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OFFICIAL ASHDOWN CLUB

#1,061
It finally arrived!

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My lil' Studio 8's bigger older brother! The Ashdown AAA Five 15 FF125.

They are definitely from the same genes. The basic sound are very similar, but this one is much fuller and richer sounding. Straight up tone is really close to what I want, tonally. The Drive is what I've been looking for what I play. Unfortunately, these no footswitch for the Drive, so I have to use the little push button.

It's loud enough for my intermediate needs, jam sessions and small to mid sized gigging with those whom I playing with now or foresee playing with. If more is needed, I could see a second on, run daisy chained or a Studio 15.

I weighed it and it comes in at 46lbs. That's lighter than other amps of it's size, but not as light as the newest generations of combo amps, such as the Fender Rumble 200, Ampeg RB115 or the Studio 15.

Time to get back to scaring the cats!
 
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#1,062
evilfirbolg said:
It's the steel grill blue speaker version
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I think it's sealed, no guarantee but it's likely similar to an Ampeg 810. I've heard good things about the blue speakers though.

Wyl E Koyote said:
Fishing for info here, fellow Ashdown people. I have what seems to be an exceedingly rare edition of the ABM EVO II 500 line. I is a 4x10 combo in good shape. Have been searching for comps for some time, and not much luck- all are *sold* dead links, and only one had a price on it.
Question is, what are origin details, what is it actually worth for resale/trade, and are they actually as rare as suspected?
Photo is the one listing I found- not mine- but they are virtually identical.
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A lot of EVO III's I've seen go for around $450, I'd imagine the IT'S would go for at least $350 and same for the 4x10. The downside is that shipping is probably prohibitive so even though it could probably go for $900, being a local only sale it may not be able to that.

Ive seen a couple on UK threads, but yeah rare indeed.

foal30 said:
This my old ABM Klystrom from 1998
Still going strongView attachment 4914839
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That's awesome! I love my ABM, it totally killed my last for amps besides messing around with some all tube big iron ones.

5StringPocket said:
I’m not too familiar with Ashdown but understand they have a pretty good reputation. I was looking into an Aguilar DB751 for hard hitting tone with good depth, weight to the notes, and a conventional power section but new with a case it’s about $3000 and 50 lbs - more than I want to spend or lug around. I came across this ABM-750 EVO which looks quite compelling and was surprised to find very little in the way of reviews.
Ashdown ABM-750 EVO V 750-watt Bass Amp Head
A price of $1700 and weight of 29 lbs is more reasonable so I’m curious if this would deliver the goods through an 800 watt 4-ohm GK NeoIV 212 cab for rock, country, and blues? The cab is compact but very solid and loud with stout drivers. The output section of this amp appears to have a pair of beefy power transistors with large heat sinks and big capacitors. I didn’t see anything descriptive in the manual but is this an A/B output section? I’ve got some excellent Class D amps but wondered if a good “lead sled” with tube overdrive and sub-harmonic generator in the pre-amp and this beefy output section might provide a bit more depth and weight to the notes from this cab?
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Like others have said, it'll be plenty enough. I've gigged a 500w one with a Mesa 212 and never went past noon on the master in loud heavy psych and metal bands. Tons of punch in those ABMs and yeah they're A/B SS power IIRC.
 
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#1,063
I like the line input feature for practicing, as described below from the ABM-EVO manual. Is there also a way to connect a set of headphones for silent practice? Perhaps from the DI Output - 600 Ohm balanced, Level 0dBu nominal. If so then might need a set of 600 Ohm headphones to match impedance?

"LINE INPUT - The rear panel has a Line Input socket for connection of other signal sources into the system. This can be used for plugging a CD, Tape or MP3 player into the amplifier for practicing, rehearsing or for connection of a second pre-amp into the system."
 
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#1,064
It doesn't look like this head is designed to be used with headphones. Too bad, it's one of the features I really enjoy with my Mesa and Bergantino amps when I can't play through a cab. That new ABM-EVO-750 still looks like a real beast. I like that it comes with it's own protective case.
 
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#1,065
5StringPocket said:
It doesn't look like this head is designed to be used with headphones. Too bad, it's one of the features I really enjoy with my Mesa and Bergantino amps when I can't play through a cab. That new ABM-EVO-750 still looks like a real beast. I like that it comes with it's own protective case.
Click to expand...
DI into interface.
 
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#1,067
foal30 said:
BTA-400 sighted in Aotearoa

Starting price on the auction is $1000 NZD which is $636.83 USD
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If you are considering a bid: That's about than half of the lowest price I have ever seen :woot:.

There are two listed at the same Guitar Center currently.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

One is priced at $1999.99 and the other is priced at $2249.99. It appears the more expensive amp is actually a BTA300 though, as the photo of the top shows only 6 output tubes. The lower priced amp is a bit rougher cosmetically and appears to have a damaged tone control slider...either snapped off or missing the cap.

I asked for photos of the back panels and confirmation of the number of power tubes...crickets. If they drop the price a bit, I may reengage.

Supposedly Ashdown also made some BTA200s.

The following info is too the best of my knowledge. Another difference you may consider is whether the amp is a Mk1 or Mk2. You can tell by looking at the back panel.

Per the schematics, this image is a Mk1
ashdown-bta-400_3.jpg

The distinguishing feature is parallel speaker outs with an impedance selector switch for 4 or 8 ohms.

This is actually an image of a SmallBlock 427, but the Mk2 BTA 400 back panel has the same layout. Both amps used the same driver and output sections.
upload_2023-1-11_16-11-26.png

Three speaker outs 2, 4, and 8 ohms.

There are differences to the Mk1 and Mk2 power supply, power amp, and driver schematics. The Mk1 power amp appears to have some sort of auto-sense circuit that connects a 100W dummy load if you forget to connect a speaker.

The Mk2s seem to be fairly rare. I have found some images of Mk2 400s, but no Mk2 300s or 200s. Weird because I thought the 200s and 300s were introduced after the 400 Mk2.
 
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#1,075
foal30 said:
@Wasnex

Interesting the 300W not 400W BTA linked above

I’m thinking a cat on here had one made that way direct

It’s also possible I misremember

It’s also possible if I have a BTA 400 arrive here to compliment my CTM-300 Mrs Foal could have an opinion:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:
Click to expand...

No you probably remember correctly. Some Ashdowns are cobbled together partly from residual parts they have laying around. I don't think it's unusually to find an amp with a BTA400 badge that is actually a BTA300, or possibly even a BTA200. If have seen photos of BTA300 and BTA200 badges though.
 
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#1,078
I’m wondering how much difference there is between an ABM-EVO-IV 600 and the new ABM-EVO-V 750 other than an extra 5 lbs and 150 watts from the power section? I want an A/B amp that slams into an 800 watt 4-ohm 212 but $1700 plus tax for a new 750 is giving me pause. There is a used 600 at a reasonable price and I don’t know how many gigs I’ll have that will even need me to push it that hard with FOH support.
 

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