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Ashdown ABM 500

#21
I just went to the music store and tried an ABM500, WOW, very different from anything I'm used to. I put it up against an Ampeg SVT 6 Pro, running them both through a SWR Goliath III 410 and using a Geddy Lee Fender Jazz.

I've been checking out the 6Pro for a while now but the Ashdown blew it away. The tone was awsome and the power really impressed me. Ampeg claims the 6Pro is 1,100w at 4 ohms and 750w at 8 and I think the Ashdown is 500w at 4. So playing them through the same cab the Ampeg should be louder right, WRONG!!! The Ashdown w/ input at 2:00 and the master at 12:00 SMOKED the 6Pro w/ the master ALMOST ALL THE WAY UP!!!!

I'd still like to compare the ABM500 to say a GK 1001RB II or maybe even a Thunderfunk
But I think I may have found my new amp (maybe a new bass too):D
 
#24
I'm still kicking myself for selling my ABM 300. I never thought I'd touch a bass again, so I just tried to sell off everything I had. Dang, was that ever a stupid move. I've been trying really hard for half a year to find a deal for a NOS or used one, but they all seem to have eluded me. Ashdown makes some really neat amps.
 
#25
Volk said:
I've been looking at this head as well, I have a Mag 300 and was thinking of upgrading...but I can't decide between the Ashdown 500 Evo II and dishing out a few hundred more for a Thunderfunk 550...
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I had a Thunderfunk 550 in my house for 10 days and compared it directly with my Ashdown ABM500 EVO, using a Bergantino HT322 cabinet, and a pair of bergie HT/EX 112's stacked. Test basses were Lakland DJ5 and F Bass BN5. Bottom line for me was the Ashdown was phatter, sweeter, and sparkles with the preamp tube that TF Amps lack. TF550 was very nice, powerful, and fast. But I prefered the tone and versatility of the Ashdown by a mile. No regrets. Again, this is not meant to disrespect TF amps in any way. They are wonderful. Just not my sound. Gary
 
#26
Oysterman said:
I'm still kicking myself for selling my ABM 300. I never thought I'd touch a bass again, so I just tried to sell off everything I had. Dang, was that ever a stupid move. I've been trying really hard for half a year to find a deal for a NOS or used one, but they all seem to have eluded me. Ashdown makes some really neat amps.
Click to expand...
There is one for sale at vendolin.se right now!
I got my ABM500 EVO from Musikborsen (4900SKr). It´s in the mail right now. I´ll pick it up tomorrow. :hyper:
 
#27
philzbass said:
I'd still like to compare the ABM500 to say a GK 1001RB II or maybe even a Thunderfunk
But I think I may have found my new amp (maybe a new bass too):D
Click to expand...

I already did the work for ya. :cool: Ashdown all the way! Not even close. The GK and Thunderfunk are both very fast at Transients being solid state amps and the TF is definitely loud enough. But I have yet to find an amp I like better than my Ashdown ABM500. It does Vintage, can get sparkly and sizzly for awesome slap tones, can sound somewhat Hi-Fi, nails growl and Jaco tones when asked for. It's phat, punchy, sweet. Whatever I want. It shines everytime. There just isn't anything it doesn't do well in my three years of playing a LOT of gigs through it. I've done over a couple hundred gigs through my Ashdown ABM500 and it has never once let me down. GK's sound sterile and solid state by comparison. While the TF are alleged to be somwhat tube like, in my experience, there is no substitute for an amp with a real preamp tube at the very minimum. They just sparkle and have a presence that is incomparable. Gary
 
#28
jock said:
There is one for sale at vendolin.se right now!
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Accompanied with a cab I don't want to buy, unfortunately. Thanks for the heads-up anyway!
I got my ABM500 EVO from Musikborsen (4900SKr). It´s in the mail right now. I´ll pick it up tomorrow. :hyper:
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That's a steal! I was close to getting a deal like that too, but again, they (MB) didn't want to sell me the amp without a cabinet, which would've doubled the price. :bawl: I don't need another cab! :mad: Oh well. I'll keep looking.
 
#29
Oysterman said:
Accompanied with a cab I don't want to buy, unfortunately. Thanks for the heads-up anyway!
That's a steal! I was close to getting a deal like that too, but again, they (MB) didn't want to sell me the amp without a cabinet, which would've doubled the price. :bawl: I don't need another cab! :mad: Oh well. I'll keep looking.
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I´ll let you know if I see another one. BTW You can always check german and english eBay.
 
