Ashdown

The EVO series amp are short I believe for evolution if I'm not mistaken. This is the 300 watt version. You get the same great tone and features as you would the 500 or the 900 watt versions, but just a more manageable power. This head is a whopping 300 watts of extreme low end power. This bass amp is one of the best sounding and most versatile units on the market today. This head can cover a ton of ground with the available tones in this head. You get enough power to play and stage in any area or club in the world. UTILIZATION Power Output (RMS) 325W Power Requirement 230 / 115V Frequency Response -3dB at 17Hz and 30kHz Speaker Outputs Minimum impedance 4 Ohms High Instrument Input Impedance 3.9m Ohms, input range 150mV - 20mV p-p Low Instrument Input Impedance 10k Ohms, input range 300mV - 40V p-p Line Input Impedance 22k Ohms, input level 0dBu nominal Sub Output Impedance 1k Ohms, level 0dBu Nominal DI Output 600 Ohms balanced, level 0dBu nominal Tuner Output Impedance 22k Ohms, level 0dBu nominal EQ Bass +/-15dB @ 45Hz Middle +/-15dB @ 660Hz Treble +/-15dB @ 7kHz shelving Slider 1 +/-15dB @ 180Hz Slider 2 +/-15dB @ 340Hz Slider 3 +/-15dB @ 1.3kHz Slider 4 +/-15dB @ 2.6kHz Shape (Push Flat) +8dB @ 50Hz & 4kHz, -8dB @ 400Hz, filter slope - 6dB/octave Effects Send Impedance 22k Ohms, level 0dBu nominal Effects Return Impedance 22k Ohms, input level 0dBu Nominal H x W x D (mm) 134 x 474 x 315 Weight (kg) 12 SOUNDS This is one amazing sounding and competitively priced amplifier. The controls are a little confusing at first but after a few minutes you get the idea of how they constructed the unit. This amp can be a bit unusual at first. The sub controls are a little tricky. These are the controls under the basic EQ up top. I am referring to the drive, compression, and sub harmonics. Using these sparingly and wide open will give you an assortment of optional tones and various control over how the bass EQ gets thick or thinner or more distorted. You can really dial in overall tone that will better match your bass guitar and or the pickups that you are using. OVERALL OPINION These amps are harder to find now that they have the EVo 300 lll out on the market. You can keep an eye out on the classifieds and see if you pops up. I think that you could find one for around $500 give or take. This amp is much better that say a Gallien-Krueger or Hartke. This amp has a round tone that will fit in a metal band and a pop bubble gum band. The versatility is pretty much endless when it comes to fitting this amp in any band setting. I would recommend this amp to anyone searching for a great sounding bass amp that will fit any need you may have.

This is basically a bass distortion pedal. These pedals are pretty notable for how much they have disappointed me in the past. Not this one. There are two 1/4" connections for input and output as well as an input for the power supply. There are no MIDI or Computer editing capabilities. The pedal is also unfortunately not rackable. UTILIZATION The effects editing is a little bit more detailed, but I think that is really the selling point of this pedal. The configuration isn't too bad, though it is unique. The coolest thing about this pedal is the drive knobs. There is a separate drive knob for the high frequencies and low frequencies. This is crucial. There is also a filter control for both the high and low frequencies. There is also an input volume knob as well as an output volume knob. Another interesting feature is the balance knob, which controls the mix of the distorted and clean signals, which allows for a variety of tones. SOUND QUALITY I think that the P-bass is the best bass I have for this pedal, as the Jazz bass doesn't take well to distortion in general. The multiple drive controls for high and low frequencies make this a pretty amazing pedal. It makes it easy to add distortion to only the ends of the bass that you want to. Thus, you can emphasize the gain on the high end to make it sound really distorted, but leave the low end relatively clean to maintain the most thump and power. These knobs also prevent extremely muddy sounds, which was also a frustrating occurrence before. You can also really crank the gain on both frequency knobs but make the balance closer to the clean tone to make a really interesting distorted tone that still is clear. OVERALL OPINION I liked the variety of tones and the clarity of this pedal the most. I think that this is hands down the most interesting idea for a bass distortion I've seen. I think that it's expensive new, and it's not as well known, which is why I'm really psyched that my buddy found this for me. I have tried countless bass distortions and haven't really been satisfied with any of them. I would highly recommend this.

The Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III is a bass guitar amplifier head that can be used in any setting desired. I've personally only used this head in the recording studio that I work at, as a client brought this in to use for the session. The amp delivers 575 RMS watts and has both on board compression and equalization. It has a single 1/4" input and two 1/4" outputs in the front, as well as speaker cable output in the back and an XLR direct output in the front as well. This amp head is pretty compact and isn't as heavy as some other heads out there. UTILIZATION Using the Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III isn't too hard, but it will most likely take some time to learn all the quirks, as the case will be with any amplifier. I've only had the chance to use this amp on a single session, but everything is pretty self explanatory if you're familiar with the signal processing at hand. In addition to the three band EQ and the super simple compression (single knob), you've also got parameters for valve drive, sub-harmonics, and both input and output levels. This isn't your typical bass head, so if you're new to amps it might be a good idea to have a manual around. SOUNDS The sound of the Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III absolutely rips. It's got a super deep sound to it that's perfect for recording or any other application. We used the amp with a matching Ashdown USA 115 speaker cabinet, and it certainly sounded like a good fit even though we didn't and didn't need to try another cabinet. I'm a huge fan of the way this amp sound without any of the processing even on, as it's really round and fat. I should also mention that the bass guitar that was being played was a Fender Jazz Bass. The EQ is more than helpful and the compression is great for getting a bit tighter of a sound, although we didn't end up using the on board compression. The sub harmonic parameter is probably my favorite thing on here, as you won't see it very many other places and is awesome for adding a little depth and color to your sound. OVERALL OPINION The Ashdown ABM 500 EVO III seems to be a little known company, but for bass players they certainly have a lot to offer. I don't know what kind of price this amp commands, but I would be surprised if it was on the cheaper side at all, as it really sounds great and seems to be built extremely well. I'd highly recommend checking out the ABM 500 series and the Ashdown brand in general if you're looking for a top of the line bass amplifier.

(Originally written by conseil/translated from Audiofanzine FR) See previous review! Tube/solid state hybrid. UTILIZATION It's quite simple, just play around with the settings and you'll find the tone you're looking for. SOUNDS Powerful, well-rounded, accurate sound with a very faithful sound in the mids and highs. And it won't be necessary to play through a P.A. when outdoors. It's a real pleasure with an ABM 410H or similar!!! Use something in this range otherwise you'll blow up your speakers. I've probably never had to use more than 75% of its output power but I am aware that I have 600 watts backing me. I can easily imagine the monster when connected to the mixing desk of a 5 kW P.A.!!!!! OVERALL OPINION I've been using it the last 8 months for rehearsals. I play an active 5-string fretless Luthman. I tested Beringer, Peavey and Trace Eliot amps and they are ok but this beast really blew my mind away. I only need an audience!!!!! You may have a prejudice against the brand because it's new (compared to its competitors) but they are already one step ahead of the rest... could it be that they are being inspired byt their collaboration with U2? This high-quality amp head was exactly what I was looking for and at the right price. I would buy it again with my eyes closed and I'm utterly satisfied. And last but not least, the RC version looks great. What else could you ask for??

