Educate me about Eden in 2022

[Tamas Ritter]

Hey All! First post on the forum The story is, I am a guitar player but I fill in on bass for a couple of years now. Mostly rnb, soul, funk stuff so not really a heavy rock band. I have a Fender Mustang bass, short scale, the made in mexico PJ configuration pickup version with thomastik flatwound strings. I mostly use the P pickup, it has a fairly subby sound. Currently, I use an older Fender Rumble 150 1x15 combo which works but I am looking for an upgrade. The EQ is not really at the right place, it is loud enough (I run it halfway up) but I sometimes feel it is not powerful enough and the horn just sounds weird to me.
And now we are getting to my main point, I was on an amp hunt the last couple of days trying out markbass, ashdown, blackstar.. but there wasn't really a huge selection in music shops. At the last shop there was a used Eden The Metro 212 combo that easily stood above everything else I tried. I would much prefer a head plus 4x10 setup and the combo wasn't really in the best shape but it was priced like it is pristine. So, am I right in assuming that the WT600 head would offer a similar tone? I find that there are like 3 different versions of their 4x10 cab T, XST, XLT. Anything else to look out for? Do you know any place were the different amp versions are described? I am not really sure which channel is the tube channel.
Thank you very much!

 

[SJan3]

Hey All! First post on the forum The story is, I am a guitar player but I fill in on bass for a couple of years now. Mostly rnb, soul, funk stuff so not really a heavy rock band. I have a Fender Mustang bass, short scale, the made in mexico PJ configuration pickup version with thomastik flatwound strings. I mostly use the P pickup, it has a fairly subby sound. Currently, I use an older Fender Rumble 150 1x15 combo which works but I am looking for an upgrade. The EQ is not really at the right place, it is loud enough (I run it halfway up) but I sometimes feel it is not powerful enough and the horn just sounds weird to me.
And now we are getting to my main point, I was on an amp hunt the last couple of days trying out markbass, ashdown, blackstar.. but there wasn't really a huge selection in music shops. At the last shop there was a used Eden The Metro 212 combo that easily stood above everything else I tried. I would much prefer a head plus 4x10 setup and the combo wasn't really in the best shape but it was priced like it is pristine. So, am I right in assuming that the WT600 head would offer a similar tone? I find that there are like 3 different versions of their 4x10 cab T, XST, XLT. Anything else to look out for? Do you know any place were the different amp versions are described? I am not really sure which channel is the tube channel.
Thank you very much!

First, EDEN appears to be out of business. Their designer now owns a Co. called DNS.
Second, I owned a D410T and it was HEAVY!
THE D410XLT will be worse.
That said, EDEN was an excellent amp but later models had reliability issues. The earlier ones made in Montrose, Minn. had a better track record. I had a WT400 made in Montrose and it was an excellent unit. My friend had a WT550 made in China and had ongoing reliability issues.
So, what I'm suggesting is that EDEN is an amp of the past although there are perfectly viable units floating around. You can go that way and take your chances or buy a more current amp design which will likely be much lighter and in many cases provide comparable and even superior performance. I'd also check to see what type of service availability remains before buying if you decide to do so.
Best of luck!

 

[TomB]

Hey All! First post on the forum The story is, I am a guitar player but I fill in on bass for a couple of years now. Mostly rnb, soul, funk stuff so not really a heavy rock band. I have a Fender Mustang bass, short scale, the made in mexico PJ configuration pickup version with thomastik flatwound strings. I mostly use the P pickup, it has a fairly subby sound. Currently, I use an older Fender Rumble 150 1x15 combo which works but I am looking for an upgrade. The EQ is not really at the right place, it is loud enough (I run it halfway up) but I sometimes feel it is not powerful enough and the horn just sounds weird to me.
And now we are getting to my main point, I was on an amp hunt the last couple of days trying out markbass, ashdown, blackstar.. but there wasn't really a huge selection in music shops. At the last shop there was a used Eden The Metro 212 combo that easily stood above everything else I tried. I would much prefer a head plus 4x10 setup and the combo wasn't really in the best shape but it was priced like it is pristine. So, am I right in assuming that the WT600 head would offer a similar tone? I find that there are like 3 different versions of their 4x10 cab T, XST, XLT. Anything else to look out for? Do you know any place were the different amp versions are described? I am not really sure which channel is the tube channel.
Thank you very much!

