Need Help Choosing a Bass Amp!

blondebassist

Hi, although I've been playing bass for many years now, I'm not as knowledgeable as I should be when it comes to the equipment end of things. I have used a 100w Trace Elliot forever and never really liked it as it was a) never powerful enough and b) kept letting me down.

In the next few months I'm going to invest in an amp and I want to do it right. I'm looking for something reliable that won't let me down in terms of power either. I play mostly pub gigs, budget wise I'm looking to spend about 400-600 Euro and in case it makes a difference my bass is a 1978 Ibanez Silver Series (passive).

I've been browsing on Thomann and think that the Ashdown 300w combo might be right for me, but I'd welcome any suggestions from those of you who are in the know!

Thanks in advance!

Zapp Brannigan

I've used an Ashdown for the last 4 years. Love it, the amp has never let me down. And I've always gotten compliments about the sound. Only thing is it's f*ckin awkward to move around!

david

What kinda sound are you looking for? Frequency range wise?

red_ice

blondebassist wrote:

I've been browsing on Thomann and think that the Ashdown 300w combo might be right for me, but I'd welcome any suggestions from those of you who are in the know!

Thanks in advance!

Yep, im playing though an ashtown mag 300 atm (comes with the rehearsal space) and i love it! Theres a shop in rathfarnham called metro music and they do ashtown stuff, their guitars n stuff are pritty cheap, so i can only asume the amps are too! If i dont find a v4 soon, im gonna look into ashtown. Random, my mate got a 100w ashtown today second hand for next to nothing apparently

blondebassist

freakonaleashx wrote:

What kinda sound are you looking for? Frequency range wise?

As I said in the original post, I'm not as knowledgeable as I should be and don't "talk the talk" too well, so forgive me for not being specific about frequencies - but, in essence I like to have a fairly full sound but not too boomy. I also want to be able to brighten things up as well every so often but in that respect I have the advantage of having a switch on the bass itself which does a great job of brightening the sound.

blondebassist

slurms and red_ice - can I ask if the speakers you are using are 1x15, 2x10, 4x10 or larger and if you have an opinion on what would be the best way to go, leaving aside budgetary restrictions?

Royale with Cheese

I'm upgrading amp soon. Am gonna go with the Ashdown Mag 300 myself. Am leaning towards the 2X10 version.

judas101

bought an ashdown stack a few weeks back. Evo II head and 4x10 ABM cab.

love it.

if you were thinking of going for an ashdown i'd suggest to steer clear of the cheaper MAG stuff if your budget will allow it. you'll be much better off in the long run.

red_ice

afaik its the 2x10 model - and its great! i have no real basis for comparison, but i can replicate most tones that come to mind. I like a sharp warm tone, and it does that a treat imo.

I would definitly consider getting one, but my heart lies else where atm

Parsley

judas101 wrote:

bought an ashdown stack a few weeks back. Evo II head and 4x10 ABM cab.

love it.

if you were thinking of going for an ashdown i'd suggest to steer clear of the cheaper MAG stuff if your budget will allow it. you'll be much better off in the long run.

It's the Electric Blue series that's the real cheap stuff to steer clear of, the MAG line is great quality.

John

Ashdown MAGs are great amps. I've used the 2x10 a lot (don't own one myself unfortunately) and it is the business.

Doctor J

Personally, I think the EQ sections on the Ashdowns aren't the best but the amps sound good so it almost balances itself. Regarding the speakers, if you ever foresee youself playing a low B, get something with a 15". If you are physically in good shape, get a 4x10". For pub gigs a 2x10" would be ample though and won't give you a hernia. Personally, I like the combination of a 1x15" and a 2x10" with a tweeter to cover everything, but realistically unless you want the fattest of lows and clearest of highs a 2x10" or 4x10" will cover your needs.

Zapp Brannigan

I have a 1x15, but I've always been meaning to buy a 2x10 cabinet. But it's just so awkward to carry!!

Doctor J wrote:

Personally, I think the EQ sections on the Ashdowns aren't the best

Dunno bout that. I have the ABM so it has a 7 band EQ which is great if you're the muso type or headwrecking if you're me and spend hours twiddling at them not knowing what you're doing!

blondebassist

Thanks a million to everyone who replied, it was really helpful!!:D

Doctor J

Slurms wrote:

Dunno bout that. I have the ABM so it has a 7 band EQ which is great if you're the muso type or headwrecking if you're me and spend hours twiddling at them not knowing what you're doing!

I have the ABM too, I don't think it's precise enough. The old Trace Elliots with the 12 band EQ, now there was an amp!

judas101

i find i turn off the EQ on my ABM more often than not. not that its bad its just i guess i prefer the non-EQed sound.

Zapp Brannigan

Doctor J wrote:

I have the ABM too, I don't think it's precise enough. The old Trace Elliots with the 12 band EQ, now there was an amp!

Never played a Trace so I can't comment! But I can't wait to get my GK rig, their EQ is so simple and it's really noticeable from the slightest of adjustments!

Royale with Cheese

Just ordered the Ashdown Mag 300w 2x10" to go with my new Warwick Corvette Proline. Mmmm new gear, just have to wait for it all to get here now.

I have a Boss geb-7 so I'm not worried about the eq.