Ashdown MAG C115-300 Combo

Everything has already been said on that, I do not have much to add, to summarize this is a bass amp, transistor, 150w expandable to 300 with a second speaker, it is composed of buttons and knobs as quite amp, and a significant DI output which can be very useful.

I have not had the opportunity to compete with a full band, but in any case to play at home and vibrating the furniture in his house the original 150 watts more than sufficient and the most beautiful effect, regarding group play against a battery and two guitars I have not tried so I prefer not to say.

UTILIZATION

Operation is very simple, I did not receive a manual with the amp but I do not need, the best is yet to test the possibilities empirically to find out everything he has in belly.

SOUNDS

The sound comes out of this amp is exactly what I was looking for, without even knowing that I was looking for when I started playing it seemed obvious, and now I know that if I changed my amp c ' is the sound I look for.

Basically it's a great big warm kind old vintage amp very imposing.
In any case I use a Cort GB44 with no additional effect and the duo sounds of fire god, add a tambourine behind the groove against time and is already here!

OVERALL OPINION

I do not use it for very long, not even a year and opportunities are increasingly rare to enjoy it, but every reunion is a pleasure that I can not live without.

I have not tried any other models before this one so my opinion is probably not very objective, I had basically a small Hartke 30w that I bought with my bass when I started.
One day I wanted to replace him for the next level after a few weeks of research is the Ashdown came out, I tried it and I was hooked.

If I had to start again I would do without hesitation that choice, this amp is a groove generator power!

300w combo amp transistor which are issued only after another firm is connected, XLR output to facilitate the balance or recording, 5 band EQ, and a knob that adds SUB-harmonic one octave lower has your her. Blue Line the bowl measures 15 inches good.

UTILIZATION

configuration very easy thanks to the VU meter, adjusting the first input based on its games, enclanchés effects, EQ and then finally the Master Volume. the manual is well thought out and provides information and advice to really find YOUR SON! 5 minutes with it is good that you ask for?

SOUNDS

Ashdown is a rather rock, doing a little thought to the series of BA at Ampeg (I tested, but this is subjective). the sound is no shortage of bass, but thanks to the EQ is very powerful carves at will. I have long played an Aerodyne Jazz Bass and I recently spent a Jazz bass from 1965. the amp really respect the character of the instrument, adding a light color. nice!
I play with a wah and an overdrive bass direct input of the amp, no problem. for more chipoteurs, an effects loop is available (effective for spatial effects like reverb or delay. the sub Harm add a little body to the sound, depending on the time, it is useful or not!

OVERALL OPINION

6 years of use and not a glitch, what quality!
I hesitated a long time with the Ampeg BA, retracting me by telling me that the BA (although great!) is not really in the spirit of its own brand.
I love the rock sound, punchy! there has to see those who trust him (U2, Level 42, ....) is the only least a slight lack of treble, but that rule with a 10 inch extension, a must see!
Without hesitation, I redeemed one tomorrow!

Transistor amplifier 307 Watts, 5 knobs of qualisation + 1 boost in the bass, treble and one in an octave with a control to adjust volume.
DI output
Between passive / active
I put 9 because no switch for the octave except the price (528) power is more than interesting and output di is very practical.

UTILIZATION

The sound is very simple to find, I'm going to sound a more heavy slamming very easy ...
Not read the manual ...

SOUNDS

Super sound, the sound is chalereux trs. When I play alone I balance the octave and gives a super grain that my bass it is mediocre, the power is, in a 3-4 group I play on my amp and I stay out much of electronic piano which is not always obvious!
I play jazz, funk, electro, ... same high gloss Mount n 'brings almost no breath.

OVERALL OPINION

I tried many dampli in this price range (rumble, Hartke, tnt, ... I could not try the backline and the Roland, but I wish I did not find ) is the only one who has arpondu all my requests, more than 100 watts - 600, warm sound.
The less the weight ... which earned him nine
the top of my two weeks I would do fitting that choice I will modify the post if ever

This wonderful combo is composed of a transistor amp head 300 watts, and a 15-inch HP.
The power of advertisement is 307 watts RMS. Head and HP are reread by a Speakon jack, found the back of which connect a second HP. On the site are indicated all references techniqueshttp: / / www.ashdownmusic.co.uk/bass/detail.asp?ID=77

At the front, there is a between active and passive, an equalizer five knobs, a DI output, an input / output effects, and an output line. There is a button to boost the bass, one for the treble booster, another to enable / disable the equalization.
There is also a beautiful Meter that tells you the power of, rgy by the gain knob (input). For those who love the distortion amp is practical o)

Particularity small home Ashdown, a button IN / OUT SUB, and a large knob to adjust the strength of a Sub Harmonic.
Basically, it's an octave put on a little sound, it reacts to adjust the knob of the bass equalization. With that of the Sub Harmonics, we can adjust the volume of the octave. It sounds very stupid in the moment but it warms without making draft, and it gives another dimension very discrete in his sympaj'aime is really great. As if there were two sound coming out of the amp at the same time.

Just a regret for the Sub Harmonics, it is not switchable, it should press the button to disable it. There is a footswitch, sold separately, but this function is only available on the ABM series, the amp head is the configuration completemais HP equivalent.

