• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Why no love for Ashdown?

#181
I really don't know as I have never played out of an ABM. I can only say that I have read that the Rootmaster has been compared to the MAG series and that the Shape button boosts the lows and highs making it sound like an ABM, IDK. When I first tried using the Shape on a gig for 1 song, I thought it was going to sound muddy due to how low it got, but I actually loved the tone and feel I got out of it. I pretty much now run the Rootmaster with the setting on my picture but with the middle knob now at 12:00, everything else stays the same as the picture and it sounds great. Very similar to my GK 700rb II as strange as that may sound to some.

Anyway, sorry for the long winded post. To answer your original question, I don't know. :roflmao:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rickter
#182
Daniel Piper said:
Awesome rig!

Is the rootmaster EVO similar in tone to the abm evo?
Click to expand...

I tested out the RM500 210 combo for a little while and felt that it was pretty similar to my ABM 500 EVO II. I thought the fan was a bit loud, but besides that, I really liked it and would consider having one as a back up to my ABM. It got plenty loud too unlike the Ashdown MiBass 550 I used to have.
 
#183
CoR Bass said:
I tested out the RM500 210 combo for a little while and felt that it was pretty similar to my ABM 500 EVO II. I thought the fan was a bit loud, but besides that, I really liked it and would consider having one as a back up to my ABM. It got plenty loud too unlike the Ashdown MiBass 550 I used to have.
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that. The Rootmaster 500 is one loud mother. I also originally tried a combo (112) and thought it sounded pretty good but not spectacular. Once I plugged it into a Fender Rumble 410, my ears perked up. That really caught my attention. I figured if it sounded that good on the Rumble, it should sound great on my TC and GK cabs. I was right. Great decision on buying that amp. I don't remember if the fan was loud on the combo, but on the head, I really never hear it at all. IMHO but YMMV.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Daniel Piper and Rickter
#188
...never tried their better/pricier stuff.....but have occasionally sampled their less expensive combos over the last 10 yars or so and always felt there were better (lighter, more toneful) options for the buck.
 
#190
wmhill said:
That had great tone, so more power would be awesome
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, I can definitely state that the Rootmaster 500 EVO has volume on par with all of my amps. I can't tell you how loud it gets because there really is no way of knowing for me other than by how much my ears can take. All I can state is that it gets way more than loud enough for my gigs. If it wasn't loud enough, I would not own it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sandman64 and wmhill
#191
I've played through the old RM 420 and the tone was pretty crappy for my taste. I didn't like the old RM cabs either. The new EVO stuff though is very similar to the ABM at about half the cost. Well worth the money I think. I have 2 of the RM 210 EVO cabs and just grabbed the RM 410 EVO that was for sale on here. At almost half the weight, I'm pretty sure I'm going to replace my 2 ABM 410s with the RM 410s.
 
#192
The new Rootmaster amps are great. loud, versatile, well built, light weight and sound good. What more can you ask for? I have 4 class D amps now. A Markbass Littlemark III, an Aguliar Tone Hammer 500, A Mesa D800+ and my Ashdown Rootmaster 800. Granted they all have their own unique sound, but I personally don't like any one amp anymore than any of the other ones. All are very well built, have great tone, features and they are light weight. Great amps made but some very good companies who seem to care about building high quality products designed for the working bassist.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Wicked G
#194
Sandman64 said:
The new Rootmaster amps are great. loud, versatile, well built, light weight and sound good. What more can you ask for? I have 4 class D amps now. A Markbass Littlemark III, an Aguliar Tone Hammer 500, A Mesa D800+ and my Ashdown Rootmaster 800. Granted they all have their own unique sound, but I personally don't like any one amp anymore than any of the other ones. All are very well built, have great tone, features and they are light weight. Great amps made but some very good companies who seem to care about building high quality products designed for the working bassist.
Click to expand...

How's the fan noise on your Ashdown RM 800?
 
#195
Wicked G said:
Well I just got the new Musicians Friend Catalog and saw that they are now carrying the Ashdown Rootmaster 500 EVO. That's good news since the only ones carrying it for the last year were Sweetwater and Adorama Camera whenever they could get it. Just throwing it out there for anyone who was interested and found it hard to find like I did.
Click to expand...
That IS good news, but keep in mind that the MF catalog only represents a small portion of what they carry. Ashdown products have actually been on their website for years. I have never found them to be THAT hard to find. I love my ABM 500.
 
#196
DDP said:
That IS good news, but keep in mind that the MF catalog only represents a small portion of what they carry. Ashdown products have actually been on their website for years. I have never found them to be THAT hard to find. I love my ABM 500.
Click to expand...
Yeah I know, but they didn't carry the Rootmaster 500 or 800. Those 2 particular amps were only carried by Sweetwater and Adorama Camera for some reason and only limited amounts. I know, it took me a while to finally get mine. Well worth the wait though.
 
#197
Wicked G said:
Yeah I know, but they didn't carry the Rootmaster 500 or 800. Those 2 particular amps were only carried by Sweetwater and Adorama Camera for some reason and only limited amounts. I know, it took me a while to finally get mine. Well worth the wait though.
Click to expand...
Super! I am not so familiar with the RM line. I hear good things!
 
#198
I love mine so much I had a Bubinga shell made for it
IMG_1596.jpg


sideFin.jpg


IMG_0694.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Novarocker, eKay, moles and 2 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back