Which amp? MAG 300H or 600H?

[Whitey1980]

I'm new to the forum so hello!

Ok I'm looking to get the Ashdown MAG Evo 2 head. I play a stingray and will be playing in an indie band so I'm certain a solid state head will suite my needs.

Do I need the 300H or the 600H? The majority of gigs will be in small clubs but it's likely that further down the line we could be playing concert halls and festivals.

I'm primarily a guitar player and I know if I took a 100W Marshall JCM800 to a small club I would deafen the audience with the volume set at one. Also with guitar tube amps the tone gets better the more you crank it. Would it be the same if I used the 600H at a small gig or can I get good tone at a low volume?

The last and only bass amp I've ever owned was a Trace Elliot 150W from the early 80's and that was barely loud enough for rehearsal so I've no idea how much todays technology compares and haven't tried anything in the stores yet.

Any advise would be most appreciated.

 

[PunkRockBass]

Well really a 300H is fine, its what I have, at festivals you would use the D.I out on the head or mic up the cab. What cab(s) are you using with it?

 

[Whitey1980]

Well really a 300H is fine, its what I have, at festivals you would use the D.I out on the head or mic up the cab. What cab(s) are you using with it?

I'll probably use the MAG 410T. How well would the 300H perform if I wanted to use two 410T further down the line?

 

[stanger503]

i had that exact setup...well still do.... and it was pretty loud. i never NEEDED any kind of help but i was ran through the pa anyhow for sound quality. stage sound was always good though. i just bought a bx500 and well...i dont see my mag getting any use ever again. so its gonna have to go pretty soon

 

[PunkRockBass]

To get the full sound from the Head, you do really need two cabs, I have a MAG 410T and a MAG 210T and its a lovely sound. Plus very loud!

 

[stanger503]

To get the full sound from the Head, you do really need two cabs, I have a MAG 410T and a MAG 210T and its a lovely sound. Plus very loud!

or...you could just get a 4 ohm 610 810 or 410 or any variance of cab you'd like as long as its 4 ohms. i never got the chance to run mine at 4 so i cant give the opinion on that. i also never needed to

 

[pj-mike]

You might consider the 600H with a single cab. The extra cash for the 600H is less than the cost of a second cab to get all 300 watts out of the 300H.

 

[KingCrimson]

You might consider the 600H with a single cab. The extra cash for the 600H is less than the cost of a second cab to get all 300 watts out of the 300H.

there won't be *much* of a difference though, more speakers will still be louder

 

[PJSShearer]

I just bought a 300 a couple of weeks ago and it sounds awesome, the best I've ever sounded and I only wish they made them back in the '80s when I played for a living. As stated above, if you ever get to a gig where the 300 ain't loud enough, you'll be di'ed anyway. I'd recommed going with a 2 x 10 + 1 x 15 - you can leave one or the other behind if it's a small gig and, besides someone's got to carry it!! and when I was a pro, that someone was me.

Does anyone else find Ashdown gear awesome and very reasonably priced?

 

[stanger503]

I just bought a 300 a couple of weeks ago and it sounds awesome, the best I've ever sounded and I only wish they made them back in the '80s when I played for a living. As stated above, if you ever get to a gig where the 300 ain't loud enough, you'll be di'ed anyway. I'd recommed going with a 2 x 10 + 1 x 15 - you can leave one or the other behind if it's a small gig and, besides someone's got to carry it!! and when I was a pro, that someone was me.

Does anyone else find Ashdown gear awesome and very reasonably priced?

yes quite so....the only thing i would say is change the 210 to a 212

 

[1kinal]

In 2006 I was hired to do demos of Ashdown gear at two music trade shows (like NAMM) in Canada. Because of this I was able to get extensive experience with most of their product line.

I've played both the MAG 300 and 600 into many of their cabs. To be honest, I didn't heard a lot (if any) difference in volume between the two heads. Because of this I'd recommend the 300. It's VERY loud for a 300 watts amp while the 600 seemed underpowered for a 600 watts head.

The MAG 300 is in my opinion one of the best value available. It sounds really good and cost close to nothing. And with certain cabs I even prefered the MAG to the ABM head!

 

[Whitey1980]

Everyone, thanks so much for your input on this thread I'm gonna go with the 300 and a 410 cab for now. If the size of the venues increase then I'll consider another. Can't wait to get this thing.