#30
I have been using Ashdown for 4 years now...any time I try to stray away I'm always lead back to Ashdown. From my experiences the EVO 500 has been plenty powerful for small to medium shows. For me it lacked the head room for big stages (you may have different results depending on how you like your monitors vs. bass amp). Nonetheless the tone is there. For a very solid thump and tons of volume try the EVO 500 w/ the Eden 410xlt (4ohm). If you want more grind try it with a sealed cab (i.e. Ampeg classic 810 or 410).

I just had the chance of chatting with Mark Gooday (creator of Ashdown) at NAMM. He said to get the most headroom do the EVO 900 - using only half of the power (575 watts). He said this allows you to use the whole transformer for the 575 watts. He said that is why guys like Adam Clayton and Shavo will use only 1 8x10 with the EVO 900, instead of 2. Mo' headroom. He said Adam Claytons tech just called last week going on about how powerful that configuration sounds.

He also gave props to what I'm running saying it does the same thing: EVO pre-amp into a seperate power amp. So I have 1400 watts w/ miles of headroom. I don't need the volume always, but I love the headroom. I found some tricks to enhance my Ashdown you guys my like to try and see what you think:

Jazz bass> Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster> Sansamp BDDI> Ashdown Pre> Crown Base 2 power> Ampeg 810 classic> me freaking out because it sounds so killer.

Last gig I put an Avalon U5 between the EVO and the power amp...sending the Avalon to the house. Fender Geddy Lee with GHS pressurewounds, it was amazing.

So yeah ASHDOWN heads rule. However I did get to try the new Aguilar 810 with 750DB or whatever it's called. But that may be for anotehr post another time. I'd love to hear my Ashdown rig through that Aguilar cab. 810's, 1600 watt rms, rear ported. Black tolex w/ with silver grill, ala Fender Bassman style.

Oh yeah Mark from Ashdown was very cool to talk with. Charming dude.
 
#31
Allright, I went back to the music store and put the ABM500 side by side w/ a GK 1001 RB II and I have to say tone wise the ABM500 was KILLER! As far as power goes they seemed pretty close, the GK might have had a little more, but it's rated 700w@ 4ohms, no big deal though the ABM500 was plenty for me. In fact I tried this thing against just about every amp I could think of (that they carried of course) and the only other one that got my attention was a Mesa Boogie M-Pulse 600, very cool but a little too much money for me $$$$

Quick Question;

Did Ashdown make a version of the ABM500 w/ 500w and one w/ 575w??

The one I played said 500w in the back but I heard this amp was 575w, whats up with that?
 
#33
dave_bass5 said:
The EVO II range have an updated power output so the 300 is 325 watt (but still says 300w on the back) and the 500watt is now 575
Hope that helps, its on the Ashdown website
I emailed them about this as well as mine says 300w but i never got an answer
Dave.
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I have an Ashdown ABM500 EVO (the first series) and it is rated at 575W @ 4ohms. I don't think the power changed from EVO to EVO II.
 
#34
I've been casually looking for an Ashdown after demoing one and falling in love (I don't have the $ right now so I'm waiting for my 100watt hartke combo to kick it). Has anyone played the ABM300 evoII combo? I've only ever played the ashdown/ashdown stack but I'm not really interested in lugging all tha crap. Is it worth it to match the head with another cab or am I ok with the combo?
 
#35
I have the ABM300 and at the moment i play it through a MAG307 C-115 using just the cab as the head is broken
i dont think it sounds as good as the ASB300 C-115, its quite slow and soft sounding if that makes sence.
I have a Schroeder 1210 on order and i have been told the 2 together will really make a difference.
Plus the 1210 is 4 ohms so i will get the most out of it.
I dont find the ABM300/C-115 very loud so you might want to pair it up with a 4 ohm cab to get the most out of it.

Dave.
 
#38
fenderx55@yahoo said:
I was actually looking atthis one. my Hartke kick back 120 (100volts 1x12) is pretty much loud enough for what I do, there's just no headroom and I push it pretty hard. So i figured a 2x10 would be a nice compromise of fast vs not lifting a 4x10 combo/cab.
Click to expand...

I just can't see a combo with 2 10's worth buying. At that point it's just so much easier to get a head and a seperate cabinet (I think).
 

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