OFFICIAL ASHDOWN CLUB

[BassAdder27]

I know the Ashdown brand is less favoured in the US say compared to Mesa etc but I thought I would give a short review of these newer Pro Neo cabs that are reasonably priced for us in the U.K.
I have tried Ampeg ( in the past I played the SVT610 cab) and more recently the PF115LF cab which I liked but it’s fairly bulky and heavy
Ok back to the review
The cabs I have are two Ashdown ABM210H Pro Neo 300w cabs each small and compact ( the tens are diagonally spaced ) and single top handle for easier lift weighing around 35lbs each cab (14kg )
Being compact they travel easily in the average car too !
I use the Ashdown ABM600 EVO IV 600w head with these cabs and they do a fine job.
The cabs are sealed and have a good punch and decent clarity to the sound and enough lows for most situations.

With two stacked you have the benefit of hearing your sound yet being light weight they don’t break your back lifting them.
Highly recommended bass cabs especially if you match them with the ABM or RM series of amp heads
Well done Ashdown

 

[BassAdder27]

Just purchased the ABM115H cab to use with my abm600 head.
A very good match and a very deep full and still punchy sound.
Will add a second ABM 115H cab shortly and run both together

 

[legalbass]

Currently pairing an ABM 600 with a Barefaced Big Twin 3 (which Barefaced has asked not be posted yet as it hasn’t been officially rolled out.) huge tone and volume. Paired it up against my friend’s Mesa Mark Five and 2x12” Rectifier and had no problem keeping up. I’ve been an Ashdown fan since 2008 and couldn’t be happier :]

 

[BassAdder27]

Update .. in the end due to availability issues I decided to get the Ampeg SVT212AV instead from stock !

 

[MikeBass]

So, I have this Mark King MK500 and the RM115 for sale. make me an offer (don’t be silly though).
ya never know what I might agree to.
Buyer pays shipping. both in excellent condition.
Rack not included with amp.

 

[Rogulus]

The SVT212AV is an incredible stand-alone cab, I use mine with an SVT or an ABM600 for when the lighter schlep is required.

 

[Rogulus]

What's the Ashdown fellowships thought on the shape function on the heads (be it the ABMs/RM/OrigianAL/Studio combos etc) I like the character that comes with it but cant help think the mid scoop is a bit too radicalized for it to be usable but when I switch to flat all that character disappears?

How do you guys approach the amp? Engage scoop and bring back in some mids or leave it flat and sculpt to taste. I love with anything Ampeg I can just plug in and put mids to 1-2pm and I'm in my happy space and still have that old school thump, I know I can get it from ABM's but it requires more tom foolery.

 

[Wasnex]

What's the Ashdown fellowships thought on the shape function on the heads (be it the ABMs/RM/OrigianAL/Studio combos etc) I like the character that comes with it but cant help think the mid scoop is a bit too radicalized for it to be usable but when I switch to flat all that character disappears?

How do you guys approach the amp? Engage scoop and bring back in some mids or leave it flat and sculpt to taste. I love with anything Ampeg I can just plug in and put mids to 1-2pm and I'm in my happy space and still have that old school thump, I know I can get it from ABM's but it requires more tom foolery.

Ashdowns are great sounding amps, but their tone stacks tend to be very quirky.

For the record I used one of the big UK-made ABMs a few times years ago, and I currently own a Smallblock 427, CTM 300, and LB30 Mk2. It not hard to get a great sound out of any of these amps. But getting the sound you actually want may be impossible. This will probably seem a bit enigmatic, but IMHO they are versatile, but not very flexible.

Mark Gooday's advice at 1:17 in this video seems relevant:


I guess the point is you either love what the amp does, or you get something else.

 

[BassAdder27]

If you use the “Shape” feature you need to boost the mids such as 340hz on the ABM600 and this makes it a bit more punchy

 

[legalbass]

I’ve always ignored the shape feature entirely. And the valve pre. And the compressor. And the subharmonic thing. The nine band EQ is definitely useful however. Perfect tone centers imo

 

[foal30]

Pushing in the Flat button on the original ABM Klystrom pretty much equals terrible tone and perceived volume drop.

For me the Flat button is always out and the EQ button always In.

The amps character is it’s low mid push and general “wooliness ”

The Subharmonic works good. I just bought the pedal for my CTM

 

[foal30]

Using my 71 Jazz here is the CTM300 settings. Neck pick up full on , bridge pick up 0 , tone 30%

Deep button is in, other 3 are out

 

[foal30]

Running these pedals in front of amp works nicely

 

[foal30]

FTt + Sub + Compression

 

[foal30]

Setting for 2EQ Fretless Stingray.
Works great with Chorus Pedal as well

 

[foal30]

Jazz Bass with both pick ups full on and tone 50%

Bright switch is in

Excellent with a plectrum

 

[foal30]

Whilst while the EQ sections are quirky or eccentric I think for me they are very much what I like.

Just spend some time faffing with them. I also think Passive instruments “work better “ although that is highly subjective. They’ll never be a Hifi amp or all things to all men amps but I really like both of mine

 

[foal30]

Mellow switch in , others are out.
2EQ Fretless Stingray with Chromes (newish) treble 10% bass 80% and a touch of the Diamond BCP

This is my “Walking Bass” practice tone. Full sound across the fingerboard, warm tone not snappy but still has some tops.

Turning up the Amp treble or engaging the Bright switch adds way too much tops. Again this why I think the EQ section is eccentric. Minor adjustments can make huge difference and Cranking other things seems to have minimal change.

 

[Dasgre0g]

Setting for 2EQ Fretless Stingray.
Works great with Chorus Pedal as well

Thanks for sharing. I love my Ashdown combined with the Stingray tones. Great balance

 

[Jughead6]

Just purchased the ABM115H cab to use with my abm600 head.
A very good match and a very deep full and still punchy sound.
Will add a second ABM 115H cab shortly and run both together

One of my go-to rigs is an older ABM500 Evo III head into an ABM115H cabinet. Sounds great, deep and warm. Just have to watch the volume to avoid over-stressing the 300W speaker.

Edit: I'm another Stingray + Ashdown user. In my case a 2018 Stingray Special 5H.