ashdown reliability?

[pbagley]

Another data point or two:

Ashdown:
I bought a scratch and dent sale Ashdown Mag 1-15" combo, the one with the 330 watt head (I think) and made in China. I liked the visual of the vu meter bouncing all over as I play.

Amp came with about half the speaker grill screws loose. Some were only half way in, about 1/2" of threads showing. Tightened things up and suspected this was a return for a blown speaker. Fired it up, vu meter was dead. Sound was ... interesting? No effect switching the sub-bass in and out. One of the other switches was also non-functional, don't recall which. I sent it back.

I love other people's tone with Ashdown. I liked a used one I tried locally, but that was made in England. Possibly a case of inconsistent Chinese QC.

Hartke:
Had a 5000. Tried an old RCA tube in it, sounded great, died in one gig. May not be the amp's fault, but the tube looked new. Replaced with a new Sovtec 12AX7WXT and all was well. I liked the tone of the amp using only the tube preamp with home build 2-10 (high) and 1-15 (low) loaded with Eminence speakers. Loud, could do most anything I could ever want to do.

Then it just up and quit. Unit had been dropped and dented before I got it. Problem turned out to be the solder joints on the filter caps had cracked. Common Hartke problem from what I've heard. Fixed it on the kitchen table, it never failed again. I've also fixed a newer Fender with the same problem, so it isn't just Hartke. I sold the amp because I wanted something differnt and lighter. I sometimes miss the tone. Decent amp, though a little heavy.


I didn't see Trace Elliot mentioned. I have two, both older made in England units, and I like them a lot. For Chinese made stuff I've had good luck so far with my Roland Cube 100, but that may be a little less power than you are looking for.

Good luck,

- Paul

 

[Jimi Cleek]

I have a Mag C15-300 I gigged with for about 4 years. No Problems, You do need to clean the Effects loop connectors every now and then. I take mine apart and clean the pots and all internal and external connectors every year or so. I retired this amp last year to practices when I don't feel like dragging out the new ABM 500/ El Whappo rig. I am a very satisfied Ashdown user.

 

[PBass101]

I have a 2005 British-made Ashdown ABM 4x10 combo amp. Loud as hell, good tone but a little more clarity would be nice. It's midrange city, so if you like mids, great. My playing style convinced me to disconnect the tweeter, though on the stand-alone cabs the tweeter has a control switch. I really drive it hard and have never had a problem with it. I'll play Ashdown for as long as they make amps.

 

[anonymous278347457]

I've had an Ashdown valve guitar amp break down on me before, and the repair guy had a huge go at me for buying an Ashdown product in the first place, complaining about how bad they were to repair.

Having said that, I've got an Ashdown MAG bass cab which has given me no problems whatsoever.

 

[_allen_09]

Here are a couple of thoughts.

Ashdown Mag: I have one, but it never leaves my basement. I can't really give a good opinion on reliability since I don't gig it.

Hartke: I have been gigging an old 3500 for 10 years. The only problem I had was a fan replacement after about 9 years. Larry Hartke sent me one for free. Mine is rack mounted, and has been dropped on concrete several times. I've beaten the tar out of it and it has never skipped a beat. I have blown up a couple of thier 10" drivers though.

Peavey: Generally regarded as well built - lasts forever. Tone is love/hate with Peavey a lot of the time.

GK: Backline series or better - last forever and take a beating.

Marshall - they make guitar amps.

I might be 10 years late for this thread but I still wonder the liability of Ashdown heads. Currently looking to purchase a head amp. My choices are Ashdown MAG600h II evo which is an old model btw it retails for 500CAD and I’m gonna pair it with a 115 Ashdown cavs

My second choice is the Hartke LH500, I’ve tried this head once in my local shop and it sounds clean and warm, maybe it’s because of the tube preamp. idk how it compares to Ashdown and the new ampeg heads.

I also found an Ampeg v4bh(100w tube) for sale by a local guy, I have not heard it before but he is selling it for 600CAD and it’s going to be paired with a 410 svt cab.

These are my options but I do not know which is smarter to get, tone wise and reliability. I know you’ve had experience with hartke and Ashdown, perhaps you could give me opinions? I’m a fairly new player (3 years) so I do not know much about these. Btw I play for a church, which we use a wireless in ear system. So I just plug my bass directly to a Sansamp driver. It works perfectly fine but there is no bass presence in the stage which I think it sits 500 people. I will be hearing your opinions and suggestions. Thank you!

