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Okay, so who else is having serious problems with their Ashdown ABM?

#41
Roscoe5 said:
I would think a company like Ashdown would love to see this thread so they can address the issue. Maybe you can get Martin to log on and read the thread, or even cut and paste so they can see there are enough bassists complaining of the same issues. Reputation is everything. If I were a business owner, I would want to address these issues and make the customer happy no matter what.
Click to expand...

Martin and Mark Gooday are more than familiar with this thread and the issues that has aroused out of the dilemma with their product and I can guarantee all here at TB that Paul's situation will end with very positive results.
 
#43
So did I give up on my Electric Blue too soon? I did exchange some emails with Martin in regards to my problem, but he kept refering back to my bass being the problem, which I knew it wasn't because I had tried six or seven basses with the same result. So I went back to the store.

I do not know any specifics, but it looks like Ashdown are trying to make good. That does make me feel somewhat better about buying an Ashdown in the future, but the rep that my store was going through did not instill confidence. As I said, the Electric Blue seems like the perfect practice/small gig combo, I'm just a little leery after my experience. The RPM pre looks pretty sweet, too...
 
#44
I have got all my Bass gear apart from my 1210 from the Bass Centre in London. the reason is they have a close relationship with Ashdown and they are in walking distance from my flat si if anything did/does go wrong i asume im in a good position to get it fixed.
Of course getting the gear from them in the first place has been a nightmare but i wont go in to that here.
 
#45
My ABM 500 EVO-II was working fine (except for the fan, which NEVER worked right, it was always full-on) then started to make loud crackling noises, I found by moving it off the speaker cab it would stop...the noise was a result of vibration...just to see why, I opened the box and saw a smaller circuit board, sitting on top of the main circuit board, and it was just loose, not fastened with anything, only hanging on by a couple solder joints. When you wiggled it, the cracking would come back...I didn't touch it any furhter, just buttoned it back up and, SO it's back to the shop for warranty, and has been there since January 15th, still not fixed.
This is NOT what I like for customer service. Thank God I have an SVT and a couple GKs to use in the meantime.
I absolutely love the way that Ashdown sounds, but I don't know (1) when I'll get it back and (2) if I'll ever really trust it again!
 
#46
emjazz said:
Noooooooo.....not with a D410xlt!!!! I have to use that cab with my Ashdown at rehearsals with one of my groups because the cab is already there. I always have to fight that cabinet to get a good sound out of it. I'm just too used to using my Berg cabs.
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Hey, emjazz... you 'ol dog, how you doin'? I always prefer my Bergs... as you may know by now I got myself an NV425 in January to mate with my NV215... I use the Eden for tiny little stages in venues where volume is an issue. You are on to something, however, as I do find myself playing with the knobs a lot more on the Ashdown whenever I do use the D410XLT. NV Bergs just make matters a lot easier, don't they?

Just one more comment... unless I'm shown otherwise, I will continue to have full confidence in Martin Burrows and the others way over there in Jolly Old England. He showed sincere interest in my problem, always responded to my emails, and put his company out a few English pounds to see that I got my transformer. He actually sent me two transformers, as I had sent him a message stating that, after six weeks had passed, I hadn't received the transformer. So, this man responds to say he would ship out another. Several days later the initial transformer arrived, which is the one I had swapped-out. About three weeks later, the second transformer Martin B. shipped to me arrived... so it looks like I have a spare transformer on my hands. Now that is customer service!

Chalk me up as another Ashdown customer who is confident they will resolve this apparent QA problem... :D
 
#47
Keeaumoku said:
Just one more comment... unless I'm shown otherwise, I will continue to have full confidence in Martin Burrows and the others way over there in Jolly Old England. He showed sincere interest in my problem, always responded to my emails, and put his company out a few English pounds to see that I got my transformer. He actually sent me two transformers, as I had sent him a message stating that, after six weeks had passed, I hadn't received the transformer. So, this man responds to say he would ship out another. Several days later the initial transformer arrived, which is the one I had swapped-out. About three weeks later, the second transformer Martin B. shipped to me arrived... so it looks like I have a spare transformer on my hands. Now that is customer service!

Chalk me up as another Ashdown customer who is confident they will resolve this apparent QA problem... :D
Click to expand...

Martin Burrows is a very nice man and very helpfull but i think the point is it shouldnt have happened to so many in the first place.
Having the company fix something and do it quickly is great but if youve got gigs night after night then you need something you can relly on.
In an ideal world you should never have to deal with customer service.
 
#48
I agree Dave.

Knowing a company have great customer service is a good thing. But it also implies that there were problems that needed to be taken care of.

If you think about a company, and have no idea how is their customer service, it should be good news, meaning nobody had to contact them about a problem.

