Ashdown MAG C210T-300 EVO II - Repair

[UnCivilEngineer]

I picked up the combo amp listed above secondhand. Honestly, I paid $50 for it and felt like I may as well have stolen it.

However, it sounds a little fuzzy to me (beyond my usual excuse for playing) which leads me to believe the speakers have seen better days.

Any suggestions on where to get replacements?

 

[abarson]

First I’d recommend a bit more trouble shooting.
Contact Ashdown for parts
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[agedhorse]

I would sure want to be sure if that diagnosis (guess) before spending money on replacement speakers .

 

[UnCivilEngineer]

Maybe, I’m not even sure where to take it. I’m pretty good with audio equipment, but not itching to dive into amps just yet. To me, it sounds like degradation of the cone.

 

[abarson]

At minimum use another cabinet and see if the amp is okay.

 

[Analogeezer]

I would sure want to be sure if that diagnosis (guess) before spending money on replacement speakers .

Agreed, "fuzzy" could be a lot of things, including something simple like the effects loop jacks needing to be cleaned.

I've not "blown" a speaker in decades, and when I did it was the voice coils so they just stopped working.

I have had some speakers buzz before and found out they had dry rotted; they were inside a folded horn cabinet(s) though but in this case it should be easy to verify if they are dry rotted or not.

Whatever it is, it was a $50 amp for a reason.....

Analogeezer

 

[Analogeezer]

Maybe, I’m not even sure where to take it. I’m pretty good with audio equipment, but not itching to dive into amps just yet. To me, it sounds like degradation of the cone.

Things that are super easy to check, remove the front grill:

1. Look for signs of dry rot, hard to see in your picture but I doubt they are dry rotted, they don't look that way

2. Look at the surrounds to see if they have become unglued from the cone. Again this will be obvious from just looking at them.

3. Lightly press on the cones and listen for "rubbing" against the voice coils.

4. Check the tightness of the drivers on the front panel baffle

If all these things check out I seriously doubt your problem is the speakers.

Does this amp have an effects loop on the back? If it does try hooking a cable to the loop and see if the problem goes away.

This is a common problem with many amps, there is a normalizing connection on these effects loops that can get corroded over time and either cause buzzes or make the amp not work at all.

Analogeezer

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Scratchy pots?
Something else in the amp circuit?
Turn off the SUB and DEEP that can be sending waaay too much lows?

Do not want to get new speakers and still have the same issues.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I picked up the combo amp listed above secondhand. Honestly, I paid $50 for it and felt like I may as well have stolen it.

However, it sounds a little fuzzy to me (beyond my usual excuse for playing) which leads me to believe the speakers have seen better days.

Any suggestions on where to get replacements?

RE: Stealing a Deal

Or worse yet, you bought one that was stolen. Probably not the case but may be the reason for the low price. Did the Steeler give you any history?

 

[agedhorse]

RE: Stealing a Deal

Or worse yet, you bought one that was stolen. Probably not the case but may be the reason for the low price. Did the Steeler give you any history?

Or that it didn’t work properly.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I tried to communicate that very thought. You know what they say about keyboards in the hands of the dangerous…LOL!! Point taken.

 

[StayLow]

I picked up the combo amp listed above secondhand. Honestly, I paid $50 for it and felt like I may as well have stolen it.

However, it sounds a little fuzzy to me (beyond my usual excuse for playing) which leads me to believe the speakers have seen better days.

Any suggestions on where to get replacements?

Ashdown had extensive failure issues. It’s essentially what sunk the brand.

See if your issue matches those commonly identified. Many threads like this exist:
Why no love for Ashdown?

 

[UnCivilEngineer]

RE: Stealing a Deal

Or worse yet, you bought one that was stolen. Probably not the case but may be the reason for the low price. Did the Steeler give you any history?

Without giving away too many details, I feel comfortable it was NOT stolen.

I need to think through it a little, because I tested it onsite, and I swear it’s gone downhill since I got it.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hope you find a quick easy , and not too expensive solution.

 

[Analogeezer]

Ashdown had extensive failure issues. It’s essentially what sunk the brand.

See if your issue matches those commonly identified. Many threads like this exist:
Why no love for Ashdown?

How is the brand sunk when they seem to still be making product and in fact it's probably easier to buy Ashdown gear than it was 20 years ago?

Analogeezer

 

[StayLow]

How is the brand sunk when they seem to still be making product and in fact it's probably easier to buy Ashdown gear than it was 20 years ago?

Analogeezer

It was the brand most featured & sold, or one of the top brands, at the biggest music instrument chains in the U.S. and Canada.

You’d see them everywhere in N. America. Almost like SWR in the 90’s on MarkBass today. Probably same in Europe.

Now where would you buy one, or how often do you see one onstage? Why do you think those major retailers dropped the brand?

Same if you search here on TB. See how often the brand was mentioned back then vs. now. Stark contrast. If you subtract the threads about issues, even more so.