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Hello Ashdown? Bye Eden?

W

whitespike

Nov 28, 2007
649
9
Austin, TX
www.thebandcalledboy.com
#1
I have been using a WT400 for years through an Ampeg 2x10 cab. I love the tone I get because it cuts through so well, but I wouldn't mind a little more old school vibe.

I have been considering the Ashdown ABM EVO II 2X10 combo for a while. I have tried it in store and it sounds pretty great.

I like that the Ashdown runs at full power with a 2X10 because thats the speaker combo I prefer. I like that it offers some tonal range with it's overdrive and octave options.

I use a Rick with flats and a fully employed mute. Like I said, I dig old school.

Problem is that rigs are always a bit different live. To get this going I would have to trade my rig. Thoughts? It scares me to change, but I feel a change coming on.
 
#2
I have an Ashdown ABM 2x10 combo. It sounds better on its own than in a band setting IMO, but I never use the tube drive, that may change things a bit. A very warm and pleasant sounding amp, but somewhat on the polite side to my ear. I plug in my Eden 1x18 cab too, that way it delivers its full 575w.

I'm going back to my Eden WT-600 as soon as my new Schroeder cab arrives. Nothing against the Ashdown, I just like the Eden better.
 
#3
Slow down, mate. Are you sure that selling off the Eden will fix your dilemma? For the past six years I've partnered my WT-400 with various cabs and have always been pleased with the results, including the 'old school' sound when needed. To my ears, it has a slightly muted, closed in, dark signature that is well suited to old school tone goals. Maybe you should consider just a different 2x10 cab in 4 ohm configuration? Then you'll get full wattage out of the 400. Once you sell/trade stuff off, it can be tough to get back to where you were without paying a financial penalty. At least that's what I tell myself all the time. :rollno:;)

P.S. I have no connection with Eden and in fact have not posted on their forum in over 6 months. So there! :p

M. M.
 
#4
I can't speak directly on your current setup, but I'd echo what blowinblue said... perhaps a different cab?

I've used Eden heads with Bag End cabs and had great results- Clean and warm at the same time.....
 
#5
I am in no rush. I am not about to jump in yet!

Truthfully, the aesthetics and simplicity of a combo are partially at fault for my wandering eyes. Stupid I know.

Aesthetics are very important to me, I am a designer too. I haven't seen many companies that make 2X10 cabs at 4 ohm.

I agree that the Eden has a particularly dark tone that is suited for old school tones. I just have been getting into the idea of a combo. Personally I hate carpet coverings (I have two furry friends) and I hate the way Eden speakers look. So they are out.

Thanks for the Ashdown review also. I wouldn't mind hearing more "real world" reviews of using this amp combo live.
 
#6
Eden amps and Ashdowns abm series sound more alike than different. I have owned and loved the eden wt800b and switched back and forth between that and an Ashdown ABM500evoIIRC for awhile. I eventually just stuck with the Ashdown. But, I always wished I could get the ABM sound but brighter. I still have the ABM500 but now gig with an MK500 mark king head. It has that warm ashdown low mid punch but has way more treble. I currently run it through a Bergantino NV610 and have a custom LDS "bright cab" on the way. It has four 5" speakers in a little cab that is crossed over to remove the lows. I'll have even more top end now but out of paper cones and no harsh tweeters.

Anyway, to get back to the point. :smug: Try different cabs or have don at lds build a combo cabinet to fit your eden head. I think that would be what you want.
 
#8
whitespike said:
I am in no rush. I am not about to jump in yet!

Truthfully, the aesthetics and simplicity of a combo are partially at fault for my wandering eyes. Stupid I know.

Aesthetics are very important to me, I am a designer too. I haven't seen many companies that make 2X10 cabs at 4 ohm.

I agree that the Eden has a particularly dark tone that is suited for old school tones. I just have been getting into the idea of a combo. Personally I hate carpet coverings (I have two furry friends) and I hate the way Eden speakers look. So they are out.

Thanks for the Ashdown review also. I wouldn't mind hearing more "real world" reviews of using this amp combo live.
Click to expand...

