Amp Dilema - EA Content

So I'm currently using an Ashdown C110 evo II 300 combo and a matching ashdown 4x8 cab, now I've always been impressed by the volumes that this cab can put out, but my gig have changed recently and have got alot bigger and a couple of things bother me about my rig.

Firstly although my gain and volume are never over 1/2 way the amp doesn't really get much louder after that so I'm pretty much topped out volume wise although currently I can hear myself ok and when I don't have PA support I can manage a room of about 400, but that's it can't manage much more.

Secondly its quite heavy its about 120lb's altogether and I can't really carry anything else at the same time so I'm making quite a few trips to and from the car at gigs

Third I do have problems cutting through every so often even with my mid heavy sound, (I go for the old school grindy sorta tone but still need a lot of high end not just thump)

Forth I play dgcf and when I do go down to that low D its very muddy and unclear.

Fifth and the biggest problem was yesterday at Bass Day UK I played an EA Iamp 800, CXL112 and NL210 and it was amazing, the low B ojn the 5 strings was a note, clear as a bell, everything was punchy and clear, but didn't sound sterile and clinical like some people have said, at least to my ears

Now the main reason I started looking around at other amps was all the horror stories I've heard about Ashdown, I've never had a problem, and my amp has been gigged quite hard but I have bigger and bigger gigs coming up where I can't afford for something to go wrong with my amp, and I also have to be heard on stage.

Over here in the UK this EA rig will cost me like £2500 that's $4300 to you guys, which is a hell of a lot of money so I'm just weighing up my other options.

So I need some input, I might not go with the Iamp800 as I'm not sure how much of what I heard yesterday was the amp or the cabs, I can get a Thunderfunk imported for quite a bit less or maybe a pre/power setup would be best but this would be quite heavy.

Other brands I can get here are

Epifani - Really expensive and I didn't like the 4x10 and 1x15 I played through recently
EBS - Don't know if it's in the same league
Accugroove - Even more expensive
Glockenlang - Gotta be able to get it some where in europe
Schroeder - Work out about the same price as the EA stuff
Aguilar - Amp Ag500 might be a good amp choice but don't think I'll like the cabs

Thats pretty much it, so if some of you guys feel like helping me find a rig that can handle all sorts of music, is easy to move around, has lots of clarity but can also do the old school rock sound, I'd really appreciate it.

Cheers

 

Yeah I'm leaning that was EA here are stocked by Overwater and they were very nice guys and were telling me of situations where things had broken on the road and how they helped players get them fixed asap.

I'm just sorting out changing my Ashdown 4x8 to the EA CXL112 not the new L version though I think the difference is 4kg so not a major issue especially since this cab is about 1/2 of new price over here and comes with a padded cover.

I can also get the Bag End S15 I think quite cheap but I think that I'd be lacking the highs.

I know the Iamp 800, cxl112 and nl210 will be the last rig I ever need volume wise so I'm willing to invest as it should last a lifetime, or at least until GAS strikes again.

 

No I've only heard this rig altogether, so I'm actually hoping the cxl112 sounds good on it's own or at least better than my massively ported 4x8. The only reason I'm getting the CXL112 first is there is one available s/h and cheap and there generally isn't alot of EA stuff in the UK.

Cheers

 

Yeah I was looking at Schroeder but at the same time I don't just want my amp to do that rock sound, I want it to be very versatile and I'll use over drive pedals to muddy it up.

But the other thing I've noticed is my amp colours my tone alot and I end up having no idea at all of what the sound out of the PA is like, so I thought a transparent rig would help in that respect, giving me a better idea of what the crowd is hearing.

Maybe I'm wrong, I do appreciate the advice though.

Am I looking at the wrong thing with a neutral rig? I'm already in the process of changing my 4x8 for the cxl112 and I'm hoping it will sound better (I'm sure it will as all the sound won't be rushing out of those huge ports in the back)

 

I won't be able to try schroeder unless some one in the Manchester area has bought one, can maybe get hold of a Thunderfunk to try, but that won't be through an EA cab.

What are the opinions on the Bag End 1x15 or is it totally the wrong thing for what I'm after?

 

Yeah more or less sorted the deal on the cxl112 so then I need to get a new more powerful amp and finally the nl210.

Interesting enough I considered EA quite expensive but even being in Europe EBS comes close to the same price and I don't think they are really in the same league, so EA seem to work out at quite good value.

Still not sure about the amp, I think Iamp over the thunderfunk for the headroom mentioned, but at the same time I'm considering a pre/power setup which will just get me into a whole new world of GAS.


Mike can I ask what are EA warrenties like as I'm considering getting one from over there in the States but I need the reliabilty and customer service that i have been told about, also how do they view owners of s/h EA gear?

Cheers

 

Yeah I was feeling that alot of what I was hearing was the cabs, so the nl210 is next on the list after the cxl112 I think.

My problem with Thunderfunk is it's quite difficult to get over here and works out around $1400 with flightcase and such without the 23% tax or so I'll have to pay on this end so it is very similar in price to the Iamp. If something was to go wrong with it I'd have real problems getting it fixed quickly and thats not acceptable in my current gigging situation, where as Overwater have assured me if something was to go wrong they would normally have it sorted within 48 hours.

I mean I've been gasing for a thunderfunk for along time and Dave seems like a great guy, very helpful but end of the day I don't think I could get the amp fixed quickly, if he chimes in here and disagrees great, but else I don't know how viable it would be.

The headroom is an issue, having it been explained to me as the more headroom the more power you can give to each note to form, such as the low b which has always sounded mushy through my rig and the Iamp has tons of headroom whereas I'm not to sure about the thunderfunk, although from what I've read it sounds very very impressive and it has to be good especially since DavidMWilson refuses to ever part with it

 

Also just to get into crazy riggage as well, I thought since the Iamp is stable to 2ohms, if i felt like it i could add a bag end s15d and then randomly place the 3 speakers around the stage

Well I could use the EA rig as mine and the bag end on the other side of the stage for drummer and guitarist, obviously this would come at a much later stage as EA stuff is expensive and I'm poor