I've been playing Bass for almost 3 years and decided I needed a bass amp as i recently joined a band (also, my 10 watt practice amp would seem pointless to use in clubs). I decided on the Ashdown Electric Blue as I was on a tight budget at the time and needed the amplifier for practice and gigs. I bought the amp in England for £199 (around $249 i think). The amplifier made a great table. And occasionaly, an Amp. Quietly, the amp had a pretty muffled tone and seemed crackely when put loudly. After a month, it started makign a very loud noise even on low settings, so I sent the amp to the shop i bought it from to get it looked at aand they told me the speaker cone had a crack in it, after this i decided to have it repaired. After my first gig with my band, Wham! it stopped working. Got it repaired again. Played another gig with my band, Wham! Once again, it stopped working. The construction of the amp seemed flawless, until i put my bass through it. To by an amp and have the cone crack a month later seems a mystery, even when i didn't play it that loud. I eventually swapped this for an Ashdown Mag 300 and £130 ($149), which is a beautiful bass amp. I'd recommend this amp to anyone who likes a good looking table or very expensive fire wood. Otherwise, I'd strongly advise you saty away from this amp. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I got this amp at soundslive.co.uk for £270 in the sale. This is a great deal on such a high quality piece of equipment, i think it normally retails in at somewhere around £400. What is there not to like about this superb piece of kit, the tone is great, its got a 5-band eq, deep and bright switches, sub-harmonics, and an XLR output for PA or recording. The best feature has to be the volume this thing can reach - it has a 150 watt output and keeps the excellent tonal quality right up to its peak. And all this come in a pleasingly small package, considering the noise it can make. Oh yeh, did i mention it looks cool. So far i havnt found anything i dislike about this amp, its a great second amp, and i can see it lasing me a good few years. Ashdown build thier equipment bombproof. The body is sturdy, with tough carpet round the outside, the preamp section is robust and the speaker cone is well prtected buy a metal grill - what else would you expect from Englands new finest manufacturer of bass amps. It also has a few touches that suggest quality, like the fact its built at Ashdown's own Colchester plant, and the serial number etc. are written on by hand. This is an amp that will satisfy anyone fortunate enough to own it for a great many years. Great: tone, build, looks, feature and value. Plus its made in England, like so many great amps of the past. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I want to say there were less than 100 or 200 of these things made. I believe John Entwistle from The Who collaborated with Ashdown to design this preamp befor he died. My band picked one of these up a few years ago by trading some gear. I wish that Ashdown would bring back a reissue of this pre with the ABM 1000. We had this combo pared with an 8x12 Ampeg cab. The bass tone we got with this preamp was so full and filling in the room, and recording with it was a pleasure. The thing had an FET circuit that gave such a warmth to the tone that GK or Ampeg could never even match. UTILIZATION We had to play around with it a little bit to find the sweet spot. This was our first Ashdown product so the unfamiliarity factor was apparent. I think it took us some trial and error but eventually we found a good tone for the guitar and cab we were using. Since then we have changed things around but I remember most of the dials were set around noonish. The preamp was constructed to stay around the mid point and dial in the EQ with just very little shifting of the knobs. I used more of the Valve drive knob and the Sub harmonic to really tailor the tone. These two features are fantastic! Being able to dial in a little grind to bass while adding sub octave chorus to the tone was amazing. To this day I haven't played a better bass head or preamp that could match up to this tone. John was a tone purist...just look at his ugly bass guitar condor bird he built for himself. He said it looked ugly but had a tone no other guitar could match and this preamp follows that same approach to music. Although this unit was nice to look at. We didn't get a manual since we got it on the used market but Ashdown does have a manual available on their website if you get the pleasure of finding one of these pre's. SOUNDS The tone was remarkable! Just pure bliss, which makes listening to the bass a little pleasurable. I usually ran the Valve and Sub around 2:00 and I enjoyed having these two knobs follow each other since they blended so well. The compression we used sparingly since I found that it doesn't allow the bass to bloom as much but gave a little more bottom end. So this knob was just barely engaged. We used this with a Rickenbacker 4003 and a ABM1000 power amp. We had some trouble with the power amp but luckily we had a spare. We had a solid rock/metal bass tone that fit in with just about any band situation...other than jazz fusion. Since they only built a hand full of these things not many people are even going to play them. However. Ashdown brought back the Klystron in a head form a few years ago and to which they discontinued that as well. However, you can still find some around on ebay and such. Now I believe the new EVO lll's are the new recreation of the Klystron. It seems to have the exact same features and sound. OVERALL OPINION There isn't anything to say negatively about this preamp. It was the perfect unit to get blooming, punchy, and responsive bass tone. It was warm and smooth while staying very tight and driving. So many professionals turn to Ashdown for their bass needs and this preamp to me is the best they ever did. I would recommend trying to find this preamp if you can because it could be a collectors item at some point. If you need something right now then I would look at new EVO lll.

