Ashdown ABM 500 RC EVO II Head

Over the last couple of years I have gone from a combo unit to an Ampeg SVT150H and cabs, to an Ampeg V4BH and cabs, to a SVT-3-Pro and cabs. I was needing more power, and except for the V4BH none of the amps I had or had tried sounded musical. I tried the Ashdown line at Bass Northwest and fell in love with the ABM series. Paid $1065 for it.

The ABM series modestly rates the power they put out. The ABM 300 is way louder than my SVT-3-Pro which is rated at 450 watts. And my ABM 500 is easily as loud as the SVT Classic. Go figure. Besides the power and headroom, the amps have an octaver which really sounds good. It also has a FET and tube preamp that you can blend. The quality is outstanding. This is the sound I have been looking for for so long... thanks Ashdown.

I'm not a big fan of the power switch being on the back of the amp. I would like to see light indicators for some of the button controls.

Very very well built. Two fans blowing cool air through the unit. The RC model has a beautiful chrome front. The unit looks and operates flawlessly.

A great unit, maybe a little more pricey than the Ampeg line, but you get what you pay for.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

(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??

nothing prciser
My Ampeg 6x10 coupled '... his big, big margin in the power,
I rarely have to push to the max, except on large scnes good teams.

UTILIZATION

idem, nothing prciser

SOUNDS

Suitable for all types of music "modern"
I play mostly rock, pop, electro-pop, but should also all other styles. The sound is super clean, so you see what you sent in his bte ...
I use the octave low rev, time for other effects. For cons, the pramp, I try to send the maximum gain, a can work well with the tube ... superb.
The EQ, just a few corrections in the low when it ncessaire but rarely trs.
The drive, I love ... I use it all the time, 9-10am for a few grains, more when it ncessaire.
Small precision, since the Last revised (only one in eight years ...) I did replace the Sovtek tube and l. .. I redcouvre my amp ... there are quantities of tube on the walk, you find one that suits you.
The position of "shape", I use it in small clubs o subs too may fail to turn and DEFINITIONS. The DI was never possible in problem, no breath, no comments ingnieurs her so I guess that worked.
I use it with my precision, musicman bongo stringray and ... it works.

OVERALL OPINION

Voil was 8 years that I possde this amp ... He always remained Fidler is the reliable stuff. My model is old bill, manufactured in Europe, The models are rcents, I believe, now manufactured in Asia ... Never tests.
I jou a fender combo, I really AIM SWR .. uh no, never, Warwick, let alone, Mesa Boogie 400 +, I made the mistake of selling it, but too fragile and Many More ...
For me the sound is before the amp, with his instrument with his fingers, his plectrum ... the amp has is used to amplify and this amp does well trs!

- Amplifier Transistor (most modern bass amps are that transistor is prciser; the advantage of the lamps is that they offer more harmonics, which is INTERESTED in the case guitar, at least in that of the bass are sought o gnralement sound more "efficient" as rich in harmonics ...)
- 575W, which is far more than enough, buy a 900W amp is absolutely nothing to do because gnralement, when you have bxs like these is that the we make scnes plutt respectable, which feature a faade. The purpose of an amp is not even when water alone an audience of 1000 people or more ... And with this Ashdown, I play a ct with a guitarist who played on a PRS Mesa Dual Rectifier, and I want to compare well
- Connectivity: trs INTERESTED lot of ct;
* DI XLR is faade and selects the "pre-EQ" or "post-EQ", basically a lot is the sound of the bass directly or pass by the sound r tings of the amp.
* An output that allows specially in faade out just sound an octave lower, which triggers when the Octavia apparatus (see "effects"). Trs useful in the studio!
* If the jack, for between the line out and the output to the box, exit faade for the tuner, effect loop in and out and line in the rear, and I ' forgotten some things because I do not have my amp right now at hand ...

-Rglages: as you can see, there are a lot of things:
* A button "shape" or "flat", the sound coming out is difficult dcrire, if that is much warmer than the other, you try ...
* A EQ (which can trigger or not, and it's "foot-switchable") of seven bands, a little oddly made, get used: it is actually made up of 3 main buttons (bass , medium and treble) where they itercal of pots for frquences intermdiaires, and works well!
* A "valve drive" without offering a vritable the "crunch", this lightweight "effect" adds a "grain" to the sound, and a little boost, for example, refrains o the guitar is powerful trs.
* A sub: love is all a con octavia, sounding the thunder god. With a 2-channel switch pedals (which works with a jack Stereo), we just switch on this drive and the valve.

It's the ball, friends!

UTILIZATION

- Simple to burst open mouth ... We quickly catch trs the bazaar, nothing unusual.
- To get a good sound: it is enough to plugger! APRS is a matter of got ... Of course I play the above with a MusicMan Sterling, a help, but I must say that my very old bass (ibanez basic MODEL jconnais more accurate ...) and that sounded like a dung on to other amp is a good boost by passing the above!
- The manual? Jl'ai not read ... no need!

SOUNDS

- You do rock, funk, blues? Buy Now! Hear how sounds of Jamiroquai bassist on "traveling Without Moving" has a musicman and the Ashdown! U2 bassist for that matter, even if jsuis much less a fan of it ...
- So I use a MusicMan Sterling, I have two effects more than the amp Submitted: an EHX bassball (combined with the Octavia, was a sound straight out of hell ), and an EHX Big Muff distortion, both Russian. I plan to buy a SYB-5 and a little more time and probably a Roland V-Bass for the effects of alien
- The rglages allow you to get a multitude of sounds, one must quibble, we quickly catch the trick, I will not m'tendre the above ...
- Personally, I like the sound prcis and powerful at the same time, a bit of Incubus in the great years (in fact it jcrois that having bcp bass ...) , and jdois say on this point-the Ampeg Ashdown does not compete with! Ampeg is much cooler ... Other brands for that matter, that jpeux amps I tried before finding this one!
I put a 9 as I am not 10 everywhere.

OVERALL OPINION

- I use it for a year now, I just made a pre-production studio album, for which we thought was not only served to take me to the microphone, I was directly taken on the DI from the amp (obviously with the post EQ) and well everyone is rest of the tape that had been out of like a. ..

- I love him, and I tried everything I was going to hand before you buy: svt2pro ampeg, svt classic, for SWR, Hartke of poo, the Gallien & Krueger of the mesa and even of David Eden: NOTHING IS WORTH THE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wanted to change the box some time ago (I have a pretty bad box, a Warwick), so I t music store in Cologne o they said, "But with an amp as a No need to box ". It's true ... We go out live on faade for concerts, the box is used only for rptitions ...

This is not so much as a (1100, I had 950 new), and if you buy it you will never look for another of your life ... It's worth it! (And nothing is magnificently beautiful gcher ...)