The HP is a 15-inch, no point, except that it is blue.

At the rear there is a fan to cool the beast, and the switch.

Everything is covered in black carpet. It sobreUne grip on the top, I hope she is strong, the beast weighs 30 kg

I put 9 because it is full, frank super easy to use and very very beautiful. I am not 10 because no footswitch and no headphone jack (which is nitpicky)

UTILIZATION

Configuration Hyper simple, you plug, turn the knobs and AC drives
The sound is super balance I use it with an Ibanez ATK 300. It takes a very neutral sound with equalization all afternoon (and bass amp). Ds that we begin to touch the buttons reglageswhaouh, it takes an already huge dimension I added a bit more bass, nothing in the medium, nothing sharp and it sounds serious

The Hp cash without problem.

I got a good sound in less than 5 minutes, finally the sound I want! Round and warm, but which betrayed the clicking of both the Sub harmonics mediatorUne branch is perceived behind a snoring sound which gives an almost touches it remains very fretlessmais discretet I had put a background to really feel the thing.

I had no manual with it, but what good, even my son can use it 16 months, o). However, it can be downloaded from the site (and normally it is supplied with M. the mister, he had more). I did not test the DI at the moment

Is what I can put 10? It's really my sound, 3 minutesje put 9 because I'm hyper exigeantmais I am filled with the sound

SOUNDS

I play the POP / ROCK IND (Yogi Rocks), and electro pop (16pac). I wanted an amp that allows me to play in two groups, but also to me peter donf Punk 'if the mood takes me with his dirty and sharp, and playing reggae with a round, heavy, netJ'y but arrived safely
This amp is very versatile!

For the group of pop / rock, I wanted a round but keep fishing and subtle key mediator, just the placebo / Curedeviant to Nirvana, and the electro pop, a sound round and warm even the mediator, very precise, bold but not rough. I manage to pass each other without worries.

As said above, I play it with an Ibanez ATK 300, active, pluto east rock, slap groove etcje does not use effects.
I love the round sound that it provides, you feel it vibrate while remaining potato precisgrosse really hot!
I do not hate rienJe put 10, because it is the perfect complement to my bass.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had one month, he is elected to a drastic selection which consisted of AMPEG BA 115, Fender Rumble 100, Fender Bassman 150, Edenet any other amp running 100 to 300 Watts There are many, I grant you. I also selected the full range of Ashdown MAG in its various configs (1 or 2 * 12 * 10 4 * 10 or * 15 or 1), and Electric Blue 180 from the same brand.

Results
Ampeg, though, his round chaudJe repeated on a large head and an ampeg 2X4 * 10je was not surprised. It is different but there are familiar.
The Fender Rumble was bienmais I was not seduced
The Bassman 150 against me greatly by species hesitson Contour / compressor corrects the sound of a disturbing way. It's really nice and it should afford its full differentsmais I think the HP is 12 inches and it lacks roundness my taste.
I also test an Eden, beautiful, very cool sound, very very netm cherenfin found.

To Ashdown.
The Electric Blue was stone, the HP sizzling surprise of a vendeury'en who has let go during the break o)
MAG 300 in version 2 * 10 was really coolgrosse potato, but it lacks serious my taste.
The same version 4 * 10 was really great, exactly what I wanted, precise hot pataterien wrong, if not the poidsplus expensive too.
So I took the 1 * 15, which keeps its features amp warm, round, with good pechedifferent of 4 * 10, but its size made me choose it.

I pay 586 euros, I had a budget of around 700/800 euros. I find the really good price quality ratio because it is cheaper than the Ampeg, not much more than the Rumble and less than the Bassman 150 for more power. So really good price for a 300-watt head which allows more control over the sound.
I love this amp, it fills me more than I expected. I'm just disappointed not to have tested the ABM series, I probably fell for one of them, but I do not know o find in France. I regret therefore that history footswitchmais ca must be able to tinker and ca is really incidental to the joy of playing on his amp with the sound you want, keeping a great mastery of the power ensemblememe relatively high.

I do not repeat with my groups, but I could test a high volume anyway, and it's really bonj'espere play lots of concerts, and add a few lines can be on stage after the test I do not care whether or not I hear the drummer is far from being a lumberjack, and at worst a good recovery in a sound system, microphone or via the DI will probably very much

I had the chance to test all these amps tranquillou in a store, where they were all present, with my bass which is a real luxury, thank you to the seller to have support my three hours of sound reflections

I put 10 without hesitation because it is beautiful, it sounds like in my dreams, it has a reasonable price, it pleases my wife and I remake that choice in a heartbeat unless the currency become Ashdown ABM common in all good shops in Paris.
[edit POST CONCERT]

I test last Saturday in a small room (60, 80 people), and ca rolled smoothly.
Its hot, really precisun regal! Despite a beefier sound level jazz club.
I put a lot of his attack on the mediator, with a medium high setting hard enough, and even with that the sound was very warm. Aggressive but audible. I got along really well, without blurring or other cover everyone from low
it's a really great amp, even if he sometimes less sweet than 2 * 10, but frankly, the lack of 2 * 10 lower my goutle mixture of the two must be idealun days can be.