Eden amps was purchased by Marshall and are still in production, though the product line is mostly different from the earlier products. Their new Terra Nova line replaced the WT amps. Yes, the older series varies some in quality, but all were fixable in their day. The Metro was a tough beast but was known for being very heavy. Their speaker cabs varied in voicing, but all were heavy and solidly made. I used almost all of them over many years with good success. I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up a WT amp or a D, XLT, or XST cab today, as long as you’re not concerned about weight and have access to a tech who can find older parts. They do break, but no more than other brands IME.

PS - DNA was the company founded by David Nordschow, the originator / designer of the Eden product line. I have never used their products but have seen good reviews. I’m not certain that they’re still in production ??

 

[abarson]

@TomB that info is a decade old.
The Eden brand is now owned by Gear4Music, a UK based distributor. They do still sell in the US.
Although they show some inventory, it’s not clear what the manufacturing status is. Half of their catalog states “not in stock, but can be ordered”.
Invalid Link Removed..

All the Eden cabinets I’ve encountered were heavy but sounded good. I don’t know about their current offerings.

 

[jjk2007]

@SJan3 pretty much nailed it. Eden got bought once again and so far there has been nothing in the works, or at least that I have heard of for anything new etc. At this point if you bought a cabinet and a speaker blew or you had some other kind of issue there would be no way to get any service from Eden directly (once again from what I know). There is so much new, killer gear out there with outstanding customer service..... I think I'd test the waters before going all in on an Eden rig....

 

[Tamas Ritter]

Thanks a bunch!
Well, I do have access to a wonderful tech (my dad) and weight is not my top priority. This comes from guitar gear experience but I never really liked neo speakers and having lighter gear always meant a compromise in tone to me. Also, I always felt like solid-state power sections work better than class-D. However, I could be totally wrong here and these might just be misconceptions on my end so it is true that I need to try out more stuff.
I was actually about to ask how this "old tech" compares to modern gear as prices seem fairly reasonable so I could get a 4x10 plus a 600W Eden head for the price of a single 2x12 Aguilar cab for example. (I am in Europe I must add.)

 

[TomB]

There are some devotees of Eden on this list, including some who own the newer gear. You might want to search out some of the Eden threads if you wish to pursue it further.

 

[ddnidd1]

FWIW the original Eden Metros kick butt for a combo (650 watts at 2 ohm) and if you get the 8 ohm version you 'could' add 3 - 8 ohm cabinets for a 2 ohm load. I used to push that 2 ohm setup pretty hard and never had a problem.

 

[jjk2007]

Thanks a bunch!
Well, I do have access to a wonderful tech (my dad) and weight is not my top priority. This comes from guitar gear experience but I never really liked neo speakers and having lighter gear always meant a compromise in tone to me. Also, I always felt like solid-state power sections work better than class-D. However, I could be totally wrong here and these might just be misconceptions on my end so it is true that I need to try out more stuff.
I was actually about to ask how this "old tech" compares to modern gear as prices seem fairly reasonable so I could get a 4x10 plus a 600W Eden head for the price of a single 2x12 Aguilar cab for example. (I am in Europe I must add.)

I get it....some people don't mind the weight and the old 'lead sleds' are just home for them. If the Eden gear you are looking at is in good shape and you have ways to do repairs etc then by all means, check it out. One thing you need to check is on the speaker cones for creasing...if you see any you know the cab has been well used and you probably should avoid. I used to be an Eden guy from way back and have always loved the flexibility and tone of the WT amps. I even have a WT550 as a backup. That said, I'm nowhere near the level of some of our TB family, but I do play out 4-6 times a month so reliability and customer service are a big deal to me. That's part of the reason I chose Genzler amps and cabs. Sounds like your Dad might be able to cover any issues you might run into though, so count yourself fortunate. Keep us posted on what you end up doing.