If you're deciding based on looks, then you've probably already made your decision. Personally, IME the Eden and that Ashdowbn have pretty radically different tones. I would normally associate Ashdown more with old school, though.
 
#9
whitespike said:
I haven't seen many companies that make 2X10 cabs at 4 ohm.

I agree that the Eden has a particularly dark tone that is suited for old school tones. I just have been getting into the idea of a combo. Personally I hate carpet coverings (I have two furry friends) and I hate the way Eden speakers look. So they are out.
Click to expand...

They're out there. It just takes a bit of research. Start with the Tom Bowlus 2x10 shootout here on TB. Check out the Bass Northwest and Bass Emporium sites for what's currently available. If you look at my profile you can see that I don't own Eden cabs, either. Never have, and likely never will. Nothing wrong with them...I just lean in other directions. Hope you find the sound that your after. :)

M. M.
 
#14
whitespike said:
I haven't seen many companies that make 2X10 cabs at 4 ohm.

I wouldn't mind hearing more "real world" reviews of using this amp combo live.
Click to expand...

I had one of those for a few years and it was really good, everything from old school (EQ flat with maybe a touch of extra bass) to clean moden scoop (hit the shape button and you're good to go) I chose it over GK and Hartke for being able to get a good workable tone without too much EQing.

I'm pretty sure that you won't be getting the full amp power rating from just the internal speakers though and I'll think you'll find that the internal speakers are only rated at 8 ohm, I used to add another 2x10 to really cut through in a 6 piece classic rock band, giving the minimum 4 ohm rating and thus full output (still runs out of headroom at about 2-3 O'Clock):(. The Ashdown site is vague about actual power rating with just one 8 ohm cab.

Which brings me to why I changed it out, man that beast was heavy and cumbersome, although my osteopath probably loved it! I love the Ashdown sound and you will get the same from the separate head and cab, plus you can turn a 2x10 cab on its side (if just using one cab) to make the controls higher and more accessible. Mind you the combo did also make a good seat!
 
#17
A 4ohm Eden D210XST will kill just about any other cabinet. It is probably one of the most efficient cabs I've played through. Oh, and it's pretty light, too. I use a WT400 with mine and it is loud enough for most situations I play in now. :cool:
 
#20
Update. I am definitely keeping my WT400. Sorry for the misfire. I tried them back to back at bass emporium. The Eden has a lot more punch.

I am embarrassed to say, but I think I have not quite understood my Eden for the 8 years I have been using it. Although I have always had pleasing results (or I wouldnt have had it for that long), I haven't quite understood it's functions.

The amp I bought was missing the owners manual. After using it for sometime, I just thought I understood it. Last night I found that I could download the manual. I do have a few questions regarding the instructions on setting the amp levels.

Firstly, it says to use the gain control where the set level light just blinks where you dig in the most. Mine is almost all the way turned up before this happens. I don't know if I just have a light touch, I am seriously at between four and five o'clock with almost no more room to crank it. Is there something wrong with the head?

It says to always start flat. With the level set how it was suggested I found the sound to be awesome, much less muddy than the way I previously set it up. In the past I really didn't pay any attention at all where the master and gain were set, so long the volume was sufficient. In this set up I find I only need to boost the mids about four notches or so, with all frequencies at 12 o'clock and all levels (save for mids) at 0. Bass and Treble are at 12 o'clock as well.

I am thinking the reason I have to turn the gain so high is that all levels on the semi-paremetric EQ are at zero. If they were turned up, that would actually cause more gain and the gain knob itself would thus be lower. Sorry to ramble.

Lastly, I learned that the compression is auto unless you bypass it on the enhance knob. I know, I know, I'm an idiot. The manual implies that the more gain (mine being almost all the way up at this point) the more compression is used.

Because I am going for the old school tone (McCartney, Jamerson) should I bypass the compression? I would suspect they did not use it, save for the studio?

How do you feel about the use of internal compression?

Sorry to be so damn wordy. It almost feels like I have a new amp again.
 

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