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OFFICIAL ASHDOWN CLUB

#301
GMC said:
All I see the the same old 4x10 and 1x15 formulas with a bolt on piezo to add some hiss. I think in 2016 we have greenboy and Barefaced designs to judge cabs against.
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The new rootmaster cabs have been upgraded too, with plywood, silver cones and new handles. Still you are right, they are pretty ordinary as far as cabs go. Built to a price is what most reviewers said.

I'll have a mess with the rest of the EQ tonight, as you say the treble may be misleading me, but getting it to work with Chili Pepper stuff is pretty hard.
 
#304
I just recently got an ABM 600 to add to the MAG 600 I already have. I tried running a line out (effects send) to a GK amp and discovered the compressor makes the phasing reverse so the second amp can be in phase with no compression ;flip the switch and it is out of phase. Why is this? The blue color is great-don't change it Ash ! Please make some more ABM 610 cabinets.
 
#305
Stimpy said:
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I found this about 5 days ago using my mad google skills, and told Ashdown bout it, they told me to wait to the 21st. :)
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Ah! Cool! The active / passive inputs looks a bit odd, why not pad it with a button? They could easily have moved the buttons about so there are 2 / 2 / 2 across the face of the amp. Looking at the specs...I think the real gem here is the new RM C112 -500. A 12" combo with 500w, weighing 16.5kgs. Now THAT's interesting! The old RM C112 was a heavy 22kgs and only 200w. I really dig the new handle on the top face too. I guess it's just a question of price, availability and how it sounds.
I think I'd probably still need a line out option or a Di which is more usable.
 
#306
GMC said:
Ah! Cool! The active / passive inputs looks a bit odd, why not pad it with a button? They could easily have moved the buttons about so there are 2 / 2 / 2 across the face of the amp. Looking at the specs...I think the real gem here is the new RM C112 -500. A 12" combo with 500w, weighing 16.5kgs. Now THAT's interesting! The old RM C112 was a heavy 22kgs and only 200w. I really dig the new handle on the top face too. I guess it's just a question of price, availability and how it sounds.
I think I'd probably still need a line out option or a Di which is more usable.
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I'd rather just use a DI box before it reaches the amp TBH, less to go wrong, and most sound engineers will insist on a pre-eq DI box. I have a nice passive box I use as a back-up source should my amp settings fail me. Not sure about the added noise from extra cable length (5m XLR and 4m instrument cable), but doesn't seem to do much harm.

The handle on the top is funny. Previously, (the old cab) had one that stuck out, and was bigger than the feet on the RootMaster head. I had to fashion a riser out of cardboard and duct-tape to prevent is scratching the bottom of the matching head. Not sure how that flaw made it past production when several of the photographs show the amp in this configuration.

The way I see it, most of the R&D for Ashdown probabaly went into designing the new class D form-factor, so we will be seeing RootMasters this size and shape for quite a while. The modifications they have made are not very significant, and won't require a lot of retooling.

For the cabs, I'm not sure how much of the engineering is done by Ashdown themselves, or is it simply a case of phoning up china and saying 'We want plywood, white speakers, better handles, and better tweeter control. Done!'. It's probably somewhere between the 2.
 
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#307
Stimpy said:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I found this about 5 days ago using my mad google skills, and told Ashdown bout it, they told me to wait till the 21st. :)
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Ashdown said shipping in February. Played the new Rootmaster 500 EVO at Namm and liked it very much and would like to get one. The "MAP" price on the amp was $499. Main reason I liked it was because it sounded like a tube amp. Read on some web site that it was analog but don't know if that's totally true.
 
#308
Laklndad said:
Ashdown said shipping in February. Played the new Rootmaster 500 EVO at Namm and liked it very much and would like to get one. The "MAP" price on the amp was $499. Main reason I liked it was because it sounded like a tube amp. Read on some web site that it was analog but don't know if that's totally true.
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It's a solid state class D amp. There are no tubes involved. From the branding spiel, it is aimed as 'hard-working bass players looking for a reliable workhorse'.

Valve's tend to be another point of failure IMHO, and I'd keep them for a studio amp personally.
 