 

[J Wilson]

It's the same calcualtion as always for this sort of thing:

Price of this discontinued amp

vs.

possible upkeep issues on it where the company for all practical purposes no longer exists and what does that do to the parts/service situation should problems arise?

The best-case scenario is GenzBenz, whose service is overseen by our own @agedhorse. First rate customer service and service knowledge, but even he will tell you that as the calendar proceeds, the parts are being consumed and some will not be able to be bought any more, some were just bespoke parts that have long since been out of production.

It devolves into more difficult scenarios across other brands.

Eden in its day became well-respected, but once it changed hands, it was a train wreck of the first order (I personally learned this the hard way), and now on its third owner: again, as the calendar proceeds, knowledge and parts get less and less.

So essentially it comes down to is it cheap enough to where if I get a year or two out of it, that'll do? Am I in deep crap if it blows on my tour gig? And on and on.

Only you can know if the math (and the odds) are in your favor.

 

[Lowendtech]

I used to run Eden gear for years. Loved the tone.
But those days (and all the Eden gear) are gone and not coming back for me. Not when I can have a couple of killer 12” cabs and an 800 watt amp all come in at under 60lbs and be a one trip load in and sound just as good or better.
As long as everything is working fine and you don’t mind the schlep, it’ll sound great though.

 

[RGerhart]

Eden has always sounded the best to me. Yes, some reliability issues, for sure. I had a WT-1205 that lacked power and had to be serviced a couple of times before I decided to sell it. On the other hand, I've yet to find an amp out there that has the tone that Eden does. There's just something about it. Aguilar is probably the closest to it, but still not quite.

If the Metro combo works fine and you don't mind the weight, I say go for it. The other complaint I've heard is that the Metro sometimes has a hard time with a B string at louder volumes.

If you can find an older WT-400 online and a 410XST, that would be the penultimate combo. I owned an XST back in the day and it was sublime. Terribly heavy, but had the smoothest, even tone. Great cab. And many Eden enthusiasts will tell you that the WT-400 is the pinnacle of Eden tone.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hey All! First post on the forum The story is, I am a guitar player but I fill in on bass for a couple of years now. Mostly rnb, soul, funk stuff so not really a heavy rock band. I have a Fender Mustang bass, short scale, the made in mexico PJ configuration pickup version with thomastik flatwound strings. I mostly use the P pickup, it has a fairly subby sound. Currently, I use an older Fender Rumble 150 1x15 combo which works but I am looking for an upgrade. The EQ is not really at the right place, it is loud enough (I run it halfway up) but I sometimes feel it is not powerful enough and the horn just sounds weird to me.
And now we are getting to my main point, I was on an amp hunt the last couple of days trying out markbass, ashdown, blackstar.. but there wasn't really a huge selection in music shops. At the last shop there was a used Eden The Metro 212 combo that easily stood above everything else I tried. I would much prefer a head plus 4x10 setup and the combo wasn't really in the best shape but it was priced like it is pristine. So, am I right in assuming that the WT600 head would offer a similar tone? I find that there are like 3 different versions of their 4x10 cab T, XST, XLT. Anything else to look out for? Do you know any place were the different amp versions are described? I am not really sure which channel is the tube channel.
Thank you very much!

The price on the Metro might be due to it’s weight. You have a 50lbs of cab holding a 30 Pound head.

World Tour heads IMO are some of the best heads ever. They come in two flavors. One is a mono head, the other is a bridgeable stereo. Obviously, the mono version is less expensive than the stereo version. The preamps on the on either are fantastic ,very sensitive, and specific. I would recommend downloading a manual on how to set it up.

As for the Speaker Cabs, there are E series, and D series. the E series is a weekend warrior quality cab. The D series are pro quality tuned exceptionally well, and built to last. Cabs with an XLT designation comes with a midrange bump that helps you hear it in the mix. The XST has more of a hi-fi type even response with an expanded frequency range. Typically the XST cabs will handle wattage.

