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Okay, so who else is having serious problems with their Ashdown ABM?
- Thread starter pablomigraine
- Start date
Hi Low D, do you get your gear from 'Tillirides' (I think that's the correct spelling) in Limassol, I used to deal with the guys father in the 60s his name was George, I bought a Fender Jazz Bass from him in 1966.Low D. said:
Nope, thats the Fender/SWR dealer, and pretty much known for his high prices hehehe. The Ashdown dealer is based in Nicosia called Antros(Andreas), he is now starting to put together an online shop also, something that no other music shop ever done before over here. (Invalid Link Removed)
Low D. said:
Amongst the "other" bits here in this thread there are people talking about real problems they have had with Ashdown gear. it cant be ignored as this is a thread about reliability.
I would suggest you unsubscribe from this thread and that way we can all talk about our problems without anyone telling us to shut up (in not so many words).
There are threads where everyone loves Ashdown (as do we) and they havent had any problems so thats the thread to talk about your gear in.
IMHO of course.
heheh... yeah I was thinking about that. Anw posting on this threat I m always bringing the threat back front... so bye bye from me. Except if my new Ashdown brokes! lol
Low D. said:
Actually having no speakers connected yields infinite impedence and should never be a problem for a solid state amp.
Plugging in a speaker with the amp on is a different issue though, that is NEVER safe with any amp since there will be moments where the circuit is completely shorted.
BTW -- Ashdown gear seems right up my alley tonally, but I won't buy it since I've heard so much about reliability problems (there are at least 3 TBers who have had serious problems), and when I tried their compressor it was an absolute joke. See http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272340.
I'm hoping someday they'll get their act together, but I just can't see buying any of it right now, so I'm looking at other brands.
So anyone have suggestions on reliable amps in the same tonal vein as Ashdown? I'm looking seriously at mesa/boogie at the moment.
I'm hoping someday they'll get their act together, but I just can't see buying any of it right now, so I'm looking at other brands.
So anyone have suggestions on reliable amps in the same tonal vein as Ashdown? I'm looking seriously at mesa/boogie at the moment.
First time I've posted on here for ages, im amazed at how many people are having trouble with Ashdown! Mine works fine, everyone I've ever met who uses one has never had a problem. Seems its just a US thing (about time the UK screwed over the US for a change if ask me! 
) I've got an rpm1 preamp and its done good since I got it (feb 05) and has only been racked for a few months now. I was made to order, I paid a deposit and got the amp 2 weeks later (with crisps in the box! Seems theres someone at Ashdown who likes making munch while chucking a soldering iron about.)
But a few weeks ago it started playing up, totally my fault though, I dropped my rack down some steps... it went down the first lot, but the momentum carried it down the next set. My reaction was like something from a bad action film, slow motion "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" but with added profanity...
Anyway, my power amp was a little bit iffy for awhile but is working fine now (its a crappy Peavey but if one of those gives you grief you know youve done bad.) The tuner was bust but a gentle *pop* got it back up and running and so to the ashdown: Almost intact, theres a wierd buzz every now and again when I fire it up which bares the signs of a loose connection, apart from that it works perfectly. So I just have to ring up Guy at Ashdown, get a return nomber, send it and he'll fix it and get it back to me asap. Not bad...
Its really REALLY strange to hear these stories, theres nothing but praise everywhere ive been about these amps. Seems the US is having some grief while us brits enjoy nothing but good amps, which sucks. Clearely loads of you guys like ashdown which bodes well over there, if they sort out the problems, maybe you'll have an amp as bomb (drop) proof as mine.
p.s yes i know im a clumsy snugglemuffin!
) I've got an rpm1 preamp and its done good since I got it (feb 05) and has only been racked for a few months now. I was made to order, I paid a deposit and got the amp 2 weeks later (with crisps in the box! Seems theres someone at Ashdown who likes making munch while chucking a soldering iron about.)But a few weeks ago it started playing up, totally my fault though, I dropped my rack down some steps... it went down the first lot, but the momentum carried it down the next set. My reaction was like something from a bad action film, slow motion "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" but with added profanity...
Anyway, my power amp was a little bit iffy for awhile but is working fine now (its a crappy Peavey but if one of those gives you grief you know youve done bad.) The tuner was bust but a gentle *pop* got it back up and running and so to the ashdown: Almost intact, theres a wierd buzz every now and again when I fire it up which bares the signs of a loose connection, apart from that it works perfectly. So I just have to ring up Guy at Ashdown, get a return nomber, send it and he'll fix it and get it back to me asap. Not bad...
Its really REALLY strange to hear these stories, theres nothing but praise everywhere ive been about these amps. Seems the US is having some grief while us brits enjoy nothing but good amps, which sucks. Clearely loads of you guys like ashdown which bodes well over there, if they sort out the problems, maybe you'll have an amp as bomb (drop) proof as mine.
p.s yes i know im a clumsy snugglemuffin!
First, I'm assuming 1/4" connections.
Actually, thinking about it more, it looks like there isn't a moment of shorting if you plug in the cab end first, then the head. There is a moment where both leads of the speaker wire will be in contact with the output sleeve contact, but there won't be a complete circuit until the jack is all the way in. If you plug the head in first, then the cab, then that moment when the tip and sleve are connected to one another would short the output circuit.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
It's something I've always seen warned against in owner's manuals.
