Ashdown ABM 500 - How useful is the sub-harmonics feature

[Jim C]

I gather the sub harmonics feature is really just an octave divider (1 octave lower).
Is this feature very usable and would an EBS or Boss pedal do the same thing (or better).
Aside from tone, curious as to how well it tracks.

 

[murphy]

with everybody using HPF today...wouldn't it be a speaker blower?

I recorded some songs on one album using a zoom octaver and it sounded awesome....like Paul young ...Tear your play house down...I think....
Pino Palladino

 

[Downunderwonder]

Ime it should be called a sub harmonic muddinator.

 

[Sparky Mark]

If you use an octaver (1 down) then you can use this. I use it when I am playing songs that require a higher fret position to maintain a full sound.

 

[xroads]

Too muddy for me as well - I use an MXR Octaver instead.
However, for occasional use, the ABM500 octaver is OK (and yes, it is basically an octaver).

 

[dukeorock]

Yep, awesome amp but the sub thing is useless to me. Way better off with a pedal if you want that octave thing

 

[Jazz Ad]

It's not exactly fit for modern speakers that can reproduce gigantic lows.

 

[dukeorock]

It's not exactly fit for modern speakers that can reproduce gigantic lows.

Or anything else

I had an ABM 500 for years and it was a great amp though!

 

[Jim C]

Thanks Fellas,
Your advice just forced me to purchase an ABM 500 with a non-working octave device for $300 shipped in a flight case!
I didn't want to buy another amp because we have too many and we really don't have the space, and besides, how many amps do you need (apparently 4 is not enough).
Of course Alice, will be giving me this for Christmas, she just doesn't know what "IT" is.
And thanks to this lovely forum.
I can explain that it was peer pressure and clearly not my fault.
TB for the win!

 

[xroads]

Thanks Fellas,
Your advice just forced me to purchase an ABM 500 with a non-working octave device for $300 shipped in a flight case!
I didn't want to buy another amp because we have too many and we really don't have the space, and besides, how many amps do you need (apparently 4 is not enough).
Of course Alice, will be giving me this for Christmas, she just doesn't know what "IT" is.
And thanks to this lovely forum.
I can explain that it was peer pressure and clearly not my fault.
TB for the win!

Congratulations!
Just make sure you press the flat button in order to avoid boomy-ness.

 

[Jim C]

Thanks
Is the tone scooped without the flat button?

 

[Daniel Piper]

I love and play Ashdown amps, but The Ashdown tone is typically always just a small stones throw away from being muddy. Thick and rich.

The sub harmonic thing is the worst aspect of the ABM line of amps

 

[TWood97]

In my experience the sub octave even at full on my Ashdown wasn't as loud or clear as I'd have liked, though this was an EB180. Still, the feature was useless to me.