Help me decide, Ashdown or Gallien Krueger??

[GrooveDaddy]

GK hands down

 

[Medbo_BassBoy]

You look like a GK guy to me

 

[DuluthDank]

The ceramic speakers on the GK really punch, and it gets extremely loud. It's also made in the USA.

I recall seeing the guy at BassTheWorld review one of those untra light ashdowns, and it was maybe the least enthusiastic review I've seen him do. Also, I were to go ashdown, I'd want it to be made in England not overseas.

Keep in mind that virtually nobody in the USA has experience playing Ashdown and GK is popular here, and that TB has disproportionate numbers of users from the USA.

 

[Lava]

GK

 

[Dincrest]

I've owned both Ashdown and GK amps. Both are good, but I preferred the more modern "rip paper off walls" tone of GK stuff. The tone from my old Ashdown amp was pretty damn robust, though. And, for what it's worth, I had at least one mechanical problem with every GK I owned and none with my Ashdown.

 

[farace]

I’ve been loving my GK MB212-II since I bought it about eight years ago. I’ve sometimes thought I could probably have gotten away with the 112.

 

[pglaser01]

GK always wins for me, hands down.

Nah, OP said Ashdown, not Hands Down

 

[Freekmagnet]

GK. GK’s have a classic sound and were at one time an industry standard in bass amps. Ashdown has a cool-looking VU meter, but that’s about it.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

I’ve had quite a few of both, I personally like the GK stuff better, the GK tone has the special sauce. I could get good sounds with the Ashdown (ABM, Little Bastard, Rootmaster) stuff but I was never like “whoa, this sounds great” where GK, I’ve haven’t had an amp that I haven’t said that about while using it. The MB series is a pretty straight down the center “safe” GK amp as well. Meaning it’s not like an RB or a Legacy or a Fusion where they got their own flavors going on. MB is “GK Tone” and that’s that, contour button and 4 band! If I’m ever in a music store and want to play a bass, and they have it, I’m going GK MB combo every single time. I know it and it sounds great.

 

[Blackbird]

I think it's a draw soundwise, so I would say reliability is the tiebreaker and with that in mind, I'd recommend GK.

 

[InhumanResource]

I have my next amp narrowed down with the help of my Sweetwater guy to the GK MB112, Ashdown Studio 15, and the Ashdown Studio 210. Does anyone have any experience with these amps?

GK in my opinion but you gotta figure this out for yourself!

 

[Rogulus]

Both great brands, have used both extensively, only have an ABM 600 head left.
Can't go wrong with either.

 

[BaltBass5]

Ashdown. It’s magic.

 

[Hevy T]

Have had both!

I had the GK MB112 and matching powered cab and it was amazing. One downfall is that unless you used an overdrive you were not getting dirt! That was fine by me. But then I got into a situation where dirt was go I got be needed and I wanted to try the Ashdown 15 so I rented one for a few months because I knew it was go I g to be a little bit before I could use it with the new project. I really liked the 25lbs thing so I got rid of the GK because I needed the money. However we ran into delays with practicing due to the guitarist going away, but then a couple weeks ago he quit! And the drummer has lost interest!

All I can say is I love the Ashdown but have yet to open it up! So I really wish I could have kept both, but I can only get the powered cab back because the combo is moved on! So I have to hope for the best that I will like it when I finally open it up

 

[pepj]

Only Ashdowns I've got on with were stage ABM's through 810's. There were decent in that context.
I haven't much liked the Ashdown combo's and I think the EQ is nothing special, but they were portable.
Depends where your 'wins' are..
I think I'd go GK if the combo had decent enough output with an extra cab.

 

[shoot-r]

Of course I'm gonna say G.K.!

But seriously, go out and if at all possible play through both with your bass and any effects you may use.
Best way would be to A/B them side by side.
Choose the one that sounds best "to your ears."

 

[Johnny Vance]

I have my next amp narrowed down with the help of my Sweetwater guy to the GK MB112, Ashdown Studio 15, and the Ashdown Studio 210. Does anyone have any experience with these amps?

I have The Studio 15. I bougit just to practice with. But. Ive gigged the hell out of this thing. 300 watts. Very light. Pick it up and you go, Is there a speaker in this? Now. At the time i got the 15, no 2x10 was available. But. Here's the deal. The 15 doesn't have a cab extension out. The 2x10 does. Same 300 watts. From what i know, the 15 is a 4ohm speaker. The 2x10s are running at 8ohms to be ready for the add on cab. If you can go play the 2x10 do it. And push it. See what it does. The 15? It'll handle gigs. Even bigger ones because of the DI. Which sounds amazing. Not to throw a wrench into the monkey, but the Fender Rumble 800 is the best combo out there for gigging bassists. It kills then kills some more with an extra cab. Hope this helps.