#309
I have to say that lately I'm kinda disappointed. The lack of new stuff (or innovative amps) is disappointing. I love the brand, and I think they made really good products (B-social is good, the mibass...) but in my opinion they have run out of ideas. They live by upgrading the ABMs, not including anything new actually (more faders. ok) and the new RM series upgrades are not much of a difference. My Ashdown ABM Evo II is my favourite amp, I love these amps but I feel it's the same amp all over again. It's true that a lot of brands do that, but I expected to see something more. I would love to see some nice pedals. A local store has a Dr Green compressor and the price is really good. I went to buy it but I tried it and it was awful. I hated it. I have an Ashdown driver though which I think it's great. It's been a while since the last time they launched a pedal.
I'd love to see a nice quality cab. I use a GK cab with my ABM and it sounds awesome. With an Ashdown cab it sounded kinda dark and not well-defined. But maybe it's just me
 
#310
Stimpy said:
It's a solid state class D amp. There are no tubes involved. From the branding spiel, it is aimed as 'hard-working bass players looking for a reliable workhorse'.

Valve's tend to be another point of failure IMHO, and I'd keep them for a studio amp personally.
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I know there are no tubes but it was the first amp that I tried that sounded fat and warm at least from my perspective which was on the showroom floor. I guess the tube emulation sounded good to me. Quote from Premier Guitar, "The RM-500-EVO features an all-analog circuit", which is what you have with solid state anyway.
 
#311
Question for all you "Ashdowninites:.

Anyone have a chance to test/hear/review the Rootmaster line of cabinets - mainly 2x10, 2x12, 1x15? Interested in how these sound. Also - any info on these Ashdown drivers? does Ashdown actually make these or are they bought with the ashdown label stuck on 'em?
 
#312
Don't know those details but my guess is the cabs will kick butt. They sounded good at Namm as good as you can tell being on the showroom floor. So waiting for online retailers to get their shipments from Ashdown!
 
#314
Any other JJ-500 users here? Loving mine, i've got one of the first 10 produced (pre rat logo). Dont play like, or try to sound like JJB but really diggin this amp with an ABM610. Great 12 band EQ and more guts than most big tube heads that I've tried. Clean, punchy and responds so well to OD's like the SFT and SFX Beta.
 
#316
Also, anyone on team Tourbus? I've had mine for 5 years and it's my go to practice amp.

Special Edition model at a discount price. I love it!

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I used to play it a lot in my old flat, as it wasn't TOO loud. Controls are pretty simple, what more could you want from a small amp?
 
#317
I just picked up a "Rootmaster Magnum 420 2x10" I think it's called, so I guess I'm in too. Just got it like Saturday to use as a practice rig at my folks' place-- a bit large, but the price was right, and I figured I needed to own at least one Ashdown before I go. There is NO WAY this amp is 420 watts, unless the speakers are running at 128 ohms or something else is off-- the sound is sure nice, though. We'll see how it does running into the home studio--
IMG_0361.JPG IMG_0362.JPG
 
#318
Ductapeman said:
I just picked up a "Rootmaster Magnum 420 2x10" I think it's called, so I guess I'm in too. Just got it like Saturday to use as a practice rig at my folks' place-- a bit large, but the price was right, and I figured I needed to own at least one Ashdown before I go. There is NO WAY this amp is 420 watts, unless the speakers are running at 128 ohms or something else is off-- the sound is sure nice, though. We'll see how it does running into the home studio--
View attachment 795208 View attachment 795209
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Ahhhhh, an image gallery feature. I'll make sure to use it next time.

Maybe I should just copy your settings, that's 'ALOT of bass'.

The way I see it, I shouldn't be able to break it by turning it up, and I'd hope that no-one would limit the output. My guess is it'll just be slightly harder to find replacement speakers if you ever need them.

Anecdotally, I've seen the 4x10 by GK come in two versions, one is simply rated higher (400w vs 800w). I think it just costs more to spec a high power speaker.

Still, bet it sounds pretty beastly!

I've seen a pretty good looking 8x10 nearby. Grunged up a bit, ABM. Not sure what year. Tempted to go for it. £160... I think.
 
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#319
LOL, should have mentioned that the picture was taken right after I got it in the house, it's quite a bit flatter now. And of course I need the higher-power cab, so if I have to I can throw the old Coliseum Slave on it-- well-- it might happen--
 

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