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OFFICIAL ASHDOWN CLUB

#521
You should try the RM 500 EVO. Way better than the old RM stuff in my opinion. Gets loud and has a separate drive knob. I had an older MiBass 550, sounded pretty good, but didn't get very loud compared to the RM 500 EVO. I don't know how it compares to the MiBass 2.0 though. I use my RM 500 EVO interchangeably with my ABM 500 EVO II.
 
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#522
javi_bassist said:
More experiences with Ashdown gear! I'm still searching for a good lightweight head for small gigs (I have my ABM for larger venues). 99% of the time I play in venues with PA support so I don't need a really powerfull amp. That is why I don't pay much attention when people say an amp is not powerfull enough for gigging (I did a tour with a 75W combo. I explain that later). This is where I am right now:

After returning the Pibass (awesome sounding amp) I got the Mibass 2.0. It is a really nice head. Lightweight, fits perfectly in my gig bag and it is loud (I think the Pibass was a little bit louder though). But who thought it was a good idea to include an overdrive in the input gain? Come on! I mean, you can get loud with this thing but you are limited since you can't have the input gain set at more than 11 o'clock (for a clean sound). If they would have made a different knob for the overdrive... However, a thing that I love of the Mibass is that it has a Line In and headphones. I could take it with me when I travel and I want to practice in silence. The EQ is simple and good. I like this head.

But today, I came across the Rootmaster RM 420 (the old version). I read that it was a nice sounding amp so I bought one since the store was selling them at a really low price. I tried it today at home and it was...disappointing. I think it has 350W or so, (200 at 8 ohms?) but it is very quiet. I think an Ampeg PF350 feels more powerfull. I set the Input around 3 or 4 and the output at 1. I cannot feel the power of the amp. It sounds amazing I have to say. Much better than the Pibass or the Mibass. I cannot complain about the sound, or the eq or the sub harmonics (the drive is awfull IMO) but I think it won't be loud enough. I'm really disappointed with it. Everything but the Drive is perfect (even though it has no headphones out). But I'm not sure it will be loud enough for my purpose. It doesn't bother me, but it is much heavier and bigger than I thought at first.

My comparison is always with a Ashdown AAA Vintage 12 that I bought many years ago (for an acoustic project that it never worked). It has 75W. And it feels much more powerfull than the two other heads. I gigged with it in an 8 piece band. Ok, the band was not very loud, but I usually set the output of the combo at 9 or 11 tops. The RM 420 must be at 1 to sound acceptable. The Mibass can be set at 11 too, but it doesn't feel that powerfull. With the heads I'm using a Mesa Boogie Powerhouse 210, a better cab than the combo (in principle). I'm not sure if my RM 420 is faulty or what. I have to decide if I keep the RM or not. Anyway, a pic of the team

View attachment 3108879
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You should try the RM 500 EVO. Way better than the old RM stuff in my opinion. Gets loud and has a separate drive knob. I had an older MiBass 550, sounded pretty good, but didn't get very loud compared to the RM 500 EVO. I don't know how it compares to the MiBass 2.0 though. I use my RM 500 EVO interchangeably with my ABM 500 EVO II.
 
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#523
javi_bassist said:
After returning the Pibass (awesome sounding amp) I got the Mibass 2.0. It is a really nice head. Lightweight, fits perfectly in my gig bag and it is loud (I think the Pibass was a little bit louder though). But who thought it was a good idea to include an overdrive in the input gain? Come on! I mean, you can get loud with this thing but you are limited since you can't have the input more than 11 o'clock (for clean a sound). If they would have made a different knob for the overdrive part...
Click to expand...

That was my experience as well. If you want a clean tone and need to get loud, it's not possible with The MiBass 2.0.
 
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#525
cmcbass said:
I believe Ashdown has an RM 500 Evo II coming out somewhat soon. It's supposedly half the weight of the first evo and the front panel is matte instead of polished steel. Not sure when it'll be available though.
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It's got a headphone jack as well. That being said it looks like the new amp is still in the pre-order stages. It's been that way for a while now.

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I managed to snag a new heavily discounted RM-800 EVO a few months ago and I'm loving it! I wish that it had that matte face plate. Even though it's a nice look, it hard to read the controls with all of the shininess......
 
