Ashdown ABM500 EVO II Bass Amplifier Head (575 Watts)
No longer available at zZounds
zZounds Gear Experts Say...
Blend of solid state and dual triode tube preamp stages.
Overview
The ABM 500 EVO II is a 575 watts RMS bass amp head designed to satisfy both bass-purists and tech-heads alike. Three straightforward rotary tone controls provide 20dB of cut and boost at 60Hz, 660Hz and 5kHz, and are supplemented by two pairs of additional sliders giving 15dB cut and boost at 180Hz, 340Hz, 1.3kHz and 2.6kHz. The EQ can be switched in/out, and flat/shaped by footswitch, enabling players to go from a flat fretless sound to a boosted sound via a favorite EQ setting.
A single input is switchable for passive and active instruments with a blend of solid state and dual triode tube preamps stages which can be preset and selected by footswitch, providing access to a massive range of clean, warm and overdriven tones. Also footswitchable is the mighty Ashdown sub-harmonic generator which precisely tracks the main signal and reproduces it an octave lower. A sub-harmonic level control enables the player to add just the right amount of low-end reinforcement - everything from a subtle, thickening of the sound to unbridled, bone crushing tone.
The ABM 500 EVO II features a front-panel mounted balanced DI out with pre or post EQ switching, a sub-bass output, a tuner output, an FX loop and a line input for the connection of an external sampler or sound source. Output muting cuts the signal from the DI output but leaves the tuner output 'live', allowing the player to tune up in silence. A new upgraded power section has faster transient attack, more headroom and even less noise.
A single input is switchable for passive and active instruments with a blend of solid state and dual triode tube preamps stages which can be preset and selected by footswitch, providing access to a massive range of clean, warm and overdriven tones. Also footswitchable is the mighty Ashdown sub-harmonic generator which precisely tracks the main signal and reproduces it an octave lower. A sub-harmonic level control enables the player to add just the right amount of low-end reinforcement - everything from a subtle, thickening of the sound to unbridled, bone crushing tone.
The ABM 500 EVO II features a front-panel mounted balanced DI out with pre or post EQ switching, a sub-bass output, a tuner output, an FX loop and a line input for the connection of an external sampler or sound source. Output muting cuts the signal from the DI output but leaves the tuner output 'live', allowing the player to tune up in silence. A new upgraded power section has faster transient attack, more headroom and even less noise.
Specs
Power Output: 575 watt
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
Stereo Line Input Impedance: 22k Ohms, input level 0dBu nominal
Effects Return Impedance: 22k Ohms, input level 0dBu Nominal
Tuner Output Impedance: 22k Ohms, level 0dBu nominal
Sub Output Impedance: 1k Ohms, level 0dBu Nominal
Effects Send Impedance: 22k Ohms, level 0dBu nominal
DI Output: 600 Ohms balanced, level 0dBu nominal
Speaker Outputs: Minimum impedance 4 Ohms
Shape (Push Flat): +8dB @ 50Hz & 4kHz, -8dB @ 400Hz, filter slope - 6dB/octave
Bass: +/-15dB @ 45Hz
Middle: +/-15dB @ 660Hz
Treble: +/-15dB @ 7kHz shelving
Slider 1: +/-15dB @ 110Hz
Slider 2: +/-15dB @ 340Hz
Slider 3: +/-15dB @ 1.3kHz
Slider 4: +/-15dB @ 2.6kHz
Frequency Response: -3dB at 17Hz and 30kHz
Power Requirements: 230 / 115V
Height: 134mm (5.3 in.)
Width: 474mm (18.7 in.)
Depth: 315mm (12.4 in.)
Weight: 14kg (30.9lbs)
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
Stereo Line Input Impedance: 22k Ohms, input level 0dBu nominal
Effects Return Impedance: 22k Ohms, input level 0dBu Nominal
Tuner Output Impedance: 22k Ohms, level 0dBu nominal
Sub Output Impedance: 1k Ohms, level 0dBu Nominal
Effects Send Impedance: 22k Ohms, level 0dBu nominal
DI Output: 600 Ohms balanced, level 0dBu nominal
Speaker Outputs: Minimum impedance 4 Ohms
Shape (Push Flat): +8dB @ 50Hz & 4kHz, -8dB @ 400Hz, filter slope - 6dB/octave
Bass: +/-15dB @ 45Hz
Middle: +/-15dB @ 660Hz
Treble: +/-15dB @ 7kHz shelving
Slider 1: +/-15dB @ 110Hz
Slider 2: +/-15dB @ 340Hz
Slider 3: +/-15dB @ 1.3kHz
Slider 4: +/-15dB @ 2.6kHz
Frequency Response: -3dB at 17Hz and 30kHz
Power Requirements: 230 / 115V
Height: 134mm (5.3 in.)
Width: 474mm (18.7 in.)
Depth: 315mm (12.4 in.)
Weight: 14kg (30.9lbs)
Reviews
Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
(20 ratings)
Submitted March 3, 2006 by a customer from rocktenn.com
"This amp has every sound you can think of and want to play.........."
Verified Purchaser
zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.
Sound
This amp does have it all. Smooth, Thick, Deeeep, yet Clean valve tone; switch to an overdriven grind sound; or tighten it up with fast, modern note-to-note attack with killer punch and everything in-between. It has nice gradual moves. Some amps go from quiet to obnoxious in .5, this has lots of headroom with no distortion whatsoever. One thing is for sure it can shake the house if you want it to.....Like blow your ears out loud. It sounds just as good at lower volume too which is rare. You do not have to run the valve full out to get good tone like with some valve heads. I was especially impressed with the way it handles my 5-String Fretless Acoustic Bass....one word MUWAH!!!!!!!!!!! Whether you are trying to fill a room with rich, warm transition notes or cut through the sound of a full band or a keyboard player with the HEAVY left hand, this amp can do it. I have not recorded with it yet. Recording really isn't my thing though. I figure the only thing I can control is what I am hearing on the platform and that is what is important. What everybody else hears is the sound man's deal.
Features
What is nice is that it is SIMPLE. I am a set it and go type. That last thing I need is 47 things to change between songs or sets. You can go from one sound to the other really easily. Valve, EQ, Chorus (they call it Sub-harmonics), Input, Output..... What more do you really need? It has a pre-set… read more EQ but I did not care for it. The EQ is too easy to get the tome you want so why would you want somebody elses?
Ease of Use
I must admit, the first day I got it I could not find the clean tone I was looking for with that killer attack and punch I am used to with my other rig. So I wrote Ashdown and they gave me the settings, as in VERY specific so even I could not mess it up. Awesome Tone! I had made a fundemental error in not setting the input high enough. Live and learn. I set the input to 3pm like he said and then my rib cage was moving like it should when I play.
Quality
I have owned Trace Elliot gear for as long as I have been playing. It seems like every guy I speak to at Ashdown is a former Trace Elliot guy. I have not had the amp long, but it looks like it is built well and if it hold up like it's cousin, I will be playing it into my 80's. We go out 2x/week and I do not anticipate an issue with durability, but I have already ordered a padded case for it just the same. Something about rain, snow, and the occasional smack into a doorway, etc..... This thing to too good looking to smash into a door when your not paying attention, and we all do it, admit it.
Value
It is not a cheap amp, but this is not a place to "save money" or "buy less" either. Well worth the $$
Manufacturer Support
They relied within 12 hours....with the right answer too. always a plus :)
The Wow Factor
Design and Engineering are superior. It Rocks....period.
Musical Background:
10+years Bass Player
Musical Style:
Rock, Folk, Ballads, read less
This amp does have it all. Smooth, Thick, Deeeep, yet Clean valve tone; switch to an overdriven grind sound; or tighten it up with fast, modern note-to-note attack with killer punch and everything in-between. It has nice gradual moves. Some amps go from quiet to obnoxious in .5, this has lots of headroom with no distortion whatsoever. One thing is for sure it can shake the house if you want it to.....Like blow your ears out loud. It sounds just as good at lower volume too which is rare. You do not have to run the valve full out to get good tone like with some valve heads. I was especially impressed with the way it handles my 5-String Fretless Acoustic Bass....one word MUWAH!!!!!!!!!!! Whether you are trying to fill a room with rich, warm transition notes or cut through the sound of a full band or a keyboard player with the HEAVY left hand, this amp can do it. I have not recorded with it yet. Recording really isn't my thing though. I figure the only thing I can control is what I am hearing on the platform and that is what is important. What everybody else hears is the sound man's deal.
Features
What is nice is that it is SIMPLE. I am a set it and go type. That last thing I need is 47 things to change between songs or sets. You can go from one sound to the other really easily. Valve, EQ, Chorus (they call it Sub-harmonics), Input, Output..... What more do you really need? It has a pre-set… read more EQ but I did not care for it. The EQ is too easy to get the tome you want so why would you want somebody elses?
Ease of Use
I must admit, the first day I got it I could not find the clean tone I was looking for with that killer attack and punch I am used to with my other rig. So I wrote Ashdown and they gave me the settings, as in VERY specific so even I could not mess it up. Awesome Tone! I had made a fundemental error in not setting the input high enough. Live and learn. I set the input to 3pm like he said and then my rib cage was moving like it should when I play.
Quality
I have owned Trace Elliot gear for as long as I have been playing. It seems like every guy I speak to at Ashdown is a former Trace Elliot guy. I have not had the amp long, but it looks like it is built well and if it hold up like it's cousin, I will be playing it into my 80's. We go out 2x/week and I do not anticipate an issue with durability, but I have already ordered a padded case for it just the same. Something about rain, snow, and the occasional smack into a doorway, etc..... This thing to too good looking to smash into a door when your not paying attention, and we all do it, admit it.
Value
It is not a cheap amp, but this is not a place to "save money" or "buy less" either. Well worth the $$
Manufacturer Support
They relied within 12 hours....with the right answer too. always a plus :)
The Wow Factor
Design and Engineering are superior. It Rocks....period.
Musical Background:
10+years Bass Player
Musical Style:
Rock, Folk, Ballads, read less
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