so that's why they get as much praise and recognition as they do.

JimmyM · #6 12-14-2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jungleheat

People like what they know, and they don't know Ashdown. They do know Ampeg who are in every store in America and probably a lot of other places around the world. Do you think Ampeg actually makes the "best" amps and that's why they get talked about the most? Doubtful. But they are the most widespread so that's why they get as much praise and recognition as they do.

Um, actually, yes, Ampeg does make the "best" amps. Just like with Fender basses, everyone who doesn't like to use them tries to explain away their continued popularity over the decades by saying they're "widespread" and in a lot of stores. And why do you think they're in a lot of stores? Because people like them enough to buy them. If people weren't still buying them in droves, no store would carry them regardless of their history.

JAUQO III-X · #7 12-14-2011, 10:08 PM

At the end of the day popularity means nothing at all if a certain brand actually works for you. Some players really are into what they think or perceive to be popular and sometimes just to be with the in crowd they choose what just may be popular or simply the flavor of the month.

I have always chosen to use what I like and what works for me. I have been using and endorsing Ashdown for over 15 years and I have no plans to stop.

Ashdown makes a lot of different amp and cab models and as far as their presence not being huge in the states that is seriously about to change.

And as fa as reliability issues go I can not think of one amp brand that hasn't had a problem here or there. It simply comes with the territory, no matter what the brand is.

bobalu · #8 12-14-2011, 10:20 PM

I have an Asdown ABM500 with a 210T cabinet. I really like it, but in Canada, their distribution network is extremely poor. They're very difficult to find anywhere and Long & McQuade (our version of Guitar Center/Sam Ash) don't carry it. In fact, a couple years ago, the Canadian distributor dropped the Ashdown Line altogether and it took several months for some other ditributor to pick up the line. Even the mom and pop shops that do carry Ashdown tend to only stock the lower end MAG series. In the back of my mind, I've always been worried about what will happen when it needs to be serviced.

Don't know the story in the U.S.

**jmattbassplaya** · #9 12-14-2011, 10:20 PM

Think about it. How often do you see an Ashdown amp in a music store? Then think about the times you have seen them and consider how many different models of theirs you saw in comparison to GK, Ampeg, or Markbass? My guess is that number is very small. They're not popular because they simply don't pop up too often, and when they do (IME) they are in the used amp section. Of course, this is just in the US. They are much more popular overseas.

BassBob1 · #10 12-14-2011, 10:22 PM

I had an ashdown mag 300 410 and 115 for 3 years. It was a great and reliable set up. I got rid of it to get a smaller set up. So I went the markbass route. I then needed something big again and have arrived at ampeg which is where I believe I truly belong. I also own a GK mb combo though. I play what I like though the GK is a slight compromise for cost and convince purposes. My experience with ashdown was great at the moment they don't seem as well known in the states but their product line that is available on sites like musicians friend seems to be much larger than it was when I had my ashdown rig.

johndough247 · #11 12-14-2011, 10:30 PM

I had an Ashdown combo amp in college (2x10, 300 Watts), nice sound and held together quite well for the 3 years I gigged it, would give another one a try if I had the chance...unlike a behringer combo of the same or better (450 Watts) specs that died on me after less than 5 gigs...go figure.

Yea, brand recognition not that high in the US compared to Ampeg, Fender and Gallien-Kreuger. heck, I only got curious about them after reading Pino uses them in a Bass Player ad...

christw · #12 12-14-2011, 10:30 PM

I actually inquired into some specs about the 427 Small Block today. Remember all that drop head hype? Yeah, bought a SB-12, B15-N, and a whole new PF500/115HE rig for the cost of one of those. That might have to do with it. I just want the baddest bass amp on the market.

Dustin Teel · #13 12-14-2011, 10:34 PM

Ashdown is a fine a brand. I know a local blues bassist who uses the Ashdown Mag 300 head into one of the old Kustom Tuck N Roll 2x15 cabs and plays Fender basses.

His tone sounds nice and warm, with a slight growl.

Ashdown, even with their lower end gear, make a decent amp.

JimmyM · #14 12-14-2011, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

At the end of the day popularity means nothing at all if a certain brand actually works for you. Some players really are into what they think or perceive to be popular and sometimes just to be with the in crowd they choose what just may be popular or simply the flavor of the month.

I have always chosen to use what I like and what works for me. I have been using and endorsing Ashdown for over 15 years and I have no plans to stop.

Ashdown makes a lot of different amp and cab models and as far as their presence not being huge in the states that is seriously about to change.

And as fa as reliability issues go I can not think of one amp brand that hasn't had a problem here or there. It simply comes with the territory, no matter what the brand is.

I'm a little surprised Ashdown never caught on over here in a big way, to be honest. At one time in the 80's, Trace Elliot was as big or bigger than Ampeg (Ampeg was in a really bad state being owned by MTI back then), and people who have or had Trace rigs still think of them very fondly. So you'd think Ashdown would have capitalized on that good will, but it hasn't worked out so far. I think they make very nice stuff...it doesn't hit me the way Ampeg stuff does, but you sound really good using it

**bassistjoe93** · #15 12-14-2011, 10:44 PM

I've seen one Ashdown amp in a pawn shop once, I've never played one but they seem pretty legit. I'm pretty sure Adam Clayton uses or used to use em. That's how I first heard of them.

Downunderwonder · #16 12-14-2011, 10:45 PM

They dropped the ball and tried to trade off their previously excellent name with a range of el cheapo gear and outsourced production. Ampeg went down that road and got a good roasting for it, got bought and sold a couple of times iirc and finally got the show back together. Hopefully Ashdown do the same.

bassmanbiff · #17 12-14-2011, 10:48 PM

My Ashdown superfly is very odd and I've made a lot of mods to it, but it gets a lot of favorable comments.

JAUQO III-X · #18 12-14-2011, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobalu

I have an Asdown ABM500 with a 210T cabinet. I really like it, but in Canada, their distribution network is extremely poor. They're very difficult to find anywhere and Long & McQuade (our version of Guitar Center/Sam Ash) don't carry it. In fact, a couple years ago, the Canadian distributor dropped the Ashdown Line altogether and it took several months for some other ditributor to pick up the line. Even the mom and pop shops that do carry Ashdown tend to only stock the lower end MAG series. In the back of my mind, I've always been worried about what will happen when it needs to be serviced.

Don't know the story in the U.S.

They have a new north American distributor based in Canada and so far they are on the ball.

JAUQO III-X · #19 12-14-2011, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downunderwonder

They dropped the ball and tried to trade off their previously excellent name with a range of el cheapo gear and outsourced production.

Pretty much every amp company in the game took the same path. I'm not here to defend Ashdown at all but I'm in a position to use any brand I want and Ashdown does it for me.

HUnt49 · #20 12-14-2011, 10:59 PM

Played with a guy who had a backline in his van already loaded, which was nice - less for me to bring... he had a 410 combo, I don't know the model but one of their nicer quality.

Very good amp - excellent for the rock work he has doing. If he was selling, I'd consider buying it - and I have no current amp GAS.

Their better stuff is definitely under-appreciated. But that's TalkBass - 70% talk about the flavor of the month, 26% talking meat/potatoes/Fender/Ampeg, 3% guys researching oddball or marginalized gear... and 1% divided between the upright guys, bassface threads, and chicks at gigs.