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#527
cmcbass said:
I believe Ashdown has an RM 500 Evo II coming out somewhat soon. It's supposedly half the weight of the first evo and the front panel is matte instead of polished steel. Not sure when it'll be available though.
Click to expand...
Oh you can pick it up on Sweetwater right now. The Ashdown RM 500 EVO 2 that is. That being said, are there any more differences between the regular RM 500 other than the matte front and headphone jack?
 
#529
Well, I just received today my rootmaster RM500 Evo. I was really excited and I took it to my rehearsal today. I plugged the bass and...no input, no sound. The VU meter didn't move. I checked the active and the passive inputs and nothing. So I thought it was broken or something.

I went home and I tried it again. Nothing. Then, suddenly it started working. I have trust issues now...so I will try it more to see what happens. However, I have a couple of questions:

-First, with the input at 9 and my passive jazz bass, the amp clips (a red light turns on). My jazz doesn't have a high output and it makes the amp clip with the gain at 9? I'm not sure that's right.

-Second: the output has "positions" (it is not continuous). In the first two positions there is no volume. In the third position, there is a lot of volume (too much to play at home I think).
 
#530
javi_bassist said:
Well, I just received today my rootmaster RM500 Evo. I was really excited and I took it to my rehearsal today. I plugged the bass and...no input, no sound. The VU meter didn't move. I checked the active and the passive inputs and nothing. So I thought it was broken or something.

I went home and I tried it again. Nothing. Then, suddenly it started working. I have trust issues now...so I will try it more to see what happens. However, I have a couple of questions:

-First, with the input at 9 and my passive jazz bass, the amp clips (a red light turns on). My jazz doesn't have a high output and it makes the amp clip with the gain at 9? I'm not sure that's right.

-Second: the output has "positions" (it is not continuous). In the first two positions there is no volume. In the third position, there is a lot of volume (too much to play at home I think).
Click to expand...
Return or exchange it if you can. It shouldn't be clipping at that low of an input. It does get loud really fast, especially if you have the drive and/or compression on. With both of those turned off, it's easier to get a home volume.
 
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#532
Love these heads. Both 2001 Mag400 UK made.
20180816_234511.jpg
 
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#535
Hello everyone!

I finally exchanged my faulty Rootmaster for another one. This seems to work better. However, I have a question. I have the Input at 10 and it clips. I have to set the Input at 9. To me it's strange because (with the same bass) I have to set the Input of my ABM at around 4 (it is a passive Jazz Bass). When I tried the RM420 I also had to set the Input at 4. Setting this RM500 at 9 it's kinda strange for me, since in every Ashdown product I had to set it pretty high

Is it normal?

PS It is really really loud. This were my settings in my band rehearsal

s65a8g.jpg
 
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#537
javi_bassist said:
Hello everyone!

I finally exchanged my faulty Rootmaster for another one. This seems to work better. However, I have a question. I have the Input at 10 and it clips. I have to set the Input at 9. To me it's strange because (with the same bass) I have to set the Input of my ABM at around 4 (it is a passive Jazz Bass). When I tried the RM420 I also had to set the Input at 4. Setting this RM500 at 9 it's kinda strange for me, since in every Ashdown product I had to set it pretty high

Is it normal?

PS It is really really loud. This were my settings in my band rehearsal

View attachment 3130516
Click to expand...


hey man. I would sincerely throw that question out at the Facebook groups. Mostly because I KNOW a couple of the Ashdown experts actually frequent them. I deleted my facebook a few months ago so it may not be the way it was when i left, but I always got much better advice there. good luck man!
 
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#540
cmcbass said:
I love the color coordination!

Very stylish!
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dang you have a good eye , I didn't think of that ...I am now pretty sure that is what ties it all together and why I like looking at it :) But to me and probably because I'm used to the other things but the cab stands out ... it's the perfect Brown and grill choice for a Instrument cab for super classy . I always thought it was an odd choice for red logo on the amp and controls but here it's exactly as it should be . oh while I'm talking BA don't forget to put your 5751's in V2 kids for that big firm bottom and clearer top before the fuzz takes over you get a little more useable oomph out of it.
NktJ7Qil.jpg


6oC9LRfl.jpg
 
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