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Sound or reliability?

H

HolyGrowl

Jan 28, 2008
99
0
#1
I'm currently in the process of selecting a new amp to replace the one i have right now that i'm selling and am faced with a bit of a dilemma.

I've had lot's of problems with equipment in the past, it's kind of a bad luck that's been following me since I was young. Everytime I buy a piece of electronic, there's always a problem with it minor or major.

Sooo.... after trying some configurations, i'm hesitating between the Ashdown ABM EVO II and the Eden WT550.

The problem is this: Eden is the only company with which products i've never had a problem in the past. But, I was never able to dial my sound. Oh I get a good sound but not my sound. There's always a bit too much or too less in every frequency. I know that their EQ is very powerful but still I can'T manage to dial the in between.

Then there is Ashdown. Never had any experience with the products but the ABM plugged into a decent cabinet like the Eden 410XLT gets my sound. Problem is, with their products being made in china and some reliability problems a lot of people had judging by the comments here and on Harmony Central, i,M kind of worried i'd run into problems.

What are your thoughts on this dilemma?

And you can steer me towards other options like some already have.

The funny thing is the best sound i've ever had is my Stingray5 plugged through the Bassbone flat directly into my Delta 44 soundcard. When practicing with headphones through this setup or recording on my computer, I get the perfect sound.
 
#2
It's interesting...without breaking the forum rules, I will say that people seem to be willing to pay for quality hand-made USA electronics, and they are willing to do so for a reason.

Eden, from what I can tell from this board, is pretty reliable gear, though their customer service has not always been the best.

You occasionally see a thread pop-up where an old Eden eden that has been gigged several hundred times loses an op-amp or something. This is normal though.

If you like the sound of the Ashdown, I'd say get it. Buy a warranty if you really feel like bad luck follows you around from purchase to purchase. I can't comment on the reliability of Ash-down.

I don't know where you are located, but if you can, try out some Genz-Benz stuff. To me, that stuff seems like some of the most reliable and best sounding gear out the right now, and reasonably priced as well.
 
#3
I have had both of the amps that you have mentioned.. I loved the way the both of them sounded.. But i had had reliability issues with both too.. Where i never in my live ever had reliability with anything for nearly 25 years prior to that time using other brand gear... mostly pro stuff such as crown or crest pro amps and API or Neve pres... that being said i also used ampeg for many years with no problems...


The past year i have been using a Genz Benz GBE1200 .. The
GB is a chameleon in a way.. I can get an Eden type tone as well as the ABM. This is one solid made rig, with tons of usable tone in an easy to set up interface.
I am currently thinking of getting a Genz 750 for smaller gigs..

But i have had no issues with my genz gear and it is used almost everyday and some gigs are rough.. such as running the head at 2 ohms on an outdoor gig with ambient air being 100 degrees +.. the amp kept going without an issue..

My eden problems were ongoing so i decided i did not prefer it anymore. My EVO ABM500II had a power supply failure 2 times in the course of 1 month right after buying it brand new.. so i can not recommend them.. maybe each of those companies have come along some but i will not recommend either..
The Genz is my choice and a great tone machine.
 
#4
Sound or reliability shouldn't be a trade off. You can easily have both. You need to try different brands. Mix it up. Go with a clean reliable power amp, and try different pre's. Don't equate China or any country with low quality. It's the engineering and construction that counts.
 
#5
I've tried the GBE750 once plugged in a GB 410 cabinet, don'T remember the exact model though and with everything set flat I found it to sound really clanky, mid-focused, sterile and cold. Kind of a mix between SWR and GK.

Mind you, it's just my experience and I didn't fiddle with the EQ or plugged into a reference cabinet but just the initial sound I got was enough to look elsewhere.
 
#7
HolyGrowl said:
I've tried the GBE750 once plugged in a GB 410 cabinet, don'T remember the exact model though and with everything set flat I found it to sound really clanky, mid-focused, sterile and cold. Kind of a mix between SWR and GK.

Mind you, it's just my experience and I didn't fiddle with the EQ or plugged into a reference cabinet but just the initial sound I got was enough to look elsewhere.
Click to expand...

The amps are a bit more popular than the cabs, save the Neo line. Everyone seems to rave about the GB NeoX line (210/212/112).
 
#9
just wondering what bass you used.. i dont get what you described at all with my basses..
I usually use an Alleva Coppolo kbp4 or kbp5 passive.. or my sadowsky nyc pj5.. i always get phat, huge lows to where you feel air moving in and out of a beer bottle type lows.. with maybe 2 clicks of low boost.. in fact an engineer that i work with at least twice a week loved this amp for its hugeness... i have to take what he says for real the guy has 4 grammys... i trust him..
I guess we all find different results...

HolyGrowl said:
I've tried the GBE750 once plugged in a GB 410 cabinet, don'T remember the exact model though and with everything set flat I found it to sound really clanky, mid-focused, sterile and cold. Kind of a mix between SWR and GK.

Mind you, it's just my experience and I didn't fiddle with the EQ or plugged into a reference cabinet but just the initial sound I got was enough to look elsewhere.
Click to expand...
 
#10
Greetings from the North,

You gotta have both and don't settle for less. If you do settle for less make sure you always have back up or you'll be on stage lookin like an uncomfortable chump. There's great sounding gear out there that's reliable with good warranties. Try looking at Yorkville/Traynor, Genz Benz, Dr.Bass for starters.

Rezdog
 
#11
svtb15 said:
just wondering what bass you used.. i dont get what you described at all with my basses..
I usually use an Alleva Coppolo kbp4 or kbp5 passive.. or my sadowsky nyc pj5.. i always get phat, huge lows to where you feel air moving in and out of a beer bottle type lows.. with maybe 2 clicks of low boost.. in fact an engineer that i work with at least twice a week loved this amp for its hugeness... i have to take what he says for real the guy has 4 grammys... i trust him..
I guess we all find different results...
Click to expand...

I was using a Stingray5 and I tested some other gear that day as well. But i'll give GB another try at a different store just to make sure.
 
#12
I've had reliability issues with Ashdown. I week after I bought it.

I essentially read every post on the matter, finally came to a decision, liquidated my previous rig and bought the Ashdown to have it break on me and leave me ampless.

The repair and warranty process is arduous, as anyone would expect...

If you had asked me before this mess if sound trumps reliability, I would have said yes without a doubt.

Now I think differently.
 
#13
I promise you every brand will have it's horror stories. I would lean towards finding the sound you want and buying it from a reputable store that will take care of you should something fail. You might pay a little more but I've found if you become a regular customer, you have a better chance of walking away with a solution when there is a problem as opposed to more headaches.
I too found the Genz Benz to be clanky but I'm really thinking the tube pre in the Shuttle 6.0 is worth waiting to check out before going with my current first choice a Thunderfunk 550B. Though there are some nice deals on used TF's here right now. Hope the Shuttle lands soon.

Oh and I've been using an Eden WT-400 for close to 4 years of heavy gigging, it's been great and I love the warm fat sound I'm hearing with it. If the WT-550 is similar it's a great choice.
 
#14
No point having the best tone if the amp spends more time in repairs IMO. As said before, every company have their horror stories. Some more than some. If you read post about amp failures, 9/10 it happens within the first few months of opperation. So you can't go wrong pushing the equipment, before you buy it and test every feature. Even if you think you do not need it. Good luck.
 
#16
There is not one amp brand on the market that has not had reliability issues and reliability issues with brands can be found through out TB, tb members love to talk about issues with amps.

Just do some research and when you find the amp that you really like just do some research and see what the pros, cons and reliability issues may be with that particular brand.
 

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