• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Ashdown or GK or Behringer head? (bottom-of-the-line)

Adam Bomb

Adam Bomb

Mar 26, 2008
1,855
550
Bezerkely, CA
#1
Hello:

My local gear shop has an Ashdown EB-180H Head that I fell in love with at lunch today. (Pretty sure that's the model; it's 180 watts, blue face.) I am thinking of getting it as a backup head. (My cabs are Avatar 8-ohm 500W B210 Neos.) 4 ohm head, so I think that's OK. We have a deal for $220 out the door.

At this point and for this purpose, I will only buy SS and I will only buy new. Before today I was thinking I would have to get a GK Backline 600 (300 watts) for $300 or more, or that 450-watt Behringer for almost $300. Since this will be a backup head, I really want to keep the price as close to $200 as possible.

So I guess my question is whether folks think that this particular head, or a 180-watt head in general, could serve as a pretty good backup. Or whether I really need to bite the bullet and get that GK (or the Behringer). I mean, for $80 more I can get over twice as many watts! Isn't that a big deal?

The Ashdown seemed *quite* loud. I liked the tone very much, FWIW (not my bass or cab), but I am not yet wedded to a particular tone in any event. I searched the forums and didn't find a lot on this particular head, but what I found was favorable.

The store will only hold it for me until tomorrow morning, so even top-of-the-head $0.02 is welcome if it comes sooner rather than later.

Thanks!

--Bomb :bassist:
 
#3
behringers are terrable. Your lucky if you get a behringer to work when you get it home. I dont have much experience with gk. I messed with a couple at guitar center. They sounded alright. They arent my style but seem to be good amps and lots of people on here have them. The ashdown is amazing. I havent used the ashdown your looking at but i did own an ashdown mag 300 and mag 4x10 cab. It blew up but I know someone messed with it. It was working fine the night before and i left it over night at our drummers house. And that same day the guitarist was complaining that i was over powering him. I really think he did something. The next day at practice i plugged in and turned the amp on and smoke was coming out of the amp and it fryed all the wires in the cab. The cab might be salvagable. I have yet to go pick it up. but as long as i had the ashdown it was great.
 
#6
metallicafan18 said:
Get the used GK 1001RB-II on guitar center's website. $474. It's a steal.

Whatever you end up doing, DO NOT GET THE BERHINGER.;)
Click to expand...

If you like GK gear, check out the rmcaudio.com web page. Also, as mentioned, you could get good deals on slightly used GK amps.

As others mentioned, go with GK or something more reliable and more fun, not Behringer. --Kent
 
#8
Like everyone else said here, under no circumstances should you buy behringer. I bought I combo amp of theres a few years ago and I regretted it pretty much everyday since. I have a friend that plays an Ashdown and absolutley loves it, but I've never used to GK, from what I hear though, a GK's gonna give you a deeper rumble, just depends what you like.
 
#9
Thanks all. I pulled the trigger on the Ashdown. That little bastage is LOUD! And blue! And loud! Fun little backup.

I, Adam Bomb, hereby pledge that I will not buy any more amps for the remainder of this calendar year. And probably no more cabs, unless I get a CHEEP 410 for the rehearsal space. Thank you.

--Bomb :bassist:
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back