 

[707GK]

I have a CTM-100 and it has been An extremely reliable amp. I also owned a GK400RB for many years. I would compare the CTM-100’s reliability to the 400RB, although I did own the 400RB for much longer than I have owned this CTM-100...so we shall see if it holds up to the test of time. I have had the CTM-100 for 3-4 years now.

I also owned and regularly gigged an Ashdown Little Bastard (CTM-30) and had zero problems with it. Sold it only because I bought the CTM-100 for a little more “oomf” in the lower frequencies.

I’ve backlined the CTM-100 for other bassists at gigs, it has been ran for 6+ hours straight on those gigs with no problems. I’ve only ever had to replace 1 preamp tube in the few years I have had it and that was my fault for driving it too hard. The power tubes are still going strong. Every 6 months or so, I check the biasing on the power tubes and they are usually still spot on, or just require minor adjustments.

Hope this helps.

 

[_allen_09]

I have a CTM-100 and it has been An extremely reliable amp. I also owned a GK400RB for many years. I would compare the CTM-100’s reliability to the 400RB, although I did own the 400RB for much longer than I have owned this CTM-100...so we shall see if it holds up to the test of time. I have had the CTM-100 for 3-4 years now.

I also owned and regularly gigged an Ashdown Little Bastard (CTM-30) and had zero problems with it. Sold it only because I bought the CTM-100 for a little more “oomf” in the lower frequencies.

I’ve backlined the CTM-100 for other bassists at gigs, it has been ran for 6+ hours straight on those gigs with no problems. I’ve only ever had to replace 1 preamp tube in the few years I have had it and that was my fault for driving it too hard. The power tubes are still going strong. Every 6 months or so, I check the biasing on the power tubes and they are usually still spot on, or just require minor adjustments.

Hope this helps.

Actually, I forgot to mention that I am in a tight budget so high end Ashdown is not an option for me.

I’m looking forward to get this head: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
And my local shop got a used Gk400rb in stock; might wanna give a try too

 

[707GK]

Actually, I forgot to mention that I am in a tight budget so high end Ashdown is not an option for me.

I’m looking forward to get this head: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
And my local shop got a used Gk400rb in stock; might wanna give a try too

I can’t speak for the MAG series, unfortunately. I am sure the tone is similar to the CTM but I am not sure about the reliability.

I had the GK400RB for 10 years, played hundreds of gigs and I was young so I just threw it in the trunk of my car and didn’t take the best care of it. And even then, the only issues I ever had were involving dust getting into the knobs. Wish I didn’t sell it but I needed the money at the time.

 

[Up the dose]

Ashdown is a great amp, but the ones I've played seem to have more of a vintage voiced tone. For punk, I would want a more aggressive modern tone. A GK, Hartke, or Mesa would be the types of amps I would want for that gig.

 

[_allen_09]

Ashdown is a great amp, but the ones I've played seem to have more of a vintage voiced tone. For punk, I would want a more aggressive modern tone. A GK, Hartke, or Mesa would be the types of amps I would want for that gig.

I really dig that old school sound like Motown so I guess I can consider ashdown heads. For cabs have you tried mixing it with an Ampeg SVT cab? I’m able to get this 115 Ashdown cab, But ampeg cabs are one of my options.

 

[Up the dose]

The Ashdown amp I played on was a combo amp.. An EB-180 I think? We would rehearse in our steel players music store after hours and the two amps I would use was the Ashdown combo and the other was a late 60's B-12 and while the Ampeg amp had a classic vintage tone that made me feel like I was Duck Dunn, the Ashdown amp was not that far off. I was shocked at how good it was. I also have played several shows as an opener for a national touring band that the bass player had the ABM600?? I think?? and his tone was very big and full. I was always jealous.. They tour all over and as far as I know he never had any reliability issues. The amp should play well with an Ampeg cab they seem to be cut from the same cloth.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

Ashdown stuff is all really easy to repair, with good support. The really cheap stuff, MAGs are kinda cheap so don't withstand loads of abuse, but easy enough to sort out when they go.

The top stuff is about as serviceable as you can get: