Advice on choosing between the two

[r-w-t]

Hiya,

As some of you may know, I'm looking for a better bass amp, suitable for small gigs etc.

I've narrowed it down to two, the Fender Bassman 250/210, and the Ashdown Mag-C210-T-300.

Although the Fender is more expensive (and slightly less powerful), I'm leaning towards it because I've heard some stories of unreliability in the lower priced Ashdown series'. Have Ashdown remedied this problem, or does it still persist?

It goes without saying that I need reliability.

Also, has anyone got any other similar priced amps which you could suggest?

TIA

[kilian]

I know a lot of Ashdown users and I don't know any users who think they are crashdowns.. :thumb:

Play through both of them and decide on the tone.

[PainKiller8191]

try hartke and behringer

[DaveTNG]

I've ordered that ashdown except 1x15 instead of the 2x10. I'm waiting for it to arrive but all the reviews i've heard have been great. None of them have mentioned lack of reliability. So i voted ashdown.

[SixnStones]

try hartke and behringer

123

[Caleb3221]

My school has a Fender Bassman and it dies CONSTANTLY. It might just be a fluke, but It has broken and been repaired at least 4 times in the last 3 years. And we can never figure out what the problems are. There's one recurring problem that makes it start clicking, etc and not amplifiing the bass. I, personally, never plan on owning a fender amp. Just a bit of warning for you.

[Belfast Bassist]

Hartke, it'll never let you down.




ever.

[r-w-t]

So you'd recommend something like a Hartke VX2510, or even a VX3500?

[trumpeter]

I can tell you the ashdown head is gorgeous, i don't know about the cab it comes with..

[Deacy]

I'd go with the Ashdown

[peeted]

ashdown can be quite unreliable but they sound much beter than the fender

[r-w-t]

I'm really confused now lol!

Hartke is mentioned as being ultra-reliable, and cheaper than the Fender (for the 2 x 10"), so I'm kinda thinking of getting one of these, but I dunno!

Anyone have anything else to add?

[Radiobass81]

Hartke makes the only combos which, every time I play, I HEAVILY regret not getting one.

Go Hartke.

[r-w-t]

So would you say the Hartke VX2510, or a VX3500?

I think I'm right in saying the VX3500 (4 x 10") has both tube and solid state pre-amps, are they awkward to maintain/use (I'm limited in experience with different equipment)?

Obviously the 4 x 10"s would be better for gigging, but do they have a big advantage when you compare them to 2 x 10"s?

[Radiobass81]

I'm not sure, really. I know they sound incredible.

The 4x10 would have better low-end. The 2x10 is probably a tad punchier, and more portable.

Aren't the VX the models with paper cones? Hartkes with aluminum cones are MUCH better, IMO.

[Muggsy]

Im buying an ashdown electric blue 180-15 this week. My friend has the 12" version and its great. It can only get better with the mag series and then best with abm. Shdown Rocks.

[peeted]

actualy hartke is probibly beter than ashdown in that price range, yea go hartke

[r-w-t]

And your friend has never had any reliability issues with the Ashdown?

[Muggsy]

Not at all. He's had it only for four months though. I've read about them on review sites the only problem i heard was someones fan was loose.

[r-w-t]

With regard to the Hartke's, do they have a built in DI facility, or would I have to invest in a DI box to plug them into a sound board (As I've said I'm not too experienced with the more technical things)?

[JDC III]

sorry go with ampeg or mesa boogie

[rh15951]

Go with the Ashdown.

[Radiobass81]

Don't quote me on this, but I THINK most Hartke combos have a DI out.

[kev_trb1006]

ashdown can be quite unreliable

i think thats just urban myth

and i would never compare hartke with ashdown. I've used both and i found hartke's tone is sterile and boring. but ashdowns tone is warm, and nice like a great big solid hug on the floor which is unfortunately very heavy...

[PaulR]

I haven't played either, so the only advice I can offer is to play through both of them.

[TheBassman238]

Try a hartke and some other options b4 you widdle it down to 2 if you havent already....

-TBM

[kev_trb1006]

Try a hartke and some other options b4 you widdle it down to 2 if you havent already....

-TBM

What he said. I also tried Ampeg, Marshall, and Peavey. The Ashdown came first by a long shot. But the ashdown was my first in line anyway... Entwistle used them so they must be good :chug:

[r-w-t]

Hiya,

I think I may get the Ashdown, but the 4 x 10". On 2 polls I've done (one being on another forum), it's come first, by quite a distance.

[tim_commerfordism]

So would you say the Hartke VX2510, or a VX3500?

I think I'm right in saying the VX3500 (4 x 10") has both tube and solid state pre-amps, are they awkward to maintain/use (I'm limited in experience with different equipment)?

Obviously the 4 x 10"s would be better for gigging, but do they have a big advantage when you compare them to 2 x 10"s?

Radio, i dont know about the aluminium cones. Ive only played the paper ones.

The Model HA3500 is the 350 watt. Ive got it and i love it. Really. Not they arent hard to maintain.

The 4x10's are ace. I have the VX1508 with the 15", the 2x8" and a tweeter. Its got so much lows, mids and highs. Im having to get a 410 cos its a bit big for me atm.

Alot of Ashdown's are actually having flaws nowadays, even the ABM series. Even then I played the EVO II at my shop and wasnt impressed.

[Alma]

+1 for hartke.

[kilian]

And your friend has never had any reliability issues with the Ashdown?
N O N E :thumb:

None of the people I know with an Ashdown have reliability problems, it's quite an populair brand here in The Netherlands.

[blizzard]

I've only ever heard great things about Ashdown, else I would look at Hartke.

[Matthew2250]

I have that Ashdown, but with the 15" rather than the 10's. I can tell you that there are no reliability problems, the only trouble I had with it was that they had a problem with their suppliers when they were building it so it arrived late.

When it is on there is no fizz and you can barely hear the fans, apparently has 2 working at half speed to keep em quiet. The tone is brilliant and it can go very very loud without losing any quality, probably loud enough to break my house. The only gripe is that it is a very heavy little fella, heavier than my guitarist brother's marshall stack.

Go for it.

[tim_commerfordism]

I can tell you that there are no reliability problems, the only trouble I had with it was that they had a problem with their suppliers when they were building it so it arrived late.

The only gripe is that it is a very heavy little fella, heavier than my guitarist brother's marshall stack.

Go for it.

Hmmm. Im not saying all of them do, but an uncanny amount of them do have reliability issues. My music shop in town told me to stay away from them abit, and the dude in there has been playing for 40 odd years. And they dont stock them anymore.

And most (if not all) bass amps/cabs are heavier than guitarists' due to different (heavier) speakers etc.

[r-w-t]

Excuse me for being really thick here, but will the 4 x 10's actually be any louder than 2 x 10's, after all the head part of the combo is still the same, and the power will be divided between 4 speakers as opposed to 2?

[kilian]

^^Yes. Because you will be pushing more air around. Ten times the wattage is double the volume (if I'm right).

[DaveTNG]

I have that Ashdown, but with the 15" rather than the 10's. I can tell you that there are no reliability problems, the only trouble I had with it was that they had a problem with their suppliers when they were building it so it arrived late.

When it is on there is no fizz and you can barely hear the fans, apparently has 2 working at half speed to keep em quiet. The tone is brilliant and it can go very very loud without losing any quality, probably loud enough to break my house. The only gripe is that it is a very heavy little fella, heavier than my guitarist brother's marshall stack.

Go for it.

Mine got despatched today. Are the highs alrite on the 15"? I've got a 6er so I needed the 15 for the lows but my only concern is the highs might be a bit weak. How are they for you?

[Radiobass81]

^^Yes. Because you will be pushing more air around. Ten times the wattage is double the volume (if I'm right).
If both cabs handle the same wattage, then they would be just as loud, because, although the 4x10 pushes more air, the total wattage-per-speaker is heavily reduced, not like the 2x10.

[kev_trb1006]

Mine got despatched today. Are the highs alrite on the 15"? I've got a 6er so I needed the 15 for the lows but my only concern is the highs might be a bit weak. How are they for you?

They are fine don't worry man, will manage a 6er. They'll just be muh smoother highs

[Phalanx]

I know a lot of Ashdown users and I don't know any users who think they are crashdowns.. :thumb:

Play through both of them and decide on the tone.

nope, but the postmen transporting them sure are :thumb:

[DaveTNG]

They are fine don't worry man, will manage a 6er. They'll just be muh smoother highs


Nice one, thanks.:cool:

[darrell]

I have the Hartke Model 7000 with a 410XL with room to add another speaker.

[r-w-t]

Hiya,

Sorry to be a pain, but do you think it would be an advantage to buy the Mag 300 Head and the Mag 4 x 10" cab (which would work out fractionally more expensive), or just but the 4 x 10 combo? I did think about buying the head and 2 x (2 x 10"s), but it was quite a bit more expensive.

[DaveTNG]

My 1x15 combo arrived this morning, been playing on it for the past 4 hours. I love it. It has a great tone and the eq is very versatile. I got a bit worried when I decided to test out the volume and it was nowhere near the volume that I would have expected a 300 watt amp to be. Then I realised that I needed to change the battery in my bass :D After that it was very loud. Seems like a great choice so far, I'll let ya know if I have any problems.

[r-w-t]

Glad you like your new amp!

Do Ashdown's have a compressor?

[DaveTNG]

Glad you like your new amp!

Do Ashdown's have a compressor?

Well my MAG doesn't and i don't think the ABM does either.

[geniusgoalie]

I've played on that ashdown before- best amp I've ever used. Go with it.

[thelowsoundofbass]

yorkville, best combo by far.

1x15
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/480954/

2x10
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/480955/

i own the old version (well actually the 100w version) of the 1x15 and have played the 2x10. let me say that if you want punch and great tone go for yorkville. my 100w yorkville is way louder than my friends fender bassman 150w.

lowsound