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ashdown amps

S

slaphappychappy

May 25, 2011
582
5
#1
i have a 100 watt fender rumble, and it has served well. wanna go something a little bigger, I have found generally up to 400 watts has always done me well.
Been looking at some stacks, the abm500 and 410 cab caught my attention.
Anyone use them? I can get them both as a package for under $1400, australian, and they seem alright. I use the ashdown compression pedal and have always been happy with that.
 
#3
I've been using the abm500 head and 410 cab(s) for well over a decade.


I personally like the tones that I get. And the amp are far more versatile than people are aware of. I have used this set up in every genre one can imagine.


















Ashdown endorser.
 
#5
Electricblue said:
This is good news, because you may need it a lot with Ashdown :)
Click to expand...




That is not true at all. If it was how could Ashdown still be in business.


Been using Ashdown amps and cabs, UK and China built for about 14 years.

I even have a 300 watt 115 mag combo that to my ears sounds very good(and I really don't care for 15's)

I have yet to have any problem with any of my Ashdown gear.


Some people need to learn how to use their gear and know the limit of what their gear can do. No matter what the brand may be.
 
#6
JAUQO III-X said:
That is not true at all. If it was how could Ashdown still be in business.


Been using Ashdown amps and cabs, UK and China built for about 14 years.

I even have a 300 watt 115 mag combo that to my ears sounds very good(and I really don't care for 15's)

I have yet to have any problem with any of my Ashdown gear.


Some people need to learn how to use their gear and know the limit of what their gear can do. No matter what the brand may be.
Click to expand...

+1 A lot of the time it's pilot error for sure, also been using Ashdown for nearly 10 years and apart from the bulb in my VU dying a couple of years back(Ashdown sent me a free replacement) Ive had no issues whatsoever
 
#7
Zakk007 said:
+1 A lot of the time it's pilot error for sure, also been using Ashdown for nearly 10 years and apart from the bulb in my VU dying a couple of years back(Ashdown sent me a free replacement) Ive had no issues whatsoever
Click to expand...


I once had the bulb go out in my vu meter on one of my amps as well.


I think another issue is the die hard made in the USA fan boys who are so quick to dismiss any thing that's not of US origin.
 
#11
Ive had 2 ABM EVO IIs (still got one), 2 Mark Kings, an Ashdown Labs full rig, a few ABM 115's, and ABM 210s and one 410 and they ALL were dead on reliable (except for a VU bulb in one) and sounded amazing!... i wasnt keen on the 410 just cos it didnt fit my needs at the time I had it, but it all was quality and while Ive cycled thru alot of gear over the years, the EVO II is in my "do not ever sell this amp" category with only 2 other amps Ive ever had. GREAT STUFF..
 
#14
It's fair to say that the very early Far-East-Made models had QC issues and were troublesome. This period lasted a very short time & Ashdown ensured that the QC was up to what you or I would expect and apart from the occasional maverick you'll find in any production run (including US!!!) Ashdowns have been generally as reliable (if not more) as any other popularly used set of kit out there.

I have been using a MAG400 (UK built 485W @ 4 Ohms) for the last 6 years and apart from a fuse being spiked in a dodgy hall, has been 100%.

Their Customer Support is excellent too - I broke a knob & emailed them asking where I might buy an identical one - they sent me one for free.

G.
 
#17
BruceBass3901 said:
I have an EB180-15 combo and a MAG 410 cab that I love the sound of. I have played through an ABM EVO III with a MAG 410 on a few occasions and loved the sound and how versatile it was. IMHO, you can't really go wrong with it
Click to expand...

I loved that combo until it died. They look really classy and sound deep, focused and clear. It has the same layout as their MAG series, so it's easy to work out.

Also, I do think you would be better off with the MAG115 cab with that combo.
 
#18
I used an Ashdown ABM 500 Combo (2x10 + tweeter) for a couple of years and found it VERY loud, but also too 'botttom-heavy'. I got it originally because you can pick them up pretty cheap second-hand, but eventually sold it because it wasn't really suitable for the stuff I mostly do (jazz). Great rock amp, though IMO.

The other thing was that it - like all Ashdown gear - was a heavy mofo with very awkwardly designed handles that made it a real pain to lug (and I live in 3rd floor flat with no lift!)
 
#19
I' using a UK-made ABM 500 (1x 15") combo that I bought new in 2001.
In 2006, I had bought an AMPEG B-15R Portaflex with extra 15" cab.
Actually, I sold the AMPEG rig a week ago because the Ashdown is so reliable and versatile whilst always providing a great sound, it became useless having two rigs.

The only issue with the Ashdown is the speaker cable (soldered directly to the speaker with the cable running up through the cabinet and emerging right underneath the amp's chassis to be connected to it with an angled jack plug):
such a configuration causes the cable to twist and with time, some bad contacts have occured.
I think more recent ABM combos feature SPEAKON connectors to the back of amp & of speaker cab, which eliminates the problem.
 

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