I'll talk to Martin again tomorrow, and he should send me a new unit, but Ashdown really has to find a way so that ALL the amps that leave the factory (being UK or China) are working perfectly, and more importantly, will work perfectly a LONG TIME!

Personnally, it's the only way I can trust a company.
 
#50
dave_bass5 said:
Martin Burrows is a very nice man and very helpfull but i think the point is it shouldnt have happened to so many in the first place.
Having the company fix something and do it quickly is great but if youve got gigs night after night then you need something you can relly on.
In an ideal world you should never have to deal with customer service.
Click to expand...

You certainly won't get any argument from me as far as your point is concerned. I understand it and sympathize with your situation. With my problem I was deeply stressed, because I purchased my Evo-II from an online company on the US mainland, and it was still under warranty as I had owned it for only six months when my troubles began. There are no Ashdown dealers in Hawaii, so you know I was taking a chance, and continue to do so for that matter. I am simply saying that, if Mr. Burrows is indeed a reflection of his company, then I shall have faith that this apparent Q&A problem, that you and others have had the misfortune to deal with, will be quickly addressed and resolved. However, having said that, I am also a businessman, and I've been sorely disappointed by some with whom I've placed faith in before...

...but, unfortunately for all of us, we do not live in an ideal world.
 
#51
I am sorry to hear about your problem. However, I am sure that Ashdown will make it right. I have had my Klystron ABM 400 for about 8 years now and (knock on wood) have not had any problems with it. I have played the amp on average 3 or 4 nights a week and keep it in a hard road case. It is still in new condition and sounds fantastic. I have not found a better amp yet.

One of these days I want to check out the Ashdown Superfly. Anyone use one?

Good Luck!
Eric Winter
 
#52
I go through 15" speakers on my BP1510TX every 4months.
Im genuinely disappointed with my ABM 300 too, its quiet but still manages to blow speakers. Dreadful, im quite demanding with the gear though running a 6string with overdrive now and then and an NS CR5 upright through it. But still, rare to spend £1000 on gear and have this much trouble with it all! I'm going to be touring in Japan and at this rate i dont think ill be looking for an ashdown rig to rent.

Anyone else in a similar 15" situation? Perhaps its an issue of power, although im assuming even the 900 would blow speakers. Genuinely frustrating.
 
#53
chris-piano said:
I go through 15" speakers on my BP1510TX every 4months.
Im genuinely disappointed with my ABM 300 too, its quiet but still manages to blow speakers. Dreadful, im quite demanding with the gear though running a 6string with overdrive now and then and an NS CR5 upright through it. But still, rare to spend £1000 on gear and have this much trouble with it all! I'm going to be touring in Japan and at this rate i dont think ill be looking for an ashdown rig to rent.

Anyone else in a similar 15" situation? Perhaps its an issue of power, although im assuming even the 900 would blow speakers. Genuinely frustrating.
Click to expand...


What kind of cabs are you using?and are you using the correct ohms?
 
#54
Chris, since you say the amp is "quiet", I bet you're pushing it too hard and clipping the power section .... frying the 15 in the process. Search this forum on "underpowering". Thats not the head's fault, it'd actually be cured by using a higher power amp (and ideally more speakers than one 15).

I really hope ashdown takes care of you guys, and even more I hope they clean up their QC so we can talk about how bad they used to be and how great they are since the great TB thread of '06 caused them to start making bulletproof amps.
 
#57
Any Ashdown ABM or MAG owners in the US who've had a clipping / farting problem and are looking for relief send me a PM asap. The manufacturer has replicated the problem at the factory..... It may turn out to be a moderately widespread problem and the company needs to hear from you if you're experiencing this problem!!

This is for HEADS not combo's and for users in the US ONLY running at 4 Ohms at high power.

If you're having a problem you WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF!!
 
#59
pablomigraine said:
Any Ashdown ABM or MAG owners in the US who've had a clipping / farting problem and are looking for relief send me a PM asap. The manufacturer has replicated the problem at the factory..... It may turn out to be a moderately widespread problem and the company needs to hear from you if you're experiencing this problem!!
Click to expand...

It's great if they've got it sorted out, and kudos to you for keeping at them.

Is there a notice on their website by any chance? Rather than waiting to hear from people, they could start by getting these repaired or off the market :

It took me just a few minutes to find these threads, and this is only going back one year (as of about 2 months ago when I searched for these) and not including many Ashdown problem threads I've seen which didn't have the brand name in the title. I look at it every time I GAS for one.

I've had 3 Ashdowns myself, all combos, never a problem except the common VU dying issue for which some say they'd been offered free replacements but all I ever got was an offer to sell me a new one.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...hlight=ashdown

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=165312

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...hlight=ashdown

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=165312

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