The Ashdown USA 115 is a bass guitar speaker cabinet which I have used in tandem with Asdown ABM 500 Evo III amplifier head. I'm primarily not a bass player, although I do play, but I was an engineer on a session where this speaker and amp combination was used. This speaker is a beast, as it can handle up to 500 watts of power, although I'm sure nobody ever gets close to that. It's got a single 15" speaker inside of it, which is really quite large and can output a serious amount of bass frequencies. It doesn't have any other features or parameters beyond a speaker cable input for hooking this up to your amp head, but does have some handles that make it a little easier to move around. SOUNDS The sound of the Ashdown USA 115 as heard with a matching Ashdown head is pretty awesome overall. It's hard to separate the sound of the speaker and the head, but it's safe to say that this speaker cabinet handled everything being given to it from the head, which is saying a lot considering the depth of the bass sound from the Ashdown head I previously mentioned. I'd be curious to hear this speaker with a Fender Bassman head or something like that and/or compare it to another speaker cabinet, but to date I've yet to have a chance to do so. OVERALL OPINION While I'm not sure I'd recommend the Ashdown USA 115 bass speaker cabinet without having an Ashdown head to go along with it, in theory this cabinet should work well with any amp head. The only time I've heard it was with an Ashdown head to match, so it's hard to say how it would match up with a head from another brand, but I think it would sound pretty good across the board. Still, it's usually best to match an amp with a cabinet, so if you've got an Ashdown head I'd say it's worth checking out, but otherwise you might want to find something to match your head.

I have played bass for 20 years and a good 15 of that has been searching for the perfect amp. About 2 years ago i found it, Ashdowns Mag 300c 410t. Rated at 307 watts ( with optional ext. cab) this thing rocks! I found it easy to drop my ss Ampeg as soon as i gigged with it. For around 700 bucks it is the complete package. It handles my 5 string easily no matter what type of music. I bought this amp as a backup to an Ampeg B3, when i needed more volume on stage. Even without an extension cab it blew the b3 away! Rated at almost 50 watts less i still had to run the output at @ 10% all nite, now its all I use, the Mag 300 will give you 307 watts with an extension cabinet, but i have never needed it. Tone drips from the beautiful 10 inch blue line drivers (4) and is easily sculpted with the 5 band eq and onboard sub harmonic generator, even though the latter is more pronounced either with an ext. or in the mains via the xlr direct out. Deep, bright, and eq switches do exactly what they say. The only surprise with this amp is the capability of it. This amp is built like a tank. Would have prefered a tougher covering but thats just personal opinion. Not to mention it looks damn sexy with the glowing input vu meter and blue speakers. This thing is heavy. I guess thats the price of the solidity of the cab. Carpet covering is as easily torn as any other amp. In my opinion could benefit from sone tolex or somethin. Built in China apparently by the same guys who built the wall. Built well i havent had any problems at all. For the money, hell for twice the money, this rig is hard to beat. It does what ever you want it to. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I play bass in a band, and sometimes jam with others from time to time. I take electric bass very seriously (practice for hours every day), and I also play the flute on and off. I like REAL music (ie not rap or hip hop crap) everything from U2 and Cream to Marcus Miller. I bought this amp at Billy Hyde in Australia for $400 AUD, or something like $320 US. I was looking for a good quality reliable amp. This amplifier is probably the best deal in existence. It's an Ashdown and that probably means, above other things, that it'll kick anything else in the price range to the next suburb. You get that classic tight and punchy Ashdown tone, 100 watts and significant bragging rights all for a very reasonable price. I'll start with looks. It is possibly the tidiest and best looking 100 watt combo in existence. The controls are located on the top rear of the box, like a Roland Cube or Ampeg BA115. They are extremely tidy, easy to learn your way around etc and they are set into the box, not on top of it, so it's quite hard to break or knock a knob off or damage the controls by sitting something on top. I spent a while when I first got it just to admire the Ashdown badge in the top left corner of the front. The quality of the badge alone shows the confidence and pride the company have in themselves, Unlike other cheaper amps, where the badges look like you made it yourself out of plastic and glue. Tone-wise, nothing within 200 bucks is better or a justifiable purchase. It has such a tight, clear and punchy tone. It is very very clean and precise. The thing I love a lot is the gain control, where you can adjust precisely to match any passive or active bass. It also provides more gain than most other amps I've used, allowing lower output basses like one of mine to really shine and sound huge. I found it worked really well with my SG bass, the humbuckers seem to work really well with the amp's natural tone and 15 inch speaker. I found the amp to be right at home with slaping and popping. I don't know if you share my view, but I find 15 inch speakers to provide the best responce and bite when I'm slapping. The deep switch is interesting. You need the amp to be turned up a bit for it to work it's best. It basically boosts the low end and smoothes out the higher frequencies, resulting in a very deep tone (hence the name). Power-wise, I find this amp to compare with other 120-150 watt amps. Functionality is above average, but let down slightly due to the power switch (see the 'what I dislike about the unit' section). I could not have asked for a simpler or easier to use set of controls. You've got your basic three band EQ, your output/volume control, your gain control (very nice) and your deep switch. A single input jack for your bass, a headphone jack, external speaker jack and on mine there's a line in (for something like a CD player or maybe a tuner or metronome etc). The handle actually works. It's rather compact for a 100 watt combo with a 15 inch Speaker. The only thing I dislike is that the power switch is located halfway down the rear of the amp. It's no big deal for me, but for some people leaning down and having to reach behind the thing to turn it on would be annoying, especially if it's got something on top of it or next to it. It would have made more sense to put it on the top of the box on the face of the head with the rest of the controls. The finish is completely flawless. Everything is perfectly alligned and nothing is loose or rattles when in use. Unlike other amplifiers in its price range, the speaker easily handles the amount of power driving it, and does not fuzz, rattle or blow out at full volume. Although it is an Ashdown (and comes with union jacks all over the cardboard box), it is made in China, which makes it affordable for more players. Some people would say that the made in China sticker automatically makes it crap. I'm here to say not so. This thing is one of the best quality amplifiers I've ever seen or used. It will easily out-class anything else out there in the category, from Fender Rumble 100s to Roland Cube 100s. Even 100 watt combos twice its price may no longer seem worth the extra money after you've played one of these. This is the best tone possible in this price range. Best quality as well. People may think 'oh, I'll buy a behringer because it has more features and watts'. Well you'd be a retard if you thought that. This amp's beautiful tone makes up for it's lack of features, and the power is actually what it says on the box, unlike crappy behringers. The Ashdown would blow any behringer in the price range away. I guess the same with anything else in the price range. Buy this amp if you respect your own talent as a musician. I bought it, and I haven't stopped smiling since. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