I’ve been using Eden Gear for the last 11 years. I have 2 D series 210 cabs, one XLT and one XST paired together it’s an awesome rig. if you expand my avatar you can see my collection.

Of course if you have any questions , feel free to IM me. Best wishes.

 

[burgerdj]

Eden had its hay day in the 90s. Really great stuff with various amp configurations available for a variety of needs. It’s a bit antiquated by today’s standards and the parametric could over complicate a quick setup, but I still enjoy the tone, particularly from the WT-390 that I picked up from the classifieds not too long ago.

 

[two fingers]

Hey All! First post on the forum The story is, I am a guitar player but I fill in on bass for a couple of years now. Mostly rnb, soul, funk stuff so not really a heavy rock band. I have a Fender Mustang bass, short scale, the made in mexico PJ configuration pickup version with thomastik flatwound strings. I mostly use the P pickup, it has a fairly subby sound. Currently, I use an older Fender Rumble 150 1x15 combo which works but I am looking for an upgrade. The EQ is not really at the right place, it is loud enough (I run it halfway up) but I sometimes feel it is not powerful enough and the horn just sounds weird to me.
And now we are getting to my main point, I was on an amp hunt the last couple of days trying out markbass, ashdown, blackstar.. but there wasn't really a huge selection in music shops. At the last shop there was a used Eden The Metro 212 combo that easily stood above everything else I tried. I would much prefer a head plus 4x10 setup and the combo wasn't really in the best shape but it was priced like it is pristine. So, am I right in assuming that the WT600 head would offer a similar tone? I find that there are like 3 different versions of their 4x10 cab T, XST, XLT. Anything else to look out for? Do you know any place were the different amp versions are described? I am not really sure which channel is the tube channel.
Thank you very much!

Welcome to TalkBass!!!

We have members from all over the planet. Answers will differ based on two things.

1) Roughly where are you?

2) What's your budget?

 

[Tamas Ritter]

Wow Guys, this is really a supportive crowd.
@two fingers To be really exact: Budapest, Hungary, Europe I am looking to spend around 1100 bucks in total (head + cab), might be a bit more if something really works out.

 

[two fingers]

If you don't get enough info specific to Europe, either edit the title to include that, or post another thread with a title something like "Looking for a bass rig in Central Europe".

Best of luck with your search.

 

[Polardog]

I’ve never tried their pro stuff, but used to own an EC210 combo. It packed a lot of punch and sounded really good for a $200 amp, but that enhance knob used to confuse the heck out of me…. But still, excellent value for the buck.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Although I've never owned an Eden product, I can attest for their excellent sound. Sean Hurley used to tour with an Eden rig and it sounded killah- seen him with it many times.

 

[Lo-E]

I still have my WT-400 and two D series 2x10 cabinets and they are still among my favorite sounding gear. If the price were right I might still consider buying an older WT amp but I would do so knowing the potential pitfalls.

The WT-600 is an excellent sounding amp if it's working properly but it'a also around 30 years old. It doesn't have modern NL4 speaker jacks and, by now, it's probably become a little bit noisy. It will be durable. It will sound great. It will also be subject to all the reliability issues that a 30-year-old piece of electronics is subject to. ...and it will be fairly, but not overly, heavy.

Older D series cabinets are subject to creased cones (as others have mentioned) and blown crossovers, horns and attenuators. Mine are quite old and I've played them pretty loud without ever damaging them but I'm very careful with my gear and you can't know for sure that a seller near you will have treated their cabinet as well as I have. Like the WT-600, a D series cabinet will sound great if it's in good condition and will be both durable and heavy.

I'm not trying to talk you out of buying older Eden gear; it sounds wonderful, but should you do so, you should know what you might be getting yourself into. In your position I might try to learn more about European companies making lighter, modern gear. Your belief that older solid-state heads and heavy cabs sound better than modern, class-D heads and neo cabs is, indeed, a misconception. There are great and not-so-great examples of each and every model needs to be considered based upon its own merit.

I love my old Eden gear but it hardly ever gets gigged anymore. What do I gig with? An Aguilar TH-500 that I bought used locally. It doesn't sound like my WT-400 but it still sounds great.