Actually, thinking about it more, it looks like there isn't a moment of shorting if you plug in the cab end first, then the head. There is a moment where both leads of the speaker wire will be in contact with the output sleeve contact, but there won't be a complete circuit until the jack is all the way in. If you plug the head in first, then the cab, then that moment when the tip and sleve are connected to one another would short the output circuit.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
It's something I've always seen warned against in owner's manuals.
CaptainWally said:
If only 189 bassists are having trouble with Ashdown...that's accounting for each bassist posting once here.... then that is not a representative number to declare that these amps have trouble. Any trouble is not good and if we see the same issue popping up repeatedly that's a warning, but 189 is a small segment of the amount of Ashdown gear sold and used. Since this post wasn't specific to a certain era of Ashdown like "ABMs from 2004" then the number of bassists affected is smaller still. A small vocal minority can have huge power and effect in this world. It is being a wise and cautious consumer to realize if less than 189 people keep repeating their woes it doesn't mean anything close to a 1% failure rate for the gear. The sample is limited for analysis as conclusions are being drawn as if you have heard from a true representative sample. Like Consumer Reports everyone with a problem is not writing in here and those without problems are not compelled to respond.
189 (you actually counted?) is only the number of people with problems who have bothered to post here, not the actual total of problems with Ashdown.
Are you a politician? I still can't figure how you got both sides in one statement...well done.
I'll repeat that Martin from Ashdown is taking care of me. That doesn't mean there wasn't a problem, but that it will be resolved.
Are you a politician? I still can't figure how you got both sides in one statement...well done.
I'll repeat that Martin from Ashdown is taking care of me. That doesn't mean there wasn't a problem, but that it will be resolved.
chadds said:
I agree but you also have to take in to account the people who dont even know about this site having problems. But your right, its only a very small % of people having trouble
To be honest if my amp were to stop working at a gig and i find out other people have had the same thing happen i would be very cautious of buying the same thing again.
when i had my ABM i had no trouble with it apart from the mute button not muting (not good for a £600 head) but after reading about a few people having trouble with the PSU i became worried that this might happen to me. im not in a position to carry (or even afford) a spare amp so i ended up getting rid of the ABM, not just because it might go down but there were other things i didnt like about it. since i have had my MB head i have no real worries as ive not heard of any breaking down
Call me paranoid but feeling safe that my gear will work is quite important to me. plus i have a MAG that went wrong in just under a year so again, that is something i would not buy again.
Just my thoughts though. and i do love the Ashdown sound.
"It is being a wise and cautious consumer to realize if less than 189 people keep repeating their woes it doesn't mean anything close to a 1% failure rate for the gear. The sample is limited for analysis as conclusions are being drawn as if you have heard from a true representative sample."
Huh?
Man, this is so far out there, how did you determine this mathematical "fact"?
Huh?
Man, this is so far out there, how did you determine this mathematical "fact"?
Taco Bell sauce from a country that doesn't have one? Sounds like an American supplier problem. I ordered a MAG stack and head that was backordered for 2 months. It all arrived as soon as they actually made it with no problems. Ashdown has had such a demand I doubt that the company itself would keep a component on the shelf for years.
Hey folks -
This thread has been dormant for a while, but I thought I'd re-awaken the beast with a quick note that I have become the newest member of the "my Ashdown crapped out on me" club. A bummer, truly.
I have an ABM 500 Evo II, and was utterly in love with it until two weeks ago. I was mid-gig (pushing an old Epifani T-212), mid-song, when the amp just totally cut out. No volume, no crackle, no love whatsoever. Salvaged the gig by going direct to the PA via a SansAmp BDDI (a.k.a. swiss army knife and most reliable musical product ever conceived by mankind). Sounded OK, but was nonetheless quite disheartening.
I fired up the Ashdown in my studio the next day, and it seemed to be fine. I then took it with me to a week of studio work out in Delaware, where, unfortunately, it began to shut down again during live rehearsals. KILLED the vibe a bit. Session was saved by going direct through a *great* pre/compressor (Universal Audio 6176 - woah!).
Anyhoo, no real new news here, just wanted to throw my malfunctioning bass head hat into the ring. Waiting for a response from Ashdown as we speak....
This thread has been dormant for a while, but I thought I'd re-awaken the beast with a quick note that I have become the newest member of the "my Ashdown crapped out on me" club. A bummer, truly.
I have an ABM 500 Evo II, and was utterly in love with it until two weeks ago. I was mid-gig (pushing an old Epifani T-212), mid-song, when the amp just totally cut out. No volume, no crackle, no love whatsoever. Salvaged the gig by going direct to the PA via a SansAmp BDDI (a.k.a. swiss army knife and most reliable musical product ever conceived by mankind). Sounded OK, but was nonetheless quite disheartening.
I fired up the Ashdown in my studio the next day, and it seemed to be fine. I then took it with me to a week of studio work out in Delaware, where, unfortunately, it began to shut down again during live rehearsals. KILLED the vibe a bit. Session was saved by going direct through a *great* pre/compressor (Universal Audio 6176 - woah!).
Anyhoo, no real new news here, just wanted to throw my malfunctioning bass head hat into the ring. Waiting for a response from Ashdown as we speak....
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