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Help with my Ashdown tone!

rhythm

rhythm

Dec 4, 2005
190
87
England
#1
Hiya,

As some of you may know, I have an Ashdown ABM-500 Evo III 2 x 10 combo.

I've only had limited use on it (I store it at the place where we practice), and I'm still struggling to find the perfect tone, it's nearly there but not quite!

I'm after a 'warm but bassy' sound. By the way I have a Fender 2008 MIA Jazz.

I love the tone Adam Clayton of U2 get's (see my thread here if you're interested: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=493219)

I love Ashdown gear and I sure I'll be able to get the tone I'm after, it's just proving to be elusive at the moment!

TIA
 
#3
Hiya,

Yeah I tried the settings which you very kindly gave me, and the amp sounded really high-pitched, obviously I tried cutting down on the treble and upping the bass, and it sounded better but there's not a lot in the way of 'warmth' which everyone else seems to say they have with their Ashdown's! I'm beginning to wonder whether there's a fault??

I'm using DR Sunbeams (new set put on yesterday), I usually have the neck pickup on full and the bridge at about 3/4 volume, the tone control in the 'middle'. I play a mixture of fingersytle and pick, for fingerstyle I strike the strings directly above the neck pickup, for pick approximately halfway between the 2 pickups.
 
#4
Do you have the pre set EQ button in or out?Because you need it pressed in,otherwise it boost lows and highs.Also it may sound ok in the mix but ordinary when soloed.If all else fails get it checked out.Ashdowns do have a great tone,i got rid of mine because of reliability issues which i could i'll afford,i since bought a Markbass and a EBS Valve Drive and can get exactly the same tone.
 
#5
I have an ashdown ABM 400 head (one of the first ones in the states) - I heard it with an Ashdown cabinet and hated it, then I heard it through an Epifani cab and was blown away - - So I bought it. So having said that, it wouldn't shock me if your problem is the speakers, not the amp... And by problem, I don't mean blown speakers - I mean speakers that aren't all that great. Ashdown is not known for making great speakers or cabs.... but man, I dig my head and have no problem getting a nice tone out of it.
 
#6
Hi,

Thanks for your replies!

Ah, no I think the pre set EQ button is out, we have a practice tonight so I'll try that and hopefully it'll remedy the problem!

'BigOldHarry', personally every other Ashdown speakers I've heard sounded really nice, that's the reason why I bought my amp!

Thanks again!
 

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