ive been playing bass for 6 years as a punk player. i play a fender active deluxe precision and its fantastic prior to buying the amp i had been using a MAG300 2x10 combo with a 15' MAG cab and it was brilliant, lovely little rig, plenty of power. but as time passed i needed a more powerful rig so i opted for the MAG-600 head as i loved ashdown. I bought the head with 2 4x10 gallien krueger cabs. The Head cost £380 from soundslive (UK) and the cabs £300 each Nothing! i hooked the amp up to the cabs expecting thunderous volume with the amp being rated 600watt. what came out was about 100 watts worth of sound at FULL volume, i had an 8year old Carlsbro 150w head and it absolutly destroyed the ashdown, volume wise. I took the amp back and bought a gallien krueger 700RB II. Now that is a F*ckin Amp, it is fantastic! Everything! lol theres nothing more i can say, it was a disapointment through and through! the build quality was solid, typical ashdown but what use is that when u can barely hear the amp! Do not buy this amp, spend your money and something else! This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

went to p/x an ampeg flip top combo for an ashdown 200 or 400w head as i required a little more volume for smaller gigs and rehearsing. ended up with a really good deal on a 500w abm combo. i had played through a mates at his home and was impressed so went for it. the octaver. was gobsmacked to find that a £61 300w eminence speaker was fitted to handle 500watts in a £1000+ combo. The reason being the amp has a number of limiter/compressors built in (aka trace) which was why i fell out with it when used at gigs - no dynamics - if i had a £ for every time i twiddled with the eq!!! If you like a big fat soft marshmallow sound you`ll love it but it won`t bite yer legs. think mr softy rather than marvin hagler. I actually rate eminence speakers but besides that £61 model in a £1000+ combo - certainly top banana, top build quality. my own view is that its good for a big soft jazz/pop sound but It wasn`t what i was looking for. Weirdly i actually miss it! ps my mate also got rid of his for the same reason - he now uses a gallien kreuger. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com